How Cover Songs Can Change Your Life | Barron Ryan | TEDxOU

[Applause]

[Applause] seven years ago when I was 23 a piano

seven years ago when I was 23 a piano

seven years ago when I was 23 a piano professor at a famous school looked at

professor at a famous school looked at

professor at a famous school looked at the list of classical music I could play

the list of classical music I could play

the list of classical music I could play and said I have thirteen-year-old

and said I have thirteen-year-old

and said I have thirteen-year-old students with more repertoire than you

students with more repertoire than you

students with more repertoire than you essentially he was saying you’re not

essentially he was saying you’re not

essentially he was saying you’re not going to make it here and he was right I

going to make it here and he was right I

going to make it here and he was right I didn’t get accepted to that school or

didn’t get accepted to that school or

didn’t get accepted to that school or any of the famous graduate schools that

any of the famous graduate schools that

any of the famous graduate schools that might impress you and so I had a dilemma

might impress you and so I had a dilemma

might impress you and so I had a dilemma I could abandon my plan of becoming a

I could abandon my plan of becoming a

I could abandon my plan of becoming a performing pianist or I could see if

performing pianist or I could see if

performing pianist or I could see if there was some other way forward now I

there was some other way forward now I

there was some other way forward now I liked more than classical music I grew

liked more than classical music I grew

liked more than classical music I grew up listening to pop as well for example

up listening to pop as well for example

up listening to pop as well for example I had just neglected it for a while but

I had just neglected it for a while but

I had just neglected it for a while but having little better to do I thought

having little better to do I thought

having little better to do I thought maybe there’s something in my interest

maybe there’s something in my interest

maybe there’s something in my interest in pop music that’s worth renewing and

in pop music that’s worth renewing and

in pop music that’s worth renewing and so I tried it I started writing my own

so I tried it I started writing my own

so I tried it I started writing my own pop cover song arrangements and what’s

pop cover song arrangements and what’s

pop cover song arrangements and what’s intriguing about cover songs is that

intriguing about cover songs is that

intriguing about cover songs is that they embody the same process that I had

they embody the same process that I had

they embody the same process that I had just gone through because a great cover

just gone through because a great cover

just gone through because a great cover can take something that maybe old and

can take something that maybe old and

can take something that maybe old and neglected and turn it into something

neglected and turn it into something

neglected and turn it into something that’s new and cherished one of my

that’s new and cherished one of my

that’s new and cherished one of my favorite examples as Jackson fives I

favorite examples as Jackson fives I

favorite examples as Jackson fives I want you back the first time I heard it

want you back the first time I heard it

want you back the first time I heard it I thought this is amazing

I thought this is amazing

I thought this is amazing I’ve never heard anything like this

I’ve never heard anything like this

I’ve never heard anything like this before and I’m sure you’ve had a similar

before and I’m sure you’ve had a similar

before and I’m sure you’ve had a similar experience but then you hear a song for

experience but then you hear a song for

experience but then you hear a song for the tenth time and then for the fiftieth

the tenth time and then for the fiftieth

the tenth time and then for the fiftieth and it ceases to be special you know

and it ceases to be special you know

and it ceases to be special you know every vocal every guitar riff and every

every vocal every guitar riff and every

every vocal every guitar riff and every drum fill you still like it

drum fill you still like it

drum fill you still like it you’re just not amazed by it anymore

you’re just not amazed by it anymore

you’re just not amazed by it anymore until you hear a great cover version and

until you hear a great cover version and

until you hear a great cover version and then it becomes a big deal all over

then it becomes a big deal all over

then it becomes a big deal all over again because that artist has taken what

again because that artist has taken what

again because that artist has taken what was commonplace and made it remarkable

was commonplace and made it remarkable

was commonplace and made it remarkable the song you thought you knew everything

