10 Beatles Hits That 'Rip Off' Other Songs

[@robranney-blake8731]

If you’re going to steal, steal from the best. I stole that line.

[@Pandamasque]

From Pete Best?

[@alemobra5747]

If you’re going to steal, steal from the best. I stole that line, and I stole this line too, and I also stole this line

[@deanfordi2804]

Funny

[@jjsdumbshit2792]

Aoooooo

[@Kornknealious]

Rob; you stole it from Igor Stravinsky who stole it from Abraham Linclon

[@chrisulrich3546]

Paul McCartney: “A bass riff hasn’t got to be original.” Vanilla Ice: “Word to your mother.”

[@matthewadamski2657]

Ice Ice Baby

[@breakingblackmagic7617]

omg im laughing so hard at this..... wasnt there like a HUGE COURT LAWSUIT OVER THE BASS RIFF RYTHEM... lol cause the riff was the same but off by like half a beat lol

[@mattkaustickomments]

Thank you. Saved me a comment! Lol

[@WonsPhreely]

Hahah!!

[@bolo5340]

Beatles songs had way more going on around the bass line so they could pull off using similar bass lines, all music is rehashed anyway - just try playing a 12 bar blues song in key of E and not sound exactly like Pride and Joy by SRV, who rhythmically sounds exactly like every other blues guitar players that ever came before him. Style and originality is only difference. Ice Ice Baby was 90% stolen bass line from Under Pressure (Bowie and Mercury) BUT It has hell of a lot of style and originality and in the end I think Vanella got totally screwed.

[@jozsefnemedi8472]

My piano teacher friend tried to write a piano piece when he was young. He'd not heard Chopin's nocturne in c sharp minor (op posthumus) before and somehow he composed exatly the same chord progression of the beginning of Chopin's piece. Then he was told the truth by someone. Knowing this story I agree with George Harrison's fear.

[@pseudoprodigy]

Your Piano Teacher Friend never heard Chopin’s Nocturne in C Sharp Minor? I don’t believe you

[@jozsefnemedi8472]

@@pseudoprodigy he was child in the 60's when there was no internet and probably the piece itself wasn't so widely known as today after the pianist movie. I believe what he said, why would he stuff my brain with such lies?🤝

[@pseudoprodigy]

@@jozsefnemedi8472 That’s like saying I’m a history teacher but I’ve never heard of Gettysburg or Waterloo? And the excuse is there was no internet so how could I have known.

[@arthurias7693]

@@pseudoprodigy Not really.

[@pseudoprodigy]

@@arthurias7693 I have a bridge to sell you

[@mr7clay]

The “I’m Talking About You” bass was based on the rhythm and shape of Henry Mancini’s Peter Gunn theme two years before. It was huge and covered widely so probably every musician heard it.

[@PaulYoungMinnesota]

and after the B 52's Planet Claire, using a Peter Gunn Bass Riff was simply a public domain riff idea

[@SandyCheeks63564]

Say his name! Henry Mancini :)

[@SandyCheeks63564]

Thanks for setting the record straight

[@panchopuskas1]

The riff for “I saw her standing there” was used by just about every bass player for just about every 12 bar rock song in the 1960s......I know because I used it myself....you could fiddle around with it but it was the go-to for working on.

[@inmundo6927]

its 1st 3rd 5th and back.. you can hardly go wrong, and you can hardly avoid it.

[@richarddoan9172]

Just a side note. The Beatles song and Chuck Berry song were 16 bars rather than 12, which is even illustrated at 2:21. Still a fair point.

[@brohio1]

Exactly

[@inmundo6927]

@DOGS LOL blues borrows from folk.. and it stops there cause its the backbone of all music. 1, 4, 5.

[@Kieop]

You can't copyright the fundamentals of music, which makes bass riffs difficult to sue over since they tend to anchor the chords on the tonic and dominant, or they have an arpeggiated walking bassline. In this case, they do appear to be an actual singular riff that could be copyrightable, but everyone uses them so.... But Paul's right, people don't really sue over basslines, so "they don't have to be original". That said, he still managed to create quite of few original basslines.

[@IndiesoulMusik]

I feel Chuck Berry deserves more acclaim and acknowledgement in mainstream media. He is literally a GOD of Rock music.

[@mickavellian]

He IS because a nobody says he is ? and LITERALLY no less. ! BTW you are plagiarizing Paul McCartney who has given that credit to Chuck Berry a zillion times. While at ALL level the GOD of rock music is a white boy named Elvis Presley.

[@voodooinblue3450]

Berry never gave credit to his pianist who wrote most of the music to his songs. He also was very much a one trick pony and did influence great songwriters such as Lennon, McCartney, Jagger, Richards - all of whom were and are superior composers to him by a long, long way.

[@IndiesoulMusik]

@@voodooinblue3450 With all due respect all these "great" rock acts dipped into Chuck Berry's music in order to get their first hits; Stones with "Come on", Beach Boys with "Surfin USA" and "Fun Fun", Beatles with "Saw her standing", all early hits and all lifted from Chuck Berry. Rock music would be NOTHING without him, but I feel he only occasionally acknowledged, not quite a universal household name like his disciples.

[@voodooinblue3450]

@@IndiesoulMusik I completely agree that Berry's influence was huge over these groups, esp the only ones that really counted - Beatles and Stones. The Beach Boys and the Animals were greatly influenced too but their paths soon grew short. The Animals went out in a small puff of "Who cares?" as they didn't have a real composer and the Beach Boys creativity died after Pet Sounds with Brian W withdrawing. Berry was incredibly important to the start of rock n roll but imo has had more than his due credit. Behind the Beatles, Presley, Dylan and Stones he was ranked the most important musical figure in popular music at the end of last century and again the man never gave credit (even fought it thru court) to the man who co-wrote the bulk of gear credited solely to him. Lennon opening with what he did on Come Together was a tip of the hat to Berry same as Jagger when swiping "I can't get no satisfaction" ... ("I don't get no satisfaction" from "30 days"). However, tho this youtuber would probably assert that Jagger/Richards "ripped off" "30 days" simply because of a five word phrase, Berry's influence over the song was zip beyond that. Berry would never have been able to write it as it was too far outside his range as a songwriter. Dylan once quipped to Richards and Brian Jones that he could have written "Satisfaction" - which begs the question "Why didn't you then?" and the same could be thrown at Berry for "Come together". "Come together" is clearly Berry influenced but by the time Lennon wrote it, both he and McCartney along with Jagger/Richards (to a slightly lesser extent) had reshaped the composer paradigm of music which Berry had long been left behind from, save for his surprise novelty hit "My ding a ling" circa '72. Berry influenced them with writing but only to a point, Holly was just as influential and is known even less than Berry these days imo. And Holly was varied in his approach and covered different areas of music which is what gave the likes of Lennon/McCartney and Jagger/Richards to write with the depth to which they did - and Berry didn't - because he couldn't or at least if he could, he never presented it in his 60 plus year career. Berry could never have written "Lady Jane", "Midnight Rambler" or "Continental drift", "Strawberry Fields forever", "She said she said" or "Blackbird", but L/M and J/R could write Berry influenced songs such as "I saw her standing there", "Back in the U.S.S.R", "Come together", "Star star", "Connection" and "Flight 505" in their sleep. And although I agree that Berry's influence cannot be underrated, to say rock n roll would be "Nothing without him" is taking that point way too far for mine. Elvis, Buddy and Little Richard would argue the point I'm sure if alive. Especially the latter two who were songwriters as well as performers, unlike Elvis. His name shows as co-writer for "Heartbreak hotel" but it's well known it was added as nothing more than an incentive by the real writers for him to record it and "Love me tender" is a bunch of "cat sat on the mat" lyrics set to an old Civil war song "Aura Lea" melody that had been written almost a hundred years before. And again, Presley had nothing to do with the composition of music or lyrics. (Sorry the Presley bit was aimed at someone who I can't find now posting that Elvis wrote songs.) After all that, I agree that Chuck is a rock god. Just don't agree that he is quite as important as you state.

[@IndiesoulMusik]

@@voodooinblue3450 I see your point but I feel Chuck Berry is portrayed often either as a tragic caricature, novelty act or as a scandalous figure certainly not revered on the level of Elvis or even Jerry Lee Lewis often gets more respect and both he and Elvis have links to underage girls. Chuck Berry wasn't a one trick pony either, listen to Memphis Tennessee or Almost Grown. For a man like Elvis who never wrote a tune in his lifetime and couldn't play any instrument particularly well, to be still hailed KING OF ROCK is what is truly scandalous.

