Five songs that sound suspiciously like other songs
Originality is probably one of the most elusive concepts in music. Granted, a certain level of authenticity and uniqueness is key, which are also two aspects that have been exercised by some of the most ground-breaking and innovative musicians in the business. It all depends on the definition: The Beatles revolutionised the way rock ‘n’ roll was made, but even their music was built upon the hard work of those who came before.
This is why that frightful word – plagiarism – is becoming more challenging to detect. There are only 12 notes in music and just over 2,000 combinations of those notes, and while we have yet to encroach on reaching the limit of ingenuity, many musicians still sample, repurpose, and appropriate the sounds of others. Often, this is deliberate and dealt with graciously. Other times, it’s fraudulent and asking for a lawsuit.
And then, there are the even rarer instances where the similarities go completely unnoticed. Whether the comparisons are too much of a reach to muster accompanying conversations or no one cares enough to channel their energy into it, these are the ones that, whether intentionally or not, have skirted by riding the coattails of others, reaping the rewards for the things that have already been and done.
You can’t always criticise songs for sounding like other songs. Sometimes, it’s necessary or unavoidable, but other times, it sparks a certain level of shock, mostly about how they got away with it in the first place. Most of the biggest lawsuits in music history are ones that address plagiarism and copyright in the industry, but there exists a goldmine of those both in the spotlight and laying low on the sidelines. These are the ones that continue to float by, hiding in plain sight.
Five songs that sound like other songs:
‘Almost Independence Day’ – Van Morrison and ‘Wish You Were Here’ – Pink Floyd
‘Almost Independence Day’ and ‘Wish You Were Here’ were released a couple of years apart. Van Morrison‘s song arrived in 1972, while Pink Floyd’s masterpiece surfaced in 1975. Both pieces sound immensely similar, but the proximity of both releases has led many to believe that this was a deliberate choice and that Morrison’s ten-minute stream of consciousness directly influenced Pink Floyd.
Structurally, many have compared the song to another of Saint Dominic’s Preview’s longest works, ‘Listen to the Lion’, as Morrison and Ron Elliot exchange guitar lyrics to create one of the most profound “mood” pieces of all time. However, much like ‘Wish You Were Here’, the way the track plays out feels like an emotional transformation that you very much want to be a part of. Aside from the obvious riff similarities, both songs feel like you’re in the room during the recording sessions, ‘Almost Independence Day’ slightly more so, as Morrison documents staring out across the San Francisco harbour.
‘Bad Decisions’ – The Strokes and ‘Dancing with Myself’ – Billy Idol
When The Strokes teased their new album with ‘Bad Decisions’ back in February 2020, most people likely didn’t anticipate the immense cultural moment that was about to follow. The New Abnormal, a brilliantly immersive new chapter for the band during an even stranger time as it also coincided with the global pandemic, made it naturally fall into the select few singles and albums that will forevermore be associated with such a tumultuous time.
‘Bad Decisions’ almost hinted towards the forthcoming doom and gloom, providing a powerfully nostalgic tune that both referenced early 2000s sensibilities and the simpler pretence of early 1980s power pop. This is, of course, achieved with a sound that sounds like Billy Idol’s ‘Dancing with Myself’, right down to the tempo and melody.
This isn’t entirely out of the blue, however. Julian Casablancas initially added this in without knowing “if it was going to be a temporary thing,” he said, discussing the track on Anders Bøtters’ Tiny TV. While he was acutely aware of potentially landing in hot waters, it “ended up staying” mostly due to the fact that it was an instrumental part, which, according to the singer, “wasn’t really sue-able.”
‘Disorder’ – Joy Division and ‘Give Yourself a Try’ – The 1975
This isn’t exactly a revelation per se, but The 1975 love to borrow others’ sounds. Although not entirely a bad thing, it does mean that the listening experience is like unravelling a parcel; each time you think you might be on to something, it winds up presenting nothing but the shiny pretence of another layer. ‘Give Yourself a Try’ sounds disjointed and blaring, but its riff actually harkens back to an iconic tune, namely Joy Division’s ‘Disorder’.
Others have spotted the similarities, but it seems a little too on the nose not to be intentional. Joy Division’s song seems more emotional, with a rawness that heightens its murkier and darker appeal, but it still seems directly lifted and repurposed for The 1975’s anthemic pop tune. The two bands seem to occupy two distinctive spaces. Still, if there’s one main takeaway from the riff, it’s that nothing can get in the way of modern musicians’ intent to bridge the gap between nostalgic innovators and fresher, more contemporary indie sounds.
‘Tapping into the Emotional Void’ – Excel and ‘Enter Sandman’ – Metallica
Almost immediately after Metallica released ‘Enter Sandman’, certain music lovers noted its similarities to Excel’s ‘Tapping into the Emotional Void’. The two possess clear parallels, of course, but Metallica’s enduring appeal has far outlived the criticisms of ripping off others’ work. Moreover, some say that Metallica put Excel on the map, even though it remains unclear as to whether the band knowingly repurposed the earlier song or not.
Following the release of ‘Enter Sandman’, interest in Excel reached new heights, prompting fans to discover or revisit ‘Tapping into the Emotional Void’. Though the band entertained the idea of pursuing legal action, this never came to fruition, and the entire narrative remains largely rooted in mystery. Did they think the connection wasn’t strong enough? Listening to both tunes side by side, there’s a definite link between the two songs, with ‘Enter Sandman’ serving as a more polished reflection of the earlier tune.
‘Wonderful Tonight’ – Eric Clapton and ‘Tuesday’s Gone’ – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Musically, Eric Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd weren’t too different. They both sang about reflection, redemption, love and growth. Personally, they weren’t too distant either. In fact, Skynyrd supported Clapton in the early 1970s on the last leg of his American tour. During one particular show in Memphis, the aura was palpable as the two acts roared on, endearing themselves to Tennessee for years to come.
It’s said that Skynyrd learned quite a few tricks from Clapton, who at the time was a godly presence around the young, authentic group who were still finding their feet. Perhaps that’s why it’s not too difficult to spot the similarities between Clapton’s romantic ode to Pattie Boyd, ‘Wonderful Tonight’, and the band’s ‘Tuesday’s Gone’. However, despite the similar progressions, the themes divert from one another, as Clapton muses upon an intimate lover while Skynyrd laments leaving her behind.
