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Top 10 Rip-off Songs


[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] good composers borrow great composers

good composers borrow great composers

good composers borrow great composers steal some composers get caught that’s

steal some composers get caught that’s

steal some composers get caught that’s right welcome to watchmojo.com and today

right welcome to watchmojo.com and today

right welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the

we’re counting down our picks for the

we’re counting down our picks for the top ten ripoff songs

top ten ripoff songs

top ten ripoff songs [Music]

[Music]

[Music] this list will be ignoring sample heavy

this list will be ignoring sample heavy

this list will be ignoring sample heavy songs and focusing on hit Tunes where

songs and focusing on hit Tunes where

songs and focusing on hit Tunes where the similarities spawn threats of legal

the similarities spawn threats of legal

the similarities spawn threats of legal action or triggered actual lawsuits and

action or triggered actual lawsuits and

action or triggered actual lawsuits and litigation enjoy

litigation enjoy

litigation enjoy [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number ten the kinks all day and all of

number ten the kinks all day and all of

number ten the kinks all day and all of the night versus the doors hello I love

the night versus the doors hello I love

the night versus the doors hello I love you

you

you [Music]

[Music]

[Music] I love you won’t you tell me

I love you won’t you tell me

I love you won’t you tell me although the doors guitarist Robby

although the doors guitarist Robby

although the doors guitarist Robby Krieger denied his band copied the core

Krieger denied his band copied the core

Krieger denied his band copied the core driven main riff the kinks music

driven main riff the kinks music

driven main riff the kinks music publishers found these two singles were

publishers found these two singles were

publishers found these two singles were just a bit too similar

UK courts agreed and so a deal was

UK courts agreed and so a deal was eventually struck and titling the kinks

eventually struck and titling the kinks

eventually struck and titling the kinks to a large share of hello I love yous

to a large share of hello I love yous

to a large share of hello I love yous British royalties

[Music]

[Music] the door song credits remain unchanged

the door song credits remain unchanged

the door song credits remain unchanged but Ray Davies bank accounts certainly

but Ray Davies bank accounts certainly

but Ray Davies bank accounts certainly hasn’t number-9 muddy waters you need

hasn’t number-9 muddy waters you need

hasn’t number-9 muddy waters you need love vs Led Zeppelin whole lotta love by

love vs Led Zeppelin whole lotta love by

love vs Led Zeppelin whole lotta love by cranking the tempo and volume of the

cranking the tempo and volume of the

cranking the tempo and volume of the blues Led Zep helped pioneer hard rock

blues Led Zep helped pioneer hard rock

blues Led Zep helped pioneer hard rock and heavy metal

but sometimes they stuck just a bit too

but sometimes they stuck just a bit too close to their roots well it took them a

close to their roots well it took them a

close to their roots well it took them a long time to get caught the rock icons

long time to get caught the rock icons

long time to get caught the rock icons were finally sued in 1985 for whole

were finally sued in 1985 for whole

were finally sued in 1985 for whole lotta loves whole lot of similarities to

lotta loves whole lot of similarities to

lotta loves whole lot of similarities to the Willie Dixon penned Muddy Waters

the Willie Dixon penned Muddy Waters

the Willie Dixon penned Muddy Waters classic

classic

classic [Music]

though things were eventually settled

though things were eventually settled out of pork it wasn’t the only time that

out of pork it wasn’t the only time that

out of pork it wasn’t the only time that British rockers were accused of

British rockers were accused of

British rockers were accused of borrowing material as even stairway to

borrowing material as even stairway to

borrowing material as even stairway to heaven

heaven

heaven [Applause]

has been tainted by calls of plagiarism

has been tainted by calls of plagiarism [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number 8 Joe Satriani if I could fly

number 8 Joe Satriani if I could fly

number 8 Joe Satriani if I could fly versus Coldplay viva la vida

versus Coldplay viva la vida

versus Coldplay viva la vida [Music]

[Music]