[@colywolygaming4643]

Paul McCartney: "A bass riff hasn't got to be original." Vanilla Ice after ripping off Under Pressure: 👀

[@colinbaker3916]

The Under Pressure riff was sampled for Ice Ice Baby. Sampling didn’t exist in the Beatles era.

[@jonde4445]

@@colinbaker3916 How did sampling not exist? It’s literally just playing someone else’s music.

[@colinbaker3916]

@@jonde4445 It’s using the actual recording of someone else’s playing. While you can say George Harrison stole the riff from Watch Your Step, he still had to learn to play it himself, rather than press record and playback.

[@applehack97]

@@colinbaker3916 that's direct sampling. You can sample without using the original recording

[@colinbaker3916]

@@applehack97 Were you around in the sixties? The term - however you want to use it - didn’t exist. The likes of Paul McCartney and Keith Richards spoke of stealing riffs from, say, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. They never even called it sampling when they stuck existing radio recordings on to I Am The Walrus or Revolution 9.

[@jamesveitch]

Loads of stuff I didn't know here. Thanks for this. Hey Jude is a real leap. But Yesterday is fascinating. Other ones that I've enjoyed hearing the origins of (rhythmic mostly) are Mr Bassman -> I've just seen a face and Daydream -> Good Day Sunshine. I think Paul would often hear a song and think 'Oh I'd quite like to write one like that." Love that about him. The trails that Lennon left behind are often more quixotic. I think that's the first time I've ever used the word quixotic and I think I'm going to do it again. Quixotic. Small update: I looked up "Quixotic" and it does not mean what I thought it meant.

[@ryandennis9897]

Check out Fleetwood Mac’s albatross and sun king from abbey road

[@kaz1015]

🤣🤣🤣

[@seanknight7698]

Perhaps “abstruse” or “enigmatic” would better fit your intent here.

[@stepheneinbinder2604]

Two things: 1. The opening guitar lick to Lennon's "Woman" from "Double Fantasy" sounds like the opening to Rod Argent's "Hold Your Head Up". Then the two songs go in different directions. 2. In the wake of the My Sweet Lord controversy, there was an interview where Harrison wished there was such a thing as a machine you could feed a melody into, and the machine would say something like "Sorry. You can't use that!"

[@mbvideoselection]

Which we now have!

[@BobWelchfan]

Different but kinda similar.

[@tallmn1957]

I'm a George fan but I don't believe he never heard of HE'S SO FINE. Also both Delaney Bramlett and Billy Preston claim to have been a part of the writing of MY SWEET LORD. Both friends of George claim he knew that he was ripping off the Chiffons. But that was George. He made it a better tune anyway.

[@didybopintitys]

@@fredfreddy2338 Honestly just like a lot of these cases, I’d say it’s more gray than definitive. Whether you want to believe it or not, Harrison says in an interview not long after the experience they had him in court playing with musicologists and they found over twenty songs that use the same structure. A great famous example is killing joke and Nirvana, people trashed them for years even now still do for it when there’s over 5-6 songs that use the exact same structure, each not only years before one another but some from artists in different parts of the world who would have had a much less chance of hearing. Now I’m not gonna stand and defend that or even George for that matter it’s just as likely he copied the song and tried to get away with it. But honestly I just think it’s a case of so many others not just the one I listed (which by no means is an end all be all argument just an example) of just not only unconscious similarities but the fact there are only so many notes and so many structures songs are bound to sound similar.

[@moeb4348]

I once wrote a clever guitar riff and played it to my friend. He went on the internet and the riff already was part of a song that wasn't crazy famous and that I have never heard before. I abandoned the riff and song project, but was happy that I was able to hear something I made up and know that it had merit. It wasn't rubbish like most stuff I come up with! I'll keep messy about with the guitar and perhaps I'll find a riff that has merit and is noteworthy, and is original!

[@jaschul]

Chuck Berry also sued the Beach Boys for "Surfin' U.S.A." ripping off "Sweet Little Sixteen." And as I recall it really is almost a direct copy.

[@cosmikrelic4815]

yes it is a copy with different lyrics. latterly the beach boys credited chuck berry with the song. if you look it up now it has his name on it.

[@fnjesusfreak]

Almost, not, it's literally the same tune.

[@theonlyguiltymaninshawshan7909]

I believe “Surfin’ USA” is now credited as Wilson/Berry.

[@fnjesusfreak]

@@theonlyguiltymaninshawshan7909 I had a 33 of "Endless Summer" where it was actually just credited Berry.

[@theonlyguiltymaninshawshan7909]

@@fnjesusfreak seriously? No credit at all to Wilson? That surprises me.

[@PianoVampire]

Such a shame that My Sweet Lord is always associated with the lawsuit, it's such a beautiful song

[@davidwoods8181]

Yeah I agree. My sweet lord is way better than He’s so fine

[@boiivilla6922]

My favorite... Beautiful music.

[@rythamdebnath6835]

Harrison bought the song ...

[@billclinton6040]

You mean, He's So Fine is such a beautiful song. FIFY

[@kmorri9]

I love George and think of them as 2 very distinct songs. But to say he had never heard He's So Fine before...what? How is that even possible?

[@bodyrot2794]

Like a teacher once told me. “The secret to success is taking something someone already did and making it better.”

[@chaclon1114]

Take a sad song and make it better

[@sherylbegby]

A sad song, for example.

[@stevesanzari7294]

Sounds like a true DemoRat !

[@Tonetwisters]

Well, there is already a familiarity to it then, so that there is not such a new "wall" that people have to get over or around to be able to come to a liking of it ... If that makes any sense.

[@stephenowens8763]

Chuck got a lot from his piano player, Johnny Johnson,without credit. Keith Richards pointed it out to him.

[@lamper2]

Johnnie sued having been urged to by a jerk-and....he lost the suit (note the actual spelling of Johnnie)

[@mjt11860]

Kinda like the jerk Howard Stern and his fake musicologist friend, who urged the estate of Randy California to sue Zeppelin over stairway to heaven.

[@kenreeve32]

I remember writing an awesome song in college, bringing it to my bandmates, and having them say, "That's Stand By Me by Ben E. King." They were right.

[@-dale2051]

There's a song by one repper that has exactly the same bass melody.

[@Simbetam]

Weve all done it .. :( so hard to be original, especially when starting out

[@ernesttenesmusstb9074]

LOL. When I was 7, I came up with a parody of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Proud of myself, I sang the song to someone at school, who corrected me at one point. I thought, “you can’t correct me; I wrote this.” Turns out the parody already existed, almost identical to “mine”. What on earth was I dreaming when I thought I came up with it?

[@ralphcordon5688]

Ringo reported, he'd presented several times songs he'd "written", only to hear from the others that they already existed :D

[@Kaddywompous]

I had the beginnings of a great song I was really excited about only to realize later that the melody was Raspberry Beret.

[@piggyroo100]

“All music is rehash. There are only a few notes. Just variations on a theme.” John Lennon

[@pgroove163]

😂.... another way of saying we ain't paying anybody

[@anonymike8280]

@@pgroove163 That's true too. But I also think, take any popular composition in any idiom - jazz, blues, folk, all the genres of mass market popular music - and look around enough and you will always find the previous piece that it is most like. It might be in a different idiom and genre entirely and at first seem very different. But it will be there. it has to be.

[@frankrizzo5710]

@@pgroove163 with good reason. Does everybody who’s ever used a blues shuffle pattern have to pay the original artist who created it? No that would be ridiculous

[@brianarbenz7206]

And all books are rehashed. There are only a certain number of words in the dictionary!

[@anthonyxuereb792]

That's an over simplification though and almost debases music and music writing.

[@j.d.p.andrews1458]

I am a musician and although I dont have a professional career in music, i can safely tell you every single musician takes and borrow from their influences. It's only a big story when the borrower is blatantly making profit off the original at the expense/neglect of the original. If musicians didnt do this man would still be banging two sticks against rocks.

[@alexmartin-schael7556]

I came here to make exactly the same comment, so thank you.

[@thesilvershining]

Exactly!

[@thebeatlesandqueen8817]

Yup

[@acoustically9201]

@@CS-xt5qe Professional songwriters largely wrote the songs, borrowing styles from here there and everywhere (!). Studio musicians played on the album tracks (see Bernard Purdie) and The Beatles came in and did some singing. It's what happened with nearly every pop band in that era (including The Beach Boys) but people were led to believe the fab four were different. The Beatles myth of 200 penned songs in 7 yrs is just ludicrous given their schedules, lifestyles, and relative lack of musical knowledge.

