I asked a DJ why certain recent songs have flagrant snippets from well-known songs. Is this flagrant stealing? The Dj said it was “sampling”, but I don’t get it… is this the nice phase after Milli Vanilli? Is anything sacred in the music anymore, or has it all gone to the equivalent of silicone implants? - Jinx
The legality of sampling is still being debated. Usually, though, musicians pay a fee to use the snippets, which eliminates any problem.
If the musician’s don’t want to pay, then it’s up to the writer of the song to decide whether to persue it.
Milli Vanilli didn’t ‘steal’ or sample anything I’m aware of. They didn’t sing their own songs, that was their problem. They just lip-synched to tape live and I’m pretty sure they didn’t appear at all on their own studio albums.
It’s not ‘flagrant stealing’ when done legally because a fee is paid and credit is given. Thus, it’s not stealing at all. It’s using older work in a different context, which is something that’s been part of art for ages. I’ve seen the origin of sampling given to jazz musicians, who are and were fond of quoting or teasing other songs in their own.
Sampling is taking sound elements from existing songs and recontextualising them to form a new piece. This can range from the most unimaginative use of the technique, such as Puff Daddy’s (now P Diddy) I’ll Be Missing You, which featured Mr Daddy/Diddy rapping over a looped Police sample, or Vanilla Ice’s Ice Ice Baby, which used a Queen and David Bowie sample.
At the other end of the scale, sampling can be used to create radically different sounds. It is simply a musical technique, and like all techniques, it can be used poorly or it can be used well.
If you want to hear good use of sampling, my top three beginners guide to sampling records are as follows:
- De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
- DJ Shadow - …Endtroducing
- The Avalanches - Since I Left You
I don’t see how you could anything from these records stealing. The Avalanches one is particularly notable; they used over 900 different samples to create the record, and had each one cleared legally.
“I don’t see how you could anything from these records stealing”
I mean “I don’t see how you could describe anything from these records as stealing”