Comments on: Chris Martin Responds To Coldplay Plagiarism Claims From Joe Satriani

By: Coldplay Accused Of Plagiarism… Again! : Brit Music Scene - Brit Music Scene

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:43:17 +0000

[...] 2008 saw guitar god Joe Satriani accuse Coldplay of plagiarism over Viva La Vida, which allegedly bears an uncanny resemblance to If I Could Fly. The case was [...]

By: Coldplay Vs. Joe Satriani Plagiarism Lawsuit Dismissed : Brit Music Scene - Brit Music Scene

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:38:11 +0000

[...] a Comment // The end of last year saw rock guitarist Joe Satriani suing Coldplay for plagiarism. He accused the British group of ripping off his song If I Could Fly with their song Viva La Vida. [...]

By: Larry L.

Larry L. — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:33:59 +0000

Having allegiance to neither and listened to both (unfortunately the “mash up” isn’t working any more but I didn’t need it anyway), I would agree with Northern Comfort’s review that it’s similar yet dissimilar in those respects noted. (I kinda’ like Satarini’s song better as it’s more R&R to me, but no knock against Coldplay’s song – it’s good.)
Dave Daltry’s comments were also dead-on and I agree that it is “a fuss about nothing really!”. However I see Coldplay being e forced to settle out-of-court, per Charlie Boy’s assessment.
There – and I didn’t plagarize anyone…

By: dave daltrey

dave daltrey — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:41:12 +0000

well, it’s not a particularly original chord sequence anyway..it doesn’t matter what key you’re in but it’s a basic kind of ‘c; d; g; e minor’ thing which has been kicked around for ages in virtually every shape or form with a few variants and some related chords thrown in and changed around a bit for good measure..it limits what one would choose for a melody by definition, as all the chords are derived from the same major scale..practically any musician could write some sort of tune around this chord sequence, and there are many examples if one cares to listen to enough music, and, yes, they’re all similar..a fuss about nothing really!

By: Janette

Janette — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:08:59 +0000

Well, perhaps Joe-Joe did some subconscience channeling of his own since the tune he lays claim to writing sounds remarkably like ‘Frances Limon’ by Enantios Verdes. Probably just one of those coincidence things, eh, Joe. And let’s not leave those Creaky Boards boys out of all this. Now, are they and their song ‘The Song I Didn’t Write’ thieves or victims. Oh, can’t forget to include Cat-Yusuf-Islam-Stevens and his ‘Foreigner Suite’ claim. Oy.

By: NorthernComfort

NorthernComfort — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:05:14 +0000

The Coldplay tempo is slightly faster, and the cadence is different, even the emphasis is different. Even the periods are different. The sections do not even has the same length. Note that portions of the phrease in the Coldplay tune beats out 16th notes, whereas the phrases in Joe’s tune does not vary (all 8s). I like both artists, and I like both tunes. However, I cannot see any plagerism. One might argue some influence, but even that I don’t see it. Viva la Vida actually beings other tunes to my mind, but not Joe’s.

By: JJ

JJ — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:18:39 +0000

They both have a striking similarity to the original theme song from the TV series M.A.S.H.

By: Charlie Boy

Charlie Boy — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:53:28 +0000

You are all correct in your opinions. However, if this goes to court, the jury will be asked to compare the melodies. Sound “pretty similar” to my musical ear. I’ve been playing for 40 years and do legal work, as well. It is my non-legal opinion that, in the end, a jury will side with Satch on this one. chances are that the jury pool will not have a singer-songwriter on board, so there will be no room for coldplay to argue a point that the melodies are “only similar.” look into the lawsuit against George Harrison and the reasons why John Lennon did that horrible album of old rock and roll. In this case, there will be no such deal. Either ColdPlay turns over some, if not all, of the profits to Satch, or they will wind up paying the direct damages, atty fees and punitive damages, which ARE allowed in non-contract cases.

Good Luck to either side… My advice to both parties is to settle NOW, before it costs a fortune in wasted attys fees.

By: e.

e. — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:12:14 +0000

Really? Are we really saying that a band as big as Coldplay purposely ripped off someone else’s song and then said, “if we don’t say anything maybe we’ll get away with it.”? Gimme a break. When you write a song all kinds of influences come to mind… and there are only so many note combinations that sound good. It’s similar, but definitely NOT the same. Get over it Satriani… if you don’t want people influenced by your music, stop playing it.

By: BK

BK — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:12:16 +0000

They both ripped off Cat Stevens’ “Foreigner Suite” from 1973. Listen to it all the way to the end. It’s the same song.