Response to Andrew Roiter: Mixers, Remixers and the Like

Andrew asked, Do you believe that there is a certain point at which a song becomes a new song? If so is it possible to locate this point?

I do believe that remixes can be considered their own songs, as long as the artist who is remixing it adds their own part. For instance, if an artist made a song comprising solely of several parts of different songs they are not creating a song; they are merely splicing together other people's creations. So I guess that is the point at which I think a song becomes a new song--when a new element is added to it.

Let's take for example the song "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap. I'm sure some of you have never heard of it, and some of you would only recognize it if you heard it. It is a regretful song about good times passing. There is a part towards the end of it (about 2:50 minutes in) that goes like this:

Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmm that you only meant well?
Well of course you did.
Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmmm that it's all for the best?
Of course it is.
Mmmm whatcha say?
Mmmm that it's just what we need
You decided this.
Whatcha say?
Mmmm what did she say?

Recognize it? Most of you probably do recognize it as the chorus of Jason Derulo's new hit, "Whatcha Say." His song is all about cheating, but wanting to put it in the past and move on. It's much more upbeat. While the songs have similar themes, they are very different. One is slow and one is fast. One is about moving on, one is about sticking together. See what I mean?

The question I want to ask in response is this: Say there is a famous singer, but they do not write their own music. Who then is the artist--the writer or the singer?