Should You Be Able To Write In Your Favorite Musician's Handwriting?
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Should You Be Able To Write In Your Favorite Musician's Handwriting?

The creators of the Songwriters Fonts project seemed to think so.

578
Should You Be Able To Write In Your Favorite Musician's Handwriting?
Pexels

“Hello, Goodbye” is how the Songwriter Fonts website greets you. What was once a website created to inspire musicians creativity through typing in the handwriting of their icons has been shut down.

The Songwriter Project was created by the graphic designers Julien Sens and Nicolas Damiens. Their intentions were to put the user “in a special mood,” causing them to “play in a different way [because they are] thinking about them,” with them being the musician whose handwriting you’re typing in.

In the month that it took Sens and Damiens to develop these fonts they managed to collect the letters, numbers, and symbols from the handwriting of Kurt Cobain, David Bowie, John Lennon, Serge Gainsbourg, and Leonard Cohen. As explained in an article by Gunseli Yalcinkaya this was done by gathering handwritten documents and then using a font software to digitally reproduce them.

Since the launch of their new typeface, Sens and Damiens were forced to take down their website after intellectual property rights owners stepped in. Now when you go to download your free fonts all that is available is this message:

“Hello, Goodbye. We've launched the Songwriters Fonts project, a series of typefaces created from famous songwriters' handwritings, as a design project. The unique purpose of this was to inspire musicians and the next generation of songwriters to put their imagination at work. But, the unexpected success of this project went a bit too far... We have been contacted by intellectual property rights owners, and are sad to announce that we have to shut down this website because of legal issues. We're sorry to have to say goodbye. J&N”

Now, this brings up the question that while this was an interesting idea, was this morally correct? In order to create these fonts, the designers had to go through each musician's handwritten documents and in Kurt Cobain’s case, this included his suicide letter. Creating these fonts also allows anyone to write anything in the handwriting of these musicians, which can be very problematic.

As commented by Miles Teg on Yalcinkaya’s article, “Someone’s own handwriting is a very personal thing. I don’t like the idea of sharing it this way for everyone to use. I’m sure this has been done with good intentions, but comes out as disrespectful at best, in my opinion.”

I would have to agree with Teg here. From the surface, this project seems like a cool idea but once I delved deeper the idea of typing in someone else’s handwriting just doesn’t sit right with me. Only the musician should be able to write in their handwriting. No one should have the ability to make it look like their words came from the mind of someone else.

What do you think?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51941
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33364
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956228
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181145
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments