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Can It Be Too Soon to Cover a Pop Song? The time between original hit and cover song has become more compressed these days. R&B star Rihanna's "Umbrella" has set a new standard, with versions by pop star Mandy Moore and YouTube star Marie Digby emerging even as Rihanna's original (along with a remixed duet) continues to get airplay.

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Can It Be Too Soon to Cover a Pop Song?

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Can It Be Too Soon to Cover a Pop Song?

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The time between original hit and cover song has become more compressed these days. R&B star Rihanna's "Umbrella" has set a new standard, with versions by pop star Mandy Moore and YouTube star Marie Digby emerging even as Rihanna's original (along with a remixed duet) continues to get airplay.

Is it odd to have the hit and two covers at the same time? Is there an etiquette dictating how long one should wait before covering a song? Music critic Chris Martins talks with Alex Cohen.