# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/141 "2015-04-09T22:30:44Z")
The band that did “Spooky” and “Stormy” was the Classics **IV** , not 5 (or V). ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/142 "2015-04-09T22:33:22Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > “She Will Be Loved” Maroon 5 and “Spooky” Classics 5. Heck both groups have a “5” at the end of their names. “Spooky” was by the Classics _IV_, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/143 "2015-04-09T22:36:13Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “Spooky” was by the Classics _IV_, actually. Right but I wanted to make it clear for those who don’t know roman numerals. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/144 "2015-04-09T22:37:24Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > “Spooky” by the Classics 5 and “Stormy” by the Classics 5 have exactly the same groove. This is very true! ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/145 "2015-04-09T22:40:43Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > This is very true! Well, except for the name of the band. ---
**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:** [April 10, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/146 "2015-04-10T21:08:56Z")
Am I the only one who hears the intro to Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” waiting for Fleetwood Mac’s lyrics “Listen to the wind blow” (from “The Chain”) to start in? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/147 "2015-04-10T21:46:15Z")
Well, as long as it looks like the thread’s been revived, does anyone else think the theme to the _Mary Tyler Moore Show_ sounds a lot like “MacArthur Park”? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.DJ\_Dave\_Beck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@Mr.DJ\_Dave\_Beck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.DJ_Dave_Beck)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/148 "2015-04-29T02:57:45Z")
Blockbuster by sweet, The Jean Genie by David Bowie, women is losers by Janis Joplin all three sound similar. 🙂 ---
**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:** [April 30, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/149 "2015-04-30T01:30:13Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > You have obviously reviewed my posting history. Well played! 😃 > > Welcome to The Dope! > > And since you called me out, I’ll add that Chrissie Hynde (using the name **The Pretenders,** _Oh The Irony_!) put out the exact same song as the freakin’ Miami Sound Machine. I hate both and won’t name them, but you all know what I’m talkin’ bout! Later the Pretenders did a different song which sounds exactly like Shakira’s “Estoy Aquí” – not sure which was released first. They had a thing for Latina singer-songwriters, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/150 "2015-04-30T06:03:33Z")
Haven’t read the whole zombie thread yet, but the best example that comes to mind is Robbie Dupree’s “Steal Away” (mentioned in the OP) and Huey Lewis’ “Do You Believe In Love”. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/151 "2015-04-30T06:07:08Z")
> [@available\_light](#): > > Istanbul by They Might be Giants and Puttin’ on the Ritz by Taco sound like the same tune. Someone once told me this was intentional, but I don’t know. Both songs are remakes. “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” was originally recorded in the early 1950s, and “Puttin’ On The Ritz” is even older. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/152 "2015-04-30T21:43:46Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Haven’t read the whole zombie thread yet, but the best example that comes to mind is Robbie Dupree’s “Steal Away” (mentioned in the OP) and Huey Lewis’ “Do You Believe In Love”. > > :dubious: Or “What A Fool Believes” by Doobie Brothers. ---
**Author:** ![sethwenen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@sethwenen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethwenen)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/153 "2015-07-22T05:34:02Z")
> [@the\_O-man](#): > > The beginning of Tom Petty’s **“Free Falling”** sounds exactly like the beginning of another song. I had a friend who loved Tom Petty, and I used to turn up the radio when I thought it was that song starting and it turned out to be the other. I can’t think of what it is now. Steve Windwood? Arggh, can’t remember… To me Tom Petty’s **Free Falling** sounds in some parts a bit like Semisonic’s **Closing Time** which sounds similar to Avicii’s **Wake me up** ---
**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:** [July 22, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089/154 "2015-07-22T11:14:25Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > To include a song that didn’t yet exist at the time this thread began, the Decemberists’ “Down By the Water” is a dead ringer for REM’s “The One I Love”. R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck helped produce that Decemberists album, so I guess he doesn’t mind the resemblance. Maybe he sees it more as an homage, or as an attempt to revive that particular style. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-just-like-other-songs-sampling-doesnt-count/159089.md?page=7)