I do believe that something must have happened behind closed doors and it must have been bad enough for this guy to file suit and ask only for money and nothing else. It makes me think that he was asking only for money at the get-go among other things and that is why Coldplay told him to screw off. IMO, If he wanted credit then he should also be wanting credit now.

 

This is not a strong argument. Since you don't know what happened behind "closed doors," you can not speculate with any level of certainty. Only two parties know: Coldplay and Joe Satriani. Until we are told otherwise, your accusations are unfair.

Yes there are some similarites....but i honestly think that they didnt do it on purpose!...thats probably why when they talked behind ''locked doors''...Joe asked them for money and Coldplay said NO cause they didnt do it on purpose and Joe decided to sue....IMO.

I cant believe the biased bashing of both Satriani and Coldplay, you all come off like trolls, coldplay fans bashing Satriani included. Satriani believes his song was ripped off whether he is right or wrong it is what he believes and every one of us would be upset at that.

 

And for those so biased they are even denying the songs are similiar, you are coming off as coldplay groupies and not music fans. It's obvious the songs are very similiar, the rhythm, the melody and even the lead. That however does not mean plagiarism, it is a hell of a coincidence but it is possible. Coldplay may have also been influenced by the song and didnt even notice the close similiarity, another possibiity, or maybe they did rip off the song, another possibility. I just find it hard to believe if they did use the song that they wouldnt give credit. Coldplay may settle out of court, who knows. It's a great song though whether it was plagiarized or not.

 

I think this assessment is pretty strong. Except I don't think the two songs are similar. I think a section of a Satriani song is similar to part of a Chris Martin vocal melody. And I don't think that distinction is arguing semantics.

I think this assessment is pretty strong. Except I don't think the two songs are similar. I think a section of a Satriani song is similar to part of a Chris Martin vocal melody. And I don't think that distinction is arguing semantics.

 

Ya that the only part i think too....So i dont get how he can sue just for that...i mean its not like it the whole song.

Ya that the only part i think too....So i dont get how he can sue just for that...i mean its not like it the whole song.

 

Oh, it's perfectly within Satriani's right to sue. But what he can do legally and what is in good form are two completely different debates.

Oh, it's perfectly within Satriani's right to sue. But what he can do legally and what is in good form are two completely different debates.

 

Because its just a little part and it could have easily beena accident!...

And for those so biased they are even denying the songs are similiar, you are coming off as coldplay groupies and not music fans. It's obvious the songs are very similiar, the rhythm, the melody and even the lead.

 

I agree you can pick out a similarity in that small 3 or 4 note chorus riff (which I'm pretty sure this whole deal is about) but apart from that, the two songs are miles apart from beginning to end. I'm not a groupie, just being realistic. If you haven't already, go ahead and listen to both songs front to back and point where exactly, apart from the first chorus riff (coldplay's verse) the songs are "obviously very similar" because as hard as I try, I just can't hear it.

There is so much more to Viva la Vida than that 8 bar "riff" in the vocal line, which isn't even the CHORUS. It's not even exactly the same as Joe.s The only reason why it sounds so similar is because it is in the same key. And Coldplay didn't really have a choice on the key of this song. They bought the bell for it on ebay, so they have to play it in the key of the bell, if you think about it. VLV has so much in it. There are so many things going on, you can't just take that part out and say the song is ripped off.

 

Us Coldplayers KNOW it isn't ripped off. We know Chris and this band well enough, that we know that this would never happen. Now I;m sure you're thinking "Yeah right, you have no idea what they're really like...", but I am sorry, you are utterly mistaken. We follow this band constantly, and guess what? Coldplay are GREAT at getting to their fans and letting them know what they;re all about. They show us time and time again that they have strong characters and that they are doing everything for the right reasons. We have heard each of them talk about the processes they go through to make songs, and many other things. We know this is their work. The way they talk about it proves it. Chris thinks is the best thing they have ever done, and he will take it to his grave and not let anybody change his mind.

