Every Song Sounds Like Something Else

[Big Hoss]

PF's Money v. LZ's How Many More Times, bass lines at least. And man you guys ever notice how many of Weird Al's got ripped off? They're exactly the same except the lyrics! All those lazy rock bands...

Weird Al's work is considered Parody that is protected by the First Ammendment. Not sure how that would play out in court, but could be interesting reading for sure...

 

[electracoyote]

Weird Al's work is considered Parody that is protected by the First Amendment. Not sure how that would play out in court, but could be interesting reading for sure...

Yeah, it's hard to imagine how the Parody ruling has held up so long, because they break every rule of copyright infringement. I think it was a Supreme Court decision, but it sure is thin. I understand The 1st Amendment and free speech as pertains to lyrics, but what about the musical aspects, including the main melody, that are copied note-for-note? That one will probably get changed via court ruling someday.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Here is a classic-al one: Greenday-Basketcase = Pachelbell's Cannon

If you are a local band playing originals that all sound like rip-off's I dont think people will be terribly impressed. At least not by the originality.

What about the blues? People always be using that 12-bar thing (in like every song). Another good one- CCR! Didnt those guys get sued for copying their own song?

Everything is always being rehashed in all genres/disciplines.


The world is basically in 4/4 but it doesnt have to be! The originality issue is probably part of why I write almost exclusively in odd time signatures. It changes the whole geometry of what's going on.

When I saw Basket Case = Pachelbell's Canon, I thought, "This guy is crazy," but I think you have something there.

 

[fendermademygibson]

satire is exempt from such liability.

He (Weird Al) still has to get permission to do the songs. Remember when he caught heat from Coolio for "Amish Paradise". He apparently thought he had permission but he did not.

My point is he had to get permission to do "Word Crimes" and got it from an artist who is now being penalized for a song that they may or may not have ripped off. So wouldn't this essentially be guilt by association.

I'm not saying that I want or think that Weird Al should be penalized. It just makes me wonder.

 

[electracoyote]

When I saw Basket Case = Pachelbell's Canon, I thought, "This guy is crazy," but I think you have something there.

There's a great video out there where a guy with an acoustic guitar goes over Pachelbel's Canon in D and sings about 25 songs using the same chord progression. It's called "Why I Hate Pachelbel" or something like that.

It's important to note that a common chord progression alone is not what makes a song unique. It's the combination of the chord progression (harmony) with the melody, which is why that chord progression (Canon in D) gets used so often. As long as the songwriter changes up the melody and lyrics, it's fair use.

 

[aborgman]

He (Weird Al) still has to get permission to do the songs.

Nope.

Weird Al CHOOSES not to PUT ON ALBUM songs which he can't get permission from the artist. He is not legally required to get permission, and he has recorded a number of songs without permission (see: James Blount, You're Beautiful) which he releases on the intertubes.

"Song parodies can be characterized as fair use," says copyright lawyer Justin Jacobson of The Jacobson Firm. "This is different than recording cover songs, which would require the person covering the song to obtain a mechanical license through the Harry Fox Agency, permitting the artist to create a new version of the original song."

Despite being in the clear, legally, "Weird Al" goes out of his way to shore it up with the artists. "Al does get permission from the original writers of the songs that he parodies," says the archived official "Weird Al" website. "He feels it's important to maintain the relationships that he's built with artists and writers over the years. Plus, Al wants to make sure that he gets his songwriter credit (as writer of new lyrics) as well as his rightful share of the royalties."

 

[Jughead6]

Let's not get too crazy - almost every house has four outside walls, every car has four tires.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[fendermademygibson]

Nope.

Weird Al CHOOSES not to PUT ON ALBUM songs which he can't get permission from the artist. He is not legally required to get permission, and he has recorded a number of songs without permission (see: James Blount, You're Beautiful) which he releases on the intertubes.

Ok.

 

[yodedude2]

parody is protected by 'fair use' principles.

 

[tbirdsp]

I think most of the artists Weird Al parodies appreciate the publicity....

 

[fendermademygibson]

It still doesn't make sense to me though that he can use 100% of the music yet others produce a song that kind of sounds like another song and they get sued and sometimes have to pay ridiculous amounts of money in "damages". Damages to what? Doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to the whole matter.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

View attachment 580818

I said ALMOST...

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

 

[carsbybigd]

Cream's "Badge" [ After the guitar solo] and Boston's " More than a Feeling ". ZZ Tops " Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings [ ending measures] and Zebra's "Waiting til the Summer's Gone "

 

[zombie1965]

What about all songs that use the "Boops Riddim" Hit the youtube links for examples

Guns of Brixton - Train to Skaville - Invalid Link Removed - Loads of other regae

Bag of worms opened if you ask me.

 

[shastaband]

Remember when he caught heat from Coolio for "Amish Paradise".

Coolio's "Gangster Paradise" is a direct cop of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" (from Songs in the Key of Life).

 

[bass12]

Ja

What about all songs that use the "Boops Riddim" Hit the youtube links for examples

Guns of Brixton - Train to Skaville - Invalid Link Removed - Tones of other regae

Bag of worms opened if you ask me.

If I remember correctly, Jamaica had no copyright laws where recordings were concerned for the longest time - hence the constant ripping off that occurred within the music industry there.

 

[zombie1965]

Ja

If I remember correctly, Jamaica had no copyright laws where recordings were concerned for the longest time - hence the constant ripping off that occurred within the music industry there.

I didn't know this thanks. but The Clash...... that's pure theft.

 

[Jughead6]

I said ALMOST...

Apologies. I am a bit of a car nut and couldn't resist

I also understand the point you were making. Like cars and houses, there is very little innovation in popular music because we have settled on a formula that meets our expectations (and sells records). There are always exceptions to the rule, but they are considered odd (like the 3 wheel Reliant Robin car). Except for the lyrics, it is hard to imagine writing any pop/rock music that someone else hasn't already written in some form.

 

[darkblack99]

It's a bad ruling (by the tests in the copyright law cited, Gaye & Pharrell aren't even in the same melodic/rhythmic universe) that benefits greedy, untalented heirs (who are now trying to kill the golden calf that gave them this additional bit of wallet-fattening by banning its sale - making them slightly idiotic as well)...and it will be overturned on appeal.
My 2 cents - it's one thing to rip people off by using their intellectual property without proper attribution/credit , but a 'feel' is dumbspeak for arrangement and there is no violation for taking a snippet of that worth calling a lawyer for, that won't blow up in your face later.

'First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers...' - Shakespeare

'...and the MBAs too' - darkblack99