There I Ruined It

Last updated
There I Ruined It
Genresparody
MembersDustin Ballard
Website www.there-i-ruined-it.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

There I Ruined It is an ongoing music project created by Dustin Ballard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the project, Ballard aims to ruin songs by making covers of them in styles very different to those of the originals. There I Ruined It distributes these covers via social media, such as TikTok, YouTube and Reddit. Since the project's beginning, Ballard has made covers of various artists, including Taylor Swift, Eminem, Radiohead and Metallica.

Contents

Background and history

There I Ruined It is a musical project "with the simple goal of ruining as many beloved songs as possible before it's banned from the Internet". [1] It was created by Dustin Ballard, a Texan musician, during the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] The first cover he created for the project was "Shallow – Polka Edition", which is a remix of "Shallow" from A Star is Born in polka style. [2] Most of the covers created for the project are genre-swapping remixes, although Ballard has also created song mashups. [3] Ballard operates various accounts on social media which he uses to upload creations for There I Ruined It. [4]

To create one of his covers, Ballard first uses MIDI-controlled VST instruments to make a cover of the song. He then dictates the song's lyrics to set down their rhythm, before recording vocals. To finish a cover, Ballard then edits the song's music video to better fit the genre of the cover. [2]

Ballard’s covers and mashups have received recognition from popular artists such as Snoop Dogg, Charlie Puth, Paul Reubens, Jack Black, Michael Bublé, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Scott Bradlee, Avenged Sevenfold, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Questlove, and Ed Sheeran.

On 28 November 2023, Ballard announced via YouTube that all videos on the channel had been made private for 90 days due to receiving two copyright strikes from the Universal Music Group. [5]

In August 2024 one on his works was used a demonstration in a House Judiciary Committee hearing by Darrell Issa [6]

Reception

Although the project's overall aim is to ruin songs, the covers released have had mixed reviews. Tim Marcin of Mashable called the covers "straight-up terrible re-imaginings of good songs" and "hilariously bad". [7] However, Fraser Lewry of Metal Hammer commented that some covers are better than the original song, saying that "some have benefited from There I Ruined It's fiendish musical butchery". [8]

Graeme Boone, who is professor of musicology at The Ohio State University, has commented on the covers created by Ballard. Boone stated that Ballard's covers are successful due to playing on a vulnerable point in the human psyche. According to Boone, by targeting this vulnerability, the cover "can get inside you" in the same way as an earworm. [2]

Live Band

In 2024, Ballard launched There I Ruined It - Live, featuring 8 musicians performing songs from the channel. The band is based in Dallas, Texas. [9]

Discography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limp Bizkit</span> American nu metal band

Limp Bizkit is an American nu metal band from Jacksonville, Florida. Its lineup consists of lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers. The band's musical style is marked by Durst's angry vocal delivery and Borland's sonic experimentation. Borland's elaborate visual appearance, which includes face and body paint, masks, and uniforms, also plays a large role in Limp Bizkit's live shows. The band has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, sold 40 million records worldwide, and won several other awards.

<i>Metallica</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Metallica

Metallica is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on August 12, 1991, by Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles over an eight-month span that frequently found Metallica at odds with their new producer Bob Rock. The album marked a change in the band's music from the thrash metal style of their previous four albums to a slower, heavier, and more refined sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Will Rock You</span> 1977 single by Queen

"We Will Rock You" is a song by the British rock band Queen from their 1977 album News of the World, written by guitarist Brian May. Rolling Stone ranked it number 330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and it placed at number 146 on the Songs of the Century list in 2001. In 2009, "We Will Rock You" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

A mashup is a creative work, usually a song, created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, typically by superimposing the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another and changing the tempo and key where necessary. Such works are considered "transformative" of original content and in the United States they may find protection from copyright claims under the "fair use" doctrine of copyright law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatallica</span> American band

Beatallica is a mash-up band that plays music made from combinations of songs of the Beatles and Metallica. A Beatallica song is typically a blend of a Beatles song and a Metallica song with a related title, though sometimes just a Beatles song will be used as a basis with modified lyrics. The lyrics slip back and forth between the two songs, or occasionally neither, in lieu of original lyrics comically referencing Metallica, heavy metal music, or the heavy metal community. While the scansion and melody are usually Beatles-based, the music is played metal style with some Metallica riffs and solos thrown in. Consistent quirks made in the lyrics also criticize glam metal much in the fashion that thrash metal fans would do, as well as many references to blood. Their version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" called "I Want to Choke Your Band", is an example of their criticism towards glam metal.

Daniel Patrick Lohner, frequently known as Renholdër, is an American musician and record producer best known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle. In 2020, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Nine Inch Nails.

"Boulevard of Broken Songs" is a popular mash-up mixed by American DJ and producer Party Ben in late 2004. The mix consists of elements from American rock band Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", English rock band Oasis's "Wonderwall", Scottish soft rock band Travis's "Writing to Reach You", and American rapper Eminem's "Sing for the Moment", which itself samples American hard rock band Aerosmith's "Dream On". "Sing for the Moment" was used solely because Party Ben did not have "Dream On" on hand and was on deadline for his Sixx Mixx radio show. Later versions used Aerosmith's original.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleanin' Out My Closet</span> 2002 single by Eminem

"Cleanin' Out My Closet" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his album The Eminem Show (2002). "Cleanin' Out My Closet" was the second single released off the album following "Without Me" on July 29, 2002. Unlike the preceding single which was as his humorous Slim Shady persona, "Cleanin' Out My Closet" was a serious song inspired by the events of Eminem's childhood and relationships. It depicts Eminem venting his anger towards his mother, Debbie Mathers, for the way she raised him. In the chorus, Eminem sarcastically apologizes to his mother for hurting her and making her cry, but takes it back by showing the world what his mother, according to him, was like.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ignition (Remix)</span> 2002 single by R. Kelly

"Ignition (Remix)" is a song written and produced by American R&B singer R. Kelly. It was released in 2002 as the lead single from his sixth studio album Chocolate Factory (2003). It is viewed as one of his most well-known songs and was a major hit in the United States, Europe, and Oceania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nookie (Limp Bizkit song)</span> 1999 single by Limp Bizkit

"Nookie" is a song by the American rap rock band Limp Bizkit, released on June 15, 1999 as the lead single from their second album Significant Other.

