Moments of Musical Mimicry

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I posted this on another thread, but-

The chorus in Tom Petty's "Running Down a Dream" and the chorus in Juice Newton's "Queen of Heart" (particularly the guitar strum after each vocal line)

Also, the descending guitar line in Magazine's "The Light Pours Out of Me" and Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll, Pt. 2"

Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

"when i was cruel pt 2" elvis costello...some pretty sly and smooth reference to the ol abba hit "dancing queen".

bryan kennedy (bryan kennedy), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:28 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Pot Kettle Black" on Yankee hotel Foxtrot rips off the beginning of the Cure's "In Between Days", which itself is a kind of New Order tribute song (plus, the Cure wrote a song called "Jumping Someone Else's Train", so I think they were quite conscious of their borrowing habits -- cf. "The Walk").

David A. (Davant), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

Oh, and sing "Hello, I love you, won't you tell me your name", then sing "Girl, I want to be with you... all day and all of the night".

David A. (Davant), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

raveonettes "attack of the ghost riders" = swell maps "midget submarines." this is the third time i've said it, so someone go listen to both and tell me i'm right or wrong before i go insane.

your null fame (yournullfame), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

The intros to ABBA's "Eagle" and Human League's "Don't You Want Me".

man, Monday, 10 March 2003 22:40 (twenty-one years ago) link

Also, "La Bamba" and "Twist and Shout".

man, Monday, 10 March 2003 22:41 (twenty-one years ago) link

The chorus to "I Wish It Would Rain Down" = the chorus to "Wish You Were Here".

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

Boston "More than a Feeling" = Smells Like Teen Spirit

b-b-but

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Classic Or Dud?

SLTS: F minor, B-flat minor, A-flat major, D-flat major (which, IIRC, resolves back to F minor 2nd inversion). i-iv-iii-VI(i)

MTAF: G major, C major, E minor, D major. I-IV-vi-V.

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 10 March 2003 22:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

The "touch me" parts of U2's "Beautiful Day" and A-Ha's "The Sun Always Shines On TV".

man, Monday, 10 March 2003 22:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

The intro of Pavement's "Trigger Cut" was nicked from VU's "Coney Island Steeplechase."

The recurring riff in the first song on Blonde Redhead's first album ("I Don't Want U") seems to be direct from the VU's "The Murder Mystery."

The grinding riff that opens one of Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers' songs (I think "Get Off the Phone") is straight from a Yardbirds song (again, can't recall which), only without the chord change midway through (thus making it even more brutish).

I love this topic; I've always wanted someone with a huge record collection to map out hundreds of these.

Sam Jeffries (samjeff), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

(for the record: elastica/wire)

Sam Jeffries (samjeff), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

Shakira "Underneath my Clothes" as strange similarities to The Bangles "Eternal Flame"

Savin All My Love 4 u (Savin 4ll my (heart) 4u), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

People think MTAF and SLTS sound alike because (a) the strumming rhythms are nearly identical, and (b) both use four power chords.

That tATu single reminds me of the Cranberries' godawful "Zombie," but I can't quite put my finger on the nature of the resemblance.

Also, clearly, Kraftwerk's "Radioactivity" vs. Simple Minds "Reel to Real Cacophony."

Clarke B., Tuesday, 11 March 2003 07:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

I swore there was a dirty 3 song that used the melody of "Gloria" (the disco song, not the good one - you know, "gloria / I think they got your number...") - most likely a coincidence though

Bon Jovi's I'll Be There For You and the Beatles Don't Let Me Down

Strokes Last Nite ripping off Tom Petty's American Girl, obviously

"Mr Soul" and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" have riffs that sound remarkably similar

roger adultery (roger adultery), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 07:10 (twenty-one years ago) link

Also, Modest Mouse "Dramamine" vs. Fleetwood Mac "Crystal"

Clarke B., Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:17 (twenty-one years ago) link

Beck's "Tropicalia" lifts it's main riff from, um, I think it was an Antonio Carlos Jobim song, some old bossa nova number.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 17:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

L7's "Pretend We're Dead" and Suicidal Tendencies' "Your Mommy's Dead" are the same song, as are Judas Priest's "Beyond the Realms of Death" and Motley Crue's "Danger"

dave q, Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:12 (twenty-one years ago) link

Radiohead ripped part of "Paranoid Android" from
Scandinavian proggers Atlas.

