Are These New Tunes the Same Old Song?
The more music we listen to these days, the more we catch ourselves saying: ‘Hey, this sounds like (insert older song/band here).’ Sure, being influenced by something or even covering a song is all fine and dandy, but lately, it just feels like there’s been a massive spate of songs that are clearly — and often, blatantly — ripped-off from other tunes. Say, for example, Hilary Duff’s new tune.
Hilary Duff Snapshots
Singer Hilary Duff attends MTV
Gary Gershoff/WireImage.com
Singer Hilary Duff attends MTV
Gary Gershoff/WireImage.com
Singer Hilary Duff attends MTV
Gary Gershoff/WireImage.com
Singer Hilary Duff and rapper Ludacris attend MTV
Gary Gershoff/WireImage.com
Musicians Hilary Duff and Taylor Swift pose backstage during MTV
Theo Wargo/WireImage.com
Singer Hilary Duff poses backstage during MTV
Theo Wargo/WireImage.com
Singer Hilary Duff attends MTV
Soul Brother/FilmMagic.com
Singer Hilary Duff attends MTV
Soul Brother/FilmMagic.com
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Singer Hilary Duff speaks during MTV’s TRL “Total Finale Live” at the MTV studios in Times Square on November 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hilary Duff *** Local Caption *** Hilary Duff
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NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Singer Hilary Duff poses during MTV’s TRL “Total Finale Live” at the MTV studios in Times Square on November 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hilary Duff *** Local Caption *** Hilary Duff
Getty Images
On ‘Reach Out,’ Duff doesn’t exactly pay homage to the Depeche Mode classic ‘Personal Jesus’ as much as she completely reworks the song without trying to cover it. She even names the song after a lyric in the chorus (”reach out and touch faith,” Mode sang).
Back when the single dropped, we polled PopEater readers about whether or not they dug Duff’s new, borrowed sound. It was a 50-50 split straight down the middle. A staggering 42% of voters also said that while totally “unoriginal,” jacking songs is fine by them.
To her credit, Ms. Duff isn’t the first young’un to take royalties with an older tune in recent days. Rihanna’s smash single ‘S.O.S.’ is a clear spin on Soft Cell’s ‘Tainted Love.’ Avril Lavigne’s massive hit ‘Girlfriend’ landed the Canadian mall-punker in court after The Rubinoos sued her for copyright infringement. Turns out, Lavigne’s chorus sounds exactly like their 1977 track ‘I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.’
Today’s pop stars aren’t the only musicians taking heat for snagging rhythms, melodies and chord progressions (Fun fact: the latter of which isn’t copyrightable). The biggest punk band of the last 15 years, Green Day, have gained a reputation for taking liberty with other people’s tunes.
Some of the biggest hits of rock and rap (which often uses sampling … not the same as what we’re describing here) the last 20 years in the world have sounded curiously like other songs we love. Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ infamously heists David Bowie’s ‘Under Pressure’ beat (though Ice claims there’s an additional note, making the stolen song argument null and void), while even The Strokes’ rock debut single ‘Last Night’ bears a striking resemblance to the opening of Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl.’ Hear for yourself below, with a massive gathering of side-by-side songs.
