Secondhandsongs Online
SecondHandSongs
is widely considered the internet's definitive authority on the lineage of music, specifically focusing on cover versions, adaptations, and samples. Unlike standard music databases that prioritize charts or current releases, this collaborative platform functions like a family tree for songs, meticulously documenting who performed a track first and every artist who has reimagined it since. Key Features and Strengths
As of 2024, the database boasts over 1.3 million performances and over 600,000 original works. This is not just trivia; this is musical anthropology. secondhandsongs
- Example: Vanilla Ice sampling "Under Pressure" by Queen & David Bowie.
- Search by Song: Enter a song title. You will see the “Root” (earliest known recording) on the left, and a “Tree” of every known version branching to the right.
- Search by Artist: See all the songs an artist has covered plus all the artists who have covered them.
- Performance Map: Each “Version” page includes details on tempo, key, genre shift, and lyrical changes (where user-submitted).
This is particularly powerful when looking at genres like Jazz and Folk, where the "song" is a vessel to be filled by the performer. But the site shines brightest when it bridges cultures. You might find a Turkish version of a Greek hit, or a Japanese translation of an Italian disco track. It reveals that melody is a universal language that transcends borders, even when the lyrics are rewritten entirely. Example: Vanilla Ice sampling "Under Pressure" by Queen