Radiohead vs. The Hollies
All of these years I assumed the mysterious, melancholic verse of Radiohead’s “Creep” was a signature sound. The haunting progression was lifted straight off the 1974 Hollies hit The Air That I Breathe. Pablo Honey’s linear notes credit the original songwriters.
The Hollies- “The Air That I Breathe” (1974)
Radiohead – “Creep” (1992)
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on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at 2:28 am and is filed under Credited, Music, litigated.
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these sound nothing alike. one uses chords while the other is individual notes. the singing isnt similar at all. nice try
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From Wiki: “Radiohead gives songwriting credit to Hammond and Hazelwood in the liner notes for the album Pablo Honey for the song Creep.”
If you can’t hear the similarity, you’re probably not listening to the right parts of the 2 songs. After the last chorus in Creep, he sings a melody which is identical to the melody used in the verses of the Hollies song.
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Brandi Carlile’s “Follow” (2005) also sounds a lot like this song.
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@Dane Good find!
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Yoko Ono also sounds like the moan of a dying cat.
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“Yoko Ono also sounds like the moan of a dying cat.”
Only when she wants to.
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Always thought these two were similar. I wouldn’t call it a rip off, per se, but “Creep” is undeniably influenced by “The Air That I Breath”. No big deal, that’s how a lot of hits are written: take what people already know and like then put your stamp on it. It’s not even new: How many 60’s songs are “Wild Thing” with different lyrics?
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This part of “Creep” is closer to the Hollies song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk#t=2m23s
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Radiohead was actually sued by the Hollies’ songwriter(s), successfully, and they now share credit and royalties “Creep,” according to this website:
“The resulting lawsuit saw royalties and co-authorship granted to Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood, who wrote the Hollies song.”
http://musicouch.com/musicouching/10-unexpected-song-writing-collaborations/
This reference may be a bit soft, but I’ve heard this from several other sources too (which I now cannot find). I’m sure Radiohead’s management works very hard to keep actual facts about this lawsuit off the web.
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Keith Reply:
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Cool. Thanks for the link!
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