# "Under Pressure" vs. "Ice, Icy Baby" and other similar beginnings to songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201 "2012-03-08T21:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/21 "2012-03-09T01:02:55Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > [I Want a New Drug](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6uEMOeDZsA&ob=av3n) > > [Ghostbusters](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQf_Us0aPjE&feature=related) I had heard of this one many times, but I fail to hear any resemblance between the two. Never understood those who did, although apparently there was a huge lawsuit back in the day over it. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/22 "2012-03-09T01:08:29Z")
Anyway, my contribution to this thread, after reading a Bathroom Reader, is that George Harrison once got sued because his “My Sweet Lord” apparently ripped off (note by note) “He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons. [My Sweet Lord](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c3hK4reVOY) [He’s So Fine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfxx3scAKS8) ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/23 "2012-03-09T01:18:28Z")
The Blues Magoos and [We Aint Got Nothin’ Yet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOGRTLn2uKY) vs Deep Purple and [Black Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHlODWd4GeM). Suspiciously similar, and the intros are virtually identical. eta And they both owe money to Rick Nelson’s take on [Summertime](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izsVZup02-4) ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/24 "2012-03-09T01:59:39Z")
Similarly to the OP, I used to think Jessica Simpson’s [I Think I’m In Love With You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7uxf8kBBlg&ob=av2e) was John Mellencamp’s [Jack & Diane](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04CH9YZcpI) from the opening. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/25 "2012-03-09T02:07:45Z")
I hated last summer when all of a sudden they stated playing Werewolves of London on the radio again, only it was that stupid Kid Rock song which also stole from my most hated song, Sweet Home Alabama. First it sounds like it’s gonna be a good song and then it turns into that fucking song I hate! Blah! And no, I don’t remember the name of the stupid song. I seem to have blocked it from my memory. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/26 "2012-03-09T02:32:49Z")
Every time I hear Edge of Seventeen, I’m all excited that they decided to bring Eye of the Tiger back from radio exile. Then I’m disappointed. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/27 "2012-03-09T02:33:27Z")
The beginning of Chicago’s “[Colour My World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8eYQX-NmCk&feature=related)” is nearly indistinguishable from Al Green’s version of “[How Can You Mend a Broken Heart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sr-3VwUWS0&feature=related).” The latter is in a slightly lower key and has more percussion. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/28 "2012-03-09T02:42:19Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Anyway, my contribution to this thread, after reading a Bathroom Reader, is that George Harrison once got sued because his “My Sweet Lord” apparently ripped off (note by note) “He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons. My favorite musical copyright case is when [John Fogerty](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbSGMRZsN4Q&ob=av2e) got sued for plagiarizing [himself](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbI0cMyyw_M). ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/29 "2012-03-09T02:50:14Z")
What’s the song that steals the chords to Sting’s “Shape of my heart?” Except that it just repeats the first line Over and Over and Over again and never lets the music actually progress? Makes me want to rip somebody’s eyeballs out. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/30 "2012-03-09T02:55:12Z")
Practically everything by Will Smith or Smashmouth includes a sample from an old-ish song. I used to drive my ex nuts by figurating them out - he’s older than me by more than a decade, and has worked in radio for several decades, but I always placed the sample before he did. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/31 "2012-03-09T03:00:27Z")
The bass line from Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” was inspired by, but not stolen from, Chic. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/32 "2012-03-09T03:04:39Z")
I know there is another song with a similar opening to this one because I am always disappointed when I hear it and it’s not [Melody](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvDnha9hH-g), but I cannot remember the other song right now. It’s only the same up until the lyrics start - can anyone get a different song from the opening? ---
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/33 "2012-03-09T03:12:44Z")
Stevie Wonder’s Superstition and Will Smith’s Wild Wild West. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/34 "2012-03-09T03:17:27Z")
David Bowie and Carlos Alomar performing “Footstompin” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PCKFMTeVBO0/hqdefault.jpg "David Bowie - Footstompin'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCKFMTeVBO0) David Bowie and John Lennon using Carlos’ riff for “Fame” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J-_30HA7rec/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGHIgWigkMA8=&rs=AOn4CLD_e1eXIV_4n6o3ivVA0tBA2HCmPQ "David Bowie - Fame") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-_30HA7rec) Carlos Alomar and Jame’s Brown using Carlos’ riff for “Hot” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YKb-N2XYNQ0/hqdefault.jpg "James Brown-Hot I Need To Be Loved Loved Loved") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKb-N2XYNQ0) I don’t know who is ripping off whom here. But I’ll side with Bowie till my dying breath. Come on, it’s Bowie and Lennon. Together. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/35 "2012-03-09T03:25:07Z")
Since I can’t edit, James Brown used Carlos Alomar’s riff without his or Bowie’s permission, but they showed compassion. I guess like Bowie showed for Vanilla Ice. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/36 "2012-03-09T03:28:21Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I had heard of this one many times, but I fail to hear any resemblance between the two. Never understood those who did, although apparently there was a huge lawsuit back in the day over it. I’m actually one to defend a lot of the “soundalikes,” but those are pretty darned similar. Would I say it’s a “ripoff”? Not necessarily, but “Ghostbusters” was _heavily_ influenced by “I Want A New Drug,” whether purposely or subconsciously. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/37 "2012-03-09T03:34:22Z")
I would tend to agree. Are we including mashups in this thread? Or just outright sampling? ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/38 "2012-03-09T03:56:58Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > David Bowie and Carlos Alomar performing “Footstompin” > > [http://youtu.be/PCKFMTeVBO0](http://youtu.be/PCKFMTeVBO0) > > I don’t know who is ripping off whom here. But I’ll side with Bowie till my dying breath. Come on, it’s Bowie and Lennon. Together. “Footstompin” was originally by the [The Flames](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORVq37SsNus) but Carlos added his own riff. As much as I appreciate Lennon, he didn’t contribute much to “Fame.” Bowie took his version of “Footstompin” and wrote new lyrics for it. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/39 "2012-03-09T04:06:48Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I had heard of this one many times, but I fail to hear any resemblance between the two. Never understood those who did, although apparently there was a huge lawsuit back in the day over it. In a nutshell, Huey Lewis was asked to use his music for Ghostbusters. He didn’t agree so they hired Ray Parker, Jr. to do a knock off of “I Want a New Drug.” Huey noticed the similarity to his song and sued. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201/40 "2012-03-09T04:41:34Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I hated last summer when all of a sudden they stated playing Werewolves of London on the radio again, only it was that stupid Kid Rock song which also stole from my most hated song, Sweet Home Alabama. > > First it sounds like it’s gonna be a good song and then it turns into that fucking song I hate! Blah! And no, I don’t remember the name of the stupid song. I seem to have blocked it from my memory. I was going to mention Werewolves of London/Sweet Home Alabama. They are essentially the same song. I think of Kid Rock’s song as sort of an homage to both. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-pressure-vs-ice-icy-baby-and-other-similar-beginnings-to-songs/615201.md?page=3)