Audio: The obligatory “Coldplay rips off Joe Satriani, maybe” clip
posted at 3:15 pm on December 8, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A palate cleanser via Patterico. Think of it as the musical equivalent of the Coleman/Franken ballot challenge, with Franken as a bald guitar wizard and Coleman an insufferably precious pop band. Satriani filed suit in L.A. last week; if you think he has no chance of winning, you don’t know very much about copyright law.
That said, I’m leaning towards “no infringement.” Yeah, there’s a “striking similarity” between those three notes, but it’s three notes. The rest of it’s in the ballpark but not so close that I’m willing to hand over the profits to a global hit because of it. Besides, do Coldplay look like they listen to Joe Satriani? Next case!
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Hmmm. Listening to Coldplay songs, I thought it was U2 until I learned better.
pseudonominus on December 8, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Slow news day?
lodge on December 8, 2008 at 3:17 PM
How about they just do a remix together and call it a day?
CP on December 8, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Not trying to admit that I am kind of behind when it comes to knowing the current music scene, but who the hell are these guys anyway?
pilamaye on December 8, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Satriani’s not the only one making those claims.
Slublog on December 8, 2008 at 3:24 PM
I don’t know what’s worse, Coldplay, or Coldplay ripping off the equally awful Satriani.
awake on December 8, 2008 at 3:25 PM
8 Trillion in debt……. Dodd, Frank, Pelosi, Obama and Reid caused this mess and are still in power, and are taking over the whole economy and you ask this question?
…………… of course it infringement, why do you ask?
Seven Percent Solution on December 8, 2008 at 3:25 PM
That’s part of it. As understand it, Martin caught one of Satriani’s shows just shortly before he went in the studio to record ‘Viva La Vida’.
lowandslow on December 8, 2008 at 3:26 PM
It won’t matter in court whether Cold Play listened to the Satriani version or not, infringement is infringement. I also wouldn’t assume they didn’t hear it, Satch is pretty well respected, they could have easily run across his work along the way. Most musicians listen to all kinds of stuff.
It is also more than 3 notes. The entire melody of the verse is right there and it is in the same tempo and key, which the overlay proves.
echosyst on December 8, 2008 at 3:27 PM
I think Jose Feliciano might be able to sue both of ‘em.
Kensington on December 8, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Do I care?
upinak on December 8, 2008 at 3:28 PM
They should change their name from “Coldplay” to “Cold Medicine”, as it induces drowsiness.
Matticus Finch on December 8, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Wow. Same key, tempo, melody…
Even though I despise Coldplay I don’t think they ripped Satch off. Which isn’t to say he won’t win.
landshark on December 8, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Yeah, I ask this question. We’ve done two bailout posts already today. How many do you want?
The next time you have any fun whatsoever, remember that you’re doing so when we’re eight trillion in debt and the Democrats caused this mess. No more fun for you. Ever. Got it?
Allahpundit on December 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Guilty.
Big Orange on December 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM
It’s more than just three notes…and yes they did rip them off…
crazywater on December 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM
And also…didn’t George Harrison get screwed on 3 notes?
crazywater on December 8, 2008 at 3:32 PM
I’m a Satch fan from waaaay back, and even I gotta say this is a pretty thin case.
I’m thinking you need a damn sight more than a similarity between a three note motif. I have no idea why Satch thought he could win this one – with the seemingly infinite complexity of music, narrowing in on three notes seems absurd.
Coldplay should win the day.
LimeyGeek on December 8, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Don’t forget that we’re all goofing off posting here when we should be working hard to pay for all the bailout bullshit ;)
LimeyGeek on December 8, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Wasn’t it Paul McCartney that said that everything’s already been done so everything that will come out from here on will already have been done before. Everything is now just variations on a theme.
- The Cat
MirCat on December 8, 2008 at 3:36 PM
This is very very old.
