5 Famous Bands and Musicians Who Just Can’t Be Copied

Some musicians and bands just can’t be copied. However, quite a few cheap imitations have certainly tried to over-emulate the greats through the years. From The Velvet Underground to David Bowie, let’s look at a few legendary bands and musicians who just can’t be copied!

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1. The Velvet Underground

The 1960s were all about hippy beliefs, flower power, and upbeat psychedelic music. It was a sharp difference from the Vietnam War that waged on at the time. In a way, it makes sense why the Summer of Love was such a big thing; it was a response to, or an attempt to dissociate from, the horrors that were happening in the world.

Lou Reed, however, wasn’t interested in making sugary sweet music like everyone else. With The Velvet Underground, Reed created incredible music that touched on taboo subjects like drug use and debaucherous acts. The lyrical prowess of Reed was on another level, and songs like “Pale Blue Eyes” inspired the eventual onset of punk rock.

2. David Bowie

Out of all the musicians who can’t be copied on this list, David Bowie is particularly unique. Not only did the man look like he was from another planet, but he knew how to combine a solid hook with very unconventional pop sounds. 

He influenced pop music significantly throughout his career. Many a glam-rock star and rock musician have tried to imitate his aesthetics, vocal stylings, and overall energy as a musician… and they’ve all failed to even come close.

3. Ween

Every band has their chosen genre. Except for Ween, of course. Ween really can’t be nailed to any one specific type of music. If anything, Ween itself is a genre. What other band has successfully incorporated elements of funk, country, prog-rock, heavy metal, and punk into their sound? We can’t think of anyone but Ween.

4. Rush

Rock musicians began to tentatively experiment with breaking the barriers of the genre in the early 1970s. Rush, however, kicked a hole through the wall instead. 

Rush was the definition of “ahead of their time”. Not even Pink Floyd managed to bust the preconceived notions of rock music the way Rush did early on in their career. Few bands have been able to experiment with their style and consistently kill it like Rush has.

5. Elton John

Musicians who can’t be copied often have a very particular flair, and Elton John is no exception. The Rocket Man, paired with songwriter Bernie Taupin, put together some of the greatest rock and pop tunes of all time with a glittering presence that drew listeners in. 

John’s aesthetic and creative decisions consistently resonated with audiences, and he never appeared to be inauthentic. Who else can put together excellent glam rock, pop, and show tunes while always sounding uniquely like themselves? Elton John is simply un-copyable.

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