Post by Sequenzzer on Feb 20, 2014 12:14:41 GMT
I’m sure by now most of you have heard the story of George Harrison’s court battle over his alleged plagiarism of the Chiffons’ 1960 song, “He’s So Fine.” For those of you who haven’t heard, it happened soon after George’s 1970 hit, “My Sweet Lord” climbed the charts as a million-selling number one hit. Seems George had the former song in the back of his mind when he wrote the latter. He was ordered to pay $587,000.00 over the copyright infringement case. In another ironic twist to this story, George’s manager, Allen Klein, bought Bright Tunes Publishing, which held the copyright on “He’s So Fine.” So Harrison ended up owning both songs.
Over the years I’ve noticed several songs that sound like other songs and wondered if these other parties eventually ended up in court over who owned what. The first example that comes to mind involves three songs. Listen closely to Air Supply’s “Even The Nights Are Lonely.” When it comes to that phrase, the music behind it sound exactly like Christopher Cross’s “Arthur he does what he pleases,” phrase from “Arthur’s Theme.” Both those phrases also sound exactly like Elton John’s phrase, “Maybe you’ll get a replacement,” from his song, “Good-bye Yellow Brick Road.” Okay, who had it first? Air Supply uttered their phrase in June of 1982. Christopher Cross first said it in August, 1981. However, Elton John first sang his phrase in November of 1973 so it looks like he would prevail in a lawsuit.
In 1966 The Beatles released “Revolver,” an album that included Paul’s personal favorite, “Here, There and Everywhere.” In it there’s a phrase that says, “And if she’s beside me I know I need never care.” Nine years later Diana Ross released “Theme From Mahogany,” which included the second line, “Do you like the things that life is showing you?” The music from those two phrases is identical so Paul would win in this lawsuit.
The Beach Boys would have some money coming from John Lennon (or at least his estate) if this next example were to come to trial. In 1964 Brian Wilson wrote “Don’t Worry Baby” and included the phrase, “When she looks in my eyes and makes me realize what she said.” Lennon’s 1980 song, “Just Like Starting Over” contains the phrase, “And when I see you darling, it’s like we both start falling in love again.” Different words, almost the same musical notations in both cases. Pay up, John.
Sometimes all it takes is a single chord strummed on the guitar in a particular way to conjure up notions of plagiarism. Granted, I don’t think you can build a case on one chord, but listen to the opening guitar riff (one chord) from The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” then listen to the opening guitar riff from Shocking Blue’s, “Venus.” Who copied whom here? The Who-May, 1969. Shocking Blue-seven months later. Case closed.
I recently heard the opening measures to Led Zeppelin’s, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and you know what? It sounds almost identical to the opening measures of Chicago’s, “25 or 6 to 4.” Zep’s tune is from 1969 while Chicago’s is from 1970. Hmmmmm?
The Beach Boys’, “Sloop John B.” came out in April of 1966 while Glenn Campbell’s, “Rhinestone Cowboy” came out in June of 1975. The words are different, but the melodies are almost interchangeable. Again, Brian Wilson would have a few bucks coming from a settlement like this.
Unfortunately for me in the music world,I was born right around the time the supergroup was in the process of breaking up. I can just imagine how impressed I would have been as a 60's teenager every time a new Beatle song came out. I hear all those massive number of albums and songs and later say to myself, “How could they keep coming up with new ideas and new melodies? You’d think sooner or later all the possible combinations would be used up.” Apparently not so. Look at all the unique songs that have come out in the last forty-five years (not counting the examples above.)
Lennon/McCartney..Two powerhouse songwriting fellows with between them a thrilling super ride of songs one after another,flow of the pen and ideas,like it was so easy,right?
While it’s true that the examples I’ve sited here are for the most part the exception to the rule, I have to say that from personal observation,in my OPINION,I’ve noticed two distinct forms of music that I can truly say, “If you’ve heard one, you’ve heard them all.” One of those music styles is polkas. Literally, if you can play one polka, you can play them all. The other category is rap or hip-hop or whatever it is you call that recording (I refuse to call it music) that sounds like someone reciting violent poetry to the sound of another guy beating on a cardboard box with a broken curtain rod.
