The Lifted Melodies/Riffs/etc. Thread (singer, blues, dance, pop)

Rainard Jalen · 05-01-2008, 02:20 PM

I don't know if there was one of these already...but I thought it might be interesting to have a thread where people can post examples of well-known songs that have almost "verbatum" lifted certain melodies/riffs from much earlier songs.

Now, I don't mean the obvious ones that everybody knows about, but rather those suspicious things that people have personally come across in their own listening experience.

It's odd just how many of these types of things you find yourself coming across. Just today I came across a song called "The Queen Of My Nights" by The Blues Magoos, 1966. And the riff & progression is so strikingly similar, that it must have been lifted by those who wrote "Summer Nights" for the film Grease. Check it out, if you can.

mr dave · 05-01-2008, 03:02 PM

the one that always annoyed me the most was the offspring's 'get a job'. it's a straight lift of the beatles 'ob-la-di ob-la-da'.

Wayfarer · 05-01-2008, 03:41 PM

There's a riff in The Mars Volta's "Day Of The Baphomets" that sounds like it was ripped directly from a John Coltrane tune that I can't remember the name of.

And TMV's "Cicatriz ESP" seems to be primarily based around a short riff from "Arcarsenal" by their previous band, At The Drive-In.

Uhmmm...

Bob Marley re-used the exact chord progression from "Put It On" in another song - can't remember the name right now. Will try to find it.

John Frusciante admittedly used Hendrix's "Purple Haze" riff as the groundwork for his solo in "Dani California". Also, the main riff in that same song is quite similar to Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance", though it's a common chord progression in rock music so I doubt it was consciously lifted. If anything, I'd accuse Froosh of re-hashing that riff from "Fallout", a song on his third solo album.

A particular section of "Song For The Dead" by the Queens Of The Stone Age showcases the exact same drumbeat as Black Flag's "Slip It In", though Josh Homme claimed that it was merely a homage to one of his favourite bands.

Mazzy Star's "Be My Angel" sounds a lot like their later surprise hit, "Fade Into You". Apparently, though, it wasn't so much a re-hash as it was a re-write. The same can be said about the Melvins' "Night Goat" and "A History Of Bad Men".

Nirvana were accused by the band Killing Joke of stealing the "Come As You Are" riff from their song, "Eighties". According to Jaz Coleman (the band's singer), Nirvana admitted to plagiarizing it. Nirvana also supposedly admitted to lifting the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" riff from Boston's "More Than A Feeling".

Some have accused Pearl Jam of lifting the "Yellow Ledbetter" intro from Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing", but it's not so much a rip-off of the riff/progression as it is a different riff/progression played in a very similar style, with a similar guitar tone.

mr dave · 05-01-2008, 03:50 PM

i remember an interview with frusciante where he spilled the beans on 'give it away' being a lift of black sabbath's 'sweet leaf'. he even kicks into the sabbath riff near the end.

**sleepy jack** · 05-01-2008, 04:01 PM

I also did songs that are blatantly a rip off of other songs.

The Strokes "Is This It" and Pixies "Where is My Mind?"
The Raconteurs "Steady As She Goes" and Joe Jackson "Is She Really Going Out With Him?
The Beatles "Sexy Sadie" and Jet "Look What You've Done" and My Chemical Romance "Cancer"
Meat Puppets "Plateau" and The Bravery "Believe"
Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" and Iggy Pop "Lust for Life"
Green Day "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and Oasis "Wonderwall"
Radiohead "Just" and Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Boston "More Than a Feeling"

Keep in mind with that last one it's seriously one of the most basic rock riffs ever.

Wayfarer · 05-01-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowquill

[*]The Beatles "Sexy Sadie" and Jet "Look What You've Done"

Oh damn, forgot about that one. It's probably one of the most blatant rip-offs I've ever heard, lol. They also lift a riff from The White Stripes' "Screwdriver" in "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?"

Well, that, and the whole song sounds pretty much exactly the same as "Radar Love" by Golden Earring.

sweet_nothing · 05-01-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowquill

I also did songs that are blatantly a rip off of other songs.
[list][*]The Strokes "Is This It" and Pixies "Where is My Mind?"

You sure? I know how to play both songs on guitar and they don't sound similar.

