Assemblage: From Amy to Florence to Beyoncé

The basis of today’s blog post will be the difference between bare repetition and ethical assemblages. Arola and Arola define bare repetition as performing something the same way that your ancestors did, or in other words, copying someone else without changing their work to create something different. Creative repetition is what they would consider an ethical assemblage; this is when someone takes something that someone else has already done and transforms it into their own version of this original idea. To stick with the recent theme of music and remediation, we will be comparing three different versions of the same song, “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse.

Here is a link to the video for Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJAfLE39ZZ8

Here is a link to Florence and the Machine’s cover of “Back to Black” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqe35aouiOc

Here is a link to Beyoncé and Andre 3000’s version of “Back to Black” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxQWckbhVTU

Florence and the Machine covered “Back to Black” in tribute to Winehouse during a live show, which would be an example of bare repetition. This cover does not change anything from the original version, Florence simply sings the song the same way that Amy does, which is in contrast to the version created by Beyoncé and Andre 3000. Their version has completely reinvented the song. The lyrics are still the same but the beat has been altered until it is almost unrecognizable. With the original version of the song there is an old school vibe to it, it could sound like it is from another time period. Whereas with Andre 3000’s version the lyrics are chopped and screwed, occasionally repeated in areas that they were not in the original, and he plays with the pitch in which the lyrics are sang. Beyoncé also follows his lead and sings her parts in the song completely different from Winehouse’s version. Their version reinvented the song, in a spin that people either loved or hated. Regardless, this would be an example of creative repetition because the two took Winehouse’s song and made it their own.

Each version of Winehouse’s song contributes very different things for their audiences. Florence’s version was done in remembrance of the late singer following her death. Audiences were not as critical of this version because they understood that Florence directly copying Winehouse was done with good intentions. Covers are generally well received by audiences and are extremely common after an artist dies. Beyoncé and Andre 3000’s version of “Back to Black” was done for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, which explains why it is so different from the original. The two recreated their cover of the song with the theme of the movie in mind. When audiences listen to the song without knowing this piece of information they tend to judge it more harshly.

This criticism relates to how I believe we should respond to potentially harmful assemblage, whether it is hurtful because it appropriates a culture, does not credit the original from which is drew its inspiration, or because it tarnishes the legacy of the original. We should call out harmful assemblages for their faults if they are harmful towards a community or the original artist. However, Fair Use does prevent bare repetition from occurring. If someone does not alter their version of another artist’s work well enough they will not be protected under Fair Use. Fair Use only protects those that attempt to transform another’s work into their own.

Design and circulation definitely play a part in the ethical status of assemblages. If an artist designs their work in a way that claims credit entirely for something that was inspired by another artist or population and then distributes it as their own work I would consider this unethical. Not all bare repetition is a bad thing, when someone copies someone else without the intention of giving them credit and claiming it as their own it becomes an issue. However, if someone draws inspiration from work that already exists or another culture and they give them credit and do it in a way that is not appropriation then I would consider it ethical. The ethics of an assemblage depend on its delivery to the audience and how it is crafted.

Personally, I see covers of songs that are credited as covers of other songs when released as good examples of bare repetition. I also thoroughly enjoy each version of “Black to Black” that I listed. Each one provides the audience with something new, each with a different meaning. They all evoke different emotions out of the audience as well.