Imagine the tangled up courts we’d have if all those guys decided to sue each other!
Take Care
Mike
Over the years I’ve noticed several songs that sound like other songs and wondered if these other parties eventually ended up in court over who owned what. The first example that comes to mind involves three songs. Listen closely to Air Supply’s “Even The Nights Are Lonely.” When it comes to that phrase, the music behind it sound exactly like Christopher Cross’s “Arthur he does what he pleases,” phrase from “Arthur’s Theme.” Both those phrases also sound exactly like Elton John’s phrase, “Maybe you’ll get a replacement,” from his song, “Good-bye Yellow Brick Road.” Okay, who had it first? Air Supply uttered their phrase in June of 1982. Christopher Cross first said it in August, 1981. However, Elton John first sang his phrase in November of 1973 so it looks like he would prevail in a lawsuit.
In 1966 The Beatles released “Revolver,” an album that included Paul’s personal favorite, “Here, There and Everywhere.” In it there’s a phrase that says, “And if she’s beside me I know I need never care.” Nine years later Diana Ross released “Theme From Mahogany,” which included the second line, “Do you like the things that life is showing you?” The music from those two phrases is identical so Paul would win in this lawsuit.
The Beach Boys would have some money coming from John Lennon (or at least his estate) if this next example were to come to trial. In 1964 Brian Wilson wrote “Don’t Worry Baby” and included the phrase, “When she looks in my eyes and makes me realize what she said.” Lennon’s 1980 song, “Just Like Starting Over” contains the phrase, “And when I see you darling, it’s like we both start falling in love again.” Different words, almost the same musical notations in both cases. Pay up, John.
Sometimes all it takes is a single chord strummed on the guitar in a particular way to conjure up notions of plagiarism. Granted, I don’t think you can build a case on one chord, but listen to the opening guitar riff (one chord) from The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” then listen to the opening guitar riff from Shocking Blue’s, “Venus.” Who copied whom here? The Who-May, 1969. Shocking Blue-seven months later. Case closed.
I recently heard the opening measures to Led Zeppelin’s, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and you know what? It sounds almost identical to the opening measures of Chicago’s, “25 or 6 to 4.” Zep’s tune is from 1969 while Chicago’s is from 1970. Hmmmmm?
The Beach Boys’, “Sloop John B.” came out in April of 1966 while Glenn Campbell’s, “Rhinestone Cowboy” came out in June of 1975. The words are different, but the melodies are almost interchangeable. Again, Brian Wilson would have a few bucks coming from a settlement like this.
Unfortunately for me in the music world,I was born right around the time the supergroup was in the process of breaking up. I can just imagine how impressed I would have been as a 60's teenager every time a new Beatle song came out. I hear all those massive number of albums and songs and later say to myself, “How could they keep coming up with new ideas and new melodies? You’d think sooner or later all the possible combinations would be used up.” Apparently not so. Look at all the unique songs that have come out in the last forty-five years (not counting the examples above.)
Lennon/McCartney..Two powerhouse songwriting fellows with between them a thrilling super ride of songs one after another,flow of the pen and ideas,like it was so easy,right?
While it’s true that the examples I’ve sited here are for the most part the exception to the rule, I have to say that from personal observation,in my OPINION,I’ve noticed two distinct forms of music that I can truly say, “If you’ve heard one, you’ve heard them all.” One of those music styles is polkas. Literally, if you can play one polka, you can play them all. The other category is rap or hip-hop or whatever it is you call that recording (I refuse to call it music) that sounds like someone reciting violent poetry to the sound of another guy beating on a cardboard box with a broken curtain rod.
Imagine the tangled up courts we’d have if all those guys decided to sue each other!
Take Care
Mike
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