Remix

Inspired by the reaction of an Urban-dressed youth at a jukebox.

"Standing in line, marking time
Waiting on the welfare dime
'Cuz they can't buy a job"

It's at this point that he realizes
The song he picked came with surprises,
Forehead veins begin to throb.

Excitement fades, it's not the song
He used to like, he'd sing along.
His fingers scramble for the skip

His body cowers like a mass
Of soldiers fumbling for their masks
After being told a gas-shell's hit.

And now he is appalled to hear
A slower song that hurts his ears
And renders him to take all measures

To prove this song did not exist!
Its ravished beat! Its cringing twist!
"2Pac had no predecessor!"

As a rural voice, instead, protrudes
A southern drawl, acoustic tune
A beat, to him, sounds only jaded.

Uncomfortable to what he's heard,
While what he's used to is preferred,
He waits until the song has faded.

-And says: "Its 2Pac's song, it was always his!"
As all the bar agrees with strength,
I get mad, but soon grow less than passionate,
As in the modern music market, That's Just The Way It is.

Author's Note

I can safely say the kid thought he was playing "Changes" by 2Pac, but instead played "The Way It Is," by Bruce Hornsby, the song 2Pac sampled.

Song that played:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85KCbjxxzTE

Also important to note: The first stanza of this poem is the first stanza of the Bruce Hornsby song "The way it is"

Reviews

[Poetic Beauty]

I think we all do this. I sometime get pissed off at the remake classic songs like Under my Thumb by The Rolling Stones and so on but then it quickly passes. Music is ever changing and moving in different directions just like poetry and art. I guess that is why I have a huge variety of music that I like.

[Tina Kline]

This is great. Newer singers often redo songs from the past and try to make them their own. This time it was the current singer's fan who was outraged by the original performer of the song instead of the other way around. You did a wonderful job capturing this moment!

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

insightful play on the samplings and and saplings mixing time and genres~ =)~

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

You penned this one quite well Mike, very well indeed!

[Robin]

having been around long enough to see how other bands or musicians have laid claim to other's "music" I got a chuckle . you played the scene well .

[Clarisse Nanoit]

VVV What he said. ;) Great work. I love music (as you know) and I love how different genres can share ideas; it just shows how universal they are. A wise man (who couldn't spell "spoons") once told me: "Hits is songs that, no matter what race gender or background, they are relevant to yo everday life." He also said, "I don't write songs, I write hits; I talk a lotta trash, but I'm like a dumptruck... I back it up!" (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlm6MIdMvG0&feature=related and/or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKTUmPyyAH4&feature=related)

[Kenneth The Poet]

That is awesome.

[Crowley]

Bruce Hornsby is so good and especially that song. Great social comment on the way things are these days when it comes to music. Observations turned into fine poetry indeed. Loved it.