[Bards] My apologies to John Travolta and the Beegees, but it just kind of happened

Sun May 25 21:35:47 PDT 2008

For the love of the Gods!!  This is exactly why I don't post to lists.  I
could go on and on and rebuke different points and argue my "case" as it
where.  But I don't have to.  Its been done by countless numbers of people
over many different lists ever since I began playing 10 years ago.  But this
was posted in fun.  As to singing it at an event, I wouldn't even sing it to
my wife while sitting in front of the computer after I filked it.  I
personally am quite tired of hearing the whole argument for and against
filk, its been beaten to death and bantered over for at least 10 years.
It's a Game played in Fun.  I wish we could remember that and keep it that
way.

Allon

From: bards-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org
[mailto:bards-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org] On Behalf Of Ken Theriot
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 5:53 PM
To: 'Ansteorran Bardic list'
Subject: Re: [Bards] My apologies to John Travolta and the Beegees, but it
just kind of happened

OK, just as an example of what I was saying before..this is all in good fun,
and appropriate for certain venues.  I can certainly appreciate it in that
way.  But may I please make an appeal to everyone to NOT sing this at an
event, at least not until it is well after midnight and sufficiently drunk
out?  I know I'm gonna get yelled at, and I don't mean to kick anyone's
puppy.  But I just wish the bardic arts in Ansteorra could steer itself away
from filks to obviously modern songs.  It starts out as something everyone
gets a good laugh at, and then before you know it, people are singing it at
competitions and bardic circles, and it spreads and can't be contained.  So
what is wrong with it?  Well first and foremost, it is illegal.  The song
this was filked to (and I could name half a dozen others that I have
recently heard sung in competitions that are in the same category) is under
active copyright.  That means the tune AND the words.  Most of the filks I
hear actually don't even change that many words from the original!  I have
literally heard someone sing a song that was identical to the modern
original except for changing one word to "Ansteorra."  When you publicly
perform a copyrighted work that is not your own, you break the law.  And
guess who is liable?  Not you!  The person/group performing the copyrighted
song is not who would be sued in the event of legal action.  It is the
venue.  So technically, any of the sites where we hold events could
literally be sued for copyright infringement if one of our members performs
a song under active copyright.  Even if the filker changed every word, and
wrote a completely new lyric (would that it were so!!!), the use of the tune
is still protected.  Secondly, as I mentioned in an earlier post on filk,
obviously modern tunes can snap people out of the medieval reverie.  You
would NEVER blast a boom box of The BeeGees in the middle of an event.  So
how is this any different?  We strive to avoid it in every other area, but
seem to actively encourage it in our art.

I recently judged the bardic competition (with Dona Antonia) at Squires and
Cadets, and one competitor sang a filk called "Always a Herald to Me."  The
mere fact that I am a huge Billy Joel fan in my mundane life is the main
reason why that performance killed the SCA atmosphere for me.  I had "Always
a Woman to Me" stuck in my head the rest of the day.  

Don Mateo, who is an excellent bard recently moved into Ansteorra, has a
great filk story.  He said he wrote a filk several years ago, and stuck the
paper away somewhere.  A few years later, he found the paper and had
completely forgotten what tune he had filked it to (which means he wrote a
completely new lyric, and didn't just change 3 or 4 words from the original,
or he would have recognized it...hint..hint).  So he was forced to write an
original tune to it.  Voila!  A completely new work, words and lyrics.  

OK, so I made a big deal out of something that was just for fun.  I realize
that.  I posted the Viking filk to the Llama song on this list..but as an
example of bad versus better filk.  I just wanted to voice this opinion once
again after hearing sooooo many modern filks this weekend.  

Now I am going to try to stave off this descending cloud of fatigue and
unconsciousness until bed time..if....possible.  Bjornsborg....far
away..from...Steppes.

Kenneth

PS  I heard some fantastic performances at the competition last night!  Our
kingdom is truly blessed with some awesome talent.

-K 

  _____  

From: James Rushin [mailto:dweezle at pcsok.com] 
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 2:51 AM
To: 'Ansteorran Bardic list'
Subject: [Bards] My apologies to John Travolta and the Beegees,but it just
kind of happened

Stayin' Alive

Tune by the Bee Gees

Words by Ld. Allon McBaine

 Well you can tell by the way I use my walk

I'm a fightin' man, no time to talk.

Freon helms, and duct taped swords, 

I've been knocked around,

Since before you were born.

But it's all right, it's ok,

This bout can go any other way.

You should try to understand,

I swear it's nothin' personal man.

If your hesitatin' then it's your life I'm takin',

Cause I'm stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

See the shields breakin', feel the ground shakin'. 

Cause I'm stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

HA HA Ha Ha stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

HA HA HA HA stayin' alive...

Well now, I swing low and I swing high,

And If I can't get in, then I'll really try.

Got the wings of Ravens on my shoes,

I'm Odin's man and I just can't lose.

You know it's all right, it's Ok.

I'll live to see another day.

You should try to understand,

I swear its nothin' personal man.

If your hesitatin' then it's your life I'm takin',

Cause I'm stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

See the shields breakin', feel the ground shakin'. 

Cause I'm stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

HA HA Ha Ha stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

HA HA HA HA stayin' alive...

Fights, goin' nowhere, somebody help him.

Somebody help him, please.

Fights goin' nowhere, somebody help them,

Cause I'm stayin' alive...

Well you can tell by the way I use my walk

I'm a fightin' man, no time to talk.

Freon helms, and duct taped swords, 

I've been knocked around,

Since before you were born.

But it's all right, it's ok,

This bout can go any other way.

You should try to understand,

I swear it's nothin' personal man.

If your hesitatin' then its your life I'm takin',

Cause I'm stayin alive, stayin alive.

See the shields breakin', feel the ground shakin'. 

Cause I'm stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

HA HA Ha Ha stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

HA HA HA HA stayin' alive...

Fights, goin' nowhere, somebody help him.

Somebody help him, please.

Fights goin' nowhere, somebody help them,

Cause I'm stayin' alive...

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