Incorrect listing in A to Z of Midifiles

[steveb]

I have just taken a trip through A to Z of Midifiles and found a lot of incorrect listing. Generally a midifile listed with the incorrect artist. I had notice a lot of discrepancies a while ago and I notified Glen but it looks like some more have slipped in.

[thingyy]

Dont forget that in different countries there were cover versions.
Donnna in the UK Marty Wild ...USA Richie Valence
I've Been Everywhere Man each country had its own version.
Under the Boardwalk USA Drifters Australia Johny O'Keefe UK Rolling Stones
etc etc

[rossi]

I agree, there are a number of incorrect listings, but that is only from my point of view and because I am generally in focus with the British charts. You must remember that these files can be travelling from all points of the world, and as stated, different countries have differnt versions.
We do have listings under artists name and song name so I think the problem is largely obviated by this.
Rossi

[JazzCat]

The name of the 'Artist', on a file in my opinion should reflect the version. If they don't then listing the artist is kinda useless. I'm quite sure that the Rolling Stones version of Under the Boardwalk would not be close to the version the Drifters did. The Drifters were an R&B group. Roling Stones, Rock. ( No I didn't go listen, I'm just using it as a possible scenario, not as a factual example of a misnaming)

[jford]

I have to disagree somewhat with JazzCat. I do agree that a specific version of the song should list the artist that performed that version (for example, "Kentucky Rain" by Elvis Presley or Eddie Rabbitt, or "In The Ghetto" by Elvis Presley or Mac Davis - the second name in each case being the composer, who also recorded it as well). However, because song titles cannot be copyrighted (a good thing, in my opinion), then it would be nice for even a generic version of the song to have an artist listed, if for no other reason than knowing which song it is. For example, there's Neil Diamond's "America" and Paul Simon's "America". Two very different songs. Having the name lets me know which one it is. Here's an example of this: Different Songs With Similar Names.

[ironbaden]

The idea Jford.... not to give u a hard time here ... is that when a midi file is created the creater references a certain version of the song...therefor I agree with Jazzcat when i'm looking for a midi file i'm looking for a specific version of a tune. In ur example... You used America by neil diamond and paul simon . If I'm looking for the song America - neil diamond ... I already know the version i'm looking for. so i would go to the song list and see america.... i would see the different versions..... I would see America - Niel diamond america - paul simon ...I might even see america - Yes ( the band ) now which one am i gonna download? America - Neil daimond... cuz that file was created using the niel diamond version as the benchmark. if i download it and I compare it to the original CD recording they should be very similar...if they are not...then the site that posted this file is in error and needs to be contacted. i don't see the need of adding the composer to the listing as if ur aware of the version your looking for...such as elvis's version of Kentucky rain.... I'm not gonna make the mistake in the artist list ... Kentucky rain - Elvis tells me its the version i'm looking for. sorry for the rant Jford... nuthing personal...

[jford]

Hi, Ironbaden -

I sort of see your point, but I think you missed mine.

I was mainly responding to JazzCat's comment that listing the artist is useless if it's not that artist's arrangement. Well, I don't think it's useless, because it gives you a point of reference. Perhaps it's an alternate arrangement of a song by a particular artist, but not the same arrangement on the album. Maybe it's a BIAB or Jammer arrangement, or maybe someone thought the electric piano on the original would sound better as an acoustic piano sound. Or someone added strings where there weren't originally strings.

So if it's not the exact arrangements for the different songs, should I just see:

America
America
America

and figure it out which was which after I downloaded it (Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, and the American version of God Save The Queen). Or should it be listed as:

America - Neil Diamond
America - Paul Simon
America - American Patriotic

Maybe there needs to be some text to indicate it's an alternate arrangement, but at least you know who's song it is, even if it's not their exact arrangement.

Of course, MIDI Mart might not post such an arrangement at all, so it would all be moot anyway.

There was a recent posting in the new files for "How Can I Be Sure", originally listed as the Partrage Family (later corrected to the Partridge Family), but... I listened to my actual recordings of both the Partridge Family version and the Rascals version, and this MIDI file is definitely closer to the Rascals version (although both are similar), but not exact. Well, it's still listed as Partridge Family (I did make the suggestion that it should be the Rascals). So if the arrangement is really somewhere in between, which one is it? Well, having some artist listed gets me at least close - Partridge Family or Rascals. I would still know which song it was and I can work with that.

I might be disappointed in the arrangement (and some are better than others), but I wouldn't download "My Country 'Tis of Thee..." when I really wanted "Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together...", or "On the boats and on the planes, they're coming to America".

I'll stop ranting now too... nuthing personal...

[ironbaden]

I do seem to be missing ur point......

in response to this..... " I was mainly responding to JazzCat's comment that listing the artist is useless "

I don't see anywhere where she say;s its useless..... and to be honest your both saying the same thing.... what she is saying is ..... If its the neil diamond version ur looking for..... it should read America - Neil diamond now if niel diamond was to record the paul simon america as well..... then i see ur point

cuz u would then see America- Neil diamond and America Niel Diamond I would say then u would need to say...