The "thin white duke" melody in "Station To Station"
reminds me of Cream's "White Room."

But really, this happens so often in pop it's not even
noteworthy.

Most of the time, it's unintentional, I think,
hence forgivable. Often the redo surpasses the original.

Oasis are "masters" at this. I can't be bothered to
look up the song titles, they have

1. A blatant ripoff of the Stooges' "Search And Destroy"
2. A ripoff of Lennon's "Mama, I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier"
3. A ripoff of the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues"

and that's not counting stolen riffs from T. Rex, Beatles,
Mott The Hoople, and anyone else that got in their way.

In contrast, Blur's "End Of A Century" contains a pleasing
resemblance to Pink Floyd's (underrated) "Apples And Oranges."

Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:32 (twenty-one years ago) link

the united states' of america "stranded in time" is SO "eleanor rigby" it's not even funny!

john fail (cenotaph), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 21:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

The Move ripped off the riff from Eddie Floyd's "Big Bird" for "Hello Susie."

Conversely, sorta, Eddie Floyd's "Don't Rock the Boat" has a bridge that sounds just like the Band.

Jess Hill (jesshill), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 15:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

the chorus of Mull Historical Society's "Animal Cannabus" always makes me start humming a GbV song (wish i could remember which)...

Is the bridge of No Doubt's "Underneath it All" a moment of mimicry, or does it actually contain a Pixies ("Dig for Fire?") sample?

summerslastsound (summerslastsound), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 16:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

rod stewart "do you think i'm sexy" -> jorge ben "taj mahal"

your null fame (yournullfame), Thursday, 13 March 2003 13:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

People think MTAF and SLTS sound alike because (a) the strumming rhythms are nearly identical, and (b) both use four power chords.

Also, the chords in the two progressions are related to each other and have a similar sound when played.

Speaking of No Doubt, "Don't Speak" ==> Aerosmith's "Dream On".

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 13 March 2003 18:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

So spot-on, Dan!

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 March 2003 18:10 (twenty-one years ago) link

The intro drums to "I Am the Resurrection" by the Stone Roses and likewise in the Pretenders' "Mystery Achievment."

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 March 2003 18:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

The Cult's "Wild Flower" basically IS "Rock'n'Roll Singer" by AC/DC.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 14:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

good call Alex.

Mr. Diamond (diamond), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 17:22 (twenty-one years ago) link

Thanks, Mr.D.

Another, then.

The intro to Motley Crue's "Dr.Feelgood" (the sinister, bass-driven bit before the riff kicks in) is the main riff of Killing Joke's "Love Like Blood."

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 17:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Immigrant Song" vs. the Get Smart theme song

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 27 March 2003 03:14 (twenty-one years ago) link

Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Southern Cross" ("So I'm sailing for tomorrow...") and The Monkees' "Door Into Summer" ("And he thought he heard an echo...")

Joe (Joe), Thursday, 27 March 2003 03:28 (twenty-one years ago) link

Pink Floyd - riff from "Echoes" vs. Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera"

Joe (Joe), Thursday, 27 March 2003 03:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

The Beatles' "Hey Jude" and The Drifters' "Save the Last Dance For Me" (though McCartney admitted as such, I think)

Joe (Joe), Thursday, 27 March 2003 03:35 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Immigrant Song" vs. the Get Smart theme song

I remember reading something about David Lee Roth getting in a huge fight with Valerie Bertinelli (Eddie's wife) that "Immigrant Song" was a re-write of "Balli Hai" (sp?) from "South Pacific".


Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 27 March 2003 04:40 (twenty-one years ago) link

The guitars (and, often, the vocals) on Turbonegro's APOCALYPSE DUDES and the new album quote liberally from the Stooges, The Stones, Alice Cooper, and countless other classic hard-rock guitar moments. If I can get around to it I'll make a little list for later. It never fails to amaze me how clever they are, while still completely rocking ass.

matt riedl (veal), Thursday, 27 March 2003 19:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

How about:

Brian Eno's "On Some Faraway Beach" and Bob Seger's "Still the Same"?

Joe (Joe), Monday, 31 March 2003 00:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

"This Corrosion" by the Sisters of Mercy and "Are We Ourselves?" by the Fixx

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 31 March 2003 01:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Smells like Teen Spirit" bears a subtle but eerie resemblance to "More Than a Feeling" and another one of Nirvana's songs lifts the opening riff from "Eighties" by the Killing Joke. (Supposedly they lifted bits from the Pixies...but thats to be expected.)

