REM Copyright Suit Against Danish Band May Backfire, Since The Dane's Song Came First
from the oooooops dept
Last year, the lawsuit between Joe Satriani and Coldplay got lots of attention, as Satriani accused Coldplay of ripping off one of his songs. Of course, Satriani's claims were greatly weakened when people turned up other songs from well before Satriani's that sounded quite similar as well.It looks like REM and Warner Music may be in a similar situation. Michael Scott points us to the news that Warner and REM are suing the Danish pop band Hej Matematik, claiming that the band's song Walkmand copies REM's 2008 song Supernatural Superserious. There's just one (somewhat major) problem. Walkmand is a cover song. The original was by another Dane, Michael Hardinger, and was called Walk, Mand!!, and was recorded in 1981... seventeen years before REM's release. In fact, Hej Matematik got permission from Michael Hardinger before doing their version. I'm guessing REM did not. Feel free to compare all three songs below:
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Filed Under: copyright, cover songs, hej matemik, michael hardinger, rem, songs
Companies: warner music group
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But, but...
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Doh!
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Hoisted
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Wow
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I can't believe it!
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Re: I can't believe it!
The fact that REM was even suing should have backfired.
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Re: Re: I can't believe it!
If I knew the language, I'm sure that it would be easier to compare the original the remake.
But, I doubt anyone will be confusing these songs anytime soon.
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Re: Re: Re: I can't believe it!
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Re: Re: I can't believe it!
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That must be why they are suing.
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Two Things
2) A lot of these older bands that my parents played when I was a kid are all turning out to be copyright enforcement jerks. Making me lose all respect for what once sounded great during my growing years.
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REM's song song sounds closer the 1981 song than the recent one.
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Its all lame
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Oh Yeah, and...
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Re: Oh Yeah, and...
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Re: Oh Yeah, and...
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WTF??
1) Not only do each of the three songs sound NOTHING alike, but...
2) The true original sounds like a prototype for the early REM sound!
I think Stipe and Co. are pissed that someone is building off the artist THEY built off!
Frank Zappa once pointed out quite well, that there is no new chord arrangement under the sun, and there hasn't been for like, hundreds of years; they've ALL been done by someone before. So this suit, and any like it are PURE RUBBISH.
Given that, this is laughable. Made even more so by the fact that NO ONE in their right mind would have even dreamed that these songs were even REMOTELY similar.
What the fuck are you assholes smoking, Stipe? I don't want any... It's totally fucking up your sense of perception. (and not in a good way)
REM = NEIL YOUNG
Flabby Has-Beens with chips on their shoulders...
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Sue You!
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Hum, I'm liking Hej Matematik.
As for the similarities? I actually had to listen for it. Straight out of the box, I didn't even notice. After listening (to the chorus), I noticed it.
On Warner Bro's part? I just got one word to say: "Whoops!"
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Re: Hum, I'm liking Hej Matematik.
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To all musicians leaving comments.
"I am a musician; and I have trouble hearing similarities between the songs. "
or Claes:
"I'm a musician too, and I cannot hear any more likeness than..."
See guys, here is your problem exactly - you are just musicians, not lawyers! Any lawyer will hear that those songs are exactly the same! From first two-three sounds they'll know it for sure! So, you actually cannot be experts here, sorry...
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FUCKING MORONS, STOP SUEING AND GO BACK TO MAKING MUSIC, NOT ENEMIES!
Fawkheads!
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Oh man
Honestly, I didn't realize they were even still around. Stipes' histrionics stopped being relevant around 1989 or so.
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