A video mashup combines multiple pre-existing video sources with no discernible relation with each other into a unified video. These are derivative works as defined by the United States Copyright Act 17 U.S.C. § 101, and as such, may find protection from copyright claims under the doctrine of fair use. Examples of mashup videos include movie trailer remixes, vids, YouTube poop, and supercuts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shut 'Em Down (Public Enemy song)</span> 1991 single by Public Enemy

"Shut 'Em Down" is a song by American hip hop group Public Enemy. It was released in 1991 via Def Jam Recordings as the second single from the group's fourth studio album Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black. Recording sessions took place at The Music Palace in Long Island. Production was handled by the Imperial Grand Ministers of Funk, with The Bomb Squad serving as executive producers. An accompanying music video was directed by Mark Pellington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Earworm</span> Musical artist

Jordan Roseman, known professionally as DJ Earworm, is an American mashup artist from San Francisco, California, who has achieved recognition for his technically sophisticated, songwriting oriented music and video mashups. His annual “United State of Pop” mashup features the top 25 songs of the year, based in part on the Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 chart, in one mix.

<i>Jaydiohead</i> 2009 remix album by Minty Fresh Beats

Jaydiohead is the mashup project of the music of Jay-Z and Radiohead that was mixed and produced by New York producer Minty Fresh Beats. Tannone premiered the album Jaydiohead on his Myspace page on December 30, 2008, which was officially released to download January 1, 2009. The first album was followed by the July 12, 2009 release of Jaydiohead: The Encore, which featured five new mixes. The album Jaydiohead has been called an internet sensation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elise Trouw</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1999)

Elise Ashlyn Trouw is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer.

<i>Zonkey</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Umphreys McGee

Zonkey is a studio album by progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. The album was released on November 11, 2016. It consists of mashups, combining various covers crossing different musical genres.

A music leak is an unauthorized release of music over the internet. Songs or albums may leak days or months before their scheduled release date. In other cases, the leaked material may be demos or scrapped work never intended for public release. Leaks often originate from hackers who gain unauthorized access to the online storage of an artist, label, producer, or journalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SiIvaGunner</span> Comedic videogame music collective

SiIvaGunner, formerly GiIvaSunner, is a comedic musical collective based mostly around bait-and-switch YouTube videos claiming to be "high quality rips" of video game music that are in reality remixes, parodies, and/or mashups, often incorporating Internet memes and popular music.

"Frolic" is a song composed by Luciano Michelini, an Italian composer. It was composed in 1974 for the film La bellissima estate, where it was used to represent the character of the barone rosso. "Frolic" is better known as the theme from the American sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm. It was chosen by the series' creator, Larry David, who had heard the music in a bank advertisement four years prior. Apart from that, "Frolic" has been used as backing music for several advertisements, and in a rap song by Snoop Dogg.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pollock, Brooke (17 April 2023). "Artist Hellbent on 'Ruining' Popular Songs Accidentally Makes a Bop From Miley Cyrus Remix". The Mary Sue . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Myers, Quinn (5 August 2020). "The Twisted Mind Who Loves Ruining Your Favorite Songs Forever". MEL Magazine . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 Rizzo, Laurent (24 April 2023). "Découvrez les célèbres "HEY" des Beatles, Queen, Nirvana, Pink Floyd et d'autres rassemblés sur un même titre". RTBF (in French). Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  4. 1 2 Lloyd, Sophie (3 June 2022). "Mash-Up of Eminem and Super Mario Has Internet in Hysterics". Newsweek . Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  5. Ballard, Dustin (28 November 2023). My channel is on life support. There I Ruined It via YouTube.
  6. Berkowitz, Joe (24 August 2024). "This TikTok-viral musician 'ruins' songs with AI. But is it parody or infringement?". Fast Company. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  7. Marcin, Tim (28 July 2020). "YouTube channel perfectly ruins perfectly good songs". Mashable . Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  8. 1 2 Lewry, Fraser (17 March 2021). "This bluegrass version of System Of A Down's Chop Suey is both magnificent and very, very wrong". Metal Hammer . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  9. Peña, By Daniel (13 June 2024). "How a Dallas-based Group Wreaks Havoc on Your Favorite Songs". D Magazine. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  10. Shutler, Ali (5 November 2022). "Listen to a fan-created remix of Taylor Swift's 'Anti-Hero' featuring 'Super Mario'". NME . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  11. Lavin, Will (5 May 2021). "Here's Limp Bizkit's 'Break Stuff' reimagined as a Broadway musical". NME . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  12. Young, Simon (8 November 2022). "Here's that Curb Your Enthusiasm and Metallica mash-up you didn't know you needed". Metal Hammer . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  13. Kemp, Sam (5 January 2022). "Radiohead hit 'Creep' has been transformed into a honky tonk song". Far Out . Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  14. Modica, Ruby Lee Axel (24 May 2022). "This is What Eminem's 'Lose Yourself' Sounds Like When Mixed With the Super Mario Bros. Theme". Game Rant . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  15. DeVito, Lee (21 February 2023). "Somehow, this Eminem 'Mardis Gras' remix works". Metro Times . Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.