Entertainment Weekly recently wrote about Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) saying that the Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' sounded suspiciously similar to his 1973 song 'Foreigner Suite.' Just like at Rolling Stone, many responders jumped to Coldplay's defence, focusing on the 'coincidental timing' of Yusuf Islam's claim - conveniently, he chose the same week to both accuse Coldplay of copying his song and release his new album Roadsinger, which was released earlier this week. Here are some of the fans' comments:
i'm listening to foreigner suite for the first time right now. What are you on about Yusaf?!! There really is zero similarity, unless Spotify is playing me an entirely different song to that it claims to be. And I thought santriani had a weak case! [radio]
Hey what a clever marketing gimmick! Maybe I'll sue Coldplay too and get some publicity. Hope the increased album sales for all these artists work out to be more than the legal fees. There are only about 12 musical notes, artist are bound to create songs that sound alike and this happens all the time. Every single one of those massive hits I referred to got suddenly called into question months upon months of worldwide play, where were these people leaving? Under a rock? No. They were waiting for the song to bring in the dough and cool down. I stand by my argument. [Mark]
He's suing the wrong person - If Coldplay did actually copy Joe's song then shouldn't Cat be suing Joe since his plagiarism came first? Better yet, sue them both. Don't just single out one. What a freakin joke. Jealous suckers can't handle someone else's success. [Hammer]
Maybe it is just me being a huge Coldplay fan but judging by their first three album, with the exception of "talk" Coldplay has no limits to creative song writing abilities and does not need to "borrow" anything. I highly doubt that they would ever steal any ideas from Satch or Cat. They are better musicians than any of those guys. Obviously the melody is something that fits extremely well with the chords that were used. And then to say again, Why do they all sue Coldplay. Sue each other. [J]
It just seems very convinient to me that Cat Stevens just happens to be promoting a new album that comes out this week. Maybe a bit of controvesy to draw attention to their projects is something even 60year old men resort to also. This is the most ridiculous thing in the world really. So first it sounded like Joe Satriani, then Creakey Boards and now Cat Stevens? If I were Chris Martin and Co I would be laughing my ass off. Apparently the song sounds like every other song in the world, lets all sue coldplay yay!!! So is Cat Stevens going to sue Joe Satriani? is Joe suing Creaky Boards, is Creaky Boards suing Cat Stevens?? Completely ridiculous. I always love how people seems to cry copyright infringement ONLY on songs that become massive hits but not on anything that fails on the charts, or at least doesn't make that much money. [nate]
This is clearly a joke. I rememver buying this album last July, when I was visiting my sister that how I remember, so it's been out nearly a year. It was one ofthe biggest selling albums last year, and Viva la Vida on of the biggest singles off it, with literally tons of radio and TV airplay. Where the hell has Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam or whatever he's calling himself thids weekk been for the past year, living under a rock. As someone else has said, even if you're not a Coldplay fan you can't fail to have heard the song. Clearly an old man trying to get his name heard again. As for Satriani, well thats bull to. I the grand scheme of music Satriani is a nobody. Talented, yes, has some fans, yes, but airplay, zero, commercial success, zero, heard by the vast population of the world in anyway, no. I could just be in his and Creaky Boards cases, that Martin and Co had never heard their stuff. I'm sure even proffesional musicians haven't heard even bit of music ever composed. [James]
I really hope Islam/Cat isn't serious about this crap. Yeah, after scouring through the over 18 minutes of "Foreigner Suite," the melody is there and it's very similar to Coldplay's song. At least Cat Steven's case would have some credence since the songs are in the same key unlike the other two. But all of these "claims" are just sour grapes. None of them are close enough in tempo, style, or arrangment to warrant actual credit being shared. Islam/Stevens does have the most credible case though. Satriani is a great guitarist but unless he wants to open himself up to about hundred lawsuits from other "solo instrumentalists" he better be careful. And Creaky Boards, puh-lease. Those guys should be sued by the Beach Boys for pathetically trying to recreate their "sound." Make good music and people will find it. Leave the lawsuits out of it. [claytron5000]
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