Archive for the ‘Update’ Category

CatrianiPlay: The Most Used Melody in Pop Music

Monday, January 30th, 2012

I now dub this “CatrianiPlay: The Most Used Melody in Pop Music“. Aside from “Pachelbel’s Canon” which is commonly referenced as one of the most re-used progressions in modern music the following songs all resemble a similar melodic structure. They are not necessarily note-for-note duplicates but they sound alike.

In my first post for this soundalike we saw Reuters reporting that Joe Satriani filed a copyright infringement suit against Coldplay claiming that the, “song ‘Viva La Vida’ incorporated ‘substantial original portions’ of his 2004 instrumental ‘If I Could Fly.’” Then just a few months later Cat Stevens publicly stated that “Viva La Vida” has some similarities to his epic 1973 track “Foreigner Suite” stating , ” [Viva La Vida] definitely sounds like it…It has such logical chords and the melody has to be what it is…” In addition Creaky Boards, a local Brooklyn band posted a clip on YouTube of their ironically titled track “The Songs I Didn’t Write” pointing out the similarities of “Viva La Vida” (apparently released long after Creaky Boards had been performing their song live).

Just when I thought I had all of the examples of this melody in modern pop music I was thrown two more by Paradojan followed by one more from Travis (who has recently submitted a whole slew of great songs). We can now add Mireille Mathieu & Patrick Duffy‘s “Together We’re Strong” (1983),  Reamonn‘s “Tonight” (2006) AND Enanitos Verdes - “Frances Limon” (2004) (2002).

And now, in chronological order:

Cat Stevens - "Foreigner Suite" (1973)
Mireille Mathieu & Patrick Duffy - "Together We're Strong" (1983)
Survivor - "I Can't Hold Back" (1984)
Enanitos Verdes - "Frances Limon" (2002)
Joe Satriani - "If I Could Fly" (2004)
Reamonn - "Tonight" (2006)
Coldplay - "Viva la Vida" (2008)
Creaky Boards - "The Songs I Didn't Write" (2008)

I made a video too:

Corrections in video
“Frances Limon” was released in 2002, not 2004.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amores_lejanos

“Raemonn” is actually spelled “Reamonn

UPDATE: Young The Giant vs. Aztec Camera vs. Gwen Stefani vs. Weezer vs. Lita Ford

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

This is an update to Aztec Camera vs. Gwen Stefani vs. Weezer vs. Lita Ford

I heard “Cough Syrup” by Young the Giant the other day and started thinking about the descending vocal melody heard in these other tracks. Enjoy.

Young Giant – “Cough Syrup” (2011)
Gwen Stefani – “What You Waiting For?” (2004)
Weezer – “Hash Pipe” (2001)
Lita Ford – “Kiss Me Deadly” (1988)
Aztec Camera “Somewhere In My Heart” (1987)

UPDATE: Radiohead vs. The Hollies vs. Reamonn

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

This is an update to Radiohead vs. The Hollies. Mirela points out Reamonn‘s “Only When You Sleep”. Wow. They are all quite similar.

The Hollies- “The Air That I Breathe” (1974)
Radiohead – “Creep” (1992)
Raemonn – “Only When You Sleep” (2001)

UPDATE: The Rasmus vs. Bon Jovi vs. The Decemberists vs. Tokio Hotel

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

This is an update to Bon Jovi vs. The Decemberists vs. Tokio Hotel

User “the zEBRA guy(dani_D_182)” commented

the tokio hotel song sounds like the intro of “not like the other girls by” – The Rasmus

Here’s The Rasmus song on top of these:

The Rasmus – “Not Like The Other Girls” (2003)
Tokio Hotel – “Don’t Jump” (2008)
Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive” (1987)
The Decemberists – “Margaret in Captivity” (2009)

UPDATE: Huey Lewis & The News vs. Ray Parker Jr. vs. The Bar-Kays

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Steve commented on Huey Lewis & The News vs. Ray Parker Jr and brings to our attention  The Bar-Kays‘ 1967 track “Soul Finger”.

