Moments of Musical Mimicry

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(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

Nope. Never mind. I was hallucinating again. "Vision Thing" and "Enter Sandman" aren't a close enough match to count. Sorry, my bad.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 31 March 2003 14:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

Those early 90's all blur together for me now.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 31 March 2003 14:26 (twenty-one years ago) link

Love As Laughter slide into the "Jumpin' Jack Flash" riff at the end of "I'm a Bee."

― Sam J. (samjeff), Monday, 7 April 2003 21:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

two weeks pass...

The opening of "Crack City" on the first Tin Machine is a knowing appropriation of the opening guitar moan of "Iron Man" by Sabbath.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 14:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

If I was somwhere I could listen to music (ie, not at crappy temp job) I would list many Clinic songs and their antecedents. I'm simple-minded -- I love Clinic.

Things I can think of from here: Roadrunner (organ solo), Ring of Fire (horn part, played on melodica), Levitation by 13th Floor Elevators (verse part of a whole song on Internal Wrangler), etc. etc.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 14:12 (twenty-one years ago) link

two months pass...

How have none of you pointed out Offspring's "Get a Job" and Beatles' "Ob La Di"? Too obvious?

― Nathan Eric Scoll, Wednesday, 2 July 2003 22:59 (twenty years ago) link

I think it's more a matter of no one really paying any attention to The Offspring. As they shouldn't.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 23:02 (twenty years ago) link

Am I the only one who thinks the first track on the DJ Krush & Toshinori Kondo record "Ki-Oku" sounds an awful lot like Miles Davis' "All Blues"?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 3 July 2003 06:33 (twenty years ago) link

the main riff in green day's "warning" is identical to the riff in the kinks' "picture book"

the hidden cameras' "golden streams" bears a strong musical resemblance to merle harggard's "silver wings"

and every time i hear birthday party's "zoo music girl" i think of talking heads' "i zimbra"

― fact checking cuz, Friday, 4 July 2003 17:00 (twenty years ago) link

the string instrument part of boom bip's "roads must roll" sounds EXACTLY like part of a song (I THINK it's from the title screen, but I'm really not sure anymore) from the legend of zelda: the adventure of link for the 8-bit nintendo. seriously.

― appliance, Sunday, 6 July 2003 01:54 (twenty years ago) link

but it's not a sample. it's more like he took the "riff" from the game, and then played on his keyboard or had someone play it for him. or something.

― boxleg, Sunday, 6 July 2003 02:13 (twenty years ago) link

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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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