[@elbuchito2907]

Ecclesiastes 1:9 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

[@rokkarlic4166]

The beatles clearly ripped off oasis

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

That's how far ahead of their time The Beatles were.

[@badgasaurus4211]

Yawn

[@martinda7446]

😸😸😸

[@martinda7446]

@@hansvandermeulen5515 😸😸😸

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

And The Ruttles

[@rocky49able]

Most classics are songs inspired by other songs subconsciously or consciously. People aren't born with music. But they are born with the taste and the ability to perceive music in various individual ways.

[@napalm_lipbalm86]

Yes, definately

[@impacc4182]

Another potato defending theft

[@rocky49able]

@@impacc4182 Hi Tomato!

[@johnmc3862]

@@impacc4182 lol.

[@seanclark2531]

Yes,much like an oral tradition.This is very evident in the Blues.

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

Isn't this how all art works? You build on existing stuff, give it your own twist and release it to the world.

[@JamoboBorg]

Take from one place, that's stealing. Take from several, that's influence.

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

@@JamoboBorg somebody takes your car so you gotta walk, that's stealing! Copyright infringement is not, neither is plagiarism. You could still be sued for either of those things, but calling it stealing is to redefine that verb although that verb is often used in that context.

[@maxblatter]

That's the case in science, not in art! Science is much, much easier than art (and I say that as a representative of engineering science) ...

[@StratsRUs]

And give them the credits/ deserved monies.

[@ralelunar]

Musicians don't make art for free, though. Pay those whose credit is due to them

[@Auntkekebaby]

Great video. The Beatles are great and inspired a lot of people but The Beatles were inspired and borrowed/lifted from others. It's important to document.

[@tw9535]

The ole "it came to me in a dream" trick

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😂😂

[@stillaliveplus1forme]

Paul: oh no my new song from my dream might be a rip off let me sit on it for weeks and tell everyone I know! 😇 Also Paul: John I love the new tune but that’s chuck berry’s song... let’s slow it down with a swampy vibe so he can’t tell 😈

[@mikeyaureliush9017]

So Paul made wise and honorable decisions in both cases.

[@bee-buzz]

He was sleeping, y'know?

[@MrThedonhead]

@@stillaliveplus1forme ob your one of those people

[@WesCoastPiano]

Everytime I'm done with one of your episodes I get inspired to write music. Thank you for the inspiration David.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@chiju]

Or in this case "inspired" to "write" music. 😉

[@anthonyxuereb792]

@@chiju Just make sure it's your own original music!

[@AllenFreemanMediaGuru]

Inspired to lift notes from famous songs😯

[@jnagarya519]

So, you admit that you're inspired to steal.

[@kylealanhobbs]

The intro to All You Need is Love is a total ‘ripoff’ of the French National anthem! Obviously someone owes some money to Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle! Lol

[@aneurysma_]

It's in public domain lol

[@davewellings6210]

Written before copytwright laws

[@vovzburau7142]

Its the example of open citation. Love both great pieces of art! Merci bien for naming Rouget de Lisle.

[@roberthowes5838]

It is the French national anthem stupid!

[@jrgboy]

In the fade out you can hear the brass playing 'In The Mood' which George Martin thought was out of copyright, it wasn't..

[@jackkilman8726]

"Something" also directly lifts the first line of James Taylor's"Something In the Way She Moves." However, Taylor had no problem with it since the Beatles had given him his first recording contract on Apple, and he and Harrison were friends.

[@theflash1425]

I've never researched it, but I heard that it was actually Peter Asher at Apple that heard Taylor performing locally and signed him. The Beatles involvement at that time was merely as the owners of Apple. For those that don't know all the incest here, Peter Asher was the brother of Jane Asher, McCartney's longtime early girlfriend. Jane convinced Paul to assist her brother's duo, Peter and Gordon, by writing two massive hits for them to record, both of which climbed high in the charts, but were never recorded by the Beatles.

[@TheAerovons]

That's just a phrase, with no resemblance melodically though.

[@theflash1425]

@@TheAerovons Actually, not even the phrase is the same. Taylor's says, "Something in the way she moves (or looks my way or calls my name)", while Harrison's says, "Something in the way she moves ME (attracts me like no other lover)", which has a different meaning.

[@TheAerovons]

@@theflash1425 No, George simply sings "Something in the way she moves."

[@theflash1425]

@@TheAerovons Actually, we're both right. If you listen to the song, the first time he sings the line, he says, "Something in the way she moves", but when he repeats the line a measure later, he says, "Something in the way she moves me." I could have sworn he said the same thing the first time, but you made me listen to it, and damn if you weren't right!

[@JVLeroy223]

How can I not unhear the subtle differences in these songs now? The Beatles and Chuck Berry are brilliant in their own right. I'm glad he was such an influence.

[@CoCotheTurtle]

I think a lot of people overlook the influence Chuck Barry had on the Beatles, and focus instead on the influence of Chuck Berry. Weird.

[@priyaxo8116]

@@CoCotheTurtle Scottish/Irish music had a big influence on rock n roll and that was part of the Beatles heritage ,so it`s swings and roundabouts.

[@CoCotheTurtle]

@@priyaxo8116 There isn't a person named CHUCK BARRY.

[@priyaxo8116]

@@CoCotheTurtle hahaha I see the typo

[@uncascrooge2699]

There are a lot of Chuck Berry songs that sound exactly like. well, a lot of other Chuck Berry songs. Sometimes the only difference is the lyrics.

[@AidanORourke]

Fascinating. I never knew about many of those. Considering there are only 12 notes and in pop music, mostly three chords, it's amazing that songwriters are able to produce new, unique songs.

[@ldgaming4213]

Not really. There are probably trillions of unique melodies just using those 12 notes, not to mention rhythm!

[@JacksonOwex]

@@ldgaming4213 Rhythm isn't always enough to keep people from suing you for "stealing" look what happened to Cold Play!

[@bobgreen8142]

There aren't really only twelve notes, there are twelve notated notes in standard Western tuning. There are also many, many other notes between the notes, blues players know how to find them.

[@epipick]

Seven, surely? C D E F G A B.

[@ldgaming4213]

@@epipick c c# d d# E f f# g g# a a# b

[@haroldmessinger1]

Outstanding. I really appreciate the way you break down the songs, show the notes, have the original recordings. One of the very best videos of this kind.

[@richardhunter132]

I find it very hard to believe that George Harrison had never heard He's so Fine; the Beatles were steeped in early 60s American R&B.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

It was a big radio hit as well. He may not remember it but no way he never heard it. These people ate music for breakfast....

[@mikeyerian2562]

By steeped you mean, like Led Zeppelin, seeing an opportunity to exploit black music for their own gain.

[@olavirannisto3552]

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 Of course he heard. George got the idea for My Sweet Lord from Bramlett in December 1969, as Bramlett not played He's So Fine on his guitar.

[@edgarwalk5637]

He obviously did, but forgot. It happens often. Running a song by some astute music listeners can help.

[@olavirannisto3552]

@@edgarwalk5637 George heard Bramlett play He's So Fine on guitar in December 1969. He wrote My Sweet Lord that same month, so he didn't have time to forget what he heard. Especially when many people warned him about plagiarism.

[@ironflazambat5815]

“Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you a king”

[@Mancheguache]

I'm gonna use that in a song!

[@pederriki7819]

led zeppelin in a nutshell ... just kidding!

[@gregberry1812]

Good artists borrow, great artists steal. Don't detract from their greatness.

[@TheDirtyredbandana]

Bob Dylan What's a Sweetheart like you doing in a dump like this.

[@epipick]

As the great Tommy Emmanuel once said, "Everybody steals from Chet"

[@danluther1741]

One of the best songs I ever wrote & sung to many family, friends & future band mates. One day, a guy who really knew his music said... "Dude, that''s the same chord progression & melody to "Mr. Postman!" My thought immediately was "did I INTENTIONALLY copy that?" My answer to myself honestly was HELL NO! I'm a rocker & that's an OLD pop hit! My conclusion was... Put someone in a room by themselves for decades & tell them to write songs. Eventually some will sound just like someone else's out of pure chance!!

[@AaronOfMpls]

Or subconscious borrowing. Even if you don't remember a song offhand, you might not _entirely_ forget it.

[@felipefernandes9053]

That´s because music is finite!

[@michaeladkins6]

@@felipefernandes9053 And musicians rarely sue. Its a record company or family.

