# Similar Sounding Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 21, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986 "2021-07-21T16:22:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2021, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/41 "2021-07-24T14:20:40Z")
Wikipedia has the Weird Al song as a style parody of a band called Sparks (which I’m not familiar with.) ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/42 "2021-07-24T16:56:58Z")
Well, that makes it less fun but I enjoyed the juxtaposition when I discovered it in the wild. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/43 "2021-07-26T13:21:55Z")
Probably the most famous **Sparks** song in the UK is **This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us** and my (non musical) ears can hear influences appearing in the **Weird Al** song [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QAzESJ62irI/hqdefault.jpg "Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAzESJ62irI) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/44 "2021-07-26T21:36:44Z")
I remember remarking about these two when “Beds are Burning” became a bit of hit back in the 80’s. Nobody seemed to notice, but the bass to me sounds very similar. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Wk5cIUI6Zac/maxresdefault.jpg "Pink Cadillac (Single B-Side - 1984)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk5cIUI6Zac) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ejorQVy3m8E/maxresdefault.jpg "Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejorQVy3m8E) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/45 "2021-07-27T02:06:49Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > I am surprised no one has mentioned the similarities between Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Boston’s “More than a Feeling”. Nirvana has even acknowledged it: The rhythms of how the chords are strummed are the same but the chords are quite different and the melodies are nothing similar. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/46 "2021-07-27T02:08:22Z")
_Twist and Shout_ is very much like _La Bamba_. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/47 "2021-09-09T13:31:48Z")
Here’s one I heard this morning. The chorus of each song is quite similar. |   | “Bring the Boys Home” | | --- | --- | | Artist | Freda Payne | | Album | _Contact_, 1971 | [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/--fFhunuUJM/hqdefault.jpg "Bring the Boys Home (Freda Payne)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--fFhunuUJM) |   | “Band on the Run” | | --- | --- | | Artist | Paul McCartney & Wings | | Album | _Band on the Run_, 1973 | [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RjlvdcBAKdg/maxresdefault.jpg "Band On The Run (2010 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjlvdcBAKdg) ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/48 "2021-09-09T13:45:00Z")
Neil says he intentionally tweaked the lick from “Satisfaction” for “Mr. Soul”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nrIPxlFzDi0/maxresdefault.jpg "The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (Official Lyric Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrIPxlFzDi0) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jyc0JSd5q7U/maxresdefault.jpg "Mr. Soul") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyc0JSd5q7U) ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/49 "2021-09-09T13:45:11Z")
Every time the Eurythmics song [Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeMFqkcPYcg) comes on, I get all geared up and ready to sing [Sunglasses at Night](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2LTL8KgKv8) – and then I feel like a fool when I realize that after all these years, I’m still making the same mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/50 "2021-09-09T13:57:45Z")
My wife has pointed out to me that the guitar solo in Old 97s “Salome” (starting around 2:30) is a rip-off of the Supremes’ “I Hear A Symphony”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qHUvpa5EMmo/maxresdefault.jpg "I Hear A Symphony (Juke Box Single)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHUvpa5EMmo) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WpEak4xFXaI/hqdefault.jpg "Salome") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpEak4xFXaI) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/51 "2021-09-10T11:00:03Z")
Jan and Dean, and then the Beach Boys released these two songs in the 60’s - identical tune; different lyrics. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vjaFOA-iFTc/hqdefault.jpg "1964 HITS ARCHIVE: Sidewalk Surfin’ - Jan & Dean") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjaFOA-iFTc) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/af2rY1bmfZM/maxresdefault.jpg "Beach Boys Catch a Wave 1966") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af2rY1bmfZM) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/52 "2021-09-10T17:12:22Z")
Two by Joe Raposo: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TKcrnTZ9IaE/hqdefault.jpg "Classic Sesame Street film - peanut butter factory song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKcrnTZ9IaE) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EuZQYMdWExQ/hqdefault.jpg "20. Happiness Hotel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuZQYMdWExQ) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/53 "2021-09-11T14:10:37Z")
Speaking of Sesame Street… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CtIkIBmdNDU/maxresdefault.jpg "Outta Mind (Outta Sight)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtIkIBmdNDU) I always want to start singing “Sunnnny day…” after the intro. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/54 "2021-09-12T00:23:40Z")
The riff from Motörhead’s “No Class” is directly lifted from ZZ Top’s “Tush”. I’m still not clear which song I like better. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/P7iPkiyG2jQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Tush (2006 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7iPkiyG2jQ) https://www.youtube.com/embed/a2DH0-GA_qY?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLjr998lWOh9XOzjNDlMvwNMQlU2tGQhFS ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2021, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/55 "2021-09-12T01:17:53Z")
Related to this, one definition of [pop music interpolaton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpolation_(popular_music)) is > In popular music, **interpolation** (also called a **replayed sample** ) refers to using a melody—or portions of a melody (often with modified lyrics)—from a previously recorded song but re-recording the melody instead of sampling it. Interpolation is often used when the artist or label who owns the piece of music declines to license the sample, or if licensing the piece of music is considered too costly. and the link there goes on to list dozens of examples. ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/56 "2021-09-17T04:54:33Z")
Manic Monday and 1999 always seemed like the same song to me. Then I found out Prince wrote them both. That made sense. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/57 "2021-09-17T15:49:07Z")
My four-year-old is adamant that the Naked Eyes version of “Always Something There to Remind Me” sounds like _Home Alone_. I’m pretty sure the connection is the orchestral chimes in the background of both. It’s bizarre and subtle, but I hear it. He’s also made other, more obvious connections. Like declaring “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” sounds like _The Goonies_. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/58 "2021-09-23T00:05:16Z")
I have been exploring Jackie DeShannon’s work in the last weeks. I first stumbled upon her cover of “The Weight” by the Band on a compilation, but then I heard her “Laurel Canyon” album and the song “I Got My Reason”. A blatant rip-off, and the kicker is that “The Weight” cover comes three songs later on that album, so it’s obvious. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cF0WdXE6s9w/maxresdefault.jpg "The Weight") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF0WdXE6s9w) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zgxgK2PbCDk/maxresdefault.jpg "I Got My Reason (2005 Digital Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgxgK2PbCDk) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/59 "2021-09-25T21:21:41Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VH0G1o8xbt4/maxresdefault.jpg "Them - I can only give you everything") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH0G1o8xbt4) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aa3rBVb3v4g/maxresdefault.jpg "Beck - Devils Haircut (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa3rBVb3v4g) ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2021, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986/60 "2021-09-25T22:00:12Z")
That’s pretty blatant. Here’s another one: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G2-fqdCKCMA/hqdefault.jpg "Creedence Clearwater Revival: Wrote A song for everyone") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2-fqdCKCMA) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similar-sounding-songs/946986.md?page=4)