SecondHandSongs is building the most comprehensive source of cover song information, by means of a database of originals, cover songs, sampled songs and sampling songs.
This advanced database stores the data in a reusable and maintainable way, and which is interconnected to many other online databases.
What is a performance?
A performance is a version of a work performed by one or more performing artists. A performance can be an original or a cover or sampling version.
How is an original performance defined?
SHS defines three types of originals for a work.
- The first (public) performance of a work
- The first recording of a work
- The first release of a work
Example: the work Apache has two originals. Bert Weedon recorded it first in May 1960 and The Shadows released it first in July 1960.
Note: a work should always have at least one original performance associated with it, unless the work is a traditional.
How is a cover version defined?
A cover is a performance of a work that is not an original, performed by an artist different from the artist performing the original performance.
Example: the 1973 version of Apache by Incredible Bongo Band is a cover version because it is neither the original performance, recording or release of the work.
What is an adaptation?
An adaptation is a new version of a work, for instance a translation. An adaptation usually has new credits, and can have original and cover performances as well.
Example: the French work Comme d'habitude was adapted into English by Paul Anka as My Way.
An adaptation can be based on multiple works as well.
Example: the work Scarborough Fair/Canticle was adapted from the works Scarborough Fair and The Side of a Hill.
What is a sample?
A sample is a piece of a performance reused in another performance.
Example: Black Eyed Peas used a sample of Misirlou by Dick Dale and His Del-Tones in their song Pump It.
Are remixes considered as samples?
A remix is an alternate mix of a recorded performance different from the original version, made using the techniques of audio editing. Remixes are not included in our database, except when the remix itself is sampled or covered by another artist.
Example: The 1986 remix of Give it Up or Turnit a Loose by James Brown was sampled by many hip hop artists, including Public Enemy.