[@aurum1235]

@@AaronOfMpls yup

[@Matt.Willoughby]

Perfectly natural behavior.

[@gillmacgillechiaran5651]

It’s not theft, it’s the ubiquitous ebb & flow of talent.

[@pgroove163]

🤣................just give me some truth

[@kenlieck7756]

Flo & Eddie?

[@impacc4182]

Another saying for theft

[@ps-yk8su]

Then why aren’t all musicians rich and famous?

[@kenlieck7756]

@@ps-yk8su For the same reason that all of Wall Street's top financial wizard$ couldn't get together and write a #1 classic jukebox rock hit to save their lives. Its all a big Fonzie scheme...

[@scienceexplains302]

Harrison’s musical ability made it all the more likely that he could hear a song and remember it, subconsciously, but not overcome the memory leak almost all of us have of forgetting the experience.

[@CYLITM]

Good point, maybe heard the song but didn't care at all so he completely forgot and only subconsciously remembered.

[@davidfranklin5426]

5:02: “They just smiled and shook my hand...” “...’No’ was all they said.”

[@sammaloney1746]

What's the reference, I can't place it?

[@gregberry1812]

Take a load off Annie!

[@sammaloney1746]

@@gregberry1812 Ah yes the band, good one, thanks! Sometimes I spend hours trying to remember what song the tiny little part of the song belongs to!

[@gregberry1812]

@@sammaloney1746 I wouldn't know the song were it not for the Grateful Dead.

[@sammaloney1746]

@@gregberry1812 Well I much prefer the dead when they're doing their original stuff. But they'd a few great covers too all things considered!

[@proto-geek248]

There are very few melodies that aren't similar to some other melody out there in melodyland.

This!

[@anonymike8280]

Or rhythm. Duh.

[@melvynobrien6193]

You can't copyright a bass line; nor even a chord progression; only melodies and lyrics are subject to copyright. The bass line in I SAW HER STANDING THERE is very common in rock and blues, even played in bar bands by players who have never listened to these songs.

[@Hawthornne]

Maybe in a perfect world. See what happened in the Blurred lines lawsuit. They won cause of a style/groove were similar..

[@nickpaine]

This song was listed as " Seventeen" on Meet The Beatles, I seem to recall.

[@bolo5340]

Like I said in my other comment, you think Nike and Phil Night created the shoe? --- no, but they did add value to it. Same with million other industries, cars, homes, clothing lines, hats, TVs, pools, pool tables, furniture etc.,

[@terrylodercreative]

It's funny. We Gotta Get Outa This Place has what I think is a certifiable justifiable bass line that was so identified with the song, it would be hard to pretend you made it up if it was in another song. There are many such bass licks. But then again, lyrics, progressions and melody should all be considered before getting all whacky about stealing someone else's music.

[@morepanic2289]

you are talking crap dude.. one thing is style one thing is using the same notes

[@toddmayer6859]

Recently I heard the amazing updated mix of I'm Only Sleeping. It stuck in my head and some other song kept coming to mind that sounded like it. I finally was able to recall some of the lyrics and found the song: Along Comes Mary, released in March 1966. John wrote I'm Only Sleeping in April 1966. I had heard, I believe it was the video of Paul, where the Beatles listened to a lot of music, including classical compositions to get something to branch off from.

[@mickavellian]

Updated version?? by whom??? AND there's NO animal as an UPDATED VERSION . It is an +interpretation+ and the ORIGINAL WINS

[@BigBri550]

I don't think hanging one's melody on a single note constitutes a copyright, nor would Lennon had to have heard it first to try the same himself. Single note melodies go back at least as far as Gregorian chants.

[@BigBri550]

@mickavellian The actual ORIGINAL mix first appeared on the US Capitol album _Yesterday and Today._ It is not the same mix as the official version later released on Parlophone. And I agree - it is still the best mix by far, right down to the fake stereo processing that actually enhanced the track in this case.

[@SceneComparisons]

the ending riff of Ballad of John and Yoko is the same as the intro of Lonesome Tears in my Eye

[@DavidTurchickVEGAN]

Which, in turn, seems to have been inspired on the Wabash Blues.

[@2011littlejohn1]

And the beginning is a standard lick from 1000's of rock songs and 1000's more used to end with a sliding 9th chord and so what?

[@mrfester42]

So what! That proves absolutely nothing.

[@richardk1ify]

@@2011littlejohn1 doesn’t it end on a 6th?

[@2011littlejohn1]

@@richardk1ify Yes you're right. Still very trad rock ending. :) I think they did that on Help too.

[@Darm0k]

"I'd rather see you dead little girl, than see you with another man"? Damn, that's brutal.

[@AidanXavier1]

Lyrics that scream "Normalized domestic abuse"

[@WakaWaka2468]

John was based af

[@c.j.rogers2422]

Ah, simpler times. ;)

[@peterthegreat996]

Unfortunately all to prophetic

[@kenwittlief255]

a lot of 60s music didnt age well it would be fun to play at a club with a buzzer on everyones table, and see if you could make it thru any songs without someone being offended Sweet Lorretta Martin thought she was a woman, but she was another man BZzZZZZzTTTTT!

[@Renshen1957]

You left the best part of the My Sweet Lord/He's So Fine controversy...George Harrison eventually acquired the rights to He's So Fine. After the Plagiarism Lawsuit, disputes over damages lingered on into the 1990s, with Harrison’s manager Allen Klein changing sides by buying Bright Tunes, which published He’s So Fine, and continuing the lawsuit after parting ways with Harrison. Harrison ended up being the owner of both songs.

[@Spaced92]

Yeah thanks to stuff like that, he was running out of money and that's the reason the remaining Beatles did Anthology (and why it ended early, George didn't really want to work on Johns unfinished songs).

[@Renshen1957]

@@Spaced92 The Anthology was what it was a carry over of the first BeaTles at the BBC (which Sir George Martin chose songs for the most part that sounded like his recordings). Not on the Anthology 1 vol. September Rain the best song on the Decca (hangover) Demo, Paul at his best, the Guitars with some dirt, and Pete Best. Also missing from BBC (yes it had to sound like a studio recording), the Six Songs from the Beatles appearance on the BBC, yes grainy off the air recordings, but significant, their first on the air performance, (March 7, 1962) and the last appearance with Pete Best (June 11, 1962). Roy Orbison's ‘Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream?)’ (no other recording) and ‘Ask Me Why’ first self penned Beatles song to play on the air-waves, and George singing ‘A Picture Of You’. (The other songs were ‘Memphis, Tennessee’ , ‘Please Mister Postman’). The recordings art studio quality, and from the various BBC recordings enough to fill six CD's although some have issues, there's a recording of the Beatles with Ringo of on drums, Roll Over Beethoven (initial voice over by the announcer), that is the Best live version of George singing with unbridled energy (better than the Star Club version) that's is about as close as you can get to how the Hamburg performances must have sounded and in the clubs in Liverpool and on tour, you know the quote by John on the best material (performances) were never recorded. "We were just a band that made it very, very, big that’s all. Our best work was never recorded. Because we were performers - in spite of what Mick says about us - in Liverpool, Hamburg and other dance halls. What we generated was fantastic, when we played straight rock, and there was nobody to touch us in Britain. As soon as we made it, we made it, but the edges were knocked off. George did all right financially before he passed away at 58...At the time of his death, George Harrison accumulated a colossal $400 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. The musician left his entire estate to widow Olivia Harrison and their son Dhani (who looks like a clone of his father).

[@seanclark2531]

Thank you for your interesting and informative comment.

[@Renshen1957]

@@seanclark2531 You are welcome.

[@ScottoftheSahara]

I agree with the Judge: they are the same song with different lyrics. What are the chances of creating the same exact song never hearing the original?

[@CYLITM]

11:35 Fun fact: By pure chance, someone recorded the song John's pre-Beatles band played when he met Paul (with an early portable recorder)

[@jrpipik]

When Superman creators Siegel and Schuster were involved in legal disputes about the ownership of the character, they wrote a story where the villain copyrighted the alphabet, so everyone owed him a royalty -- and Superman couldn't fight it because it was legal!

[@jeff__w]

Paul McCartney’s spokesman seems a bit defensive in his response about Nat King Cole’s “Answer Me, My Love.” 8:50 It doesn’t seem at all improbable to me that elements of Cole’s song might have been transfigured unconsciously by McCartney in creating “Yesterday.”