I took a listen and there is a definite similarity here. Even the kids singing “Soul Finger” reminds me of “Ghostbusters!”. Check out all three below.

The Bar-Kays - “Soul Finger” (1967)
Ray Parker Jr.- Ghostbusters Theme (1984)
Huey Lewis & The News – “I Want a New Drug” (1984)

UPDATE: Muse vs. Erasure vs. Jason Mraz

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Here’s an update to Muse vs. Erasure.

Jason Mraz‘s 2010 track “I’m Yours” also features the melody that I’ve pointed out before. Check it out!

Jason Mraz – “I’m Yours” (2008)
Muse – “Resistance” (2009)
Erasure – “A Little Respect” (1988)

UPDATE: Aztec Camera vs. Gwen Stefani vs. Weezer vs. Lita Ford

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

This is an update to Gwen Stefani vs. Weezer vs. Lita Ford

Paul brought Aztec Camera‘s 1987 hit “Somewhere In My Heart”  to my attention pointing out that it predates all of these. They all share a very similar descending vocal melody. Thanks Paul!

http://www.thatsongsoundslike.com/2009/09/03/gwen-stefani-vs-weezer-vs-lita-ford/
Aztec Camera “Somewhere In My Heart” (1987)
Weezer – “Hash Pipe” (2001)
Gwen Stefani – “What You Waiting For?” (2004)
Lita Ford – “Kiss Me Deadly” (1988)

UPDATE: Katy Perry vs. Kesha vs. Miley Cyrus vs. Justice

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

This is an update to Katy Perry vs. Kesha

I think we need to create a new genre of music called “lazy-girl-rap-dance”.

Jonathan and Kelly pointed out this Justice track a few months back and not that this Miley Cyrus track was brought to my attention I give you the following:

Justice – “The Party”  (2009)

With the beat:

Justice – “The Party”  (2009)

 

Ke$ha – “Tik Tok”  (2009)
Miley Cyrus – “Permanent December”  (2010)
Ke$ha – “Tik Tok”  (2009)
Katy Perry- “California Gurls” (2010)

Update: Dinosaur Jr. vs. Stereophonics vs. Brendan Benson

Friday, May 14th, 2010

This is an update to Dinosaur Jr. vs. Stereophonics

casi comments:
these riffs, especially the Dinosaur Jr riff, are also very similar to a guitar line that came up a few years later in a song off of Brendan Benson’s 2005 release “Spit It Out Now”. it sounds very similar to the opening riff and also at 1:59 into the song. A homage to one of the preeminent indie bands of the 90s maybe??

casi comments about Brendan Benson‘s 2005 track “Spit it Out”:

these riffs, especially the Dinosaur Jr riff, are also very similar to a guitar line that came up a few years later in a song off of Brendan Benson’s 2005 release “Spit It Out Now”. it sounds very similar to the opening riff and also at 1:59 into the song. A homage to one of the preeminent indie bands of the 90s maybe??

Brendan Benson – “Spit it Out” (2005)
Dinosaur Jr. – “Feel the Pain” (1994)
Stereophonics – “Pick a Part That’s New” (1998)

Update: Weezer vs. Metallica vs. Midnight Oil vs. The Strokes vs. Peter Gunn

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

I had a few comments on the Weezer vs.  Midnight Oil post relating to the guitar riffage. Here are a few more. They’re all really just along the lines of the Peter Gunn theme by Henry Mancini. Some of you might also recognize this as the theme song to the 1983 arcade game Spy Hunter.  Weezer‘s “Hash Pipe” is much closer to Metallica‘s “For Whom The Bell Tolls”

Weezer – “Hash Pipe” (2001)
Metallica – “For Whom The Bell Tolls” (1985)
The Strokes – “Juicebox” (2005)
Henry Mancini & His Orchestra – “Peter Gunn” (1958)
Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning” (1987)