{"id":59128,"date":"2025-09-15T00:01:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T04:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/?p=59128"},"modified":"2025-09-15T00:32:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T04:32:23","slug":"to-be-named","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/?p=59128","title":{"rendered":"Some Musical Observations"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve had a couple of musical ideas filed away to talk about, one for quite a while. But it didn’t tip over the edge until earlier today, when I saw something that ground my gears a bit. So I have three things to mention, one of which is a bit of a rant. That was the thing from earlier today. Although, as an introduction, I will tell you about the word “Cromarty.” I knew this word exclusively from Cromartie High School<\/em>, the English title of the manga and anime Sakigake!! Kuromati Koko.<\/i> Or literally translated “Forging valiantly ahead! Cromarty High School!” The use of “ie” instead of a “y” seems to be derived purely from common practice, rather than author’s prerogative. “Kuromati” is a Japanese phonetic pronunciation of “Cromarty,” a Scottish word that is likely derived from combining the Gaelic words “crom,” “ard,” and “bati” meaning respectively “crooked,” “heights,” and “bay.” Given the nature of the manga story, “crooked” is certainly applicable in multiple senses. What led to this odyssey was the newest Rex’s Hangar<\/em> video about the “Cromarty,” the Short Brothers first flying boat, which of course led to all the other Short Brothers flying boats, especially in WWII and the 1950’s. Some still claim the Short Brothers manufactured the first “production airplane” in 1909, despite the Wright Brothers having entered into contracts to produce airplanes based on their Flyer III in 1908. (The argument is valid because the airplane produced to be sold under those contracts was the Wright Model B, which became available in 1910. But likewise the first “production” Short is claimed by some to be either their No. 2 or No. 3, both of which were “ordered” by someone else in quantities of ONE EACH; in 1909 and 1910. It’s also worth noting, I think; that the Short designs were based on the Wright’s Flyer.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Most of you are aware that a popular use of YouTube is hobbyist or aspiring professional singers uploading covers of popular songs. I see a lot of these, as one of the things I use YouTube for is listening to music. Earlier today I saw one of these videos, someone performing a (quotes used to make the point) “cover of “Rascal Flatts’ ‘Life Is A Highway’.” Now of course, part of my objection is the old person in me screaming “Get off my lawn!” at the kids. Because Rascal Flatts’ “Life Is A Highway” is a COVER. And not one of the many Brooks and Dunn “covers of middling 60’s and 70’s songs that you didn’t know were covers,” but a cover of a HIT from the early 1990’s. Tom Cochrane hit big in 1991 with “Life Is A Highway” in Canada, and it was pretty big the next year in the U.S. While the Rascal Flatts cover for the movie Cars<\/em> in 2006 had a larger presence on digital media for a few years, I would still point out that this version is a pretty straight-forward cover. There are examples of covers that fundamentally change a song…consider Marilyn Manson’s “version” of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)”. Manson changed the tone and speed, presented the lyrics with different emphasis and style, and by doing so created a different response and thought process. The song is about different things than the original.<\/p>\n