 

I am tired of people hating on Coldplay. I'm tired of the "gay" comments (thak you 40 Year Old Virgin). I'm tired of the media comparing them to U2 (Chris doesn't sound anything like Bono, sorry), Radiohead, Oasis.... They have their own identity and they have proved their worth. Viva la Vida or Death And All His Friends is a great example of it. They deserve all the recognition for their hard work. They are so talented, and they reach out and touch people in many ways. And now there is this story, tarnishing their image unfairly. Coldplay deserves better.

There is so much more to Viva la Vida than that 8 bar "riff" in the vocal line, which isn't even the CHORUS. It's not even exactly the same as Joe.s The only reason why it sounds so similar is because it is in the same key. And Coldplay didn't really have a choice on the key of this song. They bought the bell for it on ebay, so they have to play it in the key of the bell, if you think about it. VLV has so much in it. There are so many things going on, you can't just take that part out and say the song is ripped off.

 

Us Coldplayers KNOW it isn't ripped off. We know Chris and this band well enough, that we know that this would never happen. Now I;m sure you're thinking "Yeah right, you have no idea what they're really like...", but I am sorry, you are utterly mistaken. We follow this band constantly, and guess what? Coldplay are GREAT at getting to their fans and letting them know what they;re all about. They show us time and time again that they have strong characters and that they are doing everything for the right reasons. We have heard each of them talk about the processes they go through to make songs, and many other things. We know this is their work. The way they talk about it proves it. Chris thinks is the best thing they have ever done, and he will take it to his grave and not let anybody change his mind.

 

I am tired of people hating on Coldplay. I'm tired of the "gay" comments (thak you 40 Year Old Virgin). I'm tired of the media comparing them to U2 (Chris doesn't sound anything like Bono, sorry), Radiohead, Oasis.... They have their own identity and they have proved their worth. Viva la Vida or Death And All His Friends is a great example of it. They deserve all the recognition for their hard work. They are so talented, and they reach out and touch people in many ways. And now there is this story, tarnishing their image unfairly. Coldplay deserves better.

 

BAM!......Couldnt have said it better myself!

One thing...I don't buy that he was "too busy" to file the suit earlier. His attorneys could have filed the suit earlier because they are normally the ones to do the filing. Even if he had to be there, it would only take a hour to do so and he could not find the time to spare that hour or so. Sorry, but I am not buying it. It all smacks of money and him wanting all, not some, but all of it.

 

The reason why I see it this way is because when the song first came out who knew it would be so successful and make a lot of money for the band. Now that time has passed and one can get see how much money the song has made and the recognition it has garnered then all of that can help them assess how much money he "should" get.

 

Another thing, all musicians have a legal team. So when incidents come up they file suit right away. I don't know any respectable musician who waits for half a year to file a claim. Musicians are protective of their music so when things like this happens they file suit right away, but he didn't.

 

As for him being a "fan" of Coldplay...really? And, that is supposed to make things all better and cheery? I don't think so. Plus, how do you know he plays their music on his bus? Have you been on it?

 

.

 

If someone had sued me over a few musical notes I don't think I'd be too enamoured with them. I guess we can assume that the delay was because of discussions behind closed doors and Coldplay told them to go hang.

 

If you play the two songs side by side there's only a tiny section that's similar.[/i ]. The fact that Chris Martin sounds like he's on helium for the comparison to even be similar indicates how desparate someone is.

 

The action to me looks like the same vein as Creaky Boards: sad, mean, and rather pathetic too ( I lost respect for the Rolling Stones btw when they did a similar thing to Richard Ashcroft of the Verve... after loosing that case Richard Ashcroft responder with a wonderfully witty rejoinder: "This is the best song Jagger and Richards have written in 20 years."

 

I am tired of people hating on Coldplay. I'm tired of the "gay" comments (thak you 40 Year Old Virgin). I'm tired of the media comparing them to U2 (Chris doesn't sound anything like Bono, sorry), Radiohead, Oasis.... They have their own identity and they have proved their worth. Viva la Vida or Death And All His Friends is a great example of it. They deserve all the recognition for their hard work. They are so talented, and they reach out and touch people in many ways. And now there is this story, tarnishing their image unfairly. Coldplay deserves better.