the song you thought you knew everything

the song you thought you knew everything about gets transformed and captivates

about gets transformed and captivates

about gets transformed and captivates you again now so far I haven’t

you again now so far I haven’t

you again now so far I haven’t scientifically substantiated any of

scientifically substantiated any of

scientifically substantiated any of these claims and frankly I’m not going

these claims and frankly I’m not going

these claims and frankly I’m not going to I’m a pianist I’m not a researcher so

to I’m a pianist I’m not a researcher so

to I’m a pianist I’m not a researcher so instead I’ll attempt to show you how I

instead I’ll attempt to show you how I

instead I’ll attempt to show you how I can make a classic song cool again we

can make a classic song cool again we

can make a classic song cool again we use my example Jackson fives I want you

use my example Jackson fives I want you

use my example Jackson fives I want you back

back

back and I’ll demonstrate how I turned it

and I’ll demonstrate how I turned it

and I’ll demonstrate how I turned it from an arrangement with full band and

from an arrangement with full band and

from an arrangement with full band and singers to one with only a piano so

singers to one with only a piano so

singers to one with only a piano so let’s get started when when arranging a

let’s get started when when arranging a

let’s get started when when arranging a cover there’s always a tension that I

cover there’s always a tension that I

cover there’s always a tension that I have to navigate because on one hand I

have to navigate because on one hand I

have to navigate because on one hand I want the listeners to recognize the song

want the listeners to recognize the song

want the listeners to recognize the song and know what’s going on but on the

and know what’s going on but on the

and know what’s going on but on the other I want to thrill them which means

other I want to thrill them which means

other I want to thrill them which means doing things that are unexpected now

doing things that are unexpected now

doing things that are unexpected now some of the thrill will come as a matter

some of the thrill will come as a matter

some of the thrill will come as a matter of course because I’m using a different

of course because I’m using a different

of course because I’m using a different instrumentation but some of it will have

instrumentation but some of it will have

instrumentation but some of it will have to be added more deliberately let’s take

to be added more deliberately let’s take

to be added more deliberately let’s take a look at three examples to show you

a look at three examples to show you

a look at three examples to show you what I mean we’ll start with the

what I mean we’ll start with the

what I mean we’ll start with the foundation of this song which is its

foundation of this song which is its

foundation of this song which is its iconic bassline here’s a refresher of

iconic bassline here’s a refresher of

iconic bassline here’s a refresher of what it sounds like

[Music]

[Music] now the simplest solution would be for

now the simplest solution would be for

now the simplest solution would be for me to play that part verbatim the bass

me to play that part verbatim the bass

me to play that part verbatim the bass guitar and piano are playing in unison

guitar and piano are playing in unison

guitar and piano are playing in unison so the exact same line the exact same

so the exact same line the exact same

so the exact same line the exact same line the exact same notes I could play

line the exact same notes I could play

line the exact same notes I could play that too like this

that too like this

that too like this [Music]

you

you that sounds fine but it sounds a little

that sounds fine but it sounds a little

that sounds fine but it sounds a little thin to me and there are some notes that

thin to me and there are some notes that

thin to me and there are some notes that I want to stick out more than others so

I want to stick out more than others so

I want to stick out more than others so I’ll solve both those problems by

I’ll solve both those problems by

I’ll solve both those problems by doubling the notes I want to stick out

doubling the notes I want to stick out

doubling the notes I want to stick out up an octave so if I want this a-flat to

up an octave so if I want this a-flat to

up an octave so if I want this a-flat to stick out I’ll double it up here with

stick out I’ll double it up here with

stick out I’ll double it up here with that a-flat same with a C D flat etc so

that a-flat same with a C D flat etc so

that a-flat same with a C D flat etc so here’s what my new slightly altered

here’s what my new slightly altered

here’s what my new slightly altered bassline sounds like

bassline sounds like

bassline sounds like [Music]