Ann Althouse, I believe called it “Coldplagiarism”
Coldplay has been accused of this many times – I mean you have to expect it when you are that famous. Celine Dion got sued for the same thing in Canada and lost.
I would say its questionable, but these rumors and accusations seem to come up for Coldplay alot – but I still like them despite the fact that they wouldn’t shut up about Obama and they aren’t even American.
Canerican on December 8, 2008 at 3:36 PM
my wrists hurt. How much more BS do I have to do?
upinak on December 8, 2008 at 3:37 PM
there is actually another copyright infringement there… in the full song… can anyone name that 80’s band?
Kaptain Amerika on December 8, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Coldplay is The Most Insufferable Band of All Time Ever; atrocious Radiohead/U2 wannabes. I hope Satriani sues ‘em for all their worth, just so I don’t have to look at Martin’s stupid colored-taped fingers anymore. Or whatever. Blech.
Pasalubong on December 8, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Hot Air has a long history of blogging on this subject. (the sound clip linked at that post still makes me laugh)
Slublog on December 8, 2008 at 3:39 PM
same producer… that’s why…
Kaptain Amerika on December 8, 2008 at 3:39 PM
These kind of lawsuits really make me mad. Pop music has so many similar influences across the board that it is surprising more songs don’t sound similar to others. Listen to any blues rock song over the past 40 years, and they all have basically the same melody. The continuity is a good thing, as long as lyrics aren’t being swiped or an entire song is stolen, there shouldn’t be a problem.
warrenmr on December 8, 2008 at 3:39 PM
As a music comp-theory major in my younger, former life…
Its theft. It might not be intentional, but it was copied.
Hell, its even in the same key! That would support the un-ntentional possibilility. If you are deliberatlely copying, you would be inclined to change the key.
IMHO
singlemalt_18 on December 8, 2008 at 3:40 PM
It will probably go the way of George Harrison and My Sweet Lord: Coldplay unconsciously copied Satriani, and they’ll owe him some money.
At least the courts proved that an artist can’t infringe on himself. John Fogerty was taken to court for “Old Man Down the Road” being too similar to “Run Through the Jungle.” Fogerty lost the rights to the CCR music. The new owners were suing him because OMDTR was a ripoff of RTTJ. Since he wrote both songs, the judge decided it was okay for him to ripoff himself. The forces of good prevailed over greed!
Mallard T. Drake on December 8, 2008 at 3:41 PM
A female profession that involves wrist strain?
LimeyGeek on December 8, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Joe Satriani is the guitar god. No member of badplay could even hold Joe’s jockstrap.
Three notes is three notes. Remember Queen and vanilla icecubetray?
Intellectual property must be preserved. Frankly, I am surprised at you, AP.
rightside on December 8, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Satch may be equally as awful as Coldplay in some reality, but it sure as hell isn’t this one.
/Satch fan
HuskerNate on December 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM
I figured Coldplay to be a bunch of no talent hacks. I really really hate that song.
Lay-Z on December 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM
LOL, yeah if you can believe it.
upinak on December 8, 2008 at 3:46 PM
I see no problem here.
Vanilla Ice
lorien1973 on December 8, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Wow!
Guilty!
abinitioadinfinitum on December 8, 2008 at 3:47 PM
The first phrases of the Coldplay melody (and the repeat a few bars later) and the Satch song are identical. After that, nope. Plus, the original Coldplay version is sped up to match the actual cords of the the Satch song.
Chord progressions aren’t identical.
The second change in the Satch song is a IIm (dorian). It’s a IV in the coldplay.
Pretty darned close, though. This isn’t the first time Coldplay’s been knocked for the alleged ripping of somebody’s stuff, I believe.
Good Lt on December 8, 2008 at 3:49 PM
I’m assuming you saw Vanilla Ice and The Greatest (Worst) Defense of All Time: “Their song goes ‘badadadadada.’ Mine goes, ‘badadadada-tss!-da’. Totally different!”
Pasalubong on December 8, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Well thank goodness its not P-Diddy or any other “Urban group” sampling. Ya, those no talent white guys need to be punished!
dmann on December 8, 2008 at 3:52 PM
If I was Satriani, I wouldn’t worry about this. Yes, it does sound like they copied his music, but his sounds good, theirs not so much. Maybe its because I hate Coldplay so much because they sound like U2 wannabe’s, but if I was Joe, I would just laugh it off and think of that saying that goes something like mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery.
rayvet on December 8, 2008 at 3:57 PM
I don’t hear any similarity.
(I’ve been told that I am tone def)
The only Cold Play song I care for is “Clocks”, and I am somewhat put out over how much I payed for their CD thinking I would find more like it.
Count to 10 on December 8, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Go read the WSJ then if that’s all you want to hear about. I like a little palette cleanser after a day of muck. You know what they say about all muck and no play…
scalleywag on December 8, 2008 at 3:58 PM
It’s a very simple tune with 4 common chords and a little melody that sounds VERY similar, but also very generic. Both tunes are also in the same key. If I wanted to plagiarize a toon, I’d at least change the key…
AlexB on December 8, 2008 at 3:59 PM
I thought all the sampling stuff went out the window after P-Diddy-Fluffy-Puffy made all of his money doing that. Dude doesn’t have an original bone in his body.
saltydogg14 on December 8, 2008 at 3:59 PM
They could look at the George Harrison/My Sweet Lord case where Harrison was essentially found guily of “subconcious plagiarism.
vcferlita on December 8, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Maybe this bailout business will have a happy ending after all.
LimeyGeek on December 8, 2008 at 4:02 PM
I heard Gweneth Paltrow just filed suit against her twig legs for non-support.
marklmail on December 8, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Hmmm, so did “Don’t Speak” infringe on “Unbreak My Heart”’s chorus melody or vice versa?
Some chord progressions are inevitable, and sometimes the melody is obvious and uncreative. That’s the case with both examples here. We aren’t talking about “Strawberry Fields Forever” here.
DaveS on December 8, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Way to go Alla!!!
And for the record, of course those punks ripped him off. That is waaaaaaay too close to be a coinky dink!
Remember Ed and AP, no more posts that are not of a mind numbingly depressing nature.
Jim708 on December 8, 2008 at 4:04 PM
I’d think that Jonny Buckland listened to Satch at some point. Hard to imagine a professional rock guitarist not working through Satriani’s material–if only as a reminder that more practice is needed.
dedalus on December 8, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Guilty as hell, though I am a bit biased. I can’t stand Coldplay and I enjoy Satriani.
Torch on December 8, 2008 at 4:05 PM
I don’t know, they sound pretty close, but in the grand scheme of the whole song maybe not so much. CPs version of that clip just sounds like a toned down CP version of what Satriani played, though.
scalleywag on December 8, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Allah, I can tell you that as a professional songwriter, if I were Coldplay, my ass would be pinching pellets right now. Go Joe! Eat ém up. It is an outrageous infringement.
james hooker on December 8, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Mathematically, if you’re looking for probabilities of collisions between progressions within an average-male vocal range, you’re going to have a stronger case in proportion to the length of the progression. 3 notes is simply too narrow.
What’s next? “Listen, he used the same B# I did!” ?
LimeyGeek on December 8, 2008 at 4:07 PM
D’Oh….of course I meant Bf….idiot….
LimeyGeek on December 8, 2008 at 4:08 PM
LimeyGeek on December 8, 2008 at 4:07 PM
I’m just saying that some chord progressions are inevitable… there is a physiological reason that I-IV-V progressions are so common: certain progressions resolve in exactly the way that our brains want them to (which is, in turn, rooted in math/physics). Given a chord progression–inevitable or no–there are, sometimes, some fairly obvious melodies, and it doesn’t require plagiarism for 2 people to write very similar melodies.
This instance, like the Tony Braxton/No Doubt example I mentioned above, involves a fairly obvious, uncreative melody (moreso for the Coldplay/Satriani bit). Odds are, they both lazily and independently developed an obvious melody over the same chord progression.
DaveS on December 8, 2008 at 4:13 PM
I loathe Coldplay. And I really, really hate that song, though my 15 yo son loves it. Yuck.
Oh, and they totally stole that.
StephC on December 8, 2008 at 4:14 PM
No more fun………………….. got it!
Seven Percent Solution on December 8, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Coldplay has been ripping off U2 for years, so it wouldn’t surprise me.
RightOFLeft on December 8, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Total Rip off. They also ripped off “Creaky Boards”. The whose song is a rip off.
Coldplay = Thieves w synthesizers & repetitive background orchestra.
portlandon on December 8, 2008 at 4:21 PM
yeah…when Michael Jackson ‘borrowed’ a song form from Steeley Dan.
‘Go Back Jack’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_YIUn9Jd1g
became ‘Billy Jean’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzp0JETG0Pw
check out the guitar solo in Go Back Jack…then listen to the bass solo in Billy Jean.
lobosan5 on December 8, 2008 at 4:28 PM
They should give Satch some royalties and have him onstage for a few shows. It would mean some record sales for Satch and give the Coldplay audience a chance to hear someone who can shred while also being melodically interesting.
Guys in the audience who were forced to go by their girlfriends might dig it.
dedalus on December 8, 2008 at 4:29 PM
sht….wrong answer to different question….
again, w/ feeling…..I always hear Tears for Fears ‘everybody wants to rule the world’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOA4ixV-3jU
lobosan5 on December 8, 2008 at 4:32 PM
I guess I’m the only one that kind of likes Coldplay. And that song. Never heard of Satriani.
I’d say he has a good case, though.
Abby Adams on December 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM
I thought this song was U2 too when I first heard it – or maybe Cher.
Coldplay hit it big by
ripping offborrowing from Radiohead, now they’ve gone a little further inripping offpaying tribute to U2. Satriani? Well, I don’t know, but they have a track record of emulating styles of other popular bands.forest on December 8, 2008 at 4:38 PM
1) Satriani is a virtuoso, to debate otherwise begs ridicule.
2) Coldplay obviously copied the riff. As said before, the chord progression is even the same.
When you have no talent, mimic those that do, repackage it, and call it your own. That’s been the axiom of pop music for a long, long time.
creatocon on December 8, 2008 at 4:41 PM
It seems clear to me, but it also seems to me that it’s very easy to unconsciously plagiarize music. There are only so many chords, after all, and catchy stuff tends to get a deep hold in the brain, so it’s not surprising that repetition might result.
That doesn’t mean that Coldplay realized what it was doing when it did it.
Kensington on December 8, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Yes I am a huge Satch mark, so let me get that out of the way now.
But in hoenesty, who gives a flying you know what? Pop music has been copying/ripping other artists off since forever so who cares?
Oh, I do hope that Satch buries their “music” label.
jdsmith0021 on December 8, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Coldplay no talent?…lol.. I would beg to differ…..otherwise I would say it is obvious that the riffs are all but exact…can’t imagine consciously doing it though. As for the virtuoso… I will take a little Steve Hackett any day of the week.
dartagnansblade on December 8, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Yeah, I’m leaning towards rip-off. Not just on the basis of Chris Martin being a barking moonbat and being married to the equally barking moonbat Gwyneth Paltrow, but on the basis of the vast knowledge acquired from taking guitar lessons for nearly a full year.
Seriously, it’s more than just the three notes. The composition is strikingly similar, it seems to be in the same key, the chord progressions sound like they’re the same or at least very close…
flipflop on December 8, 2008 at 5:13 PM
If it was twenty years ago, I’d say no and agree with you by saying “next case,” but radio airplay and MTV are no longer the sole arbiters of how music is delivered to the public.
For example, Satriani and Coldplay are both heavily involved with getting their music into the Guitar Hero franchise of video games. This requires a lot of planning, a lot of access to original tracks, and a lot of churn between the music studio and the game studio.
Hard to say they’d never heard of Satriani in that case, isn’t it? Of course I doubt Coldplay’s lawers are claiming they’d never heard of Satriani or his music and the similarities could be unintentional.
Hey I don’t know and frankly, I’m just glad this hasn’t degenerated into some tired atheist vs. Christian argument or some crap about Obama’s birth certificate.
ScottMcC on December 8, 2008 at 5:21 PM
Um – how about “Rocky Mountain Way” and Steve Miller’s “The Stake”? I think it is closer than a lot of the stuff on that comparison website. (Led Zep ripping off Willie Dixon? uh… DUH! Ya think?)
Also – Nickleback should seriously think about suing – Nickleback.
rhodeymark on December 8, 2008 at 5:39 PM
I’m shocked and horrified that you would cast Satch in the role of that pipsqueak Al Franken!
Joe Satriani is a god. A god, I tell you!
Alalazoo on December 8, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Cold Play are U2 rip off douches. Apparently, they’re Satriani rip off douches as well.
Satriani wins. Case closed.
Sugar Land on December 8, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Coldplay merged Satriani with Cat Stevens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lWjg_xlVxg
econavenger on December 8, 2008 at 5:48 PM
If you remember Allah George Harrison was sued over 1 note in the “Grace Note” case
Rbastid on December 8, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Ditto…
Every time I hear Coldplay, I just feel like I want to kick their ass(es)…
Wyznowski on December 8, 2008 at 6:01 PM
+1
I had no idea that I wasn’t a fan of ColdPlay’s til I heard the clip here… they DO sound like U2….yeeeeech! NEXT! Is it just me, or does U2 (and ColdPlay) sound like wrist-slitting music? Or whine-rock?!? Waaaa Waaaaa, chord, waaaaaaaaaa!
Califemme on December 8, 2008 at 6:04 PM
I don’t think Satch has a case…
But if you want to hear creepy, listen to this mish-mash. You’d think it was a Green Day/Oasis joint venture (ala Temple of the Dog), rather than two “entirely different” songs.
Music theft takes place in country music, too. Check out Shania Twain’s Man, I feel Like a Woman. Aside from ripping off a Robert Palmer video, she blatantly rips off Aerosmith’s Uncle Salty.
Convoy is basically the same song as The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
ynot4tony2 on December 8, 2008 at 6:09 PM
And as a guitar player, let me lay it on the line…
I’ve always said…”It’s hard to play guitar and not sound like someone else. Or, to put it another way, it’s hard to play guitar and not sound like Jimmy Page.”
ynot4tony2 on December 8, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Mathematically speaking, the odds of those two songs having that much similarity in note structure an melody within the same generation of music are astronomical. You’d have better odds of winning the Powerball lotto while getting struck by lightening.
It is a rip off.
watson007 on December 8, 2008 at 6:26 PM
There’s more theft…
Bon Jovi’s Lay Your Hands on Me ripped off Led Zeppelin’s Out on the Tiles. I’m not even going to mention Kingdom Come!
The chorus to Craig Morgan’s Redneck Yacht Club is the same as the chorus to that Mr. Mom song (yeah, I know…all country sounds the same to me as well).
And Iron Maiden’s Revelations (the part that starts around 0:36) sounds suspiciously like…Iron Maiden’s Infinite Dreams (starting around 1:44). But hey, if you’re going to steal from someone, steal from the best.
ynot4tony2 on December 8, 2008 at 6:32 PM
I copyrighted the letter ‘e’. Anybody who has typed it owes me money.
TechieNotTrekkie on December 8, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Yeh that is EXACTLY like writing music.
/Sarc BFT
Jamson64 on December 8, 2008 at 7:06 PM
What you mean is you find it hard not to plagiarize.
