# These two songs sound so alike, how is there not a lawsuit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151 "2016-09-28T21:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/21 "2016-09-29T12:59:35Z")
Not every problem results in a lawsuit. For all we know, the publishers of the songs could have worked out a deal between themselves in private. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/22 "2016-09-29T13:11:46Z")
Kid Rock’s [All Summer Long](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia0IfchQWoQ) sounds just like Warren Zevon’s [Werewolves of London](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDpYBT0XyvA). Plus sampling of Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/23 "2016-09-29T13:18:44Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > Yeah, the melody is really close. Much slower but close. > > And that must be the most soporific song I’ve heard in years. It’s probably the closest mainstream country will currently get to alluding to gay themes. Even if they’re really not. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/24 "2016-09-29T14:13:14Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > Kid Rock’s [All Summer Long](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia0IfchQWoQ) sounds just like Warren Zevon’s [Werewolves of London](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDpYBT0XyvA). Plus sampling of Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama. When that came out, I remember Kid Rock mentioning that he listened to Werewolves of London and Sweet Home Alabama and noticed the similarities, so he wrote the song in a similar vein. I’m curious if he had to get permission from or pay royalties to the other two songwriters (or song owners, now). I suppose one or both of the other owners might grant permission, realizing that if his song became popular, it might result in renewed interest in the Zevon and Skynyrd songs, too. That “country music” mashup linked about always makes me sad. Most current country music is absolute crap, with the same lyrics and song structures. Thank goodness for some decent bands like Whiskey Myers, Turnpike Troubadours, Dirty River Boys and Red Meat. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/25 "2016-09-29T14:18:39Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > When that came out, I remember Kid Rock mentioning that he listened to Werewolves of London and Sweet Home Alabama and noticed the similarities, so he wrote the song in a similar vein. I’m curious if he had to get permission from or pay royalties to the other two songwriters (or song owners, now). I suppose one or both of the other owners might grant permission, realizing that if his song became popular, it might result in renewed interest in the Zevon and Skynyrd songs, too. Interesting, since _Sweet Home Alabama_ was itself a response to Neil Young’s _Southern Man_. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/26 "2016-09-29T14:34:18Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > When that came out, I remember Kid Rock mentioning that he listened to Werewolves of London and Sweet Home Alabama and noticed the similarities, so he wrote the song in a similar vein. I’m curious if he had to get permission from or pay royalties to the other two songwriters (or song owners, now). I suppose one or both of the other owners might grant permission, realizing that if his song became popular, it might result in renewed interest in the Zevon and Skynyrd songs, too. Well, you are onto something here. The composers of Werewolves of London are listed as: MARINELL LEROY P WACHTEL ROBERT T ZEVON WARREN The composers of All Summer long are listed as: KING EDWARD C MARINELL LEROY P RITCHIE ROBERT J ROSSINGTON GARY ROBERT SHAFER MATTHEW VANZANT RONALD W WACHTEL WADDY ZEVON WARREN Waddy Wachtel and Robert Wachtel seem to be [the same person](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waddy_Wachtel). And the composers of Sweet Home Alabama: KING EDWARD C ROSSINGTON GARY ROBERT VANZANT RONNIE ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/27 "2016-09-29T15:15:12Z")
> [@joyfool](#): > > It’s probably the closest mainstream country will currently get to alluding to gay themes. Even if they’re really not. Isn’t Girl Crush the song that many country stations refused to play? They were afraid that their redneck listeners would turn gay just from hearing it. This despite the fact that the song isn’t actually about being gay. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/28 "2016-09-29T15:26:13Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Isn’t Girl Crush the song that many country stations refused to play? They were afraid that their redneck listeners would turn gay just from hearing it. This despite the fact that the song isn’t actually about being gay. Sentences 1 and 3 are correct. Sentence 2 should be changed to: They were getting complaints from homophobic rubes who misunderstood the song, much as those who think Springsteen’s “Born In The USA” is a pro-military, patriotic song. I imagine country radio stations will play anything that attracts listeners and boosts ratings. They were concerned that Girl Crush would do the opposite. I actually like the song. It is an interesting spin on a love song, and has a nice vocal. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/29 "2016-09-29T15:56:41Z")
The time signatures are different, as well.\* Heartache\* is in 4/4 time and _Girl Crush_ is in 6/8 time. There are, as has been noted, melodic similarities but that harmonic progression is common as lint. The country mash-up is hysterically funny. I love the line about drinking “home-made wine.” It’s lines like these (and they happen in a lot of different genres) that exercise my eye muscles. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/30 "2016-09-29T16:16:06Z")
