The Copy-Cats in Music (5 Viewers)

[rounder]

Let me first start out by saying that I don't think what what I'm about to mention should be considered copyright or infringement.

I was reading a book by Malcolm Gladwell once, and there was one Chapter discussing how musical artists, popular ones, copied music from their predecessors and took full credit for it.

Anyway, I think it's cool to know who copied what from whom. Here's a list of some of the stuff it had.

Shaggy's 'Angel' and Steve Miller Band's 'The Joker'.

Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and Muddy Waters' "You Need Love"

Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit" compared to Boston's 'More Than a Feeling'.

"Twice My Age," by Shabba Ranks and Krystal, and then the saccharine seventies pop standard "Seasons in the Sun".

"Last Christmas," by Wham!, followed by Barry Manilow's "Can't Smile Without You"

"Joanna," by Kool and the Gang and, "Last Christmas"

Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy," "Taj Mahal," by the Brazilian artist Jorge Ben Jor


If you know any more familiar sounding music, or any more 'Copy-Cats'; please do share.

 

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[Nedvěd]

I wouldn't class that as 'copy catting' but it's more of 'borrowing'

 

[The Curr]

I was reading a book by Malcolm Gladwell once, and there was one Chapter discussing how musical artists, popular ones, copied music from their predecessors and took full credit for it.

Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit" compared to Boston's 'More Than a Feeling'.

Nirvana acknowledged that that song (well, only the intro really) sounds like More Than a Feeling.

 

[rounder]

That's interesting, Cur. In any case, even if they did copy Boston; what Nirvana did was pure genius.

 

[The Curr]

That's interesting, Cur. In any case, even if they did copy Boston; what Nirvana did was pure genius.

Nirvana were brilliant but that song is one of their worst.

 

[rounder]

Nirvana were brilliant but that song is one of their worst.

I think it's their most commercial song, but I would still put in their top 20, and certainly not among their worst. I don't know; maybe it's just me.

 

[JuveJay]

Meh, culture vultures always say that. I think Nirvana fans often feel like that, just like Kurt did, they are sick of it.

 

[JuveJay]

Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby and David Bowie - Under Pressure springs to mind.

 

[rounder]

Here are some I just thought of.

Afroman's "Crazy Rap", and Slick Rick's "La Di Da Di" to Sugarhill's "Rapper's Delight"

Biggie's "Hypnotized" to Slick Rick's " La Di Da Di".

 

[Martin]

And this matters because...?

 

[bianconero]

There is no new music.


Music is dead. All that is left is rephrasing and revamping of old tunes and rhythms.

 

[Martin]

There is no new music.

Music is dead. All that is left is rephrasing and revamping of old tunes and rhythms.

That's not true, I have some brand new stuff playing in my head.

 

[rounder]

And this matters because...?

Why do you have to be so cynical?

You have to read the book to understand the context it was in. He was discussing copyright, and intellectual theft in academia and he was comparing it to the music world.

Anyway, I personally thought that the concept was interesting. Does it really matter? Well, it doesn't really matter if we discuss the fuck about Juventus and what we think the solutions should be but we do it any way. Efficiency isn't an innate quality in human beings, and I don't see why we should expect it to be.

Do you know of any examples, Martin?

 

[bianconero]

That's not true, I have some brand new stuff playing in my head.

You just think it is new, just like the voices in your head.

 

[Martin]

Do you know of any examples, Martin?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

But to address the point of this thread. Artist A records a song in year X, makes a certain splash. Artist B records the same song or a slightly modified version in year Y and makes a bigger splash. Artist A gets mad, so Artist B cuts a small check out of his big income and pays Artist A. Everyone happy, no?

See, the whole thing about whether a piece of music is going to be a hit is so much about performance and timing. If Artist B can perform it better and at a more optimal moment in music, such that it appeals to more people, why shouldn't he?

 

[Martin]

You just think it is new, just like the voices in your head.

Actually, the voices are busy putting on a musical. Aah, I wish you could hear it, they're so talented.

 

[Kate]

"Disco 2000" by Pulp and "Gloria" by Umberto Tozzi.

 

[rounder]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

But to address the point of this thread. Artist A records a song in year X, makes a certain splash. Artist B records the same song or a slightly modified version in year Y and makes a bigger splash. Artist A gets mad, so Artist B cuts a small check out of his big income and pays Artist A. Everyone happy, no?

I was asking about examples of copy cats.

To address your point; I don't know why you interpreted it that way. I'm not blaming the new artists for remaking or modifying an old version or piece of music. I just thought it would be interesting to see which new artists were able to get away with it. I mean, if this was taking place in the academic world; things wouldn't run that smoothly. It would take a lot more than a small check to settle matters.

In any case, that wasn't the intention of this thread. It's just a curiosity I have. There's no underlying logic to the thread; it's just useless information about where some artists stole music from.

 

[Martin]

I was asking about examples of copy cats.

To address your point; I don't know why you interpreted it that way. I'm not blaming the new artists for remaking or modifying an old version or piece of music. I just thought it would be interesting to see which new artists were able to get away with it. I mean, if this was taking place in the academic world; things wouldn't run that smoothly. It would take a lot more than a small check to settle matters.

In any case, that wasn't the intention of this thread. It's just a curiosity I have. There's no underlying logic to the thread; it's just useless information about where some artists stole music from.

I don't know what academia has anything to do with musical performance. In academia people are supposed to produce research, in music they perform music. You do realize that lots of artists don't write their own music, don't you? They have professional song writers who know what kind of tune will succeed in the current musical market. So are they "getting away with it" too?

 

[bianconero]

Actually, the voices are busy putting on a musical. Aah, I wish you could hear it, they're so talented.

A capella?