The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony sounds like the Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time”
Okay, so this is an example of the fine line between using a sample and ripping off another artist. Here’s the story from Wikipedia:
“Although the song’s lyrics were written by Verve vocalist Richard Ashcroft, it has been credited to Keith Richards and Mick Jagger after charges by the original copyright owners that the song was plagiarized from the Andrew Oldham Orchestra recording of The Rolling Stones’ 1965 song “The Last Time”.
Originally, The Verve had negotiated a licence to use a sample from the Oldham recording, but it was successfully argued that the Verve had used ‘too much’ of the sample.[5] Despite having original lyrics, the music of “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is partially based on the Oldham track (the song uses the sample as its foundation and builds layers upon it, though the prominent violin melody is Ashcroft’s creation),[citation needed] which led to a lawsuit with ABKCO Records, Allen Klein’s company that owns the rights to the Rolling Stones material of the 1960s. The matter was eventually settled, with copyright of the song reverting to ABKCO and songwriting credits to Jagger and Richards.
After losing the composer credits to the song, Richard Ashcroft commented, “This is the best song Jagger and Richards have written in 20 years.”[7]“
Popularity: 34% [?]
Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m gonna leave you” sounds like Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4″
You’ll have to wait for 0:59 into “Babe I’m gonna leave you” to hear it’s signature riff.
Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” was recorded Oct 1968 and released in January 1969.
Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4″ was recorded Aug 1969 and released June 1970, seven months after “Babe I’m gonna leave you” had radio play.
Popularity: 26% [?]
The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA” sounds like Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen”
Chuck Berry sued the Beach boys over their tune “Surfin’ USA” and won partial credit.
Chuck Berry: “Sweet Sixteen” (1958)
versus
The Beach Boys: “Surfin’ USA” (1963)
Popularity: 49% [?]
Flaming Lip’s “Fight Test” sounds like Cat Steven’s “Father and Son”
This is a particularly fascinating sound-alike. “Fight Test” is a great song in it’s own right, but the vocal melody appears lifted right now of “Father and Son”.
Listen for the vocal melody and cadence of these lines:
Fight Test (2002): “So it came time, to fight. I thought I’d just step aside and that time would prove you wrong.
Father and Son (1971): “It’s not time to make a change, just relax and take it easy. You’re still young, that’s you’re fault.
Click to continue…
Popularity: 30% [?]
Walt Disney’s “Spoonful of Sugar” sounds like John William’s “Imperial March”
Spoonful of Sugar (1964): Melody composed by Richard Sherman. Remember the melody of that chorus from childhood?
The Imperial March (1980): Written by John Williams. Although in a minor key, listen at 22 seconds for the tell-tale three notes that used to mean “…medicine go down”
Popularity: 39% [?]
Green Day’s “Warning” sounds like The Kinks’s “Picture Book”
Picture Book (1968): A really great track from the tight concept album “The Villiage Green Preservation Society”
Warning (2000): There is little room for doubt in this case – Green Day clearly copied every element of this song except for the lyrics.
Popularity: 35% [?]
? And the Mysterian’s “96 Tears” sounds like BS2000′s “It Feels Like”
Popularity: 11% [?]
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