Cover versions in popular vocal music: Trends of emergence

Abstract

The research is dedicated to examining the origins and the history of development of a musical adaptation technique known as creating cover versions within the study of the aspect of interpretation in contemporary music, particularly in popular vocal art. The aim of the paper is to identify the main trends in the emergence of cover versions in popular vocal music. The scientific novelty of the research lies in its exploration of the peculiarities of the phenomenon of cover versions in the context of the transformation of popular music and vocal-popular performance culture as a whole, spanning from the 1940s to the early 21st century. As a result, the author concludes that the key trends in the history of emergence of cover versions in popular vocal music were as follows: 1) the practical one, involving the use of cover versions to improve performers’ skill; 2) the commercial one, where recording cover versions became a popular commercial product due to advancements in recording and broadcasting technologies; 3) the artistic individualisation, within which higher demands were placed on song material in popular music culture and certain criteria, such as individualisation, sincerity, purity of performance and authenticity of the performer’s versions, were predominant.