Vol. 11(8), pp. 812-822, 23 April, 2016 DOI: 10.5897/ERR2016.2724 Article Number: C85BD7458193 ISSN 1990-3839 Educational Research and Reviews Copyright © 2016 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/ERR Full Length Research Paper Effect of popular music covers designed in different styles on acclaim of pre-service teachers Murat Devrim Babacan Necmettin Erbakan University State Conservatory, Konya, Turkey. Received 27 February, 2016; Accepted 14 April, 2016 This research was performed with the purpose of examining the differences of acclaim, their causes, and acclaim status of original recordings of popular songs and their cover versions rearranged in different styles. The research was conducted using the qualitative research method. The participants were asked to listen to three songs with two different cover versions of each. The researcher then asked them to complete a survey form. The research subjects were the second semester junior and senior preservice music teachers of the 2014-2015 academic year (n:49). Data from the first question and cover choices (oriented towards their musical tastes) are presented as a frequency distribution table in line with the data obtained, and the acclaim criteria and opinions on the acclaim criteria and underlying reasons for the selected pieces were analyzed using the content analysis method. According to the general conclusion of the research, when the acclaim of subjects was examined for all three pieces, it was observed that cover interpretations were preferred. Moreover, there are similarities between the criteria subjects have considered in liking a piece and their views on the pieces they like. Key words: Popular music, cover songs, pre-service teachers. INTRODUCTION In its original meaning “cover” is a new performance of a of the vocals.” According to Tsai (2008:1670), “a cover well-liked musical piece in a rearrangement by different version of a song refers to a new rendition of a song that singers in different styles and manners. Although the was originally recorded and made popular by another origin of this word, which is commonly phrased as “cover artist.” song”, “making a cover” or “covering” in Turkish, is Arrangements are frequently encountered songs that English based on ancient French (Coverir, 13th Century), have garnered a certain number of listeners in the past or it has long been used as it is in many languages. The present, thus becoming popular. There could be different most common equivalent in Turkish is “arrangement” reasons for rearranging a musical piece. Some of these (URL-1). According to Serrà (2010:307), “a cover version could involve the desire of the artist to play the piece in a is an alternative rendition of a previously recorded song. different interpretation, “sound” or style due to the musical Given that a cover may differ from the original song in concerns and likes of the artist. Tsai (2008: 1670) indicates timbre, tempo, structure, key, arrangement, or language that “It is often used as a means to attract audiences who E-mail: [email protected]. Authors agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Babacan 813 like a familiar song, or to increase the popularity of an (2012), in “Reflection to Academic Studies of the artist by adapting a proven hit.” Arranged pieces could Confusion in Musical Terms”, has highlighted certain give the original song a new lease of life and lend it a issues regarding the terms used in literature in his study new perspective. Some cover works garner even more “Original, Parallel, Variation, Variant, Arrangement, Cover, acclaim and become more successful than the original Performance”, and the confusion about terms that song itself and as such they could be preferred over the express the same purpose especially in Turkish music original version. such as “original, parallel, performance, variation, Arrangements inherently display differences on many arrangement, transfer, emulation, dressing, variant” and points compared to their originals. The way the song is “mold melody, motive expression, mold motive”. Yano performed could be completely different. As variations to (2005) studied the cover versions of the “enka” song the melody could be added, the lyrics could be form, which is a popular type of Japanese music with interpreted differently or changed completely. The emotional undertones. Yoneoka (2008) on the other hand harmonic structure of the original piece could be altered studied the process in which American popular songs of to some or a large extent. The rhythmic structure or the 1950s were made into covers by Japanese artists tempo of the song could be performed at a completely and the cultural differences that this process revealed. different level and style. Its orchestration could be altered When the related literature is studied, it could be completely and it could even be introduced as a different observed that there is a considerable body of research style of music, and this could be one of the reasons why pertaining to the factors that give rise to likes and dislikes such pieces could have a surprising impact on audiences. in music. Şenel (2014:216) has defined individual factors In consideration of all the changes made, the resultant that determine musical preference as age, gender, ethnic song is usually in a completely different timbre with a background, personality, and the listening state of the familiar melody and lyrics. The differences in the piece person that defines the psychological state of the person, could reveal the likes of different groups of listeners. and expressed that while the effect of these may display Acclaim is defined as: “aesthetic judgment and evaluation fluctuations based on the person or conditions, these power based on a sentiment that is definitive, reliable, factors that seem to be personal are also entwined with and fine distinctions; the ability to separate beauty from social factors. Social factors may be listed as social ugliness, subjective-personal color and certainty of class, family, peers, enculturation, media, and prestige, aesthetic perception” (URL-3:TDK, 2016). According to and most researchers state that the most important factor Babacan (2011) “the differentiation of musical in the formation of musical preference is the social appreciation on the basis of numerous factors is the main context the music is in. reason behind the emergence of different genres of The purpose, in Barry and Walls (1999)‟s study was to music today.” It is also possible for a song whose obtain reactions of preservice teachers to aural examples rearrangement has been performed without aiming for of various musical styles and genres. Popular music was any effect on the listener, but the most important factors rated highest and instrumental selections rated lowest by in its achieving acclaim are generally both a known song preservice teachers. The pieces were from another being heard in a new form as well as the song taking the culture and non-English songs. Also, students with music form of a different music genre. On this subject Konecni experience gave higher ratings for instrumental and (1982:500), in “Social Interaction and Musical western art music and lower ratings for popular genres Preference”, stated that stimulation affects music compared to students without music experience. selection in a variety of ways, such as complexity, The aim of Gürgen (2015)‟s study was to investigate if novelty, and perplexity, while Gregory (1988) commented there is any connection between musical preference, that the tempo, rhythm, tone color, texture and resonance genre identification and frequency of listening to music are also effective in the acclaim of music besides the genres, and whether musical training and gender play a noise level, which is one of the most important role in these factors. As a result of the correlation determinants of the reaction people will give to music analysis, a statistically significant relationship was found (Witchel, 2010:46; Şenel, 2014:214). between the students‟ musical preferences and the The literature includes definitions, types and varied frequency with which they listened to that music. In a research studies regarding “cover”. To give an example, study that was conducted by Ferrer et al. (2013), the Mosser (2008) has provided detailed information on participants were asked to specify their favourite musical “cover songs” and especially cover types at the website genres and their musical preferences. Researchers found “Popular Musicology Online”. In a study by Çakır (2012) that for 29% of the individuals, the genre-based titled “An Analysis on the „Cover‟ Concept within Popular measures did not successfully account for their musical Music Culture in Turkey”, the “cover” concept used preferences. In the Ginocchio's (2008) study, participants' nationally and internationally has been analyzed from degree of preference for styles of popular, jazz, and various perspectives, and the songs, whose arrange- classical music was examined and the results were ments were made and the performers and groups that compared to Leblanc's (1979) findings. The participants performed arrangements the most were examined. Uslu mostly preferred punk rock music followed by pop, rap, 814 Educ. Res. Rev. dance, heavy metal, hard rock, and country music. The related to this topic have been found within the context of least favored styles were traditional jazz and romantic relevant literature. The aim of this study is to examine the classical music. Compared to Leblanc‟s (1979) study, levels of acclaim of the re-arranged versions of popular there was a similarity in the raking of styles despite a songs, and the reasons for such appreciation. In this decline in overall music preference since the study. context, the following questions were posed: The purpose of another study conducted by Mace et al. (2011) was to examine how well individuals were able to 1.