copycats: covers and mashups

Today I give you a lesson on creative copying -- borrowing ideas from brilliant minds and making them into something new (is it the highest form of compliment or a criminal offence? Maybe it just depends on how you do it.)

In music, a cover of a song is just a re-recording or performance of something by a different artist than the original. An internet search of Gotye covers will bring up a gazillion examples, maybe the best of which is this one:

Here's my "cover" of an Alabama Chanin tank top (see examples of her original stuff by clicking here):

And my version of her rooster shirt (see her's here):

Though with the latter, I'm not sure if it's a "cover" or more of a "mash-up"... A mash-up is a mix of different things from different (often incongruous) sources, all thrown together to make a cohesive whole -- Alabama Chanin's rooster pattern, my sister's tie-dye, and a very restrained version of Alisa Burke's "lots of messy stitching" (not shown in the photo above).

If you're still not sure what I'm talking about, have a look at these examples of the art of "mash-up":

• this blend of the classics Star Wars and Dr. Suess  

• the Muppets and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"

• or even this really incredible collaborative project (which Baker Son is itching to be a part of)... "Star Wars Uncut"