Besides some incredible music coming out of the mid’60’s a new trend emerged that was, musically, unlike any other. Unfortunately that trend is now in danger again.
I am talking about the record labels printing the lyrics with the LPs. Yes, I realize LPs are dead and gone along with 8-tracks, Cassette Tapes, and Mini-CDs. But how magical was it to actually know what was being sung?
The advent of smaller size delivery made it difficult to print the lyrics. So, a new generation was born.
To fill this gap Internet companies such as LyricWiki came along. A free service that would solve the “What the hell did they say?” question. Once again people would know what the artist said and for some artist, such as Pearl Jam or Bob Dillion, we wouldn’t have a clue otherwise.
But there is another benefit.
Having the lyrics available keeps some people from running around singing all the wrong words with authority. I have seen them – heck, I have even been one. These people need to be stopped.
So what is the problem?
Well, lyrics, like music and movies, are intellectual property. They have been copyrighted and you really are not allowed to print them without paying a royalty. So companies left and right like LyricWiki are being shut down for revealing what the singer sung.
Bummer.
Soon we may not know what Mika, Sting, or Dave Matthews are even talking about. Wonderful lyrics lost in the red tape.
I guess I will just go back to listening to “Who let the Snogs Out?” while thinking how to solve the pressing problem. Any ideas?
Fine, I suppose this is where you look for some witty insights to my mind. A "bio" of sorts. Here is the deal... I ride motorcycles, smoke cigars, golf, kayak, fly, race my car through the mountains, write (a lot), and travel extensively. I am almost old enough not to care what other people think about me...almost. ~Godfadr
Well maybe we could have a government run music service..a masterlist of every song ever created!!!! Afterall, isn’t having the lyrics in print a guaranteed right in some educational bill or another? I mean come on, despite being the leader in musical output, we’re behind Lichtenstein, Luxembourg and South Korea in the category of Understanding Music Lyrics category, according to some obscure U.N. panel’s report.
However, “The Never-ending Song” lyrics may require the Federal Reserve to infuse a little more cash into the system to pay the artists/record companies to reprint the entire song.
Artists can post their lyrics on their websites or record labels can post them for free on their websites. I think record labels would love this and want to force traffic to their sites so they can push merchandise, their other artists and concerts.
Also, shouldn’t there be an easy way to include the lyrics along with the album art when downloaded from Itunes or Amazon?
I agree, I think it is better to have the words out there and try and figure how the songwriter gets compensated (like if they sell more music, isn’t that compensation?).
Don’t know about Amazon. iTunes does have lyrics with some of the music, but not others. Go figure. They probably need permission.