Joseph submitted this one.
Pretty close here. Listen to the combination of Jason Derulo‘s synth line and vocal cadence of “In My Head” (2009) next to Lady Gaga‘s “Just Dance” (2008).
This is the first of many that Gustavo has submitted to me. I was particularly excited about this one since the signature guitar riff in Van Halen‘s “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” (1978) was one of the first things I learned to play on guitar. Although I think the first time I heard it was a sample in a 2 Live Crew song (I’ll let you discover the title yourself). Gustavo suggests that Dio‘s “Rainbow in the Dark” (1983) sounds pretty similar to the main Halen riff. Have a listen.
Mark B. points out the similarities of the basslines of Garbage‘s 2002 hit “Cherry Lips” and Nikka Costa‘s 2001 “Everybody Got Their Something”.
I was walking past a fragrance commercial in a department store the other day and heard a familiar bit of melody coming from it so I pulled out my iPhone and Shazam’ed it (I still can’t believe how well this app works). Turned out to be OneRepublic “Secrets”. I know this one might be a small stretch but coupled with the similar big arena rock style drum beat and vocal melody in the verse I can’t get Mötley Crüe‘s 1985 classic “Home Sweet Home” out of my head when I hear it.
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.
Submitted by Michael
Have a listen to the verse in Bon Jovi‘s 1989 power ballad “I’ll Be There For You” and the verse of The Beatles “Don’t Let Me Down” (1969). And while you’re listening, here’s a delightful tidbit via wikipedia:
The verses have an eerily and uncredited similarity (both musically and melodically) to John Lennon’s Beatles’ track ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ (recorded during the Get Back sessions) and the chorus was supposedly culled from an unreleased song by Joel Ellis of Cats in Boots and Heavy Bones. Joel Ellis has said that Lehua Reid (Richie Sambora’s ex-fiancée) regaled him with anecdotes regarding Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora ‘sitting at the piano for hours with a box full of tapes they got from people and going through the songs looking for stuff they could rip off and laughing about it, your [Ellis'] song was played over and over and over’.
Read more at wikipedia
I’m also very intrigued by this Joel Ellis song as well. If anyone can get a hold of it please send it my way.
Later towards the end of CIB[Cats In Boots] I started dating Richie [Sambora]‘s ex-fiancee Lehua Reid, one night we were laying around listening to old tapes of The Hoax and that song came on and she lit up and looked at me saying “…this is you??!!” “I remember John and Richie sitting at the piano for hours with a box full of tapes they got from people and going through the songs looking for stuff they could rip off and laughing about it, your song was played over and over and over….” Well, the rest is old news.
Excerpted from this 2006 interview
I knew there was something fishy about Surfer Blood‘s “Swim”. Check out the intro next to Brian Eno‘s “Needles in the Camel’s Eye”. Both great songs nonetheless.
Josh submitted this one.
I’m just as surprised as Josh that nobody has submitted this one yet. Check out Blondie‘s 1980 hit “Call Me” alongside Black Sabbath‘s 1971 “Children of the Grave”. Even the vocals are a bit similar in that Ozzy kind of way.
Thanks to Jamie for sending this.
‘Tis the season for sharing, being merry and re-recording the same holiday songs – again. Jessica Simpson has tapped right into the mega success of Mariah Carey and Vince Vance & The Valiants‘ songs of the same name “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. Why didn’t she just go all the way and give it the same title? Not only does Simpson’s track “My Only Wish” from her new holiday album have a strong musical resemblance to Carey’s and The Valiant’s but the lyrics still tell the same old story.
But wait, there’s more! Have a listen to Bobby Vinton‘s 1964 classic “My Heart Belongs Only To You” (1964) along side Vince Vance & the Valiants.
This is an update to R.E.M. vs. Cheap Trick
Mike says
The Elec Man theme from the video game Mega Man sounds freakishly similar to both of these. You should check it out.
Brilliant find Mike! Mega Man! And in my travels I also discovered a bit of talk about Journey‘s 1983 power ballad “Faithfully”. Here is all of them:
