Your thoughts on Homage/Pastiche?

[MarkOne]

The song I'm currently working on as part of my one song a month project for 2021 took a sudden left turn as I started to flesh out the production. It started to get the vibe of a Bond theme song, so I sort of embraced that and went for the John Barry strings, the staccato horns, briefly quoted that 5,6,7,6 chromatic motif and looked to David Arnolds blend of orchestra, synth elements, arpeggios hits and risers. It even has that Am maj 7/9 guitar chord at the end. (Well transposed down to G in my case)

I'm super happy with it, but I'd be interested in peoples thoughts. I certainly haven't borrowed any of the key melodic elements, but it is definitely and unashamedly a homage.

[Wonks]

That's how plenty of library music composers make a jolly good living!

[Drew Stephenson]

Nothing wrong with a good homage.

[RichardT]

I Agree with Drew and Wonks - the only downside I have found is it’s hard to find a place for an homage in an album, but that’s just my own experience.

[chanceoperation]

Try and throw in something completely out of character. Something you like, maybe in another circumstance. Imitation is (the sincerest form of) flattery. For a true homage, make it your own. Surprise us.

[Martin Walker]

Try and throw in something completely out of character. Something you like, maybe in another circumstance. Imitation is (the sincerest form of) flattery. For a true homage, make it your own. Surprise us.

I love this idea!

Its also what I listen out for when commercial musicians release a cover version of a well-known track - that unexpected twist that makes it sound fresh and new.

Martin

[chanceoperation]

Thanks Martin. (Been reading you for 30 years: always enjoy.)

I would go further, to say it's more than an idea. It's a principle.

Andrew Culver

[Arpangel]

Homage? I don’t use that word, but I do imitate, or "cartoon" things, in an ironic way, or taking the piss at times, without realising it, even I don’t know sometimes, if I’m having a laugh or not, but that’s good, it’s when you know what you’re doing it all becomes a bit predictable.

[Exalted Wombat]

People SAY they want 'new', 'original'...

What they REALLY want is 'exactly like [insert favourite song] but different'.

[tea for two]

It started to get the vibe of a Bond theme song,
John Barry....David Arnold.

I'm super happy with it, but I'd be interested in peoples thoughts. I certainly haven't borrowed any of the key melodic elements, but it is definitely and unashamedly a homage.

Thousands of years earlier first chant, thereafter first persons to make particular musical instruments were the only originals.

Thereafter every music we can think of, every famous name from Folk, Choral, Baroque, Classical, Ragtime, Blues, Jazz, Country, Rock, Electronica any style
borrowed.

James Bond theme was borrowed from a 1950s black n white film. I took a screen capture of the exact moment in the film. But can't locate where I stored the screen capture (I've taken over three thousand screen captures), so I can't recall the film.