all right so now we have a baseline

all right so now we have a baseline let’s get to the first verse now now

let’s get to the first verse now now

let’s get to the first verse now now obviously I have to play the melody

obviously I have to play the melody

obviously I have to play the melody which is the part that Michael Jackson’s

which is the part that Michael Jackson’s

which is the part that Michael Jackson’s singing let’s see if that’ll be enough

now to me that has two problems with it

now to me that has two problems with it one the right hand is too thin compared

one the right hand is too thin compared

one the right hand is too thin compared to the left hand it’s not full enough

to the left hand it’s not full enough

to the left hand it’s not full enough doesn’t sound thick enough and the other

doesn’t sound thick enough and the other

doesn’t sound thick enough and the other is that it’s lacking in groove the

is that it’s lacking in groove the

is that it’s lacking in groove the highest priority of much American pop

highest priority of much American pop

highest priority of much American pop music is that it make you want to get up

music is that it make you want to get up

music is that it make you want to get up and dance and so I need to have notes

and dance and so I need to have notes

and dance and so I need to have notes happening all the time even if I don’t

happening all the time even if I don’t

happening all the time even if I don’t know exactly where they’re gonna come

know exactly where they’re gonna come

know exactly where they’re gonna come from so let’s solve those two problems

from so let’s solve those two problems

from so let’s solve those two problems one at a time first I need to thicken

one at a time first I need to thicken

one at a time first I need to thicken the right hand so I’m going to add

the right hand so I’m going to add

the right hand so I’m going to add another note beneath the melody alright

another note beneath the melody alright

another note beneath the melody alright there’s that problem solved it takes me

there’s that problem solved it takes me

there’s that problem solved it takes me a little longer when I’m actually

a little longer when I’m actually

a little longer when I’m actually working it out but fortunately that work

working it out but fortunately that work

working it out but fortunately that work has already been done okay now we need

has already been done okay now we need

has already been done okay now we need to add some notes somewhere

all right how about sounding groovy and

all right how about sounding groovy and you can recognize what’s going on so far

you can recognize what’s going on so far

you can recognize what’s going on so far we haven’t done anything too crazy

we haven’t done anything too crazy

we haven’t done anything too crazy because I haven’t had to I’ve merely

because I haven’t had to I’ve merely

because I haven’t had to I’ve merely tried to recreate the feeling of the

tried to recreate the feeling of the

tried to recreate the feeling of the original with the piano but when it

original with the piano but when it

original with the piano but when it comes to the second verse I can’t use

comes to the second verse I can’t use

comes to the second verse I can’t use this exact same strategies that I did on

this exact same strategies that I did on

this exact same strategies that I did on the first because it sound too similar

the first because it sound too similar

the first because it sound too similar and you’d get bored so I’m going to use

and you’d get bored so I’m going to use

and you’d get bored so I’m going to use three devices to add some excitement one

three devices to add some excitement one

three devices to add some excitement one I’m going to play the melody in octaves

I’m going to play the melody in octaves

I’m going to play the melody in octaves sometimes to when my left hand has free

sometimes to when my left hand has free

sometimes to when my left hand has free space I’m gonna cross it over my right

space I’m gonna cross it over my right

space I’m gonna cross it over my right hand to add some excitement in the upper

hand to add some excitement in the upper

hand to add some excitement in the upper register why not

register why not

register why not and three I’m going to add run some

and three I’m going to add run some

and three I’m going to add run some notes in quick succession in my right

notes in quick succession in my right

notes in quick succession in my right hand because it’s exhilarating and it’s

hand because it’s exhilarating and it’s

hand because it’s exhilarating and it’s fun so here’s here’s what a bit of the

fun so here’s here’s what a bit of the

fun so here’s here’s what a bit of the second verse is gonna sound like

all right all this day you’re gonna get

all right all this day you’re gonna get to hear it much more in a second all

to hear it much more in a second all

to hear it much more in a second all this and much more goes into making a

this and much more goes into making a

this and much more goes into making a cover version that ideally matches the

cover version that ideally matches the

cover version that ideally matches the quality and innovation of the original

quality and innovation of the original

quality and innovation of the original and assuming that this version that I’m

and assuming that this version that I’m

and assuming that this version that I’m about to play does renew your interest

about to play does renew your interest

about to play does renew your interest in a song that’s almost 50 years old

in a song that’s almost 50 years old

in a song that’s almost 50 years old think about what’s become commonplace

think about what’s become commonplace

think about what’s become commonplace for you

for you

for you that could be worth reviving seven years

that could be worth reviving seven years

that could be worth reviving seven years ago for me it was an interest in pop

ago for me it was an interest in pop

ago for me it was an interest in pop music but there’s always something in my

music but there’s always something in my

music but there’s always something in my past that deserves another look and I

past that deserves another look and I

past that deserves another look and I suspect there’s always something in

suspect there’s always something in

suspect there’s always something in yours that does as well and so as I play

yours that does as well and so as I play

yours that does as well and so as I play ponder this question what around you is

ponder this question what around you is

ponder this question what around you is lying dormant that’s merely waiting for

lying dormant that’s merely waiting for

lying dormant that’s merely waiting for you to reawaken it

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]