Sounds Just Like

Suggest

The Beach Boys: Surfin' USA
sounds like
Chuck Berry: Sweet Little Sixteen

The Beach Boys : Surfin' USA

Recorded in 1963
Chuck Berry : Sweet Little Sixteen

Recorded in 1958

Chuck Berry claimed that the melody to “Surfin’ USA” was his after it became a hit. According to Brian Wilson in his book Wouldn’t it be Nice: My Own Story, his brother Mury handed the copyright over to Chuck Berry without Brian’s knowledge.

Although Brian has written defenses of the song’s originality, I find the the two clips below remarkably similar. The rhythm, structure, melody, lyrics & vocal cadence of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen” is heard all over again in “Surfin’ USA”.

guitar, Lawsuit, Lyrics, Melody, Plagiarism, riff, rockabilly, surf, vocals

What song sounds like Chuck Berry?

Surfin' USA sounds like Chuck Berry Sweet Little Sixteen

http://mandyatlarge.com Mandy M.

Amazing finds! Some of these are hard to believe.. :O
Pingback: Surfin’ With Sweet Little 16 « We All In Trouble… | Dlock’s Pop Culture Reflux
http://www.soundsjustlike.com Adam Wagner

This post has been updated with new clips (the old youtube videos had been removed) and some more complete information about the nature of the dispute between Chuck Berry & the Wilson brothers.
http://uk451.blogspot.com/ Jud

This one doesn’t just sound similar – it’s clearly a blantant rip-off. It even has that ‘break’ in the beat.
Craig

Not a surprise since Chuck Berry sued the Beach Boys over the similarities. He won and the song credit changed to include Chuck Berry on the Beach Boys song.
Juliet

They claim it was a tribute to him after he threatened to sue! wich so wasnt true! they ripped him off and im glad he sued.
http://cutestcatintheworld.blogspot.com Karizzle Krist

Every Chuck Berry song sounds like every other Chuck Berry Song
Boris

Murray* is Brian, Carl and Dennis’ Dad, not brother
Dave

maybe it’s because I’m a musician but I think the Beach Boys would have won in court. A song can be similar, it just can’t be the SAME I.E. have the identical melody. There are course subtle variations in the melody which is most certainly inspired by the Chuck Berry song, but the chord structure is entirely different and Brian Wilson’ genius. It is clearly not a rip off, although I can understand that the non-musician might think it’s similar enough to be a ripoff. The bottom line is, Brian Wilson created an entirely new sound with that melody and is far better in my opinion.
FatBottomed Girl

I have never posted in a comments area like this but after reading your comments Dave, I just had to. Dave, you are an ignorant fool who thinks he is soooooo smart, and isn’t. You have your head up your “bottom line”. “Subtle variations”? I think there are only subtle variations between the workings of yours and a dead persons brain! I no longer have any respect for Brian Wilson after discovering this.
Frmshowme

beach boys would not have won. it sounds the same. remember ray parker jr.’s “ghost busters”? he was sued, because it sounded too much like huey lewis’ “i want a new drug”.
Steve M

I doubt that Wilson et al would have won a suit. George Harrison lost with My Sweet Lord and that was just a short passage that resembled Spector’s “He’s So Fine”. This Dave guy (above) is clueless. The person who wrote this piece is also ill informed. Anyone who knows much about the Beach Boys is well aware of the story and they also know that Murray Wilson was the father. The song originally had just Brian Wilson in the credit. After Berry sued, the labels were changed to read just “Chuck Berry”.
http://www.facebook.com/ikaluzny Igor Kaluzny

Haha, I agree.

deebic021

roll over Beethoven sounds different from the rest in my opinion, but yeah, i agree

Sloanfan

Roll Over Beethoven sounds exactly like Johnny B Goode.

nick

was thinking just that right before i saw your comment aha
RL

Isn’t it well know that the beach boys song is a cover? They even quote the original composers on the album cover
little&big

Seen vsauce’s lastest video on youtube? wayyyy interesting

Theguy

Why do ya think i’m here?

Man

All of the songs sounded quiet similar between 1950′s and 1960′s that were Rock and Roll I love it though!
ActualMusician

This is how every submission should be. Clearly the Beach Boys had greater success with this song, but I never knew it was a complete theft from Chuck Berry.
Tiffany

Nice site from Vsauce! oxtiffyxo
Logan

This is probably the most popular similarity behind Ice Ice Baby and Under Pressure
trer

LOL. White people steal everything.

Guest

hehehe

http://www.facebook.com/STICH666 Mike DiBenedetto

Didn’t Chuck fight this in court and win?
Ross B

Surely I’m not the only person who’s wondering if they just copied them?? hahah!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1436741636 Ian Cornell

Did you know that The Beach Boys did not even surf?

GW

Actually, one of them did. I think it was Dennis.

Talis

His father MURRY did it. There is not a brother named Murry.
bsaget

It’s a blues, what do you expect?
Jonathan

Chuck Berry is actually considered a writer of this song on the album, because the tunes are so similar and Chuck Berry filed a lawsuit about it.
andrew

I expected to see California Girls and Back in the USSR
J

I could never tell any of the Beach Boys songs apart, now I know why. LOL
Pilotwarrior

wo unsere fahrräder Seh’n. This is what I hear all the time (Sorry I am from Germany)
dfdf

these songs exactly sound the same
Pingback: Get Facebook Likes
bitterboyblue

sounds just like Marty McFly

The Beach Boys: Surfin' USA sounds like Chuck Berry: Sweet Little Sixteen

The Beach Boys : Surfin' USA

Chuck Berry : Sweet Little Sixteen

The Beach Boys: Surfin' USA
sounds like
Chuck Berry: Sweet Little Sixteen