[@sadlymusic]

Indipendent by the plagiarism as legal question (here this is evident), "Yesterday" is not a beat song... it comes from the same creative musical matrix by Cole !

[@ricomajestic]

The only thing thats the same is the word yesterday. The two melodies sound nothing alike.

[@sadlymusic]

In the while time of 60y i plaied songs by my own ear (i'm a original composer for pop, progressive-pop, beat, provenzal music, even having dedicated five years of my life quite to write my music in a full time, quite close in myself as isolated from wirld), and i have never listen to one just similar melody as for be "Yesterday", so plagiarizing of the which Cole by origin. More, as i already had to comment time ago, the same melody was for "Angelitos Negros" of Antonio Machín singer from '50y in Venezuela, of which version was probability played by Fausto Leali too in the same local of Hamburg where were usual to play The Beatles at their beginnings ! By the first time i had to listen to this melody by The Beatles, i minded supposing it wasn't by their own creation, so different by the usual beat style !

[@reginaldperiwinkle]

The influence can't be denied in terms of the groove, but Watch Your Step is a pentatonic blues riff and the song follows a standard blues. In contrast, I Feel Fine uses a Mixolydian riff. And then that riff played on G7, D7 and C7 probably creates a bunch of other modes. And then you have a bridge that opens up with a purely major scale, a really clever contrast. The Beatles took the groove of Watch your Step to a different and highly original place.

[@AustinDunmore]

The similarity comes down to the rhythm, and half a bar of melody. If that was grounds for a copyright claim the whole intellectual property rights system would collapse. Bobby Parker is being highly disingenuous here.

[@terrylodercreative]

and when played backwards under the overhead projection of a Pentagram, one can clearly hear Stevie Nicks.

[@tangotommi]

Nicely summarized David! I struggle with modes in that I have a problem creating the chords to create the tension that will feel good resolving to the root of the mode. It’s great watching your analyses. Thanks to Open Ear. It bares the weaknesses so I love being challenged with tonality questions. Have a good holiday season.

[@Belgianidiot]

This would make a fun spotify playlist.

[@edfaine6644]

“ Want to know a secret, do you promise not to tell” are the opening words to I’m Wishing from snow white. Supposedly, John’s mother would sing it to him at bedtime.

[@davemitch3389]

Do you Want to know a secret...That is a "Cover Song" it was not written by John & Paul

[@mickavellian]

an that was plagiarism??? That was Johnny remembering MOMMA

[@johnharris3657]

@@davemitch3389 I think you are thinking of "Till there was you" which is is from Music Man.

[@davemitch3389]

@@johnharris3657 You are right Sir... I will pull my head out of my ass now!

[@joe47771]

I agree with Paul about bass lines, just look at drum beats

[@terrylodercreative]

12 bar blues, 3 chord progression songs and Straight Rock and Roll all have the same DNA. Even lyrics spin into other songs even though they hover over the one particular passage. The result, a better mouse trap. (It's a metaphor Sluggo).

[@ianbartle456]

Ha - can you imagine: :You're breathing in exactly the same spot when playing my straight 8ths, ya thieving swine!" That'd be like trying to claim a standard root fifth bass-line in a country progression. Once a bass-line starts to get melodic, it becomes a somewhat different matter. The cat who composed the bass for Billie Jean should have got some money in my view, that line sells the song in a similar way to the way the gtr riff sells Sweet Child O' Mine. Also you're not going to win any friends trying to write new song and totally stealing the bass-line to Come Together. The song may have rested lyrically in part on a old Chuck Berry tune, but Paul and Ringo certainly value-added to that one - they created one of the all-time classic drum and bass combos. George's supportive rhythm part is just that - just colour. The drums and bass carry it.

[@Kieop]

@@ianbartle456 Yeah, it's considered a John Lennon classic, but I like to joke that it's a Berry-McCartney-Starkey collaboration.

[@carydowney0056]

Fantastic work putting this video together. Comparing and contrasting the sheet music was excellent!

[@agreeneish]

As a huge Beatle fan I must say damn good stuff sir .. Whatsmore I can't help but think this is the history of the world .. People will always borrow ideas from other people and regurgitate it in their own way .. Usually making it better .. It's like they're saying that's good but I can make it BETTER ..

[@ianbartle456]

Isn't there a line on Hey Jude that goes something like that? You are right, and while it's a different field this is also what happens in technical inventions. The much-celebrated Apple iPod and iPhone didn't spring fully formed out of a vacuum. Also its probably no accident that the idea of 'inventions' is also a musical concept - it's used in classical music to describe when a composer take a a pre-existing musical idea or theme and then embellishes or develops it into a new composition - an idea not entirely unknown in jazz!

[@mgtowchampion7961]

Really ? So what songs or sounds did iron maiden ever steal ? The beatles had no talent.

[@vrinda5303]

@@mgtowchampion7961 You have no brain if you think that.

[@mgtowchampion7961]

@@vrinda5303 just go away and smoke your drugs.

[@mgtowchampion7961]

@@vrinda5303 beatles got sued 4 times in court stfu.

[@jnagarya519]

That's how FOLK music works: everyone borrows, and hopefully improves, that which already exists.

[@devonmoors]

Blues music,certainly

[@jrgboy]

Yes, unless someone sued as they did with George Harrison then that's it , you can't make a case for something that is similar to another song & you can't now as the songs are over 50 years old anyway..

[@jnagarya519]

@@devonmoors "Blues" is also made by folks.

[@stevenyourke7901]

Folk music is not copyrighted because the original composer is unknown. So anyone can borrow an old folk tune and do something with it. Think Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan.

[@leonc4657]

Lol bullshit. Chuck Berry was robbed by several artist for his art. Beatles were culture vultures

[@jonas4127]

I love how a David Bennett video about the Beatles seems just like a normal David Bennett video

[@bornhuskerfan]

Incredibly thorough and well researched video. Great job!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks 🙏

[@nickchambers3935]

Imagine finally emerging from the shadow of the two greatest songwriters in the world and gaining confidence in yourself as a solo artist, only to find that you unconsciously plagiarised your biggest hit from another song

[@terrylodercreative]

I still think plagiarised is in accurate for many reasons. But fortunately, nobody's opinion matters more than the listener's experience. I'll wager Cole would be way to cool to gripe about it. Especially if he were to hear how MANY people revere and continue to emulate Paul's "Dream"

[@jnagarya519]

@@terrylodercreative Cole Porter? Nat King Cole? Natalie Cole?

[@ianbartle456]

@@jnagarya519 Helmut Kohl?

[@klaxoncow]

@@ianbartle456 Nah, Cheryl Cole, obviously.

[@mrfester42]

You're an idiot. How does anyone go about proving to themselves, or anyone else for that matter, that they unconsciously plagiarized anything. It can't be done. That's the nature of the unconscious. It's unrecognizable because it's unconscious.

[@alexkaapa]

i never thought i'd say this, but i actually learned lots of new information about the beatles here

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😁😁

[@palliaskamen5722]

Me too. It got me thinking; my favourite Beatles song is, I Want You (She's So Heavy) Tell me they didn't lift THAT from another musician

[@pgroove163]

@@palliaskamen5722 find out who the musicians were that they lifted riffs or melodies from ..u just might like them just like the Beatles did.

[@tomasmercado8202]

@@pgroove163 yes! That’s really what got me into chuck berry and little richard’s music

[@pedebe100]

Same

[@mjcamck]

During the Harrison court case, it was, also, pointed out that tunes can imprint in minds subconsciously. George is too talented to have to "steal" anyone else's music. As for RUN FOR YOUR LIFE . . . until, as an adult, I got active in domestic violence prevention, I didn't recognize how horrid these lyrics are although they were NOT meant to be taken literally at the time.

[@chesterproudfoot9864]

Yet Harrison did steal music, his album Electronic Sound is just one example. Just because someone is talented does not preclude them from plagiarism.

[@mjcamck]

@@chesterproudfoot9864 - Good AM. I'll acknowledge I never heard "Electric Sound." So, I'll accept your assessment. The point that some legal scholars made during the GH-Chiffons lawsuit was that "plagiarism" requires a conscious intent to steal. (My husband is a trademark & copyright attorney.) A musician turning notes swirling around their SUBconscious into tunes they write is NOT plagiarism. George found it insulting, but turned the episode into a song. I doubt he begrudged The Chiffons who were not nearly as successful, getting a larger piece of the pop music pie. Best Wishes.

[@chesterproudfoot9864]

@@mjcamck This Song is a favorite GH tune.