Robert Earl Keen wrote [The Road Goes On Forever](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tMDXgf2cH4) in 1989. Toby Keith “wrote” [Bullets in the Gun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nec2gI9AyY) in 2010. Keen noted the similarities, commenting “But you know what they say about people from Oklahoma: They’ll steal your hat and help you look for it.” Instead of filing a lawsuit, he wrote [The Road Goes On and On](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZndeZHtOXho). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/31 "2016-09-29T16:44:23Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > … [Girl Crush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYZMT8otKdI). Is this song not EXACTLY like Bonnie Tyler’s [It’s A Heartache.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPOy7TPjfkE) Similar melody contour and chord structure; “It’s a Heartache” is in 4/4 (or equivalent) whereas “Girl Crush” is clearly in 3/4. ETA: or 6/8 as **MonkeyMensch** said above. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/32 "2016-09-29T17:50:24Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Similar melody contour and chord structure; “It’s a Heartache” is in 4/4 (or equivalent) whereas “Girl Crush” is clearly in 3/4. ETA: or 6/8 as **MonkeyMensch** said above. Or even 12/8 if you want to notate it that way (that was my first instinct, but 6/8 might be better. Regardless, the sheet music online seems to be split between 12/8 or 6/8). Hell, you can even write it out in 4/4 if you wanted to, by using triplets. The time signature difference isn’t really a big deal, though. It’s _usually_ not that difficult to take a song in 3 and make it 4 or vice versa. There are some songs I play in 3/4 or 4/4 depending on my mood, but the song is still recognizably the same song. That said, it is a difference to be noted. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/33 "2016-09-29T18:00:04Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > The first line of each verse is pretty much identical in melody, but the tunes gradually depart with the second line being similar in feel but not the same, and subsequent lines being more and more dissimilar. That doesn’t make any difference. “Down Under” was ruled to have plagiarized “The Kookaburra Song” based solely on a very brief part of the chorus. “Blurred Lines”, egregiously, was ruled guilty of plagiarizing Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up” based solely on the “feel” of the song, not the content itself. I’ve noticed that many recent high-profile lawsuits are being brought not by the writers themselves, but by the inheritors of their estates – “Stairway to Heaven” vs. “Taurus”, plus the two previously mentioned examples. The writers of “It’s a Heartache” (Ronnie Scott & Steve Wolfe) are still alive, so maybe we’ll have to wait until their kids inherit before there’s a lawsuit? ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/34 "2016-09-29T18:09:46Z")
> [@joyfool](#): > > It’s probably the closest mainstream country will currently get to alluding to gay themes. Even if they’re really not. It’s kind of funny because, listening to it, I was thinking: “So, you got a girl crush and you wanna taste her lips ? Mmmm, that’s interes … SNOOZE …”. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/35 "2016-09-29T22:58:51Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > That doesn’t make any difference. “Down Under” was ruled to have plagiarized “The Kookaburra Song” based solely on a very brief part of the chorus. “Blurred Lines”, egregiously, was ruled guilty of plagiarizing Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up” based solely on the “feel” of the song, not the content itself. The kookaburra tune is very short so although the flute riff in Downunder makes up a relatively small part of the song it contains a full 25% of the kookaburra song. The riff also repeats throughout the song and is very recognisable. That said, I think going after writers for this kind of plagiarism is stupid and I’m not advocating for it. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/36 "2016-09-30T05:55:22Z")
I’d swear that crap “Pretenders” (true in so many ways) _Don’t Get Me Wrong_ is the same song as some equally shitty Miami Sound Machine dance tune. Despise both of them! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/37 "2016-09-30T06:45:47Z")
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - King of Swing (1994/1998) about 70 seconds in The Pogues (yes, really) - Gridlock (1989) about 90 seconds in I guess they could be both based on a common swing motif. See also: [Amen break](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen_break). ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/38 "2016-09-30T13:42:45Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’d swear that crap “Pretenders” (true in so many ways) _Don’t Get Me Wrong_ is the same song as some equally shitty Miami Sound Machine dance tune. > > Despise both of them! That reminds me of this exchange you and I had back in 2013 in [this thread:🙂](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=705847) > [@THIS song sound just like THAT song.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/95): > > There is a crappy **Pretenders** song (_Don’t get me wrong_?) from late in the catalog when they really were pretending that sounds just like some crappy **Miami Sound Machine** song. I despise them both, and won’t go looking for links. > [@THIS song sound just like THAT song.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/101): > > That must be “[Words Get in the Way](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZ4SeK3Gos).” Don’t bother to thank me; I accept cash or checks. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/39 "2016-09-30T14:12:09Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - King of Swing (1994/1998) about 70 seconds in > > The Pogues (yes, really) - Gridlock (1989) about 90 seconds in > > I guess they could be both based on a common swing motif. See also: [Amen break](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen_break). It’s a bit different, but they both remind me of “Sing Sing Sing,” by Benny Goodman. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151/40 "2016-10-04T00:01:18Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Obligatory link to the [Pachelbel Canon rant](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM). And, similar obligatory link to the [Four Chord Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU4I). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-two-songs-sound-so-alike-how-is-there-not-a-lawsuit/767151.md?page=1)