3/6/10 - DJ Particle

I don't think I've ever talked about DJ Particle before on this blog, but let me say that I appreciate her beyond words. She is the host of two shows which are featured on the Mad Music Archive, "Revenge of the Particle" and "The Mad Music Dementia Top 20." I truly believe that without her, no one would have ever heard my music at all and if they did, they'd dismiss it as the bad singing comedy fail that I fear I would be. I'm glad I get to chat with her occasionally on IRC and sometimes even on Skype during Revenge of the Particle. What she does for the Dementia community is invaluable and what Tak puts up with for the Dementia community is well appreciated too :)

Saying that, she also makes music (as well as being a real DJ.) One of my favorite songs of hers up to this point has been, "Goodbye Bill" which tells the story of Kill Bill to the music of the Dixie Chicks' "Goodbye Earl". I must say though, I may have a new favorite DJ Particle song now. Today she released a new song of the FuMP sideshow which chronicles the plight of the parody community with major record labels over the last few years called, "Fair Use". It is an original song, her 5th original, and she rocks the house. So here is DJ Particle with, "Fair Use":



Lyrics
FAIR USE
Lyrics and music ©2010 Emi M. Briet

It all started back in '94
Supreme Court decision opened up the door
"Roy Orbison parodied by 2 Live Crew
Is a protected criticism", thus said the rule

Fast-forward to the present, now pop is bland
With dance divas, hip-hoppers, and boy and girl bands
Scapegoats were needed 'cause they can't admit
That their current crop of music mostly sounds like HEY!
'Weird Al' was their test, would they let him critique
With his parody song about nerds and geeks
The artist said yes, the label said no
So the song can't be bought, just free download

Song parodies are on the go
While the fatcats wanna try and stop the show
It's all fair use but they don't want you to know
Song parodies are hot today
The industry wants 'em all to go away
It's all fair use, so they don't have a say

Attend the tale of BA Dave
ASCAP emailed and what they had to say
Was "parody is free but the backing beats
Are owned by the ones who wrote it on the sheets"
Still wrong, ASCAP, 'cause of this objective
Instrumentals can be parodied! Still protected!
But you have cash, Dave not so much
So he had to bow down to your illegal crush

Song parodies make the case
For every one taken down, five take its place
It's all fair use, they should end the chase
Song parodies are here to stay
Despite numerous threats by the RIAA
It's all fair use, so transform away

Hey RIAA, are you aware that if not for parody, I'd have never heard Lady Gaga's music? Thanks to a parody by Spaff and the Moneyshot Cosmonauts, I now count myself as a 'Little Monster'. The fact that you can't see this positive effect on your sales is criminal!

Got another tale from Peter C
His words mocked the source of the parody
But Warner Music swung the banhammer 'round
And a three-strikes rule took his YouTube down
But Google was smart when he appealed his case
Had his site back up in just a few days
But a movement started from the online fame
Team Coffin, Boo Warner, come and join the gang!

Song parodies are on the go
While the fatcats wanna try and stop the show
It's all fair use but they don't want you to know
Song parodies are hot today
The industry wants 'em all to go away
It's all fair use, so they don't have a say

Song parodies make the case
For every one taken down, five take its place
It's all fair use, they should end the chase
Song parodies are here to stay
Despite numerous threats by the RIAA
It's all fair use, so transform away

You call us scum, call us infringing
You call us pirates, more of the same
Don't be so lame! Don't be so lame!
Don't be so lame! Don't be so lame!

You call us scum, call us infringing
You call us pirates, more of the same
Don't be so lame! Don't be so lame!
Don't be so lame! Don't be so lame!

You call us scum, call us infringing
You call us pirates, more of the same
Don't be so lame! Don't be so lame!
Don't be so lame! Don't be so lame!

You call us scum, call us infringing
You call us pirates, more of the same
Don't be so lame! Don't be so lame!
Don't be so lame! Don't be so lame!