[@mjcamck]

@Critique Everything - You're right. John admitted he had been violent w/ women. He even wrote his regret into "It's Getting Better." The lyrics were, initially, referring to the weather; Paul (the main writer) was inspired during an early Spring morning walk after noticing the warmer temperature. (Temporary stand-in drummer Jimmy Nicole had used the phrase frequently). Later, John added "I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her & kept her apart from the things that she loved. Man I was mean, but I'm changing my scene." He said his guilt caused him to put more gentleness into both his song lyrics and his behavior. Peace & Love to you.

[@terrylodercreative]

Finally, a comment that shows a mature grasp of this type of musical phenomenon. George Harrison's integrity was through the roof. He was gentle, kind, incredibly inventive and skilled. Let both songs be played and enjoyed for what they were meant to be to the listener.

[@winonebud]

In those days, everyone stole from each other. It's still done, today. That's what art is. That's why it evolves.

[@patrickr9417]

David Lynch said 20 years ago that art is in fact devolving.

[@adp5R3x]

​@@patrickr9417 David Lynch thinks dead meat is ART 🥩

[@patrickr9417]

@@adp5R3x So do you. Be honest.

[@adp5R3x]

@@patrickr9417 NO - It's NOT 👎 The Only "art" there is the art of Bulls**t ... a kind of "Never Give a Sucker an Even Break" . Jars of excrement ; meat decaying ... If THAT'S the kind of "Art" you want to swallow : CHOW DOWN ! 🍴💩🥄

[@nandohoyer]

I would love to see a Video on Queen!

[@honkytonkinson9787]

It’s rare for me to hear something These days that I didn’t know about the Beatles and this video was full of them Great video!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@rokcafella]

totally agree -very informative

[@punkgift]

I've always thought that My Sweet Lord and He's So Fine sound like Oh Happy Day, which dates back to the 18th century, although the modern arrangement dates from 1967 which is after He's So Fine.

[@neilafacci5833]

George said oh happy day influenced his song , not he’s so fine

[@kevanbrown7620]

That's what George was going for, "Oh Happy Day" but he changed it, as he didn't want to copy it, but he ended up changing it so much, it sounded similar to He's So Fine.

[@essbo53]

What part of a Bealte tune is based on the bassline of Tuxedo Junction and another part of that coming from the chord progression and melodic 'feel' of Moonglow? Hint: Erroll Garner

[@eccentriastes6273]

In the Elvis song, the line "I'd rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man" is just portrayed as like a romantic thing to say. I feel like John heard that and realized the implications of it are actually really messed up.

[@Kaddywompous]

Further, I see nothing wrong with snatching a line like that to comment on it or add a new perspective. It’s like fair use.

[@graemeross4842]

idk i think the original is dark AF but John real made the line stand out

[@noahmay7708]

I think it's just some dark comedy

[@ianbartle456]

I've always read John was a big Elvis fan - so I'm inclined to believe this was a direct, rather than subconscious, lift. I think the dark humour may have appealed to John and what we now know of his flaws and unresolved but growing angst about his own mother relationship, it is sure to have exerted a appeal for him. It's a very out-there cocky thing to assert after all. I agree with Graeme Ross: it is a really dark possessive thing and I'd surely never have considered using it in one of my songs. I doubt Paul would have either! I'm quickly reminded of the sunny surface but darker subtext to the line: 'Every breath you take, I'll be watching you'. In that one, the rather unbalanced nature of the watcher and the watched is underlined and given a level of sinister as soon as you come to the rhyme 'fake'. More of an obsession song than genuine love song. There's not much warm and fuzzy love in Run For Your Life, I think we're probably largely agreed! Real Love and especially Woman - well, that's a whole other thing. John Lennon was both a complex and deeply talented fella when it came to expressing himself. Very few people like everything he did , but by the same token very few people like nothing he did. He just affected you.

[@graemeross4842]

it’s weird it’s considered problematic when you think about the stuff rappers say. also who hasn’t figuratively wished something like this, doesn’t mean you really wish someone dead ie “drop dead” John has so many haters

[@jeffreyhhatcher3992]

PS: I Saw Her Standing There is pretty much a rewrite of When The Saints Go Marching In.

[@terrylodercreative]

It's mystifying to hear people totally miss the point of three chord progression songs and the inevitable circumstance of similar yet distinct work. The cadence of the songs is similar. But denying decades of separation with respect to creative process and this mathematical probability just serve to point out that similarities will happen. The conclusion does not have to be yes or no as to whether one copied the other. Ludicrous reasoning really.

[@jeffreyhhatcher3992]

@@terrylodercreative You're right; that's what I said :->

[@Fantumh]

The quote from Humphrey Lyttleton is awesome. What a cool guy. Most of these lawsuits, even if they technically have some merit, are nothing more than money grabs.

[@vdotkog7126]

Although I liked what he said as well, it does strike me that its because he had stolen before and so it was easy for him to forgive.

[@sunnydelight5255]

Well let’s hope when something is taken from you you keep the same energy and say no merit.

[@Fantumh]

@@sunnydelight5255 What I won't do is sue someone because I'm a greedy asshole who's hoping a court will grant me a settlement. Did you decide to get on youtube and purposely act obtuse just so you can act superior to someone you don't know?

[@SurferJoe1]

Couldn't agree more, a class act. And nothing is really stolen from you if you still have it.

[@stickman1742]

I would say that ALL musicians borrow, steal and copy from others. Some just admit it. If there is an artist out there who claims everything they've done is completely original then they are a liar.

[@T.E.P..]

you do an impressive job with your vids .... it's a delight to be subbed. Hope you are having a perfect week! thanks for all the hard work behind these vids

[@jamiemiddleditch1999]

And eventually George Harrison got his hands on the rights to hes so fine. Funny. Pays 1.6million and then eventually buys the song aha. Classic.

[@deementia6796]

He bought the entire publishing company, didn't he? So he ended up with his own money back!

[@enshen2190]

Well well well, how the turn tables

[@keithkarvelis82]

That's a boss move right there lol.

[@jamesfitzgerald6636]

He didn’t, Allan Klein bought the publishing co and George had to pay him over 500,000 dollars the amount Klein paid for the Co

[@kitemanmusic]

He liked it so much!

[@Devan-he4kr]

The old guys are a lot more mature about intellectual property. They know it's all borrowed. Today you can get sued for a beat.

[@nikkothegoblin]

Sampling and the legal acceptance of it is going to blow your mind

[@progrockmorelikefrogc0ck157]

Yeah but there is something different about coming up with a riff that sounds similar to something and flat out using the same sample

[@franciscoherrera1219]

Today is when there's nothing original except, original crap.

[@craigbutterfield592]

@David Wang 4 sharps, ey? I bought the rights to ALL sharps years ago.

[@wcrimi]

Musicians have been borrowing from each other for many decades. It's also possible that two individuals can come up with a very similar melodies/chords independently.

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

yeh but most of these are sus and if anyone 'accidentally' lifted a beatles song, they would sue the sh1t out of them, so...

[@pebblemusic7430]

Great video. Very well put together. Good job! Thanks & greets from a snowy Berlin. Chris L

[@salicemccool9186]

“Good writers borrow, great writers steal.” - Oscar Wilde

[@johnmc3862]

@MichaelKingsfordGray Sure, all intelligent people put their real identities online, dear god.

[@TAJMofficial]

Is this a game to see how many famous people we can attribute that quote to

[@frauleinmona]

Well, that's what they did. *Borrow* . Not *steal* .

[@BoscoBP]

@@TAJMofficial what a nice comment... Im gonna go for Picasso?

[@inmundo6927]

@@TAJMofficial I think he stole that quote

[@know-it-alltoknow-nothing4150]

0:32 - I've never seen John Lennon happier or more in love with life than this.

[@FoiledByFame]

As someone who has written songs as a hobby for the past 30 years, Every time I'm on to something and realize that I'm coping another artist, I say to myself, "Ah! I'm coping this from "so and so!" We all do it. Influences are powerful; all artists are impressionable; it's how we are wired. In such instances, those of us with integrity ask ourselves, "what is it about this piece of music that is so special?... What are the elements that make it so appealing to me?" And ultimately, how can I use those elements to pay homage to, or present a "tip of the cap" to the artist who inspired it, in a tasteful way without being super obvious and cheesy? You can't just do that ALL the time, but I think every artist is allowed to use some of the same colors and techniques, if there is a reasonable amount of originality and uniqueness in their expression. That's what makes or breaks, (for instance) a good COVER after all. I've heard you only need to change a piece of music by 20%, leagally, to avoid copyright issues? It's probably more rewarding to avoid blatantly copying other material all together if possible. (Unless you CAN'T write, and are playing in a cover band, which is also totally fine.) Many people earn a living that way. 👍 I'm kind of surprised The Beatles did it so often... but I really don't think it hurts their legacy much. They still would have been iconic even without those bits they stole.

