# Songs that sound just like other songs (sampling doesn't count) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 4, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089 "2003-03-04T21:30:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/41 "2003-03-05T17:17:54Z")
Madonna’s “Don’t Tell Me” has quite a lot in common (especially in the beginning) with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/42 "2003-03-05T17:32:45Z")
“She Hates Me” by Puddle of Mudd and “Summer Nights” from the Grease soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/43 "2003-03-05T17:36:24Z")
The Coldplay song that is ubiquitous now – has a running piano break that sounds like the accordion or synclavier or whatever it is in Nirvana’s “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam” on their Unplugged album. That was good and vague. Oh, and the guitar in Alice in Chain’s “Heaven Beside You” sound like Steve Miller Band’s “Keep on Rockin’ Me Baby.” ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/44 "2003-03-05T18:34:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sauron \* > \*\*“Under Pressure” by Queen and “Ice, Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice. \*\* Didn’t Queen sue because of that? ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/45 "2003-03-05T18:40:20Z")
Nora Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” sounds a lot like The Beatles’ “Yesterday” to me. Another well known example is “Sweet Little Sixteen” by Chuck Berry and “Surfin’ USA” by the Beach Boys, but Brian Wilson credits Berry as the writer on the record label. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/46 "2003-03-05T18:51:44Z")
_Bad, Bad Leroy Brown_ and _You Don’t Mess Around With Jim_, both by Jim Croce. StG ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/47 "2003-03-05T18:58:43Z")
The Offspring had a song which sounded almost exactly like Simon and Garfunkel’s Cecilia. I proved it to a friend by singing S&G’s lyrics…can’t remember the other song name though. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/48 "2003-03-05T18:59:18Z")
Pink’s first big single also had the exact same chords (at least during the chorus) as another song that was popular around that time - it was either Enrique Iglesias or Mark Anthony. I don’t know which. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/49 "2003-03-05T19:09:13Z")
By **Poison** , there’s _Every Rose Has Its Thorns_ and _Something To Believe In_. You can sing one over the other. And then there’s **Whitney Houston** – who has basically just two songs. The fast one and the slow one. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/50 "2003-03-05T19:19:51Z")
Well, I always thought that Vanilla Ice sampled that beat intentionally from **Under Pressure**. Intentionally or unintentionally, the guy was a yutz for doing that. I always thought that the chording to **Sweet Home Alabama** and **Werewolves of London** sounded eerily alike, but that’s probably just me. Also, the beginning of Journey’s **When the Lights Go Down in the City** and **Stand By Me** are so much alike if you’re not listening to the bass (even the lyrics) that I’ve unintentionally started singing one over the other. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/51 "2003-03-05T19:36:19Z")
“Ride On” by AC/DC sounds like “Jesus Just Left Chicago” by ZZ Top. The guitar solo in KISS’ “She” is lifted almost note for note from the Doors “5 to1”. I think the end of Rod Stewart’s “Maggie Mae” sounds like the beginning of The Who’s “Baba O’Reilley”. And I don’t know who it was, but I heard some song on the radio with the exact same melody as L7’s “Pretend We’re Dead”. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/52 "2003-03-05T19:38:24Z")
**Twist and Shout** is extremely similar to **La Bamba** ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Bongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@Winston\_Bongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Bongo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/53 "2003-03-05T19:38:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by randwill \* > \*\*Another well known example is “Sweet Little Sixteen” by Chuck Berry and “Surfin’ USA” by the Beach Boys, but Brian Wilson credits Berry as the writer on the record label. \*\* Speaking of Chuck Berry, am I the only one who’s always thought **Hail Hail Rock n’ Roll** is the EXACT same song as **No Particular Place To Go**? ---
**Author:** ![ECJones29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@ECJones29](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ECJones29)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/54 "2003-03-05T19:50:26Z")
**Beelzebubba** , The opening chords of No Doubt’s **Don’t Speak** sound a lot like Aerosmith’s **Dream On**. And good call, **Linty Freshy** on **Sweet Home Alabama** and **Werewolves of London**. Stevie Nicks has always said that she wrote **Stand Back** “on top of” Prince’s **Little Red Corvette** ; that she liked his chords so much she just reused them. As a thank-you, the little purple guy sang backing vocals for her on **Stand Back**. ---
**Author:** ![ECJones29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@ECJones29](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ECJones29)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/55 "2003-03-05T19:54:37Z")
**Beelzebubba** , The opening chords of No Doubt’s **Don’t Speak** sound a lot like Aerosmith’s **Dream On**. And good call, **Linty Freshy** , on **Sweet Home Alabama** and **Werewolves of London**. Stevie Nicks has always said that she wrote **Stand Back** “on top of” Prince’s **Little Red Corvette** ; that she liked his chords so much she just reused them. As a thank-you, the little purple guy sang backing vocals for her on **Stand Back**. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/56 "2003-03-05T20:05:51Z")
Sublime’s **Badfish** & 4 Non Blondes’ **What’s Goin’ On?** * * * From Tom Petty’s **To Find a Freind** , “and the days went by, like paper in the wind” & Bob Dylan’s **Blowing in the Wind** , “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind” ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/57 "2003-03-06T00:12:23Z")
Sing these two phrases to the same jingle: God rest ye merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay. Remeber Christ our Savior, was born on Christmas day. So join us here each week my friend your sure to get a smile. By seven stranded cast aways who are here on Gilligans isle. ---
**Author:** ![Erik\_the\_Viking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Erik\_the\_Viking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erik_the_Viking)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/58 "2003-03-06T00:38:41Z")
“Lady Madonna” by the Beatles, and “What I Got” by Sublime ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/59 "2003-03-06T01:41:42Z")
New Order’s _Dreams Never End_’s bass got modified (and improved, IMHO) into the Cure’s _Inbetween Days_, although other than that the songs aren’t very similar. Then, the opening acoustic guitar part of _Inbetween Days_ found its way to the opening of Wilco’s _Pot Kettle Black_, in a frankly more blatant manner. But, again, aside from that guitar it sounds nothing like either of the two other songs. Then there is also the main guitar part of the Clash’s _Clash City Rockers_, which is almost a verbatim recreation of the Who’s _Can’t Explain_. But the Clash are/were The Only Band That Matters, so they can get away with it. And which Nirvana song is it that appropriates Killing Joke’s _Eighties_ melody? _Come As You Are_? I’m drawing a blank here… ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/60 "2003-03-06T02:47:39Z")
Yeah, it’s “Come As You Are”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089.md?page=4)