How do you feel about people changing the words of a song or adding their own when covering a song
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Raven
Amira
Estelle
I think there's a place for everything. There's a place for interpretation, which is widely acknowledged as the standard way to cover a song, changing nothing but the artist singing it. But a reframing of art is still art. It doesn't mean that art is less valid or less respected for having been reworked somehow... I suppose I take this personally, because I love rewriting songs, but I still believe there is a place for it. Music is about feeling, at the end of the day. You can love a song and still want to work with it until it becomes your own thing. Changing pronouns, or gendered terms is the most common way of doing this... But if I see a gap in the market for the song to tell a different side of the story it's already telling, why not? (Again, this is just my view).
Calum
For anyone who wants to listen to the songs Matt mentioned in his comment: Imagine by John Lennon interpreted by a perfect circle https://youtu.be/_7IZxXMc_cc?si=pN4xkNdcApk_MsuV Frank Turner version of Delilah: https://youtu.be/3AVUaFr5S9g?si=wKphRseoE0zx9sKF and disturb the sound of silence: https://youtu.be/Bk7RVw3I8eg?si=hwHUzJ3d7qaFXkCP 
Literophilus
Oh, I absolutely agree with Estelle, thank you for phrasing these opinion in this way because I was afraid that I was not going to be that eloquent 
Calum
Estelle
Poppa LowFi
I could argue this one both ways. With the Cohensong, none of the covers I’ve heard are as good as the original, new verses and all. I did like when Richard Thompson added a verse to the Phil Ochs song I ain’t Marchin’ Anymore, but generally, changing words around doesn’t work for me. Good question and thanks!
Matt Cooper
Calum
https://youtu.be/Tmumt43zHPM?si=IHjbEr5EkH2u0Y4C