A writer friend recently emailed me about a song that “stole” a guitar riff from another song. Nirvana vs. Killing Joke! Most of you music freaks know the story. Of course, it can happen accidentally, as music has only so many note sequences. If you’ve never heard either song, check out Killing Joke’s original tune:
And now listen to Mr. Cobain’s tune:
That riff was slowed down a bit, but you can definitely hear that it’s the same riff!
Most famously, many of us remember George Harrison being sued for plagiarism for his number 1 hit record, post-Beatles, “My Sweet Lord” (1970), cribbing the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine.” George maintained that his song was actually inspired by the Edwin Hawkins Singers’ hit “Oh Happy Day” and that he “wasn’t consciously aware of the similarity between” the two songs. Though he lost the case, I suspect George was telling the truth.
And here’s the plaintiff’s song:
Okay, I hear it, but as a songwriter, I know that after listening to music my entire life, I’m certain to have absorbed songs, melodies, and perhaps even lyrics into my original music, albeit subconsciously speaking.
Now check out the song that inspired Sir Harrison:
Dylan has always been a grand interpreter of past music reference points in his groundbreaking music. Woody Guthrie was a huge influence. Dylan’s debut references Guthrie twice on his debut. His original tune, “Song to Woody,” sounds just like Woody’s tune, “1913 Massacre.” Check it out:
And now listen to Bob’s tune:
Suffice it to say, it’s really hard to come up with original music, especially with so much music now at our digital fingertips.
Led Zeppelin has been accused of “borrowing” riffs from more than a few different folks. Willie Dizon wrote “You Need Love,” Muddy Waters released it in 1962, and then the Small Faces recorded “You Need Loving” in 1966. (Dig Steve Marriot’s vocals, future Humble Pie lead singer.) Guess which Zep song pinched more than a few lines for their hit song on Led Zeppelin II?
What do you think? What songs and lyrics have been blatantly cribbed from other sources?
It would seem that Dixon would have a case against Zeppelin! And then all of pop/rock music young and old would start suing each other for copyright infringement! Or we could all just admit that everything we hear is derivative of everything else and just enjoy the music.
To me, the one that will always annoy me the most is that the riff played after each chorus of The Cars' "Best Friends Girl" is a literal direct lift of the guitar line after each verse of The Beatles' "I Will." I can't believe there was never a lawsuit over this. I can think of many more - some of which I have pointed out to you in emails and one you even posted on Culture Catch last week. But I don't want to hog the comment section! LOL.