The Offspring’s “Why don’t you get a Job?” sounds like The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”

The Beatles’ released “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da” partly as a tribute to reggae’s growing popularity in Britain during 1968. The Offspring released “Why don’t you get a Job?” as a ska/punk tune from their 1998 album ‘Americana’.

I see the Offspring tune “Why don’t you get a Job?” more as a tribute to the Beatles’ hit than as a ripoff. The song is clearly inspired by the vocal melody. It’s even in the same key and tempo. The Offspring made such a little attempt to change the song that I see “Why don’t you get a Job?” as a humble nod to their musical superiors, The Beatles.

Since these songs are the same key and similar tempo, this sound-a-like is the perfect candidate for a Sounds Just Like first: Mashup! Listen to the second audio sample to hear The Offspring and The Beatles mashed together.

The Offspring: Why Don’t You Get a Job? (1998)

Mashup: “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da” vs. “Why don’t you get a Job?”

“Why don’t you get a Job?” was released as the second single from Americana, right after “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)”. I can understand the view that this was a dishonorable move by The Offspring. What do you think?

Related Sound-A-Likes:

1. Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m gonna leave you” sounds like Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4″
2. The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony sounds like the Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time”
3. The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA” sounds like Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen”