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Green Day the Copycats?


Fuzz

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Since Friday when we posted up the news on GDA about the new songs, one of the top 5 sites pointing to GDA is a Sum41 site that talks about Green Day borrowing the title "March of the Dogs" off a Sum 41 song which was released in July 2007. But before them the title was used by Nine Inch Nails in a song they released in 1994. So either way it's not an original title. However, Green Day's version is explained as a "Religious rant" while the Sum 41 song was about the government (i believe). So that poo poo's that idea.

However, we've also heard from people saying Green Day ripped off Wonderwall's music for Boulevard of Broken Dreams - which ended up together on the remix "Boulevard of Broken Songs" (download here #21).

Now there's an article out from PopEater.com (blog from AOL News), talking about artists that "borrow" from other artists. While there are some really obvious ones like Vanilla Ice taking David Bowie/Queen music from "Under Pressure" for "Ice Ice Baby", they actually give Green Day their own little paragraph.

Today's pop stars aren't the only musicians taking heat for snagging rhythms, melodies and chord progressions (Fun fact: the latter of which isn't copyrightable). The biggest punk band of the last 15 years, Green Day, have gained a reputation for taking liberty with other people's tunes.

Let's start this block off by saying we love us some Green Day. However, their songs sometimes sound really familiar, even on first listen. Perhaps it's because they're not so new. Hear for yourself! Compare Green Day's tunes to the originals below them

Warning vs. Kinks' 'Picture Book'

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She's a Rebel vs. Jawbreaker's - Boxcar

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The other they mention is "Waiting" vs Petula Clark's "Downtown" which is just so far off I won't bother posting the video.

Anyways, I'd like to hear your thoughts.

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Picture book and warning start out really similar.

I wouldn't go so far as to call them copycats or whatever but they didn't reinvent the wheel.

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ombg not another one of these people trying to get credit off greenday yes the kink`s song may sound similar but that doesn`t mean they nicked it off them nowadays nearly evey song sounds similar so it`s not surprising that some people think they are a rip off lol but jaw breakers song and she`s a rebel there is no similarities whatsoever unless i am deaf lol and noel gallagher is only slagging off greenday coz he just a twat with a big mouth

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The way I look at it is, with the amount of music being produced these days it is hard to create something that completely embodies a unique or distinct sound. Of course it can be done but there are always going to be "sound-a-likes". It is possible that Green Day drew influence from those songs posted, whether it was subconsciously or on purpose. Ultimately, I don't really care lol I like the songs and I'm going to listen to them.

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:o Those plagiaristic bastards!

In all seriousness, with a band like Green Day you aren't going to get any complex melodies. Because of this, there's a great possibility that some of their riffs..etc will sound similar to other artists work.

As far as I can see, they've not intentionally gone out to rape a song or any elements from one. So no, Green Day arent copycats.

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I Kinks song is actaully better than Warning, kinda an obvious rip-off, but there is a possibility Green Day didn't know that song. The Rebel song isn't THAT close, and both are kinda punk, so I can't really blame them for sounding similar. I :lol: at the Downtown song, sounds nothing like Waiting!!!

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ombg not another one of these people trying to get credit off greenday yes the kink`s song may sound similar but that doesn`t mean they nicked it off them nowadays nearly evey song sounds similar so it`s not surprising that some people think they are a rip off lol but jaw breakers song and she`s a rebel there is no similarities whatsoever unless i am deaf lol and noel gallagher is only slagging off greenday coz he just a twat with a big mouth

i started reading then i quickly realized there was no punctuation in any of that. so to avoid making my mind feeling like it was about to fall all over itself, I stopped. So sorry.

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the songs indeed sound a bit like each other, but i guess it's more like coincidence, cause especially Warning and Picture Book are almost similiar, but it's not a very original, 'new', never done before sound. That PopEater guys just shouldn't whine about it.

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It is not stealing, it is referring to or worshipping other artists ideas... :D

I think, there is a Jonny Cash reference in Jesus of suburbia. ring of fire. And I think, they did that on purpose.

But they were clearly not worshipping oasis. Noel Gallagher should shut up and return to his big-ego-planet, which he came from.

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i started reading then i quickly realized there was no punctuation in any of that. so to avoid making my mind feeling like it was about to fall all over itself, I stopped. So sorry.

lol ooops soz umm thats kinda the problem that i have :blush: sorry

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the warning/picture book bit is just ascending and descending scales, isn't it? it's not exactly a complex note pattern to begin with. and i don't really hear the second one, especially with all the shit on the radio that sounds EXACTLY the same (see: fall out boy and panic at the disco) deafening me to lesser similarities.

and i always thought waiting sounded like babes in toyland.

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Ok, we should shut up about people who actually have an opinion.

Even if Oasis are pricks.

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I think, there is a Jonny Cash reference in Jesus of suburbia. ring of fire. And I think, they did that on purpose.

Wait, what?

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I think, there is a Jonny Cash reference in Jesus of suburbia. ring of fire. And I think, they did that on purpose.

Um, where?

i just listened ring of fire, don't hear anything that could be in JoS at all...

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Ok, we should shut up about people who actually have an opinion.

Even if Oasis are pricks.

Sorry, but this guy is so arrogant and puts this out in public all the time, I am not sorry for insulting him. He is asking for it.

I didn`t mean to insult any oasis fans.

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But I don't really think this is about what you think of other artists.

Arrogance is a trait many musicians have, anyhow.

I think i'm sounding slightly hypocritical here, disregard my comments if you wish.

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Um, where?

i just listened ring of fire, don't hear anything that could be in JoS at all...

the "dearly beloved" bit. if you listen to American Jesus off American Edit you can hear some similarities

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the "dearly beloved" bit. if you listen to American Jesus off American Edit you can hear some similarities

Oh, I thought she was talking about the actual phrase 'ring of fire'. :lol:

I'm not really familiar with that song, but I guess you're probably right then.

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But I don't really think this is about what you think of other artists.

It is about what we all think about other musicians, who accuse Green Day of stealing their music. This includes my opinion as well.

Arrogance is a trait many musicians have, anyhow.

If they can live up to this, it is fine for me.

I think i'm sounding slightly hypocritical here, disregard my comments if you wish.

I would never do that. :D

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I don't think its intentional. Like mentioned by someone above, i don't think they make a secret of their influences and aren't afraid to show them in their music. Its almost like a nod of appreciation to their influences. And i reckon it can be a pretty good thing in itself to put different lyrics to the music that they like.

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the "dearly beloved" bit. if you listen to American Jesus off American Edit you can hear some similarities

yeah, that seemed the most logical to me, but only because it's both calm and features a guitar...

with American Jesus compared i can hear the similiarities

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