Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ripoffs and Landings

Earlier this week I met a girl named Remi and we started talking about music right away. She told me that her little cousin was watching Annie for the first time and exclaimed "Annie ripped off Hard Knocked Life from Jay-Z!"

And then Remi told the mother that she oughta be ashamed of herself.

Learning music at an early age taught me to appreciate the origins of sound. Its roots are often forgotten and originality is lost. I am very thankful to be surrounded by people who can bring color to all sounds. I get annoyed when credit is given to the wrong people, especially with music nowadays that is stealing or heavily influenced or uncreatively sampling or "inspired" by others.

Here's a list. My friend Grace compiled an even bigger and far more interesting list if you want to check it out!

1. Picture Book by The Kinks= Warning by Green Day
2. Close to You by The Cure= Handstands for You by Chairlift
3. Straight to Hell by The Clash= Paper Planes by MIA
4. He's So Fine by Chiffon= My Sweet Lord by George Harrison= Silver Lining by Rilo Kiley
5. Best of Both Worlds by Van Halen= Celebration by Kool and the Gang
6. Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie= Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
7. Obladi Obladi by The Beatles= Why Don't You Get a Job by Offspring
8. Sweet Little Sixteen by Chuck Berry= Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys
9. Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry= Fun Fun Fun by The Beach Boys (double wham)
10. Pocketful of SunshineI Natasha Bedingfield= So Happy I Could Die by Lady Gaga
11. If I Were a Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof= Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani
12. Boadicea by Enya= Ready or Not by The Fugees
13. Supersonic by JJ Fads= Fergalicious by Fergie
14. Mandy by Barry Manilow= Razorblade by The Strokes
15. Hotel California by The Eagles= We Used to Know by Jethro Tull
16. Here Comes Your Man by The Pixies= Walk On by U2
17. Father and Son by Cat Stevens= Fight Test by Flaming Lips
18. Foreigner Suite by Cat Stevens= Viva la Vida by Coldplay
19. Matthew & Son by Cat Stevens= Mad World by Tears for Fears
20. Parce Que Tu Crois by Charles Aznavour= Breathe by Blu Cantrell

Ever see the film Mr.Holland's Opus?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Library of Congress



Clip from All the President's Men.