[Music] take notes on this one you’ll need them

take notes on this one you’ll need them

take notes on this one you’ll need them first

first

first creaky board’s suggested Coldplay ripped

creaky board’s suggested Coldplay ripped

creaky board’s suggested Coldplay ripped off their ironically titled tune the

off their ironically titled tune the

off their ironically titled tune the songs I didn’t right

songs I didn’t right

songs I didn’t right [Music]

[Music]

[Music] however the British rockers had recorded

however the British rockers had recorded

however the British rockers had recorded a demo of Viva prior to that songs first

a demo of Viva prior to that songs first

a demo of Viva prior to that songs first performance

then Joe Satriani stepped up lawsuit in

then Joe Satriani stepped up lawsuit in hand

hand

hand claiming Chris Martin and crew borrowed

claiming Chris Martin and crew borrowed

claiming Chris Martin and crew borrowed from his if I could fly

things got even more complicated when

things got even more complicated when use of Islam formerly Cat Stevens joined

use of Islam formerly Cat Stevens joined

use of Islam formerly Cat Stevens joined in on the fun pointing out that all of

in on the fun pointing out that all of

in on the fun pointing out that all of those songs sounded like his foreigner

those songs sounded like his foreigner

those songs sounded like his foreigner sweet

Satriani’s case was later dismissed in

Satriani’s case was later dismissed in 2009

number seven the kinks picture book

number seven the kinks picture book versus other garden never got the chance

versus other garden never got the chance

versus other garden never got the chance versus Green Day warning

and now how not to file a lawsuit

and now how not to file a lawsuit [Music]

[Music]

[Music] in 2001 Colin Mary song writer for an

in 2001 Colin Mary song writer for an

in 2001 Colin Mary song writer for an obscure English band called the other

obscure English band called the other

obscure English band called the other garden sued Green Day claiming that

garden sued Green Day claiming that

garden sued Green Day claiming that warning

was a copy of his song never got the

was a copy of his song never got the chance

the band’s lawyer threatened to sue the

the band’s lawyer threatened to sue the punk rockers for as much as $100,000

punk rockers for as much as $100,000

punk rockers for as much as $100,000 despite the fact that Mary admitted both

despite the fact that Mary admitted both

despite the fact that Mary admitted both his and Green Day songs had the same

his and Green Day songs had the same

his and Green Day songs had the same distinct riff as picture book by the

distinct riff as picture book by the

distinct riff as picture book by the kinks

kinks

kinks [Music]

needless to say the lawsuit was

needless to say the lawsuit was eventually dropped

eventually dropped

eventually dropped [Music]

[Applause]

[Applause] number six Huey Lewis and the news I

number six Huey Lewis and the news I

number six Huey Lewis and the news I want a new drug versus Ray Parker jr.

want a new drug versus Ray Parker jr.

want a new drug versus Ray Parker jr. ghostbusters who you gonna call

ghostbusters who you gonna call

ghostbusters who you gonna call a lawyer if you’re Huey Lewis Lewis was

a lawyer if you’re Huey Lewis Lewis was

a lawyer if you’re Huey Lewis Lewis was actually asked to write a theme for

actually asked to write a theme for

actually asked to write a theme for Ghostbusters but passed on it to write

Ghostbusters but passed on it to write

Ghostbusters but passed on it to write music for Back to the Future instead

music for Back to the Future instead

music for Back to the Future instead [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] Oh

so when Ray Parker jr. theme for the

so when Ray Parker jr. theme for the supernatural comedy came out sounding

supernatural comedy came out sounding

supernatural comedy came out sounding suspiciously like I want a new drug Lois

suspiciously like I want a new drug Lois

suspiciously like I want a new drug Lois cried plagiarism it was settled out of

cried plagiarism it was settled out of

cried plagiarism it was settled out of court almost a decade later and when the

court almost a decade later and when the

court almost a decade later and when the news frontman spilled the beans on the

news frontman spilled the beans on the

news frontman spilled the beans on the confidential settlement on TV Ray Parker

confidential settlement on TV Ray Parker

confidential settlement on TV Ray Parker jr. turned the tables and sued Lois in

jr. turned the tables and sued Lois in

jr. turned the tables and sued Lois in 2001 number 5 Creedence Clearwater

2001 number 5 Creedence Clearwater

2001 number 5 Creedence Clearwater Revival run through the jungle versus

Revival run through the jungle versus

Revival run through the jungle versus John Fogerty the old man down the road

John Fogerty the old man down the road

John Fogerty the old man down the road [Music]

