Joe Satriani filed lawsuit against Coldplay for similar song...

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http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1600770/20081205/coldplay.jhtml

Guitarist claims the Grammy-nominated song is a rip-off of his track 'If I Could Fly.'
By Gil Kaufman

Not long after Coldplay's Viva la Vida album hit shelves this summer, the blogosphere exploded with suggestions that the title track bore a striking resemblance to a 2004 instrumental track by rock guitarist Joe Satriani titled "If I Could Fly."

Now, Satriani has accused the band of copyright infringement in a lawsuit filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, according to a Reuters report.

A day after the Coldplay album was nominated for seven Grammys, including Record and Song of the Year for "Viva la Vida," Satriani's suit claims that "Viva" incorporates "substantial original portions" of his track "If I Could Fly," from the Is There Love in Space? album.



Satriani, 52, is seeking a jury trial in the dispute, as well as damages and "any and all profits" attributable to the alleged copyright infringement. The songwriting credit on the Coldplay song is attributed to the band's four members: singer Chris Martin, bass player Guy Berryman, guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion. A spokesperson for Coldplay could not be reached for comment at press time.

Satriani isn't the only artist who has claimed the Coldplay song was eerily familiar. Around the time of the album's release, a lesser-known New York band named Creaky Boards claimed that Martin had attended one of their gigs and would have heard the tune "The Songs I Didn't Write," which also bears a similar melody. At the time, Coldplay's spokespeople denied that Martin was at the gig and said the band had written "Viva" several months before that show.
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Video of both songs together:


What do you guys think?
 
I said this a long time ago, that Coldplay's song was a ripoff of one of Satriani's songs and went to Joe's website to let him know about it. Not taking credit, but I can't help but think I, and other fans have helped point this out. It was the topic of a thread I started at a different website that got this started, I believe. Many people who posted said they would contact Joe via his website.

BTW, I used to like Coldplay, but when I heard this song I lost all respect. It's a blatant ripoff of Joe's song.

This sort of thing happens all the time. A lot of people have lost rights to songs because of it. Even George Harrison lost a song in court.
 
So that's why I finally found a Coldplay song I like... 💡

Well, their other stuff was pretty decent, but this is a very likable song.
 
Given the unique sound of "Viva..." I don't think you can deny a link to the one by Joe Satriani. Far too similar for a coincidence.
 
They sound so damn good together! :lol:
But yeah, seems like a definite rip off to me.
 
Perfect Balance
I think the mix of the 2 songs together sounds awesome.
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It does. They should totally collaborate!

If something this similar was worthy of a lawsuit then Journey would be seeing every pop music band in the history of man in court, and vice versa. They'd all be seeing all the others, and especially the rappers. Have you ever heard a mix of all these new rap songs? They all fit perfectly with everything/

This guy is just jealous he's not as big as Coldplay. Sore loser.
 
While I have no clue who Joe Satriani is and really could only name a handful of Coldplay songs I don't see what the big deal is. Artist use other artist music all the time. I agree with Keef, if Satriani was more popular Coldplay never would have been able to use the music and gotten away with it.

All I can see is this creating a bunch of similar suits which in the end will just be passed off the the consumer in price increases of already to expensive albums.
 
After reading the comments, apparently the video used above uses a different key for the Coldplay song than the original.
 
Famine
If you've seen both GT Genome Projects, you'll have heard Joe Satriani.
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I don't think I've seen those either. I'm sure I've heard of him but I couldn't pick out any of his songs or really know what sort of music he even plays, but if Coldplay is copying his songs I think I'm going to pass.
 
My wife bought Viva whatever the hell it is and I think it's complete tripe. Satriani, on the other hand can actually play and doesn't bother trying to do something he knows he can't - that being sing. Something Coldplay should have taken from him instead.

For anyone who hasn't heard a Satriani song before (besides the one in question), do yourself a favor and listen to this.

 
TB
For anyone who hasn't heard a Satriani song before (besides the one in question), do yourself a favor and listen to this.
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He used the whammy bar 23 seconds into the song, so i stopped it immediately.
 
Meh. It's similar, but it's not identical. Anyway, I feel like it's pretty hard to "own" a pretty unremarkable chord progression.
 
Wow they are pretty similar and I think Joe Satriani has every right to sue... suprised Coldplay would ever need to copy anyone as thier stuff sounds so off the wall anyway.

Robin.
 
Giancarlo
He used the whammy bar 23 seconds into the song, so i stopped it immediately.
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Your criteria for a decent guitarist is if they use a wammy bar or not?

I hope you've never heard Stevie Ray Vaughn's Lenny, then. First note right out of the gate...
 
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I think i'd try and keep it as quiet as possible if someone had suggested that Coldplay were copying my work. In fact, i'd probably pay that someone off to not mention to anyone that a Coldplay song sounded like one of mine.
 
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TB
My wife bought Viva whatever the hell it is and I think it's complete tripe. Satriani, on the other hand can actually play and doesn't bother trying to do something he knows he can't - that being sing. Something Coldplay should have taken from him instead.
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While it is suspicious, Cold are not utter 'tripe' and can play. Hence why they have sold millions of albums.
 
They had this on the radio this morning and really the only part that sounds similar is the opening riff, past that they are pretty different.

Oh and listening to more of his stuff I don't really like his work at all.
 
Alex.
Cold are not utter 'tripe' and can play. Hence why they have sold millions of albums.
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High School Musical has also sold millions of DVD's but that doesn't stop it from being a load of cobblers.

Vauxhall has sold millions of Corsa's but that doesn't stop them from being as dull as a British winter.
 
Indeed. Statistically 90% of people enjoy gang rape.

[/Poor taste zone]
 
TheCracker
High School Musical has also sold millions of DVD's but that doesn't stop it from being a load of cobblers.

Vauxhall has sold millions of Corsa's but that doesn't stop them from being as dull as a British winter.
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As much as I hate those 2 things, especially high school musical, had they not been made well they wouldn't have sold.

I can't believe I just argued for high school musical
 

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