Fun new game: Unintentional (or otherwise) musical theft.

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Before you all get angry at me, I'm not saying this as an attack...but has anyone noticed that the xylophony part that underlies Out Hud's "The Stoked American" is uncannily similar to the chorus to 50 Cent's "Wanksta"? Go ahead, listen to it (only Mp3 sample I've found is at itunes) and see if you agree.

That aside, any other entrants? Sampling (of course) and already covered blatant ripoffs (like Elastica's Wire monstrosity) need not apply, although utter derision is encouraged.

MP3 samples will be appreciated to establish the veracity of your claim. OK, go!

― John Justen (johnjusten), Friday, 1 April 2005 02:56 (twenty years ago)

The J.B.'s "The Grunt" totally steals offa the Isley Brothers' "Keep on Doin'" (and doesn't credit the Isleys, either.) The extent of my complaints pretty much ends there, though, since both songs are brilliant. (more here.)

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Friday, 1 April 2005 03:02 (twenty years ago)

(and send me to hell, but "Connection" is 50x more fun to listen to than "Three Girl Rhumba")

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Friday, 1 April 2005 03:03 (twenty years ago)

I used to think that David Bowie ripped "Fame" off from James Brown's "Hot (I Need to Be Loved Loved Loved Loved Loved)" but then it was pointed out to me that "Fame" came out first.

Oh well. Enough people have ripped off JB that he deserves the occassional chance to return the favor.

xpost and wow! 2 jb posts already!

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Friday, 1 April 2005 03:04 (twenty years ago)

Enough people have ripped off JB that he deserves the occassional chance to return the favor.

Haha, I read Fred Wesley's autobio and he said that was Brown's self-justification for that kinda thing.

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Friday, 1 April 2005 03:43 (twenty years ago)

Tarnation's "It's Not Easy" and the Shangri-las' "Leader of the Pack."

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Friday, 1 April 2005 03:50 (twenty years ago)

Also: I only found out about this recently, but it cracks me up to no end that for a period in December (?) 1973 the #1 and #2 on the UK charts were Sweet's "Blockbuster" and Bowie's "The Jean Genie" respectively.

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Friday, 1 April 2005 03:53 (twenty years ago)

In Attila's "California Flash", Billy Joel sings of the title character, a rocker busted for onstage nudity. The Attila LP was released concurrently with Jim Morrison's real-life trial for that very offense, and "California Flash" featured a riff exactly like the one in the Doors' "Peace Frog", also released around the same time. Deliberate? Coincidence? Or a combination of the two?

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 1 April 2005 04:28 (twenty years ago)

I'm convinced that Destiny's Child's "Jumpin' Jumpin'" rips Autechre's "Arch Carrier". Combination of which would be the greatest thing ever, obv.

― Ferlin Husky (noodle vague), Friday, 1 April 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

"Say My Name" by Destiny's Child and the Glade air-freshener "Plug It In, Plug It In" commercial (as noted by the Village Voice, I believe).

― late adopter, Friday, 1 April 2005 05:55 (twenty years ago)

VU's "There She Goes Again" rips off Otis Redding's "Hitch Hike."

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 1 April 2005 06:00 (twenty years ago)

Metallica's "Memory Remains" seems to get a bit too close to Black Sabbath's "National Acrobat" with their main riffs...

― Bryan Moore (Bryan Moore), Friday, 1 April 2005 06:44 (twenty years ago)

Eminem's Lose Yourself and the Go-Go's Lust to Love. At least the guitar.

― joeblow, Sunday, 3 April 2005 01:01 (twenty years ago)

Anybody want to support a claim with a mp3 link? Otherwise, this is mostly going to be reduced to a long list of unverified listings accompanied by shrugging shoulders. Which will prevent the usual vitriolic fights...and where's the fun in that?

And yeah, I know mine dosn't have one, but I'm still trying.

― John Justen (johnjusten), Sunday, 3 April 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

**VU's "There She Goes Again" rips off Otis Redding's "Hitch Hike."**

not to mention Marvin Gaye's...

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Sunday, 3 April 2005 12:24 (twenty years ago)

Did Queens of the Stone Age rip off The Wild Swans' "The Revolutionary Spirit"?

― What we want? Sex with T.V. stars! What you want? Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Ma, Sunday, 3 April 2005 12:43 (twenty years ago)

I've mentioned this before, but The Coup's "Everythang" rips it melody straight off of Sugarhill Gang's "8th Wonder", which itself is a remake of a funk song called "7th Wonder". This probably isn't unintentional, since it is a pretty well-known melody, but The Coup doesn't credit the original writers anywhere (the song is credited to The Coup rapper/producer Boots Riley only), unlike Sugarhill (I guess they pretty much had to, after what happened with Chic and "Good Times").

Sorry, I can't provide you with MP3 links because I have no idea how they work.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 3 April 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

Busta Rhymes - "Woo Ha!! Got You All in Check" is a conscious reference to "8th Wonder" of course.

― What we want? Sex with T.V. stars! What you want? Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Ma, Sunday, 3 April 2005 12:48 (twenty years ago)

Captain Beefheart - Pachuco Cadaver
Gina G - (Ooh Ahh) Just A Little Bit

― DJ Mencap0))), Sunday, 3 April 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

http://josecuervo.shackspace.com/coldsum.mp3

― A / F#m / Bm / D (Lynskey), Sunday, 3 April 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

i think redding wrote it tho, not gaye. but i could be wrong, i don't have the rec in front of me.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 3 April 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

Kylie Minogue's "Secret (take you home) rips off Prince's D.M.S.R. - taken from Songs that blatantly rips off a famous or better artist

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Sunday, 3 April 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

xpost

"Hitchhike" was written by Marvin, Clarence Paul and Mickey Stevenson. It was a hit in 62, could've been covered by Otis later. Covered by the Stones on Out of Our Heads. More important, you're absolutely right about the Velvets blatantly swiping that riff.

Sorry I'm feeling more pedantic than usual today. Maybe I should go lecture my kid or something...

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Sunday, 3 April 2005 15:55 (twenty years ago)

oh don't worry about it, i couldn't remember.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 3 April 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

Nile's "Libation Unto the Shades Who Lurk in the Shadows of the Temple of Anhur"
is actually Renegade by Styx. Checkitout.

― shieldforyoureyes, Sunday, 3 April 2005 17:33 (twenty years ago)

The Human League's "The Black Hit of Space" sounds kind of like Parliament's "Rumpofsteelskin." Listen to the choruses, they're similar.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Sunday, 3 April 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

R. Kelly's "Ignition (Remix)" bites the chord progression from Sheryl Crow's "Leaving Las Vegas".

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Sunday, 3 April 2005 22:37 (twenty years ago)

oh and i read that Johnny Marr deliberatly references Hitch Hike at the begining of There is A Light that Never Goes Out in an attempt to make people think he was ripping off the Velvets then come back at them with what he was really ripping off.

― elwisty (elwisty), Sunday, 3 April 2005 22:39 (twenty years ago)

"Say My Name" by Destiny's Child and the Glade air-freshener "Plug It In, Plug It In" commercial

This is a fairly brilliant connection.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Sunday, 3 April 2005 22:41 (twenty years ago)

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