in a very odd move John Fogerty was sued

in a very odd move John Fogerty was sued for sounding like himself as owner of

for sounding like himself as owner of

for sounding like himself as owner of CCR song catalogue and he’s labeled

CCR song catalogue and he’s labeled

CCR song catalogue and he’s labeled during his Creedence days Fantasy

during his Creedence days Fantasy

during his Creedence days Fantasy Records claimed the old man down the

Records claimed the old man down the

Records claimed the old man down the road ripped off run through the jungle

road ripped off run through the jungle

road ripped off run through the jungle [Music]

the swamp rocker beat the case by

the swamp rocker beat the case by bringing a guitar to the stand and

bringing a guitar to the stand and

bringing a guitar to the stand and demonstrating that the two songs were in

demonstrating that the two songs were in

demonstrating that the two songs were in fact quite different

and that you couldn’t actually

and that you couldn’t actually plagiarize yourself number four

plagiarize yourself number four

plagiarize yourself number four Marvin Gaye got to give it up versus

Marvin Gaye got to give it up versus

Marvin Gaye got to give it up versus Robin Thicke blurred lines in one of

Robin Thicke blurred lines in one of

Robin Thicke blurred lines in one of many controversies that plagued this

many controversies that plagued this

many controversies that plagued this summer hit Robin Thicke actually sued

summer hit Robin Thicke actually sued

summer hit Robin Thicke actually sued Marvin Gaye’s family for alleging the

Marvin Gaye’s family for alleging the

Marvin Gaye’s family for alleging the singer had plagiarized the late sole

singer had plagiarized the late sole

singer had plagiarized the late sole artist while Thicke admitted he was

artist while Thicke admitted he was

artist while Thicke admitted he was inspired by gotta give it up he and

inspired by gotta give it up he and

inspired by gotta give it up he and co-writer Pharrell Williams contend

co-writer Pharrell Williams contend

co-writer Pharrell Williams contend they’re essentially not the same citing

they’re essentially not the same citing

they’re essentially not the same citing different chords keys and more

different chords keys and more

different chords keys and more [Music]

rich port music also became involved due

rich port music also became involved due to claims blurred lines sample

to claims blurred lines sample

to claims blurred lines sample Funkadelics sexy ways

number three the Rolling Stones the last

number three the Rolling Stones the last time verses the verb bitter sweet

time verses the verb bitter sweet

time verses the verb bitter sweet symphony’

symphony’

symphony’ [Music]

in this case the verb obtained the

in this case the verb obtained the rights to sample the Andrew Oldham

rights to sample the Andrew Oldham

rights to sample the Andrew Oldham orchestral version of the stones classic

orchestral version of the stones classic

orchestral version of the stones classic [Music]

[Music]

[Music] but the issue here is how much the band

but the issue here is how much the band

but the issue here is how much the band used and in the opinion of the Rolling

used and in the opinion of the Rolling

used and in the opinion of the Rolling Stones manager it was way too much

Stones manager it was way too much

Stones manager it was way too much [Music]

[Music]

[Music] while royalties for bitter sweet

while royalties for bitter sweet

while royalties for bitter sweet symphony’ were intended to be split

symphony’ were intended to be split

symphony’ were intended to be split evenly between the two groups

evenly between the two groups

evenly between the two groups the songs massive success caused the

the songs massive success caused the

the songs massive success caused the stones to demand 100 percent of the

stones to demand 100 percent of the

stones to demand 100 percent of the royalties

royalties

royalties [Music]

[Music]

