JP5683

Recently, I've heard covers of Shania Twain's 'Still The One' and Extreme's 'More Than Words'.

I used to have a CD that had 'Let It Be' and 'Twist and Shout'.

Does anyone here know have a list, or know of a site that lists other covers, or compliations that might group together several Spanish language versions of English hits?

I know there are a couple of songs that were hits in the U.S. that are half English/half Spanish... Lo Mucho Que Te Queiro, Before The Next Teardrop Falls...

How is it these artists can remake these tracks? Do they have to get clearance from the original artists, or is it in some cases a label decision to possibly get the song more exposure?

Thanks for any help you can give.

NitroJMS

Basically anyone can remake any song as long as you are willing to pay the royalties to the original songwriter. There are exceptions, such as if the writer is protective and hasn't published their works.

This is how those cheapo "tribute" albums work. Pay the licensing fee, pump out the quickee album, and ring in the dough.

chess

top 40 songs have words?

Verbal Gorilla

Funny, another otter thread ties in. I have no general knowledge on international law, but I do know that there was a popular Romanian song, Dragostea din Tei by O-Zone, that was local to Romania. A Moldovan group, Haiducii, living in Italy, remade the song (not in Italian, but simply in the original Romanian language) and it became a huge hit in Italy. O-zone was ready to sue, etc. but it turned out that the remake was not a violation of Italian (or European it seems) law. Subsequently, both version became huge hits all over Europe.
The point is that even 'Western' countries seem to have much more open laws in regards to remakes than we may think of in the US.