 

Completely agree. I note that the anti-gay comments stem often (but not exclusively) from the US, where a small minority of its population still hasn't grown up (obviously Republicans ;) )

 

I sometimes parody that sentiment myself with tongue in cheek references to the band to show how ludicrous it is. I know fellow Coldplayers will get the in-joke! :)

I read about this topic on a local news site here. http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,24764327-7484,00.html Same stuff that's already in this thread, however you might not be aware of a video which shows that Satriani might have ripped the melody from an Argentina rock band which recorded the melody two years before Satriani.

 

Anyway, I posted a reply to the news link above, but I thought there are more of you 'fans' and if you haven't heard already, listenhow Satriani may have very well ripped 'If I could fly'. I'm as much of a satriani fan as they come, but reading this stuff is ridiculous, as Coldplay had so much more to the song than just a few notes.

 

This is my post (which is yet to appear, and might not appear):

I've been a big fan of Satriani for years, own all his material since 'Not of this earth' hit the shelves.

 

But how can Satriani say Coldplay ripped him off, when Satriani ripped his 'If i could fly' melody straight from a popular Argentina rock group called 'Los Enanitos Verdes' and their song 'Frances Limon'. This song 'Frances Limon' was on the 'Amores Lejanos' album recorded in 2002. That's two (2) years before Joe Satriani recorded 'If I could fly' on his 'Is there love in space?' album in 2004.

 

If anyone should be doing the suing, this Argentina rock group 'Los Enanitos Verdes' should be suing Satriani for taking the guitar riff and vocal melody from the song 'Frances Limon'. Listen to it here - http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cH4gaPHs9Hc

 

[ame=http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cH4gaPHs9Hc]YouTube - Enanitos Verdes - Frances Limon (if I could Fly - Joe Satriani)[/ame]

blatant satriani fan

 

I read about this topic on a local news site here. http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,24764327-7484,00.html Same stuff that's already in this thread, however you might not be aware of a video which shows that Satriani might have ripped the melody from an Argentina rock band which recorded the melody two years before Satriani.

 

That's already been mentioned.

 

And to the other post, I'm just as tired of the "fukken balding cancer-hed notalent hack who just wants $$$!!! cant play 4 shit he shud just fukken die!!!!11" comments. Of course I'm used to the "shit million-nps metalhead shredder" ones, though, so it's not that bad. Although the comments seem to be divided between "coldplay is fukken gay!!1! its 4 fags!! go satch, beat them!" and "satriani mroe liek SHITriani! coldplay 4 evr" pretty evenly, showing how stupid both sides seem to be.

 

I think Coldplay is going to be just fine after all this, because everyone's already heard of them and they will continue to be popular, no matter what. If they thought "lol gay" before that, then they were already a lost cause. But now we have thousands of people first hearing even Satriani's name and the only thing attached to it is "no talent greedy faggot!!", as you can clearly see from the countless comments in articles, blogs, and this thread in particular. If we would just wait for more information on an obviously unusual case or for this to blow over, instead of dwelling on it, would be better for all of us. But I know that's not going to happen.

So has the youtube clip by the Argentina band Los Enanitos Verdes, and their song 'Frances Limon' already been mentioned?

 

Click on this clip:

[ame=http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cH4gaPHs9Hc]YouTube - Enanitos Verdes - Frances Limon (if I could Fly - Joe Satriani)[/ame]

 

Sounds similar to 'If I could fly' and was recorded a few years ealier. See my post above.

 

What I'm trying to say, bands are influenced by many. Pick apart Satriani songs, and you'll see shades of Jeff Beck all through them. I mean engines of creation was created after Jeff Beck's who else! album. You could compare any number of songs between the two.

 

I think people should relax, leave the suing aside. Satriani could have casually mentioned in an interview, 'hey that popular song, sounds a little like mine' and left it at that. Otherwise, people will pick apart all of Satriani's songs, see where he's been influenced by other blues players, and guys like Zappa, and Beck.

 

The point is, it's very hard to write any 'totally original' song nowadays without it being compared to a ton of other bands and songs. Almost impossible.