America - Niel diamond
America - Niel Daimond ( paul simon )

no where do i see her saying that there should be no artist listed.....
what i read is... her saying the artist listed on the song should reperesent the version ur downloading. that makes perfect sense to me... if i want the niel diamond version of America... i want to see it listed that way.

I guess i just don't see what your issue is... could u walk me thru a typical song search and what u would like to see?...

[jford]

jazzcat said:

The name of the 'Artist', on a file in my opinion should reflect the version. If they don't then listing the artist is kinda useless.

That's from her post above, quoted. Notice the last word in the sentence.

But we've gone back and forth too much and not accomplished much, so let's just let it stay at that, shake hands, go grab a brewski, and say "cheers".

[ironbaden]

Oh your absolutly righ Jford i do apologize... i read her post three times and didn't see that... got me there M8..... its no prob here at all..i'll take ya up on the drink... just that.... were i do the updates to the pages if there is a concern that should be addressed i'd like to know about it... i didn't mean to come off as a goof... i do apologize... its just i don't understand the issue and if u could walk me thru just so i understand.... but if u don't want to...no sweat... no harm and no foul.... and besides a little professional banter never hurt anyone. and things never get changed for the bettter unless issues are brought up.. anyway's M8... Cheers!!

[jford]

"Useless" to me implied that the artist should not be listed unless the song is that particular artist's rendition. I was only trying to make the point that listing "an" artist is not useless, because it serves as a reference to the particular song you're talking about. In this case, I suppose the "artist" could even be the composer. I just wouldn't want to see a song title without that kind of reference, because there are just too many like or similar titles out there. In the end, it's really not that important, so I've got some Beamish Draught in the fridge calling out to me, so I'll lift the glass, and say "cheers". Feel free to join me...

[ironbaden]

Gotya Jford.... I guess the porblem was i missed the useless part of thye quote.... I'm with ya now M8..... I 've never tried Beamish Draught....... any good?

[jford]

Well, here in the States and the fact it was in a can sort makes it not really draught (or draft, as we say here), but it was tasty, nevertheless. Uh-oh, come to think of it, that was my last can, so looks like I'm going to have to get some more. I prefer Guinness, but Beamish is a nice change of pace. Here are some generally favorable opinions:

rss.epinions.com/rss/linkin_id-8003929/product-118138

This is their main site:

www.beamish.ie/main_flash.asp

[JazzCat]

ironbaden , You indeed took my meaning correctly.

jford, you completey misunderstood my meaning.

When I said 'Useless' I was certainly not referring to the artist's name being listed as 'useless' in the manner you took it.

This is what I meant. If someone lists a tune with oh, let's say, Frank Sinatra as the artist you are going to expect to hear Frank Sinatra's version or at least something big band-ish. You won't be expecting to hear a Rolling Stones screaming guitar version of the tune.
Is my meaning clear now? LOL!

[jford]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, and thanks for clarifying. It still brings up the question, so, if I do my own rendition/orchestration/version/whatever of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" and by some chance of luck the song got posted, who should be listed next to the song? Me? Of course, most folks would then respond with, who the heck is jford; isn't that a Frank Sinatra or a Paul Anka song? It's not Sinatra's or Anka's version, but it is definitely the same song. Not trying to beat a dead horse, just trying to understand. And in the big scheme of things, it all doesn't really matter that much anyway.

[ironbaden]

I would ,list it under frank sinatra...simply because the midifile created is a version of that song.... If you made a midi and claimed it was created exactly like the Frank sinatra version and i listened to it and it was the Sid Viscious ( sex pistols ) version... I would list it as my way - sid vicious .... and contact u and say hey M8... this versious u did is not the frank version but a punk version. if we listend to the version and found it to be completely different from both ..it neither soiunds like the big band frank sinatra version....or the version by sid vicious... we may in fact list it as ... My way - Jford Just my take on it tho... see the versions listed are based on what version the maker of the midi was referencing when it was created.

[jford]

ironbaden said:

If you made a midi and claimed it was created exactly like the Frank sinatra version and i listened to it and it was the Sid Viscious ( sex pistols ) version...

Hey, Ironbaden -

Just to show you I'm a good sport, here you go...

My Way - Sounds exactly like Frank Sinatra

;D

[ironbaden]

Now That sir..was totally funny.... LOL awesome... ;D... now ya got it M8.... LOL... I'm gonna use that file M8....... that is brilliant!!

[midimart]

Now to Answer jford's question.....

If I used this one on site, and it is created by jford, it would be listed this way... (Small Pun).

Sex Pistols

My Way (Not-MM)
(Arr by jford)

This is how I list them on MidiMart.....

Is there really any right or wrong way as long as you like the music......?

[JazzCat]

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! Love the file! That is tooooooo frikkin' funny!!! LOL!!!

Seriously though, I think I'd name it similarly to the way you did:

My Way_PunkVersion-seq-Jford

This way I know what tune it is, I know it's far from a standard version and I know who the lil' devil is that sequenced it ! LOL!