OVER THE PAST few months, the music industry has been faced with two juicy rip-off scandals.
First, Sam Smith was forced to come to a settlement with Tom Petty after it was decided that Stay With Me sounded a little too like Petty’s 1989 single I Won’t Back Down.
Then, Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke were forced to hand over millions of dollars to Marvin Gaye’s estate after it was found that Blurred Lines was a big fat fraud.
But they’re not the only ones who might have looked around for some inspiration…
1. The Strokes – Last Nite
Sounds a bit like…
Tom Petty – American Girl
But Tom Petty was sound about it and shrugged it off. He told Rolling Stone:
The Strokes took “American Girl”[for their song "Last Nite"], and I saw an interview with them where they actually admitted it. That made me laugh out loud. I was like, “OK, good for you.” It doesn’t bother me.
2. One Republic – Counting Stars
Sounds a little like…
Just a coincidence, we’re sure.
3. Fun. – Some Nights
Is rather reminiscent of…
Simon & Garfunkel – Cecilia
This mash-up perfectly illustrates the similarities.
4. David Guetta – When Love Takes Over
That opening piano riff sounds oddly like…
Coldplay – Clocks
David Guetta, you SNAKE.
5. Katy Perry – Roar
Basically sounds exactly the same as…
Sara Bareilles – Brave
Many noted the glaring similarities between the two empowering songs, but both parties denied any shadiness. Producer Dr. Luke did, however, state that Perry’s number was recorded before Brave.
But Bareilles and Perry are still pals with Bareilles maintaining that there was no animosity between the pair.
I don’t feel like anything was taken from me artistically. I wasn’t the one having any problems with it.
All’s well that ends well.
6. Beyoncé – Halo
Is identical to Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson.
And there’s a good reason for that: the songs were both co-written by Ryan Tedder.
Halo predated Already Gone and once Clarkson caught wind of the similarities, let’s just say she was pretty mad. Her song Wash Rinse Repeat references the debacle. (Sample lyrics: “I can’t take the pressure of new/Gimme old/Rip it off/Lets see if it sticks to the wall again/They’re too dumb to see, see the truth”.)
For his part, Tedder denied any wrongdoing.
Hmm.
7. Oasis – Wonderwall
Sounds a little like…
Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Never one to shy away from beef, Noel Gallagher previously called out Green Day for stealing the melody from his drunken anthem.
They should have the decency to wait until I am dead [before stealing my songs]. I, at least, pay the people I steal from that courtesy.
8. Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk
The biggest song of 2015 totally sounds like…
Morris Day – Jungle Love
If you scan through Mark Ronson’s mentions on Twitter, there are dozens upon dozens of people urging him to pay damages to Morris Day.
In fairness, Ronson did give Morris Day a shout-out in his acceptance speech for Single of the Year at the Brit Awards.
Perhaps his way of buttering him up…
9. One Direction – Best Song Ever
Is completely in debt to…
The Who – Baba O’Riley
That intro!
Completely shameless.
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