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 31 March 2003 01:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

"This Corrosion" by the Sisters of Mercy and "Are We Ourselves?" by the Fixx
Metallica's "Enter Sandman" == some Sisters o' Mercy song...can't remember which one, but the opening riff is almost exactly the same.

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 31 March 2003 01:55 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Sincetta" by Plaid = Hotel California.

dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 31 March 2003 05:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

Brian Eno's "On Some Faraway Beach" and Bob Seger's "Still the Same"?

This is a great one!

Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 31 March 2003 05:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

Certain parts of Nena's "Nur Geträumt" and the Wipers' "No Fair" (two of my favorite songs, incidentally)

Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 31 March 2003 05:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

Certain parts of Pere Ubu's "Final Solution" and the Beastie Boys' "Fight For Your Right to Party"

Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 31 March 2003 05:48 (twenty-one years ago) link

Certain parts of Pere Ubu's "Final Solution" and the Beastie Boys' "Fight For Your Right to Party"

Hmmmmm....don't hear it, but....

"King Contrary Man" by the Cult = "Fight For Your Right to Party" by Beastie Boys (both produced by Rick Rubin, of course).

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 31 March 2003 11:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

Metallica's "Enter Sandman" == some Sisters o' Mercy song...

Hmmmm....possibly the opening notes of "First & Last & Always," but only just...

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 31 March 2003 11:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

No, I think it might be "Dr Jeep"...but for the life of me, I can't find my friggin Sisters tape to confirm it.

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 31 March 2003 14:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

Didn't "Enter Sandman" pre-date "Dr.Jeep"?

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 31 March 2003 14:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

Okay. Just found my Sisters tape...

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 31 March 2003 14:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

Wait...it might be "Vision Thing" that I'm thinking of.
(*getting out the Black Album*)

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 31 March 2003 14:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

Didn't "Enter Sandman" pre-date "Dr.Jeep"?
Sisters of Mercy released "Vision Thing" (contains "Dr Jeep") Nov 1990 (release) inprint
Metallica released "Metallica" Aug 1991 (release) inprint

so, no..."Dr Jeep" was already out before "Enter Sandman" was.

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 31 March 2003 14:19 (twenty-one years ago) link

Tin Machine's "Crack City" is "Wild Thing" with the third chord sheared off.

Ian Grey (Ian_G), Saturday, 31 January 2004 16:36 (twenty years ago) link

The bridge in Natalie Imbruglia's version of Torn and the riff in James' She's A Star.

And the opening of Tender (Blur) has always reminded me of the opening of Here (Pavement).

syntaxfree, Saturday, 31 January 2004 17:21 (twenty years ago) link

seven months pass...
Smiths Panic = Metal Guru T Rex

Bumfluff, Tuesday, 7 September 2004 01:06 (nineteen years ago) link

I thought we were talking about intentional quotes... I love how the Dresden Dolls' "Good Day" lapses into "I Will Survive" for a bar or two.

If we're talking ripoffs, however, then I submit R.E.M.'s "The One I Love" as a slightly slowed-down version of Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My."

joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 01:11 (nineteen years ago) link

"I thought we were talking about intentional quotes"

Good god I don't know...you may be right. I was just wanting a
'stuff that sounds like other stuff' thread but frankly the search
process flummoxes me..especially when I'm up late and tired like now blah blah..

Bumfluff, Tuesday, 7 September 2004 01:20 (nineteen years ago) link

"Hey, hey, rock and roll, rock on, ooh my soul" vs. "Hey, kids, rock and roll, nobody tells you where to go, baby"

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 7 September 2004 01:24 (nineteen years ago) link

Hey, if you want to do an all-REM edition, there's always "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" (self-explanatory) and "Hope" (Cohen's "Suzanne") - although in both cases the Southern gentlemen actually give their inspirations a co-writing credit, thus cutting them in on the publishing royalties.

joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 01:27 (nineteen years ago) link

pooh sticks' complete oeuvre to thread.

fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 03:19 (nineteen years ago) link

everyone knows one can sing "sweet child o' mine" perfectly over the verses of the clean's "drawing to a whole."

