# THIS song sound just like THAT song. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2013, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106 "2013-10-24T13:16:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/61 "2013-10-26T03:19:19Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Iron Butterfly’s [Inna-gadda-da-vida](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urGHap53sgA) and Cream’s [Sunshine of Your Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16h6vLy6n4A). way back i heard a mashup of the drums from each. was kind of interesting. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/62 "2013-10-26T03:27:45Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > The Beatles’ “Birthday” and “The Greeks Don’t Want no Freaks” Is that second song on some rare version of \*Magical Mystery Tour \*or something? 🙂 ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/63 "2013-10-26T03:39:20Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > The [last movement](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwixn7TOi58&t=23m11s) of Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 2 and the [Simpsons](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqog63KOANc) theme. !!! That’s fantastic. Also, Chopin’s [e minor Prelude](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef-4Bv5Ng0w) and Radiohead’s [Exit Music (For a Film).](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMqXj-eVCjI) And, just for that one arpeggiated chord (but it’s memorable), the Beatles’ [Sexy Sadie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IcK4S5lDE0) and Radiohead’s [Karma Police](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBH97ma9YiI&feature=player_detailpage#t=76). (Thanks to Dai Griffith’s [book](http://www.amazon.com/Radioheads-Computer-Thirty-Three-Third/dp/0826416632) from the wonderful 33 1/3 series.) ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/64 "2013-10-26T04:33:42Z")
“Crystal Blue Persuasion” by Tommy James & the Shondells; “These Eyes” by the Guess Who (not so much the melodies, but the background music) “Bell Bottom Blues” by Derek & the Dominoes; “Hole in My Soul” by Aerosmith “[Deeez Nuuuts](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0docyc47VI)” by Dr. Dre; “[Paralyzer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJk6gZuPKRE)” by Finger Eleven - I’m surprised that nobody else has ever seemed to notice this one. A Google search doesn’t come up with any results saying they sound alike. ---
**Author:** ![ruh-roh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ruh-roh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruh-roh)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/65 "2013-10-26T04:33:58Z")
Not quite exactly what the op was asking, but… The Toys “A Lovers Concerto” and J.S. Bach’s “Minuet in G major”. The Star Spangled Banner and The “The Anacreontic Song”. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/66 "2013-10-26T04:37:36Z")
Just compare “[Hail, Columbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail,_Columbia)” with “Down by the Station Early in the Morning” and “Eensy Weensy Spider.” It’s positively uncanny! ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/67 "2013-10-26T06:37:45Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I can’t believe no one’s pointed out the minor similarities between Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Sixteen” and Brian Wilson’s “Surfin’ USA.” > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I wouldn’t call them “minor” and Chuck certainly didn’t. IF I remember correctly he sued and forced the BB to change the writing credits to C. Berry and B. WIlson. My mistake. I forgot to use the sarcasm font. ---
**Author:** ![SageGrouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@SageGrouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SageGrouse)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/68 "2013-10-26T16:06:59Z")
OK so I’m freakin’ ooooooooooooooooooooold! BUT… the Car 54 Theme and the Beverly Hillbillies theme melodies were almost identical up until the last part, where they diverged. There’s a holdup in the Bronx,/ Brooklyn’s broken out in fights; Let me tell you all a story / 'bout a man named Jed, There’s a traffic jam in Harlem / That’s backed up to Jackson Heights; Poor Mountaineer, / barely kept his family fed. There’s a scout troop short a child, / Khrushchev’s due at Idlewild! Then one day, / he was shootin’ at some food Car 54, Where Are You? And up from the ground came a bubblin’ crude… Same melody for both, but different tempo. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/69 "2013-10-26T17:04:32Z")
> [@SageGrouse](#): > > OK so I’m freakin’ ooooooooooooooooooooold! BUT… the Car 54 Theme and the Beverly Hillbillies theme melodies were almost identical up until the last part, where they diverged. > > There’s a holdup in the Bronx,/ Brooklyn’s broken out in fights; > Let me tell you all a story / 'bout a man named Jed, > > There’s a traffic jam in Harlem / That’s backed up to Jackson Heights; > Poor Mountaineer, / barely kept his family fed. > > There’s a scout troop short a child, / Khrushchev’s due at Idlewild! > Then one day, / he was shootin’ at some food > > Car 54, Where Are You? > And up from the ground came a bubblin’ crude… > > Same melody for both, but different tempo. Are you serious or kidding? Because they sound nothing alike. Now, _Car 54_ and _There Is Nothing Like A Dame_ from _South Pacific_, that’s a different story. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/70 "2013-10-26T17:38:20Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > My mistake. I forgot to use the sarcasm font. Nah, _my_ mistake. I should have seen it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/71 "2013-10-26T17:45:59Z")
Everything sounds like [Pachelbel’s Canon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM). ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/72 "2013-10-26T21:32:14Z")
The Shire theme from The Lord of the Rings sounds a lot like the hymn “This Is My Father’s World”. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/73 "2013-10-27T00:43:30Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > “The Kookaburra Song” and “Down Under” by Men At Work. Larrikin Music, the owner of “Kookaburra” sued Men At Work, charging that Greg Ham lifted the flute part of “Down Under” from “Kookaburra.” Larrikin won a portion of the song’s royalties. Greg Ham is reported to have been despondent at the decision, saying that the lawsuit is the only thing he would be remembered for. “Was reported”. He died soon after. And he did “lift” the “Kookaburra” riff into “Down Under”, but that was never in dispute: the question was if it was a musical reference or if it was a “substantial” re-publication. The judgement was that Larrikin Music had established joint authership, giving them a share in royalties. Whichever side you come down on, it wasn’t a sounds-like song: it was a quotation. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/74 "2013-10-27T01:43:02Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > I love this thread!! > > OK, I have two. Both of them were surprisingly obvious to me, but I had to explain them to most of my friends. > > 1. Loverboy [Lovin Every Minute Of It](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCQCaLuSx0c) is the EXACT same thing as Warrant [Cherry Pie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjyZKfdwlng) > > I can’t believe Jani Lane wasn’t sued by Loverboy for that one. > . ??? I don’t hear it either, please explain? I used to play these songs with one of my band in the 80’s and they’re not similar at all. > [@SykoSkotty](#): > > 1. KISS [Love theme / Acrobat](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0siNnfOht4&oq=kiss%20love%20them&gs_l=youtube..0.5j0l3j0i5.55790.57862.0.59603.14.12.0.2.2.0.108.887.11j1.12.0.eytns%2Cpt%3D-30%2Cn%3D2%2Cui%3Dll.1.0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.6liPZSCYiQQ) and Pearl Jam [ALIVE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM0zINtulhM) > > Considering the KISS song was released in 1974, I’m assuming Eddie Vedder’s inspiration was rather obvious. While the riff from “Love Theme From KISS” may be slightly similar, the music for “Alive” was written long before Eddie was in the band. In fact, Stone Gossard’s original recording was entitled “Dollar Short” and was on the Demo tape that ended up with Vedder. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/75 "2013-10-27T02:11:07Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > “Was reported”. He died soon after. And he did “lift” the “Kookaburra” riff into “Down Under”, but that was never in dispute: the question was if it was a musical reference or if it was a “substantial” re-publication. The judgement was that Larrikin Music had established joint authership, giving them a share in royalties. > > Whichever side you come down on, it wasn’t a sounds-like song: it was a quotation. The dispute really boiled down to who owned the rights to the song. Marion Sinclair’s estate, Larriken Music, the Girl Guides Association, or the public domain? I actually spoke to Colin Hay in 2012 and he commented on the case and Ham’s death. He was deeply affected and called Ham’s death a sad and unecessary tragedy. FTR the band only had to pay 5% on the song’s royalties from 2002 on. Hay has released several different recordings of the song, with and without the flute part, or altered enough to avoid the copyright infringement i.e. the re-release for the 1021 Summer Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/76 "2013-10-27T05:37:44Z")
[…ever since the Axis of Awesome…THEY ALL SOUND THE SAME TO ME!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ) ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/77 "2013-10-27T11:55:43Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > The dispute really boiled down to who owned the rights to the song. Marion Sinclair’s estate, Larriken Music, the Girl Guides Association, or the public domain? > > I actually spoke to Colin Hay in 2012 and he commented on the case and Ham’s death. He was deeply affected and called Ham’s death a sad and unecessary tragedy. > > FTR the band only had to pay 5% on the song’s royalties from 2002 on. > Hay has released several different recordings of the song, with and without the flute part, or altered enough to avoid the copyright infringement i.e. the re-release for the 1021 Summer Olympics. That’s 2012. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/78 "2013-10-27T12:56:15Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > My favorite example- > > 1970: Shocking Blue: **“Venus”** > \*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LhkyyCvUHk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LhkyyCvUHk) > \* > > 1963: The Big Three (including pre-Mama’s and Papa’s Cass Elliot): **“The Banjo Song”** > _[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uqnN3ek2vI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uqnN3ek2vI)_ Wow. Just wow. [Hotel California](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0G1Ucw5HDg) and [We Used to Know](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sJA_VF5c7U) Ian Anderson said in an interview he didn’t mind, there’s only so many chord progressions. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/79 "2013-10-27T15:07:28Z")
The Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil” and the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil” … wait a minute, that’s the same song played two completely different ways … my bad. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106/80 "2013-10-27T15:40:54Z")
["Evil Ways"](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tKIPuLfeKg)by Santana and [“Love Potion Number 9”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt7htnE1s4o) by The Clovers [“Crazy”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w) by Gnarls Barkely and [“Rolling in the Deep”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw) by Adele. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-song-sound-just-like-that-song/672106.md?page=5)