Guitarist Joe Satriani Sues Coldplay
- Posted on Dec 5th 2008 11:00AM by Marc Schneider
- Comments (147)
Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani has accused the members of Coldplay of lifting "substantial original portions" from one of his songs and using it in the band's recent hit, 'Viva La Vida.' With his copyright infringement suit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles, the 52-year-old shredder is seeking damages and "any and all profits" from the group for allegedly plagiarizing his 2004 instrumental 'If I Could Fly.'It's not clear whether the complaint dives into specifics of the "substantial" similarities between the two songs. However, a quick, side-by-side listen to both tracks reveals a kinship between the melodies in Coldplay's verse and Satriani's main riff.
Neither Satriani or Coldplay have commented on the lawsuit yet.
This is actually not the first time Coldplay has been accused of borrowing other people's melodies for this particular song. Brooklyn indie band Creaky Boards slammed the British hitmakers over the summer, posting a video on YouTube alleging glaring similarities between 'Vida' and their ironically titled 'The Songs I Didn't Write.'
Reader Comments(1 of 8)
Michaelat 12-05-2008
When you are delaing with a finite resource such as music, it is well known that everything has been done 100 times over. Example the Beatles "Twist and Shout" uses the same chord protection as Richie Valen's "LaBamba". But, the melodies are drastically different.
However, when it comes to these 2 melodies and chords, the similarities are uncanny. If I were a judge I would rule in favor of Joey Satriani at least getting a percentage of the Royalties. Another thing to ponder "Good composers borrow, great composers steal". Now this does not mean I think Coldplay is great, actually I find them a bit of a snoozefest....but just a thought.
sinscrape4at 12-05-2008
Twist and shout was not a beatles song, it was writen by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles! Just as LaBamba was not a Ritchie Valens song! Jeeze get it straight
Johnnyat 12-06-2008
I love when people get on this chat boards and try to act all so educated on everything. Part of the reason I avoid these boards is just that type of person. "Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. The Beatles were at least the 3rd band to record this song. You might as well credit "Otis Day and The Knights" for having written this song. Give credit where credit is do.
The song "Twist and Shout" has similar chords as "La Bamba"......as does "Summertime Blues". You ever see "Born in East L.A."? Very funny scene involving those two songs. Back in the 50-60's rock NS R&B (WHICH THIS SONG TRULY IS) was in it's infancy and similar chords were popular, similar chords do not make the songs the same. Cold Play however, directly ripped off Satriani....note for note. And that is a dick thing to do. Not to mention that Satriani has more talent in his fromundacheese than the entire band of Cold Play combined. Dicks, hope they get sued out of the businees and end up doing county fair tours with C&C Music Factory and the guy from Mili Vinilli that didn't kill himself. Sorry, didn't mean to wish ill on the county fair-goers.
wes hat 12-06-2008
It's like they say, old musicians never die. They just decompose.
MucH DeatH 4 Uat 12-06-2008
chord protection huh? not PROGRESSION?
mudhnygirlat 12-07-2008
your spelling is as poor as your "thoughts" on music. and was chord protection a spelling error or you don't know that it's chord projection. lame. super lame.
Michaelat 12-05-2008
That would be "dealing" not "delaing", and also "progression" not "protection". Sorry folks.
pochop72at 12-05-2008
this is totalley a rip off but i dont fault these new bands they just dont measure up to the past and they prolly are into some of the greats this world has to offer so its almost a way to pay tribute but jeez guys dont be so obivious!
sjcosta31at 12-05-2008
Bollucks
Samanthaat 12-05-2008
it's bollocks.
sjcosta31at 12-07-2008
Sorry Samantha
fotd1965at 12-07-2008
Sorry Samantha, it's "bullocks" refering to a castrated steer, unless you meant bollix...another form of ballocks which is plural of ballock from Middle English meaning "testis"
sjcosta31at 12-07-2008
seriously 1965 a history lesson? Dude?!? Please tell me the people here that are supposed to be discussing music are no so sensitive that a guy like me can't just make a comment, you get the point and move on. DANG!
Daddy-O!at 12-05-2008
Not only does Coldplay STEAL from Joe Satriani (guitar genius by the way) Chris Martin has also OBVIOUSLY stolen Bono's style when he performs....anybody see the "Viva la Vida" video? He's more Bono than Bono is!! The band has NO integrity, no personality and nothing to make them more than a one hit wonder!!
martiankw93at 12-05-2008
Firstly, have you listened to any of Coldplay's other songs "Daddy-O"? What I believe and always have believed is that all music should be respected as a well put together piece of art (unless it is really complete sh*t). Even if you don't respect the style of the music at least respect the fact that they are great composers. Don't get on Coldplay's case just because you don't like their musical style. You're just using this suit as a way to voice your opinion about how bad you think Coldplay is; this isn't the place for that. Yeah, I sound stuck-up, so what?
I will admit that these songs sound amazingly similar but the chord progression for Viva la Vida is so simple that it's probably been used plenty of times before this with different tempos. It just so happens that Coldplay used the same tempo as Satriani. Personally, I believe Coldplay is one of the best bands EVER. Also, there is no way Coldplay would copy any other artist on purpose without permission, they're too original and as far as I can tell they have enough integrity not to do this.
fotd1965at 12-07-2008
Daddy-O!.....you hit the nail on the head.... "NO INTEGRITY"......speaking of no integrity, has anyone heard the new Kid Rock song? I have been playing guitar longer than he has been alive and it would be a "cold play" (lol) in hell when I would just take two songs and overlap them and attempt to cash in on other peoples creativity! I could have done what he did in my sleep 30 years ago when I was a teenager!!! The surviving members of Skynyrd cup their ears as the departed and Warren Zevon roll in their graves.
Alyssaat 1-29-2009
They did not take months and months stealing from him. If you haven't noticed the Satriani guy is not their style. They a very heavy light rock band and are also known as ver heavy light rock which is nothing like satriani. No offense to Satriani but they are just better. ever since I heard they were getting sewed from satriani they got more fans,more viewers,and it became an even bigger hit. And for some reason a lot of people who liked satriani are turning on him because he's over freaking about it. Sorry Satriani but your really just making their life better.
kw1yat 12-05-2008
Wow.. this is a no brainer. I hope Satriani cleans their clock. Not only should he sue for royalties he should also get a lot more $$$ so that Coldplay thinks twice before ripping off another artist.
edgeat 12-07-2008
If it was so obvious it would have been noticed when it first hit the airwaves. It is all too easy to believe you are writing something original while having that haunting feeling that it sounds familiar.
Satriani should get the profits attributed to the melody but not the lyrics which are fairly catchy by themselves
rkbujinkanat 12-05-2008
What a joke. I hope the judge throws the book at these no talent hacks. SATRIANI RULES!!!!!!!!