also, maybe someone here remembers which it was, but i recall a silkworm record from '95 or so which, during the course of one song had a guitar solo that blatantly mimicked a pavement solo, from which tune i can't recall.

and speaking of pavement, the beginning of "silence kit" resembles "everyday" by buddy holly.

andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 15:41 (nineteen years ago) link

David Bowie: Red Sails = Harmonia: Monza

Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 15:47 (nineteen years ago) link

The first eight bars of the guitar solo in Matthew Sweet's "Behind the Smile" are almost identical to the same bars in the solo of Badfinger's "Baby Blue." And there's another M. Sweet solo that rips off the "Sweet Child O'Mine" riff, but I can't remember which.

phil d., Tuesday, 7 September 2004 16:20 (nineteen years ago) link

Oh, and the chords for chorus of The Darkness' "Keep Your Hands Off My Woman" are identical to Urge Overkill's "Sister Havana." The melody is completely different, but the chords are played in the same order and rhythm.

phil d., Tuesday, 7 September 2004 16:22 (nineteen years ago) link

R. Kelly's "Ignition (Remix)" = Sheryl Crow's "Leaving Las Vegas"

I doubt it's intentional or anything, but it's still uncanny.

The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 17:30 (nineteen years ago) link

muddy waters "mannish boy" = bo diddley "i'm a man"

the songs are pretty much identical. muddy waters would've made a good pooh stick.

fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 17:45 (nineteen years ago) link

the basic drum-and-bass riff from prince's cream is strikingly similar to the basic drum-and-bass riff from talking heads' version of "take me to the river" (and maybe really similar to the al green version too but, damn, it's been so long since i've heard that one).

fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 01:25 (nineteen years ago) link

Tin Machine's "Crack City" is "Wild Thing" with on less chord.
Like, for real.

Bowie's "Absolute Beginners" is "Memories" from Cats.

Actually, a great deal of Bowie, approrpiately, is someone else.

i grey, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:29 (nineteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...
http://www.thewebshite.co.uk/nickelback.htm

two nickleback songs played simultaneously, one left channel, one right channel.

(Jon L), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 18:12 (nineteen years ago) link

Ike Turner's 'All The Blues, All The Time' has him doing great impersonations of all the other great blues guitarists. Eddie Kirchen's 'Hot Rod Lincoln', at least the recording that I have, has him and the band doing impersonations of loads of people, country, blues, rock, punk, all sorts.

Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 18:23 (nineteen years ago) link

eleven months pass...
"Songs for a Blue Guitar" by Red House Painters sounds suspiciously like Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You"

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 26 September 2005 00:33 (eighteen years ago) link

six months pass...
HOLY SHIT, I just realized "I Can't Stop Raving" is a rip from Talk Talk's "Dum Dum Girl"

Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 8 April 2006 00:40 (eighteen years ago) link

speaking only of melodies here...

Sir Douglas Quintet's "Crossroads" = Allman's "Melissa"
Dylan's "Hazel" = Neil's "Ambulance Blues"

and there was one from the other day that was EXACT but i forget now, will remember it and get back to yall

Branch Dancer, Saturday, 8 April 2006 02:31 (eighteen years ago) link

I heard a 60s soul tune today with the exact same bass-line as Booker T. and the MG's "The Hip Hug-Her" -- anyone know what it is?

Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Saturday, 8 April 2006 03:56 (eighteen years ago) link

Nine Inch Nails' "A Warm Place" was once Bowie's "Crystal Japan".

Lotta Continua (Damian), Saturday, 8 April 2006 07:32 (eighteen years ago) link

nine years pass...

This has been driving me crazy, and a quick Google search turns up nothing, but there is no way this is a coincidence:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAZLmJGQHxc (1982)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eVrT5nZuro (1974)

Wimmels, Wednesday, 16 March 2016 19:46 (eight years ago) link

The intros to David Bowie's 'Soul Love' and The Cure's 'The Drowning Man'

// 166,000 W A N K E R S // LOVE (Turrican), Wednesday, 16 March 2016 23:50 (eight years ago) link

six months pass...

Surely I am not the only person to notice this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hW9fADmFrc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wRHBLwpASw

Wimmels, Tuesday, 27 September 2016 14:59 (seven years ago) link

one year passes...

Don Henley's "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" and Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" are pretty much the same song

Paul Ponzi, Friday, 30 March 2018 11:15 (six years ago) link


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