Jamson64 on December 8, 2008 at 7:08 PM
This isn’t as blatant as Hamster Dance actually using The Roster’s part in the beginning of Robin Hood
- The Cat
MirCat on December 8, 2008 at 7:18 PM
My Sweet Plagiarist…
As close as “He’s So Fine” was to George Harrison’s song that got sued and lost.
Satriani is dull. Co
profitsbeard on December 8, 2008 at 7:30 PM
oldplay is duller.
Lose-lose.
profitsbeard on December 8, 2008 at 7:31 PM
Ok, so 2 bands admit to making a bad song?
Mazztek on December 8, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Rip off.
Big John on December 8, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Not trying to admit that I am kind of behind when it comes to knowing the current music scene, but who the hell are these guys anyway?
pilamaye on December 8, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Their a band from the UK and people say they are the next U2. their pretty big right now.
mofo88 on December 8, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Did I say it was like writing music? We are talking about 3 notes.
Do you know how many ideas people come up with and then try and copyright/patent only to find out it has already been done? I guess the other person must have copied.
No, you’re right. There is absolutely NO way two people could come up with the same 3 notes without copying each other. /sarc
TechieNotTrekkie on December 8, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Jolly good stuff. And how refreshing (comments included) after (after?) so many weeks of gray gray gray (political and otherwise) atmosphere, to say nothing about the fact that only Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Wagner, Strauss, Bartok, Prokofiev, Cage et al available at home.
Thanks, AP.
albertpale on December 8, 2008 at 8:39 PM
I say, RIP OFF.
I despise Coldplay in everyway.
Joe is a legend that inspired and continues to inspire thousands of musicians.
Colplay is a crappy, talentless group that inspires me to go puke and then go punch come little “beta male” douche with a silly tousled hair cut square in the mouth. Apple is a pie NOT a child!!!!
LOKI3232 on December 8, 2008 at 9:17 PM
I can’t decide, and I’ve got a substantial background in music theory. I think the Coldplay version is sped-up in the mix to make it coincide. But a different tempo does not an-original-song-make.
That said, I confess to loving Coldplay (except for their third, horrid album). Viva La Vida is a brilliant album, start to finish.
There. I said it.
Now if only they’d keep their ignorant mouths shut when it comes to American (or any other) politics.
Ludwig on December 8, 2008 at 9:56 PM
yeah..they ripped satriani off. no question.
For those saying silly things like “Pop music has so many similar influences across the board that it is surprising more songs don’t sound similar to others…”
Oh really?….Well this is far more than just sounding somewhat similar to the song.
PLUS…
Is it just a matter of sounding alike when slow joe biden rips off a speech or three?
Comon.
IT takes imagination to come up with this stuff.
TALENT to write.
AND This stuff takes time to write.
The idea that some talentless unimaginative posers can come along and steal your hard work and sacrifice NONE of the effort to do their own work….is astonishing.
Even moreso depressing is that there are people out there that will excuse the lazy thinkers with their OWN lazy thinking.
…And then turn around and rant about a welfare state.
I..N..C..O..N..S..I..S..T..E..N..T.
Handel on December 8, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Boy…you know..after listening to that, I gotta say its almost a little embarrassing to read some posts saying..”no no. No case here for joe..”
Jeesh. How much more of a slam dunk is this?
If I were Joe Satriani, I would sue coldplay for screwing up the very cool tune with such pansy beta male lyrics.
I swear, just the small sampling of the coldplay take made me wanna put on a dress and some pannies, and move to sanfran !
(taking off dress n’ pannies now…but leaving on the heels. Just for awhile. They make me feel like I’m in “KISS” circa 1979.)
Handel on December 8, 2008 at 10:07 PM
I totally ripped off John Cage’s “4:33″ while reading these comments. I could be in trouble. As could we all. Keep talking. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1408065/Silent-song-row-settled-out-of-court.html
boko fittleworth on December 8, 2008 at 10:20 PM
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