Tony! Toni! Toné! vs. Nirvana

Posted on July 23, 2012 by keith — 4 Comments ↓

UPDATE: This post has been updated. See Tony! Toni! Toné! vs. Karmin vs. Nirvana

Submitted by Beau

At first I didn’t hear the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) soundalike with “Let’s Get Down” (1996) by Tony! Toni! Toné!?. Then the chorus hit and it was obvious. The wikipedia page for House of Music claims that the chorus samples the bridge and cites a sample database website. I had Beau send me a snapshot of the linear notes for “Let’s Get Down” [If you ever owned physical music this is what comes with it. It is printed on paper 😛 ].

I don’t see Cobain, Novoselic or Grohl on there.

Using state of the art computer technology I was able to come up with these 4 simulated reactions from Kurt Cobain if he was with us today.

Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1991)

Tony! Toni! Toné! - "Let's Get Down" (1996)

Kelly Clarkson vs. Beyoncé vs. Christina Perri vs. Jessie J

Posted on July 18, 2012 by keith — 29 Comments ↓

Ever since Beyoncé released “Halo” in 2008 I thought it sounded like something else. Then I discovered this Kelly Clarkson thing with her track “Already Gone” (2009). Clarkson accused her own co-writer (and OneRepublic frontman) Ryan Tedder of using the same music as “Halo” which he also co-wrote. But wait, there’s more! What’s going on with Christina Perri‘s “Jar of Hearts” (2012)? Doesn’t it also sound like “Halo”?

Kelly Clarkson unsuccessfully fought her record label not to release “Already Gone” as the third single off her new album, as the music is the same as the music from Beyonce’s hit “Halo.”

Clarkson co-wrote the lyrics and was provided the track by producer Ryan Tedder who had, unbeknownst to her, given the same track to Beyonce. By the time Clarkson heard Halo and realized what had happened, her album had printed and shipped and it was too late to omit the track. – Huffington Post

Have a listen to them all. And while you’re hear have a listen to this OneRepublic soundalike. Tedder seems to really like that huge arena drum beat sound.
OneRepublic – “Secrets” (2009) vs. Mötley Crüe – “Home Sweet Home” (1985)….

Beyoncé - "Halo" (2008)

Kelly Clarkson - "Already Gone" (2009)

Christina Perri - "Jar of Hearts" (2010)

But wait! There’s more!! Now listen to Jessie J‘s 2011 “Price Tag” with the verse from “Halo”! Ok, this one is more of a stretch, but what the hell.

Beyoncé - "Halo" (2008)

Jessie J – Price Tag (2011)

Jessie J - Price Tag ft. B.o.B

Watch this video on YouTube

Had enough? “Price Tag” was co-written by our favorite producer Dr. Luke!

I’m also still convinced that “Halo” sounds just like something from a decade or two ago. Anyone have any ideas??

The Dresden Dolls vs. Sebadoh vs. The Magnetic Fields

Posted on June 28, 2012 by keith — 4 Comments ↓

Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls) answers some fan mail in her blog and talks a bit about songwriting. Amanda admits to using the melody from Sebadoh‘s 1994 “Skull”. She has a a great attitude about it. (Speaking of Amanda Palmer, check out her Kickstarter project that has raised over a MILLION DOLLARS for her tour!)

A Marieclaires asked: I would also like to know how right or wrong it is to subconsciously pick up melodies from other song writers, even if it’s from the classical era or maybe something you heard on tv that day. As an artist this has always been something that bothers me.

HA. the truth remains: “talent borrows, genius steals”. honestly, everything IS stolen and appropriated. EVERYTHING. from back to mozart to gaga to madonna, it’s all a continuum. theft is WAY better when you don’t know you’re doing it, though.

it was a year after i wrote “the jeep song” (on the dresden dolls’ first record) that i realized i stole (not borrowed, not slightly cribbed: STOLE) the opening melody straight out of a sebadoh song. i’d had no idea. i was REALLY EMBARRASSED. go listen: http://youtu.be/TRnmcqQgMWQ you’ll hear the rip-off in about 6 seconds.

but you know who cared? nobody.

not even lou barlow [of Sebadoh], when i told him. he thought it was nice.

so, yeah, no worries.everything is stolen….ish.if you can make a good song with frankensteined pieces from 6 other songs, go for it. i don’t care. as long as your song is its own new entity, with something new to reflect out of the mashed-up ashes.

So after listening to “The Jeep Song” I heard another distinct melody that reminded me of “I Have the Moon” by The Magnetic Fields. Note: All three bands here are from Massachusetts. And just for you Amy I put together my own “frankensteined” clip.

Enjoy!

The Dresden Dolls - "The Jeep Song" (2003)

Sebadoh - "Skull" (1994)

The Magnetic Fields - "I Have the Moon" (1994)

Sebadoh + The Magnetic Fields = - "The Jeep Song" (1994)

UPDATE: Thanks for the tweet Amanda!

That Song Sounds Like

Songs that Sound Like Other Songs (Since 2007)

Category Archives: Feature

Tony! Toni! Toné! vs. Nirvana

Kelly Clarkson vs. Beyoncé vs. Christina Perri vs. Jessie J

The Dresden Dolls vs. Sebadoh vs. The Magnetic Fields