Fortunate Son, if it were written by Dire Straits

[LaszloB]

Hi again!
I hope these posts aren't getting old, but I felt like sharing this one with you all, since there's a lot of big MK fans out here that can critique my playing better than the average YouTube commenter.
So first of all I hope you enjoy, and feel free to let me know if you think it's accurate.

Thank you!

- Laszlo

[quizzaciously]

Hi again!
I hope these posts aren't getting old, but I felt like sharing this one with you all, since there's a lot of big MK fans out here that can critique my playing better than the average YouTube commenter.
So first of all I hope you enjoy, and feel free to let me know if you think it's accurate.

Thank you!

- Laszlo

I've said it already, but you're great. The best idea in MK's cover/tribute world in ages, because honestly, nobody wants to see somebody trying to copy MK. Certainly, I don't want to hear or see that... He took JJ Cale's sound, mixed it with Bob Dylan's lyrics and 'good music' and ran with it and still going. I mean, MK's music is a mash-up from day one, so your videos capture just that. Throw in any style, any song, and apply MK's sound to it, shaken, not stirred. And voila!

P.S. I'm not exactly copying MK on my channel, my job is just to teach his songs and strum them without any obligations. I'm not a (professional) musician and not a teacher, so I just share my passion for free. But if I were a musician, I would do something like you, or write my own songs.

[PensaGhost]

Hi again!
I hope these posts aren't getting old, but I felt like sharing this one with you all, since there's a lot of big MK fans out here that can critique my playing better than the average YouTube commenter.
So first of all I hope you enjoy, and feel free to let me know if you think it's accurate.

Thank you!

- Laszlo

I've said it already, but you're great. The best idea in MK's cover/tribute world in ages, because honestly, nobody wants to see somebody trying to copy MK. Certainly, I don't want to hear or see that... He took JJ Cale's sound, mixed it with Bob Dylan's lyrics and 'good music' and ran with it and still going. I mean, MK's music is a mash-up from day one, so your videos capture just that. Throw in any style, any song, and apply MK's sound to it, shaken, not stirred. And voila!

P.S. I'm not exactly copying MK on my channel, my job is just to teach his songs and strum them without any obligations. I'm not a (professional) musician and not a teacher, so I just share my passion for free. But if I were a musician, I would do something like you, or write my own songs.

"honestly, nobody wants to see somebody trying to copy MK"

so now you is everyone

[quizzaciously]

"honestly, nobody wants to see somebody trying to copy MK"

so now you is everyone

Haha, yes, I knew that would happen. Yes, I love to exaggerate, but yes, I stand with what I said, there's no reason to copy what's uncopiable. I mean sometimes when I hear Mark's playing nowadays, I think he's sometimes copying himself, but I cringe every time I see somebody else copying MK's stuff on electric guitar. I mean solos and everything, not his pre-written masterpieces. And I truly believe I'm in a majority here hence 'nobody'.

[quizzaciously]

I love "If played by" videos in general, I recommend this channel for the fans of piano jazz:

[PensaGhost]

I cringe every time I see somebody else copying MK's stuff on electric guitar.

why cringe ?

[quizzaciously]

I cringe every time I see somebody else copying MK's stuff on electric guitar.

why cringe ?

I can't explain it... Probably because when you try to copy something on that level of uniqueness as Mark's playing, you cross the line when it goes from just playing the lines to straight-up mockery. Like some people who, God forbid, is trying to sing like Louis Armstrong — oh, just don't do it, please! That's total nonsense. And Mark's playing sometimes is so unique that, to me, it crosses the line when you try to copy it and look like a clown, EVEN if you succeeded in copying it. Doesn't matter! I think, with the best and unique writers, guitar players, and creative people in general, there's no need of copying them, but, you can use their tricks or creative works in a different environment, exactly as the original poster did.

[Eddie Fox]

I love seeing people emulate Mark. That means more people are being influenced by him.

Re the video, great job, sounds fantastic, my friend.

[hunter]

Shouldn't these videos be in the Almost Straits section?

[Knopflerfan]

Shouldn't these videos be in the Almost Straits section?

Indeed they should be.......

[Knopflerfan]

I cringe every time I see somebody else copying MK's stuff on electric guitar.

why cringe ?

I can't explain it... Probably because when you try to copy something on that level of uniqueness as Mark's playing, you cross the line when it goes from just playing the lines to straight-up mockery. Like some people who, God forbid, is trying to sing like Louis Armstrong — oh, just don't do it, please! That's total nonsense. And Mark's playing sometimes is so unique that, to me, it crosses the line when you try to copy it and look like a clown, EVEN if you succeeded in copying it. Doesn't matter! I think, with the best and unique writers, guitar players, and creative people in general, there's no need of copying them, but, you can use their tricks or creative works in a different environment, exactly as the original poster did.

I think personally it's great for people including myself and even you too Pavel to play a bit of MK's influence through their guitar playing, After all it was thanks to the master that I personally pursued the guitar further in life.
Of course I have my own way of playing but I see no harm in playing a few notes similar to how MK would - hammer-ons and bending strings like he does etc

[qjamesfloyd]

Shouldn't these videos be in the Almost Straits section?

Indeed they should be.......

Also, shouldn't the titles be "....If it were written by Mark Knopfler" as Dire Straits didn't write anything!!

[quizzaciously]

Shouldn't these videos be in the Almost Straits section?

Indeed they should be.......

Also, shouldn't the titles be "....If it were written by Mark Knopfler" as Dire Straits didn't write anything!!

Ouch

But yes, that's true. However, I've always thought that Dire Straits is just Mark's pseudonym, an excuse to make a "band", so written by MK and written by DS might as well be equal things lol.

[quizzaciously]

I cringe every time I see somebody else copying MK's stuff on electric guitar.

why cringe ?

I can't explain it... Probably because when you try to copy something on that level of uniqueness as Mark's playing, you cross the line when it goes from just playing the lines to straight-up mockery. Like some people who, God forbid, is trying to sing like Louis Armstrong — oh, just don't do it, please! That's total nonsense. And Mark's playing sometimes is so unique that, to me, it crosses the line when you try to copy it and look like a clown, EVEN if you succeeded in copying it. Doesn't matter! I think, with the best and unique writers, guitar players, and creative people in general, there's no need of copying them, but, you can use their tricks or creative works in a different environment, exactly as the original poster did.

I think personally it's great for people including myself and even you too Pavel to play a bit of MK's influence through their guitar playing, After all it was thanks to the master that I personally pursued the guitar further in life.
Of course I have my own way of playing but I see no harm in playing a few notes similar to how MK would - hammer-ons and bending strings like he does etc

Yeah, it all depends on the context for sure. I just can't get when people start to play/dress/behave like MK, play his solos note for note, buy exactly the same guitars all the time, same amps, and everything, that's a little bit over the top in my opinion. Same with cover bands, but it also depends! If I were to set up an MK/DS cover band, I would hire a guitar player who won't copy MK blindly, but had his own style and played great otherwise. That, at least, would be different.

[hunter]

I cringe every time I see somebody else copying MK's stuff on electric guitar.

why cringe ?

I can't explain it... Probably because when you try to copy something on that level of uniqueness as Mark's playing, you cross the line when it goes from just playing the lines to straight-up mockery. Like some people who, God forbid, is trying to sing like Louis Armstrong — oh, just don't do it, please! That's total nonsense. And Mark's playing sometimes is so unique that, to me, it crosses the line when you try to copy it and look like a clown, EVEN if you succeeded in copying it. Doesn't matter! I think, with the best and unique writers, guitar players, and creative people in general, there's no need of copying them, but, you can use their tricks or creative works in a different environment, exactly as the original poster did.

I think personally it's great for people including myself and even you too Pavel to play a bit of MK's influence through their guitar playing, After all it was thanks to the master that I personally pursued the guitar further in life.
Of course I have my own way of playing but I see no harm in playing a few notes similar to how MK would - hammer-ons and bending strings like he does etc

Yeah, it all depends on the context for sure. I just can't get when people start to play/dress/behave like MK, play his solos note for note, buy exactly the same guitars all the time, same amps, and everything, that's a little bit over the top in my opinion. Same with cover bands, but it also depends! If I were to set up an MK/DS cover band, I would hire a guitar player who won't copy MK blindly, but had his own style and played great otherwise. That, at least, would be different.

There's a difference between cover band and tribute band. A cover band usually plays a number of songs from various artists, but a tribute band tries to replicate the original band. Personally I think tribute bands are a funny thing, but if people decide to go for this, they have to nail the sound and performance style. Many bands like this earn very good money because they can attract a large number of people (in Las Vegas for example).