Unintentional Plagiarism

Mar 19, 2007

You’ve known for a long time that “Ghostbusters” sounds a lot like Huey Lewis and the News’ “I Want A New Drug.” I mean, there was a court case.

You also might have known that Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” sounds a lot like John Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane.”

But did you know that Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” sounds like Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf?” It DOES! It DOES!

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anna
Mar 19th, 2007 at 2:33 pm

you can sing “house of the rising sun” (recorded by various people, including the animals, but i prefer nina simone) to the chords of blondie’s “call me.” also, “one is the loneliest number” fits in there also.
ari
Mar 22nd, 2007 at 7:16 pm

one of my most favorite things i love to do is to sing some song on top of another song.

i also love to be vague.
ari
Mar 22nd, 2007 at 7:30 pm

i also love to check things out for myself.

on closer inspection of both BOR and HLTW (at least, itunes’ 30-second samples), you’re right, there are some similarities. assuming you are talking about the verse of BOR (choose the “Number Ones” album in the itunes sample) and the “do do do” part of HLTW right before the chorus, they’re actually both in E major, and there’s a descending melody, and both have similar beats and crisp drums. i don’t know if it’d hold up in court, though…

and very interesting about FC and JAD. never noticed.

i also love abbreviations.

On my iTunes now:

Child Star by The Unicorns from "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?"

willhines.net