Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
Are Coldplay Guilty of Plagiarism?
Coldplay are refuting claims that the melody from ‘Viva La Vida' was copied from a song by indie rockers the Creaky Boards. The Brooklyn-based band state that Coldplay ripped off the melody from their ironically, and perhaps prophetically, named track ‘The Songs I Didn't Write' and they've put together a video comparing the two to prove it. In the video, Creaky Board frontman Andrew Hoepfner also claims that Chris Martin was spotted in the crowd at one of their gigs in 2007. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine last year, Chris Martin has admitted to plagiarising many, if not most, of the songs he wrote.
"We're definitely good, but I don't think you can say we're that original," he notes. "I regard us as being incredibly good plagiarists."
They're not the first British band to get in trouble for borrowing melodies. Coldplay's former label mates Radiohead settled out of court with 60s beat band The Hollies over their top ten hit ‘Creep'. Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood claimed the Radiohead song ‘Creep' followed a similar chord pattern to The Hollies' ‘The Air That I Breathe'. Hammond and Hazelwood now share a similar portion of the songwriting credits and royalties.
i would say not even 5% so i dont know what he is on about
Coldplay is brilliant.
Who really cares?
I'm definately on Coldplay's side. I disagree that's it's a rip off. Like I said previously, It's only really the first three (maybe five) notes that are similar, they ryhthmn is similar, but the syncopation is very different (I'm a grade 8 musician, trust me.)
Well done to Coldplay on the new album. I can't wait to see them in December ^.^
If your going to use this as an oppertunity to slag Coldplay off, then get a life tbh.
Also, the choruses are nothing a like! The Creeky Boards haven't got a chance.
Coldplay often have riffs, very often.
Err, there's more I could say but I can't be assed now. I prob. seem stupid.
I'm off.
You're absolutely right, the vibe of the songs is too close for coincidence, and the original is, in fact, better, which is always a good pointer to plagiarism. Pay up, Coldplay, millions, I hope, you daft band. I can see Chris Martin doing a Sarah Kane in the future.