[@jgdegracia]

Yesterday and Answer me my love are two different songs. The similarities pointed out cannot be distinguished by listening to the songs. Try listening to the song. It has also different themes.

[@vovzburau7142]

It's ridiculous! The harmony of Yesterday, even if first three notes are alike, makes it totally different - just try to hear, lol.

[@SceneComparisons]

I see you are using Izotope RX7 to isolate parts of the songs. Well done. Such amazing tool with so many possibilities.

[@mooghead]

In 300 years Data from Star Trek will blast out any track from any piece of music ever made from his mouth. Have some patience!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I haven't actually used RX7 myself. In this video I either used stems available on KZbin or, in the case of boosting the bass for "Saw Her Standing There", I used an EQ and then overdubbed my own bass playing! It sounds like a useful tool though so I'll look into it!

[@SceneComparisons]

@@DavidBennettPiano you HAVE to use it! It will make your video 100% percent better. It's exactly what you need. Look for the "Music Rebalance" tool.

[@JohnsysChannel]

Izotope literally program witchcraft. It's insane what their stuff can do.

[@cjay2]

@@DavidBennettPiano And it will cost you an arm and a leg. $1250USD last time I looked.

[@RichardBaroneOfficial]

The producer of "My Sweet Lord," Phil Spector, would have absolutely been familiar with "He's So Fine" and should have warned George that there could be a problem. I always wondered why he didn't mention it. Instead of fighting it, too bad George wasn't able to do a settlement similar to what John did with "You Can't Catch Me," by promising to record one or two songs from the publisher of "He's So Fine" (though obviously not *that* song) on his next solo album(s). It would have saved dear George so much of his precious time, all that money, and would have spared him the aggravation. Excellent program, by the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@terrylodercreative]

Because, as we would come to learn, Phil was an unprincipled, nerdy, sniveling and murderous user.

[@Johnhr10]

George stated in court that Spector told him he could use the melody. More importantly, the judge ruled that only a run of three notes violated copyright. More importantly, My Sweet Lord is an incredibly produced beautiful song that was the number one record worldwide the year it was released. He's So Fine never ever came close to that popularity.

[@magicmusic8]

So to clarify; in the Beatles 8 years of teenage metamorphism to adults; maintaining & freely expressing creativity, fun, passion, love, peace, anger, sorrow, dreams, nostalgia, spirituality,. humanity... all through inspirational music x 205 songs; 10 songs listed sound & were probably inspired by other great music, tunes, riffs & songs.

[@davefudurich4135]

@magicmusic8, this is why the music today 1/7/2022 sucks,reminds me of the /50's before Elvis. sad but true.

[@David-ev8jj]

Harrisons “It’s All Too Much” lifted the lyrics “with your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue” from the song “Sorrow” by the Merseybeats, who also used a riff very similar to the one in “I Should Have Known Better” from A Hard Day’s Night.

[@proto-geek248]

Surprised that wasn't included

[@garethb1961]

I think that is not disguised. It's almost a sample, not a rip-off. Like Greensleaves in the fade out of All You Need is Love.

[@David-ev8jj]

@@garethb1961 Yeah it definitely just a nod to the song, not ripping-off

[@sammaloney1746]

@@garethb1961 You mean the fade in right? The fade out is she loves you by the Beatles themselves!

[@MsAppassionata]

I knew about that one. Of course, it was quite a deliberate lift from the original song, but was only done for a small section of Harrison’s recording.

[@robbiepeterh]

Get Back is a total ripoff of God Save the Queen. Scandalous.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😂😂

[@roberthowes5838]

What are you talking about! Complete nonsense!

[@bobbyhamblen2338]

@@roberthowes5838 it's a joke Bob

[@terrylodercreative]

That one was like a hand grenade.... I'm going: "This bloke is Bonkers!" and then the light of humor shone it's rewritten light on me and I just ..... smiled... which of course, I had done before. But this time I stole my laugh from Glen Campbell.

[@GroinStrain_]

If anyone’s ever listened to I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue on radio 4, knew Humphrey Lyttelton was an absolute legend. But hearing him talk about not worrying about suing someone for copying a rhythm, just solidifies his legendary status anymore. He was always in life for the enjoyment, not for shallow monetary gains

[@mochynddu723]

All respect due The Humph!

[@jray5363]

I’ve never heard of him, but he seemed to understand what music is about! How could you ever be a musician without the influence of others? Take it, make it your own, and let me see where it goes. Not a bad mindset to have. Seems like a cool dude.

[@Kieop]

He would've lost the suit and it would have cost him more than it was worth. Lady Madonna is a variation in the style of Bad Penny Blues. They sound similar, but they are legally different.

[@henrykujawa4427]

2 of my favorite blatent examples of incorpporating bits of one song in another.... "Night Of Fear" by Roy Wood (The Move, 1967), the entire recurring bass line of the song is taken from Tsikovsky's "1812 Overture". Later, "Twilight" by Jeff Lynne (ELO, 1981), the recurring opening riff, is from Tsikovsky's "Waltz Of The Flowers". It was actually my DAD who identified that, when I played it for him, one note at a time, on his accordion.

[@nic1922]

Poor George man. The fact that a lot of today’s hits literally samples old songs, he shouldve never went through that. Imagine if he never got sued and his confidence wasnt shook. He wouldve made more classics. That lawsuit stole songs from us fans that George couldve potentially wrote

[@tonybates7870]

Yeah, but those songs you're talking about credit the source of the samples. George didn't credit the writers of He's So Fine, probably because he didn't realise what he'd done, and that's why the lawsuit happened.

[@stevenmaginnis1965]

He was trying to write a song like "Oh Happy Day" by the Edwin Hawkins Singers.

[@barnics]

There's a lot more to that story. GH parted ways with his manager before it was resolved, who bought the publishing rights to he's so fine...

[@mjt11860]

I heard or read an interview with Lennon, where he said that George actually knew that he was ripping off that song. They were all not getting along at the time, so who knows whether Lennon was being honest.

[@graemeross4842]

always thought it was a bit sus he claimed to never have heard the song even though i love George and his song more. It’s good the original writers got credit though

[@greglapointe1311]

Doesn't change a thing, The Beatles were a great band, very talented, and came along just in time to lead the British Invasion.

[@pgroove163]

completely correct it doesn't change a thing..🕵️.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

And they started their invasion from Germany.😃

[@alejandrolopresti181]

Agreed, if anything they IMPROVED the songs.

[@uuouuo5480]

@@MrJohnnyDistortion No, the invasion wasn't started from Germany. Performing in Germany gave the lads the _idea_ to launch an invasion.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

@@uuouuo5480 Oh. They made a good decision regardless.😀

[@stevena2553]

Humphrey Lyttelton was a great man and his quote in this informative vid was very true to his character.

[@blakesorenson8766]

I think the I Feel Fine riff is completely original harmonically, but borrows rhythms from blues songs they liked, definitely by Bobby Parker and those alike. Parker’s riff kinda just tonicizes I while the I Feel Fine riff sets up a simultaneous relationship between I and IV that sounds so original and new to the the standard blues. Not to mention the amazing chorus that strengthens I. The Beatles were so damn genius.

[@gumbycat5226]

George's claim re He's So Fine is impossible to credit due to the Beatles' encyclopaedic knowledge of pop songs. You hardly have to search - 4 weeks at the top of the US charts in 1963. John dismissed his claim with a withering, "what do you expect" in his 1980 Playboy interview. Another Beatles song whose main idea is ripped off is She's A Woman. John came up with the idea of the stabbing guitar and indeed the very chord progression in the studio but it is a perfect copy of Sugar Bee. This stabbing guitar then features in about a half-dozen other Beatles songs (slightly modified) all the way to Help!

[@terrylodercreative]

Well yeah doc. It's 12 bar blues and a bridge. Accents are just that - accents. That particular one which hits on 2 and 4 is used in a couple thousand other ways.

[@johnyarusso4953]

According to McCartney the verses to Hey Jude were directly taken from Save the last dance for me by The Drifters. The chords are identical. Listen when McCartney sings "remember" the verse at exactly the same time the Drifters sing "Don't forget " Very interesting 🤔

[@Dr0p0fahat]

I made a similar comment. I swear, I didn't plagiarize John Yarusso!