**sleepy jack** · 05-01-2008, 05:13 PM

The riffs are nearly identical and the songs themselves sound hella similar.

sweet_nothing · 05-01-2008, 05:37 PM

hmm i'll compare them....

EDIT: yes i see it now

Rainard Jalen · 05-03-2008, 03:40 PM

Check this out, peeps.

Blues Magoos, "We Ain't Got Nothing Yet": 1966

...

Deep Purple, "Black Night": 1970

The bleedin' cheek!

05-01-2008, 02:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rainard Jalen Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,128	The Lifted Melodies/Riffs/etc. Thread I don't know if there was one of these already...but I thought it might be interesting to have a thread where people can post examples of well-known songs that have almost "verbatum" lifted certain melodies/riffs from much earlier songs. Now, I don't mean the obvious ones that everybody knows about, but rather those suspicious things that people have personally come across in their own listening experience. It's odd just how many of these types of things you find yourself coming across. Just today I came across a song called "The Queen Of My Nights" by The Blues Magoos, 1966. And the riff & progression is so strikingly similar, that it must have been lifted by those who wrote "Summer Nights" for the film Grease. Check it out, if you can.

05-01-2008, 03:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
mr dave nothing Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: everywhere Posts: 1,478	the one that always annoyed me the most was the offspring's 'get a job'. it's a straight lift of the beatles 'ob-la-di ob-la-da'. __________________ i am the universe http://www.myspace.com/wallofpanda (updated 06/28/09-ish)

05-01-2008, 03:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wayfarer Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,718	There's a riff in The Mars Volta's "Day Of The Baphomets" that sounds like it was ripped directly from a John Coltrane tune that I can't remember the name of. And TMV's "Cicatriz ESP" seems to be primarily based around a short riff from "Arcarsenal" by their previous band, At The Drive-In. Uhmmm... Bob Marley re-used the exact chord progression from "Put It On" in another song - can't remember the name right now. Will try to find it. John Frusciante admittedly used Hendrix's "Purple Haze" riff as the groundwork for his solo in "Dani California". Also, the main riff in that same song is quite similar to Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance", though it's a common chord progression in rock music so I doubt it was consciously lifted. If anything, I'd accuse Froosh of re-hashing that riff from "Fallout", a song on his third solo album. A particular section of "Song For The Dead" by the Queens Of The Stone Age showcases the exact same drumbeat as Black Flag's "Slip It In", though Josh Homme claimed that it was merely a homage to one of his favourite bands. Mazzy Star's "Be My Angel" sounds a lot like their later surprise hit, "Fade Into You". Apparently, though, it wasn't so much a re-hash as it was a re-write. The same can be said about the Melvins' "Night Goat" and "A History Of Bad Men". Nirvana were accused by the band Killing Joke of stealing the "Come As You Are" riff from their song, "Eighties". According to Jaz Coleman (the band's singer), Nirvana admitted to plagiarizing it. Nirvana also supposedly admitted to lifting the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" riff from Boston's "More Than A Feeling". Some have accused Pearl Jam of lifting the "Yellow Ledbetter" intro from Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing", but it's not so much a rip-off of the riff/progression as it is a different riff/progression played in a very similar style, with a similar guitar tone. __________________ Nothing can save imperialism, capitalism and revisionism from the remorseless vengeance of the proletariat and the peoples. Nothing can rescue them from deep antagonistic contradictions and never-ending crises, revolutions, their inevitable demise. Last edited by Wayfarer; 05-01-2008 at 04:00 PM.

05-01-2008, 03:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
mr dave nothing Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: everywhere Posts: 1,478	i remember an interview with frusciante where he spilled the beans on 'give it away' being a lift of black sabbath's 'sweet leaf'. he even kicks into the sabbath riff near the end. __________________ i am the universe http://www.myspace.com/wallofpanda (updated 06/28/09-ish)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-01-2008, 05:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
sweet_nothing Da Hiphopopotamus Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. Augustine Posts: 3,634	hmm i'll compare them.... EDIT: yes i see it now

05-03-2008, 03:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Rainard Jalen Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,128	Check this out, peeps. Blues Magoos, "We Ain't Got Nothing Yet": 1966 ... Deep Purple, "Black Night": 1970 The bleedin' cheek!