So in English today we’re listening to the greatest hits of Cats Stevens, and track 9 comes on. Even though I haven’t heard the song before, strictly speaking, I have heard the song before. The song was Father and Son and I realized that it also happens to be the first track on the new Flaming Lips album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (it’s called “Fight Test,” here). Despite the rather obvious, um, borrowing, Stevens wasn’t given any credit by the Lips.
This caused me to think about the song that the Stones gave kd Lang a writing credit for because of its resemblance to one of her songs.
So, Dopers, can you think of any other obvious thefts/soundalikes?
Some Barry Manilow song – time has mercifully blotted the title from my mind – swiped the saxophone hook from the Stylistics’ “Rock ‘n’ Roll Baby”
Ray Parker, Jr., wrote a song that was heavily modeled, if not outright stolen, from the Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” I believe Huey Lewis also accused Parker of plagiarizing “I Want a New Drug” for Parker’s “Ghostbusters.”
“She Hates Me” by Puddle of Mudd starts out just like “Summer Nights” from Grease. Always seemed like a blatant ripoff to me, even though the songs are different.
EBYT was itself stolen, if you ask me. Don’t believe me? Track down a copy of the song “More Than I Can Say” by Leo Sayer.
Now tell me Mr. Sting does not owe Mr. Sayer and the songwriting team of curtis/allison a hefty royalty check.
There is a song out now by the band Coldplay which always reminds me of the song “Small Town Boy” by the 80s band Bronski Beat. I don’t know the name of the Coldplay song, though.
Peter Murphy’s “Cuts You Up” (1990) sounds suspiciously like The The [Matt Johnson]'s “Uncertain Smile” (1984)… the melodies are similar, but the rhythm tracks are virtually identical.
Strangely enough, All Music Guide called “Cuts You Up” “Bowiesque”. Go figure… :rolleyes:
When Joe Jackson’s “Night and Day” LP came out someone pointed out that the song “Breaking Us In Two” sounded like another song. Anyone know what that other song is?IIRC it was a well-known song.
What’s the new Fleetwood Mac song that got a little airplay recently? I didn’t much care for it but noticed the chorus sounds a LOT like the chorus from Paul Simon’s “Kodachrome” (to the point I started singing the words to “Kodachrome” over the top of whatever the real words are).
“R.O.C.K in the U.S.A.” and “What I Like About You” always sounded a lot alike to me. In fact, if I were in a band I’d play a medley of both and segue right at the harmonica break in the bridge.
And of course “Surfin’ USA” and “Sweet Little Sixteen”, although I understand Mr. Berry did get a songwriting credit on “Surfin’ USA”.
