HumanitiesMusicologyHistorical MusicologyMedia CriticismMusic CriticismGenre CriticismHistorical Music CriticismRecording CriticismSong InterpretationCover Song InterpretationGenre CoveragePopular Music IndustryRepresentation In Music CoverageRepresentation In Music CriticismSong Criticism
Abstract The music industry of the late 20th and eraly 21st century has been enamoured by the singer–songwriter; this has caused critics and fans to dismiss the singer who "covers" songs as a less legitimate artist. "In Defense of Cover Songs" argues that the singer who sings songs written by others is also a legitimate artist and that cover songs represent a form of artistic interpretation that goes beyond mere "copying."