[Music] and the songwriting credits

ironically it was David Whittaker who

ironically it was David Whittaker who actually composed the string section

actually composed the string section

actually composed the string section that the verb sampled so freely in their

that the verb sampled so freely in their

that the verb sampled so freely in their hit

hit

hit [Music]

number two the chiffons he’s so fine

number two the chiffons he’s so fine versus George Harrison my sweet lord

versus George Harrison my sweet lord

versus George Harrison my sweet lord [Music]

[Music]

[Music] soon after releasing his solo hit the

soon after releasing his solo hit the

soon after releasing his solo hit the former Beatle found himself at the

former Beatle found himself at the

former Beatle found himself at the center of a copyright infringement

center of a copyright infringement

center of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by bright tunes George

lawsuit filed by bright tunes George

lawsuit filed by bright tunes George Harrison was accused of plagiarizing the

Harrison was accused of plagiarizing the

Harrison was accused of plagiarizing the Ronnie Matt Penn tune he’s so fine and

Ronnie Matt Penn tune he’s so fine and

Ronnie Matt Penn tune he’s so fine and the courts ruled he had subconsciously

the courts ruled he had subconsciously

the courts ruled he had subconsciously copied the chiffon smash and would

copied the chiffon smash and would

copied the chiffon smash and would nearly one-point-six million dollars in

nearly one-point-six million dollars in

nearly one-point-six million dollars in damages

but the story doesn’t end there after

but the story doesn’t end there after Harrison fired his manager Allen Klein

Harrison fired his manager Allen Klein

Harrison fired his manager Allen Klein during the trial

during the trial

during the trial Klein seized the opportunity to buy the

Klein seized the opportunity to buy the

Klein seized the opportunity to buy the copyright to he’s so fine ultimately

copyright to he’s so fine ultimately

copyright to he’s so fine ultimately decided Harrison would only have to pay

decided Harrison would only have to pay

decided Harrison would only have to pay Klein’s aapko industries 587 thousand

Klein’s aapko industries 587 thousand

Klein’s aapko industries 587 thousand dollars and he ended up with the songs

dollars and he ended up with the songs

dollars and he ended up with the songs right

before we unveil our top pick here are a

before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

few honorable mentions

few honorable mentions [Music]

Oh cigarettes no sleep no lie

Oh cigarettes no sleep no lie [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] they’re really rockin in number one

they’re really rockin in number one

they’re really rockin in number one Chuck Berry sweet little sixteen verses

Chuck Berry sweet little sixteen verses

Chuck Berry sweet little sixteen verses of the Beach Boys surfing USA

of the Beach Boys surfing USA

of the Beach Boys surfing USA [Music]

then everybody sir

then everybody sir our number one pick we chose the

our number one pick we chose the

our number one pick we chose the instance in which Brian Wilson openly

instance in which Brian Wilson openly

instance in which Brian Wilson openly and knowingly use the music to a Chuck

and knowingly use the music to a Chuck

and knowingly use the music to a Chuck Berry hit

Berry hit

Berry hit [Music]

the beach boy felt the track was the

the beach boy felt the track was the perfect setting for his surfing themed

perfect setting for his surfing themed

perfect setting for his surfing themed lyrics but neglected to credit Barry

lyrics but neglected to credit Barry

lyrics but neglected to credit Barry upon its recording and release

upon its recording and release

upon its recording and release [Music]

[Music]

[Music] the USA

the USA

the USA while those surfin USA is meant to be

while those surfin USA is meant to be

while those surfin USA is meant to be viewed as a tribute Barry’s publishing

viewed as a tribute Barry’s publishing

viewed as a tribute Barry’s publishing company was unimpressed

and forced Wilson’s manager to surrender

and forced Wilson’s manager to surrender copyright to the rock-and-roll pioneers

copyright to the rock-and-roll pioneers

copyright to the rock-and-roll pioneers publisher arc music

publisher arc music

publisher arc music [Music]

do you agree with our list which songs

do you agree with our list which songs do you sing our complete and total

do you sing our complete and total

do you sing our complete and total ripoff

ripoff

ripoff [Music]

[Music]

[Music] more original top 10s published every

more original top 10s published every

more original top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to

day be sure to subscribe to

day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

watchmojo.com

watchmojo.com [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you

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