Jean Baudrillard defines the first stage of simulacra as “the reflection of a basic reality” (1560). It is a copy, and we know it is a copy because it follows the course of the original. It is the difference between the original copy of “Beggin’” by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (see Player 1) and the version of the same song in the musical Jersey Boys (see Player 2). One was obviously made in a sort of tribute to the other, and though there are slight differences in rhythm, the essential song remains the same.
Most of the time, this is as far as simulacra tends to go in song, as usually artists only wish to remake the music that they already love, and therefore try to keep as close to the original as possible in homage to something they love. At the same time, however, the artist covering the song infuses a bit of their own style so that the newer version of the song doesn’t feel redundant and therefore pointless. There are times, of course, when simulacra in song goes farther, such as the rap artist Madcon’s rendition of “Beggin’” (see Player 3), which fulfills Baudrillard’s requirements for the second stage of simulacra in that it “perverts the original” (1560) in the sense that while there is some of the original text there, what has been left has been twisted to fit the new artist’s agenda. Though the basic tune and most of the chorus is the same in Madcom’s version, the original “Beggin’” has started to fade, and there might be those who hear the song that do not realize that Madcom has borrowed elements of his popular hit from another popular song in an earlier decade.
It will be interesting in future to see the third and fourth stages of simulacra emerge in the music industry. In the days of the generic pop ballad, it is quite possible that the third and fourth stages have already arrived, and we are as of yet simply unaware that it has.
Baudrillard, Jean. "The Precession of Simulacra." The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. 1553-566. Print.
"Beggin' - Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive." Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine. Web. 14 May 2011.
"Madcon - Beggin : Radioescuela : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive." Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine. Web. 14 May 2011.
"YouTube - Jersey Boys - Beggin'" YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.
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