Songs that have been "Borrowed" or "Influenced" by other songs

Led Zeppelin's legal woes on this issue are widely documented.

Others songs such as:

Beach Boys - Surfin' USA & Chuck Berry - Sweet little Sixteen
Beatles - Come together & Chuck Berry - You can't catch me
Coldplay - Viva La Vida & Joe Satriani - If I could fly

have all received attention as well.

Recently in Australia super group "Men at Work" lost a legal battle with a claim that the flute solo melody in their worldwide smash hit "Down Under" was "borrowed" from the melody of traditional Australian children's song "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree"



How many songs can you name that have been "borrowed" or "influenced" from other popular songs?

Kid rock all summer long and warren zevon werewolves of london

70% of all hiphop songs...but they get sample clearances so it isn't stealing.

All of Sublime 40 oz to Freedom album

Originally posted by phroziac
Kid rock all summer long and warren zevon werewolves of london

Yes definitely, with a bit of "Sweet Home Alabama" thrown in as well. That one was so blatant I can't help but think there was some "sort of deal" between the record companies involved.

how can anyone own music. Ever song every written exists right now the song writer unveils it so all can see. I think all music should be free.

Queen and David Bowie Under Pressure and Vanilla (the clown) Ice Ice Ice baby...

Of course there are only so many chords and so many harmonic melodies bound to happen by coincidence too these days everything old is new again.

Originally posted by AthlonSavage
how can anyone own music. Ever song every written exists right now the song writer unveils it so all can see. I think all music should be free.

Yes. A very valid but debatable point. I can see merit on both sides of that argument. I believe all musical compositions in one form or another are based upon in some part someone else's work. Either one or many other influences that are combined to form an "Original" piece. After all there are only so many "notes" to play.

It's the really obvious ones that are the problem.

Here's part 1 of a good documentary about copyright and the music business.

Music is practically impossible without some kind of plagiarism.

Nowadays it's all about money.

An obvious one, The Jam 'Start!' and The Beatles 'Tax Man'.

The Beatles 'Tax Man' and a mix of James Jamerson's Motown bass lines.

George Harrison 'My Sweet Lord' and Ronnie Mack's (The Chiffons) 'He's So Fine'.

R.E.M.'s 'Hope' and Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne'.

Nirvana's 'Come as You Are' and Killing Joke's 'Eighties'.

Radiohead's 'Creep' and The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe'.

The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony' and the Rollings Stone's 'The Last Time'

Oasis's 'Cigarettes and Alcohol' and Marc Bolan's T. Rex 'Get it On (Bang a Gong)"

Oasis's 'Shakermaker' and the Coke commercial 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing'.

Barbra Acklin - Am I the Same Girl



and Young / Holt Unlimited - Soulful Strut



Essentially the same song. One has lyrics and one doesen't.

Originally posted by phatpackage

Originally posted by phroziac
Kid rock all summer long and warren zevon werewolves of london

Yes definitely, with a bit of "Sweet Home Alabama" thrown in as well. That one was so blatant I can't help but think there was some "sort of deal" between the record companies involved.

Technically since warren zevon is dead.....there shouldnt be a copyright allowed on it at all. its not making warren money! But, it doesnt make it right. That said....i like kid rocks version better. Id like to do a cover of werewolves of london one day....make it sound brighter

ZZ Top's latest. Loving it. Getting back back to their roots:



Their roots are like Tush and La Grange but this song's is from Hip Hop.



Heard about this on the radio this morning.

And since no one else has mentioned it ...

MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This

and

Rick James - Superfreak