Sounds Like

[Lilith]

Is it just me or does the newer Red Hot Chili Peppers' song sound like they ripped Tom Petty's Last Dance With Mary Jane????

[Oldfart]

Let me check, I'll be back.

[sexychrissy]

they really do No body could ever beat Tom Petty though!!!!!!!!!!

[Oldfart]

The songs are closer than cousins.

Is it a rip-off or a homage?

[Lilith]

I just saw the SNL and immediately the words to Last Dance started playing through in my mind. I'm not saying it was purposeful but it's just awful close.

[scotzoidman]

I guess I've either missed the RHCP song, or just haven't listened closely enough to it to say...but much as I love Mary Jane's Last Dance (it's one of the featured numbers I get to do with the band), I've always heard more than a passing resemblance to about 87658473823 Neil Young songs in there, so we may not see any legal action as a result...

[scotzoidman]

Heard the RHCP song today, I had heard it before, just hadn't caught to TP influence...they are very similar in a way...there's a similar melodic line, trying to squeeze in a bit of speed rap into what I know (as a musician) to be a VERY common chord progression (see Neil Young reference in my previous post)...it's Am, G, D, for whoever gives a &*%$...

[Steph]

What's the name of the song? I've only been listening to an oldies station lately so am out of the loop.

[Oldfart]

"&*%$"??

Your "&*%$" and back a @@xchff#.

[Lilith]

Steph I have no idea :D

Yesterday I sang the TP song lyrics to the RHCP song and my 15 year old freaked out :p

[scotzoidman]

Dani California

Gettin' born in the state of Mississippi
Papa was a copper and mama was a hippie
In Alabama she would swing a hammer
Price you gotta pay when you pick the panorama
She never knew that there was anything more than poor
What in the world? What does your confidant take me for?

Black bandana, sweet Louisiana
Robbin' on a bank in the state of Indiana
She's a runner, rebel and a stunner
Hunt em everywhere sayin baby whatcha gonna
Lookin' down the barrel of a hot metal forty five
Just another way to survive

Chorus -
California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess, I'm your priest, yeah, yeah

She's a lover baby and a fighter
Shoulda seen her coming when it got a little brighter
With a name like Dani California
Day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya
A little lotus, she was stealin' another breath
I love my baby to death

[Chorus]

Who knew the other side of you?
Who knew that all this time to prove?
Too true to say good bye to you
Too true too sad sad sad...

First to fade her gifted animator
One for the now and eleven for the later
Never made it up to Minnesota
North Dakota man was a gunnin' for the quota

Down in the badlands she was savin' the best for last
It only hurts when I laugh
Gone too fast..

[scotzoidman]

BTW, a bit of trivia on "Mary Jane's Last Dance", in TP's greatest hits CD is a copy of the recording track info on a song originally titled "Indiana Girl"...apparently the working title until TP came up with the chorus & hook...

[Steph]

Thanks, scotz!

I think the opening chorus & a bit of the bridge (mini bridge) sounds similar but it's no "My Sweet Lord"/"He's So Fine"

Maybe it's because I'm watching the video which is a homage to so many videos of the past but the guitar solo at the end reminds me of "Purple Haze", too. :)

[scotzoidman]

Thanks, scotz!

I think the opening chorus & a bit of the bridge (mini bridge) sounds similar but it's no "My Sweet Lord"/"He's So Fine"

Maybe it's because I'm watching the video which is a homage to so many videos of the past but the guitar solo at the end reminds me of "Purple Haze", too. :)
I noticed the Hendrix riff myself, but forgot it till you reminded me...


I wonder if anyone could ever really come up with a truly original song anymore, there's only so many notes available...I guess that's why I gradually gave up songwriting, I felt like I was just rehashing someone else's work...which was usually just a remake of someone before that, & before that..

[Steph]

I just heard a new band on Yahoo Music that reminded me of Joe Jackson but I couldn't find this thread (thanks for the link, Lil).

All that is old is new again. I like my DJ friends who take samples from an old song & incorporate it into a new song. It'll never get old for me. :)

[Steph]

OMG OMG

I was almost out the door yesterday & the DJ on the oldies station played the beginning of the two songs back to back to discuss the similarities!

I didn't have time to turn on the computer & find this thread but I was dying to post!

I still don't think Mr. Petty has a plagiarism case but yep, the beginnings are similar. :)

[scotzoidman]

I caught a mention on an out of town station this am that TP is supposedly looking into legal action...still think Hendrix' estate may have a better case for the "Purple Haze" riff rip at the end...

Don't think of it as plagiarism, think homage