There is so much more to Viva la Vida than that 8 bar "riff" in the vocal line, which isn't even the CHORUS. It's not even exactly the same as Joe.s The only reason why it sounds so similar is because it is in the same key. And Coldplay didn't really have a choice on the key of this song. They bought the bell for it on ebay, so they have to play it in the key of the bell, if you think about it. VLV has so much in it. There are so many things going on, you can't just take that part out and say the song is ripped off.

 

Us Coldplayers KNOW it isn't ripped off. We know Chris and this band well enough, that we know that this would never happen. Now I;m sure you're thinking "Yeah right, you have no idea what they're really like...", but I am sorry, you are utterly mistaken. We follow this band constantly, and guess what? Coldplay are GREAT at getting to their fans and letting them know what they;re all about. They show us time and time again that they have strong characters and that they are doing everything for the right reasons. We have heard each of them talk about the processes they go through to make songs, and many other things. We know this is their work. The way they talk about it proves it. Chris thinks is the best thing they have ever done, and he will take it to his grave and not let anybody change his mind.

 

I am tired of people hating on Coldplay. I'm tired of the "gay" comments (thak you 40 Year Old Virgin). I'm tired of the media comparing them to U2 (Chris doesn't sound anything like Bono, sorry), Radiohead, Oasis.... They have their own identity and they have proved their worth. Viva la Vida or Death And All His Friends is a great example of it. They deserve all the recognition for their hard work. They are so talented, and they reach out and touch people in many ways. And now there is this story, tarnishing their image unfairly. Coldplay deserves better.

 

Absolutely !!!

That's what I think too

You Be The Judge: Are Coldplay Musical Thieves?

 

A Grammy Award can be a cumbersome thing.

 

In 1990, months after receiving the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, Milli Vanilli’s producer, Frank Farian, gave into overwhelming pressure from reporters and admitted the group hadn’t actually sung on any of their recordings. A wave of lawsuits followed, and co-frontman Rob Pilatus later blamed the band’s Grammy nomination for the intense media backlash. 7 years later, a disgraced Pilatus was found dead of an apparent overdose in his hotel room.

 

This week, only one day after the title track from their latest album “Viva La Vida” was nominated for Best Record of the year, English mope-rockers Coldplay have been accused by virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani of plagiarizing a song from his 2004 album “Is There Love in Space.”

 

The instrumental, titled “If I Could Fly,” does indeed have a curiously similar melody line. Whether the similarities are the case of so-called “parallel thinking” or outright “borrowing” of a melody remains to be seen. What’s curious is that Satriani would wait until the song - which has been performed on “Saturday Night Live,” received massive radio play and even recently featured in a ubiquitous commercial for iTunes – would wait until the song had been nominated for Best Record until filing the lawsuit.

 

We shall keep you updated on developments.

 

Stay tuned…

 

http://www.actressarchives.com/news.php?id=13610

Of course there's a vague similarity, there's also a similarity between paranoid android and 42, but that's no crime. But just to highlight their dissimilarity, try singing along with the Joe Satriani chorus (using the original recording), the pitch is way up on a different note, and the second note shoots up higher by comparison than the "the" in Viva la Vida. They don't match by a long a shot. I wouldn't even call it an accident or a coincidence because I'm not convinced the similarity is that eerie.

 

You are correct. The youtube video comparison has the coldplay song tuned up, say a half-step, and the satriani song tuned down say a half-step, so both are in the exact same key.

 

Bit of manipulation. Anyway, no slagging each other off. This could all be just record companies/managers being greedy, rather than the artist wanting to profit.

poll added! ;)

It hurts me a lot when people call Coldplay gay. :(

I was in the If I could Fly youtube video and people have been calling Coldplay gay and fag.

Why can't they leave them alone???

I hate 40 year old virgin. :angry:

 

Our guys are too intelligent to copy someone else's material.

And the other one who sues is so stupid to sue just now, which made him obvious that he's just jealous that VLV is nominated for a grammy and his song wasn't.

screwyou.