[@YouTubeallowedmynametobestolen]

@@Dr0p0fahat No, of course you didn't, Dropofahat. John plagiarized you! You should suit the pants off of him!

[@agerray]

I know there are some "Roots of the Beatles" albums but I think a good "win-win" solution would be for the record companies to release a double compilation album - one album of The Beatles and the other of the original artists, who should benefit from the royalites. It would make an interesting project. BTW great vid!

[@fabfour7397]

Thank you for your great video, it shows clearly the Beatles were "also" inspired by many so other bands and artists...Three great influences that shaped The Beatles' music include Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and The one and only King, Elvis Presley. While all three of these musicians impacted The Beatles strongly, Elvis' style, sound, and all-around charisma left a lasting impression on all four of the young, eager members. The Beatles were also influenced by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, The Everly Brothers, The Byrds, Ravi Shankar and Eric Clapton.

[@amante36]

They weren't inspired enuff to be original? The Beatles are trash. Elvis was the biggest theif of them all. Stop the foolishness

[@willgiam3231]

I love all your videos, this one is probably my favorite. Super interesting as a music teacher and Beatles nerd. Thanks, looking forward to the next!

[@geraldobrien7323]

The only reason that people know that the Beatles lifted other people’s songs is because those older songs were recorded, and we can go back and listen and compare them. I wonder, though, how many ideas Chuck Berry ripped off. We will never know because those original sources were never recorded.

[@pgroove163]

I would agree with that....that being said , Chuck Berry should have be a billionaire

[@geraldobrien7323]

@@pgroove163 That’s another issue. His publishers, I guess, made all the money. Still, he had a good life. He had females from all over the world when he toured, and the ranch he owned was basically a harem where he kept all his lady friends. I wouldn’t mind even a tenth of what he got.

[@jnagarya519]

Chuck Berry's favorite vocalist was Nat King Cole. The original of "Route 66," which he covered, was by "The Nat King Cole Trio" -- jazz.

[@gumbycat5226]

Chuck Berry ripped off Johnny Be Good from Back To The Future!

[@impacc4182]

Unlike the Beatles chuck berry wasn’t a leech and credited his influences while the Beatles straight up stole his lyrics and flow nice try trying to defend your soy boys though

[@pbwauthor]

Well made enjoyable video that simply shows how astonishing the Lennon McCartney genius duo was - they wrote scores of songs and these tiny similarities were all that could be linked to so many pieces of music they wrote. If you look at the great genius Mozart, you'll find a lot of pinched ideas written originally by Haydn who got ideas from Bach - so what? Music is an art that is developed by each new generation of artists.

[@wokvonrockstein]

Like the Tiny similarities between white skin and pink.

[@pbwauthor]

@@wokvonrockstein wat ru talking about?

[@amante36]

U only saying that cuz they white and stole from black musicians so it doesn't matter. Typical of you people

[@guillaumerusengo9371]

Tiny! Huh?🤔

[@dodgeramsport01]

Dude, do some research. They weren't geniuses. Hell, they didn't even write songs. There was a group of people doing it for them! They are known as the Prefab four!

[@billmercer1229]

Has anyone ever noticed the beginning of “Get Back” and the beginning of “Crazy Arms”by Ray Price ? “ Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner “ and “ Now blue ain’t the word for the way that I feel “. Same melody.

[@BillGraper]

This goes to show, even the GOAT of music had inspirations from artists before them. We're all human. We inspire each other in some way.

[@kenlieck7756]

Inspiration vs imitation...

[@Atlas-Heisenberg_756]

@@kenlieck7756 Imitation is the highest form of flattery

[@impacc4182]

@@Atlas-Heisenberg_756 not if you don’t credit or pay the people you imitate lol

[@kenlieck7756]

@@impacc4182 Flattery was designed as something to distract people from the fact that you're ripping them off!

[@impacc4182]

@@kenlieck7756 exactly

[@jessicacosiguitar]

Some things I already knew, some I didn't, thanks for this video! The Beatles are the best! :)

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks 😃

[@sunnydelight5255]

Yeah they’re one of the best at stealing and being “inspired”

[@josep4259]

@@sunnydelight5255 Best at stealing? excuse me while I take a listen to the rest of their 200+ songs, or are those also stolen?

[@snice.]

It’s so weird that you can accidentally copy in music, but it makes sense. Sometimes when you hear something it sticks with you even when you forget where you heard it from. It happens to me all the time, I’ll have a tune stuck in my head but I won’t remember where it’s from.

[@amante36]

Lies. Yall say whatever to protect white fragility

[@snice.]

@@amante36 what? I said nothing about race.

[@amante36]

U didn't have to. We know you people and how yall think.

[@snice.]

@@amante36 race has nothing to do with what I said. There is no underlying “it is ok to rip off music from bl@ck people but not from wh1te people.” I know for a fact many artists from that time took ideas from b1@ck musicians. But my comment is only regarding how the mind works and how people can remember certain things but not realize where they are from.

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

this is why i never release music. i'm scared i've copied someone.

[@martynridley3671]

It's never surprising to me when guitarists come out with the same or similar riffs, because the physical layout of a guitar lends itself to playing notes within easy reach of each other. Songs written on a guitar and piano differ because of the differing layouts of the instruments, i.e. the layout partially determines which notes you choose to use.

[@simonmarner8079]

Yes that's true, hence the term guitaristic. Only people who play really notice these things I think. Personally I was always struck by the differences between Joni Mitchell's guitar written and piano written songs, even though she liked open tunings...back when I was a fan.

[@NonsuchWorks]

Since solo tracks seem to be fair game, Lennon admitted that the opening of "Instant Karma!" is taken from the opening of one of the Beatles' favorite songs, Richie Barrett's "Some Other Guy."

[@jnagarya519]

There's no way Harrison hadn't heard "He's So Fine".

[@andrewfish3778]

It's possible. If you listen to interviews with the Beatles about the early days, they talk about how they would get new records from sailors who brought them back directly from the US. They'd then cover these songs live in order to have something new and exciting to play. Music simply didn't travel to the same extent as it does now - witness how hard it was for the Beatles to even get airplay in the US before 1964 - and records had a very short shelf-life (it was a big thing when the Beatles' singles were reissued in the mid-70s). Whilst it's possible that they got hold of He's So Fine from one of these "Cunard Yanks," the fact they aren't known to have covered it suggests they didn't - bear in mind they did cover tracks by other girl bands of the same time.

[@chezruss]

Absolutely - Harrison was in America when "He's So Fine" was a hit in 1963 and it was played on the radio every five minutes and if he didn't hear it there it was also a #16 hit in the UK! "In the summer of 1963 George Harrison became the first Beatle to visit USA , when, on 16 September , along with his brother Peter, he went to Benton, Illinois - population, 7,000 - to visit their older sister" Wiki

[@andrewfish3778]

@@chezruss It was a hit in January 1963. The Beatles first US tour was in February 1964. It did chart in the UK - but it only reached #16.

[@jnagarya519]

@@andrewfish3778 "He's So Fine" was a huge hit. I'm not saying Harrison deliberately copied it. I am saying that it is impossible for him not to have heard it. They heard "The Shirelles," and covered several of their songs. The were into Motown, obscure US black R&B. "He's So Fine" was not obscure; it was a massive hit.

[@jnagarya519]

@@andrewfish3778 US music DOMINATED the UK charts until "The Beatles". #16 is a big hit in both the US and UK.

[@fraserbailey6347]

A very informative video. I'm a Beatles nut but I didn't know quite a lot of this.There was a lot of 'borrowing' that I wasn't aware of.

[@D800Lover]

Rip-offs is too strong a word for it when we really all of us have _influences._ Give The Beatles their due as good students of music, not just American but from all over the place. But the greatest strength they had was an amazing originality they could be put to use, even the cover songs they did earlier on, making them even more famous than the originals like if you want to play _Twist And Shout_ their version is the one to gravitate towards. I recall one song by Lennon where he said he had been influenced by Beethoven. Think about it, what other rock band would look that far away from the beaten path. The Beatles could find an angle in any music and then present it in such a way that the world could only be amazed by. And don't forget the actual truly amazing originals that others would later be inspired by, these can never be taken away from The Beatles, a band we have never seen the likes of again.

[@villevmakela]

Hi! I would really like to see you do on video on Beatles' outros. That's one thing among others they really mastered and pioneered. Genial stuff.