Guys seriously, half the reason people call us "gay" sometimes is because some Coldplay fans tend to be a tad sensative. No matter what band you are there are always gonna be plenty of haters. I *()&^%^ hate Kanye West but there are PLENTY of people who like him. Just the way it goes. Don't take being called "gay" and people bashing Coldplay so personally. It just means they have caught plenty of people's attention. Would you rather them say "oh, who is this Coldplay?". Be proud of who you are... some of my best friends have said I'm "gay for Coldplay" and I tell them...yeah...I guess I probably am a little...because there is no denying that I love the band so why hide it or be ashamed. The lead singer of my band actually IS gay (and actually doesn't even care for Coldplay) and he has no problem admitting it...If someone wants to give him a hard time about it that is their problem.

 

That said, yes Joe Satriani is a very talented guitarist, but as the video from 2002 shows A LOT of music is "influenced" by other stuff. Some of it ends up sounding nothing like what it was even influenced. One of my bands songs piano part was heavily "influenced" by Viva La Vida but you would NEVER in a million years make that comparison even after I told you. So many of their songs have been influenced by other works yet they sound nothing like it. All said I think they should have just given him some money to make him go away. I respect both as artists (but am a much bigger Coldplay fan) but seriously, the timing is really suspect here and the similarities sound like a big deal to the untrained ear but those of us who are musically trained have pretty much all said the same thing...this can happen...and I doubt Chris and co. sat around drinking tea listening to Joe Satriani too often.

It hurts me a lot when people call Coldplay gay. :(

I was in the If I could Fly youtube video and people have been calling Coldplay gay and fag.

Why can't they leave them alone???

I hate 40 year old virgin. :angry:

 

Our guys are too intelligent to copy someone else's material.

And the other one who sues is so stupid to sue just now, which made him obvious that he's just jealous that VLV is nominated for a grammy and his song wasn't.

screwyou.

 

What does the 40 year old virgin have to do with Coldplay? They aren't Asia, you know. :laugh3:

A Grammy Award can be a cumbersome thing.

 

In 1990, months after receiving the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, Milli Vanilli’s producer, Frank Farian, gave into overwhelming pressure from reporters and admitted the group hadn’t actually sung on any of their recordings. A wave of lawsuits followed, and co-frontman Rob Pilatus later blamed the band’s Grammy nomination for the intense media backlash. 7 years later, a disgraced Pilatus was found dead of an apparent overdose in his hotel room.

 

This week, only one day after the title track from their latest album “Viva La Vida” was nominated for Best Record of the year, English mope-rockers Coldplay have been accused by virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani of plagiarizing a song from his 2004 album “Is There Love in Space.”

 

He did NOT just call them mope rockers! :veryangry2:

and the Milli Vanilli comparison is really irksome... :dozey:

i think it's absolutely ridiculous this idiot is coming out now and accusing Coldplay of this. This guy has been irrelevant for years and I doubt Coldplay has ever listened to him. My problem with this Joe character is that he himself isn't original; he's been trying to be Eddie Van Halen for years, and all his licks and riffs are borrowed from EVH. Also, the guy has recorded like a million songs (exaggerating I know) so there's bound to be some melodies being borrowed and passed around.

It is obvious that you dont know shit about guitar players. Joe sounds or plays NOTHING like EVH.

 

Interesting video take on the whole thing from someone who just might know what he is talking about.

 

Do I think that Coldplay sat down and decided to steal Joe's tune???? No. That would be lame and they are way too talented for that. But the similiarities to the two songs are just a little too close not to notice.

Chord progressions and diatonic theory aside, sharing the same tempo and having 4-5 notes sequentually in a verse melody does not constitute as plagerism. If it does then god help us bands who make any music, it will probably be compared to something and our hard work considered to be a "rip off". Just the other day my bass player sat down on my keyboard and told me he had an awesome song idea. He played it for me with a strings voice and I said dude...yeah...that's awesome...its pretty much exactly like the Enya song "sail away". He agreed after listening, but never ever had any INTENT to copy oar mimic the song.

 

This lawsuit is in poor taste, and will probably do nothing more than discourage young talent from creating music.

This is probably gonna track back to some gregorian chant that came up with the idea first....