Plagiarism????
Filed under: Exclusives! > Music Minute
Is this just coincidence???
We were listening to the song Lucky off Jason Mraz's new album, and the tune sounded instantly recognizable. Eerily familiar, actually.
A duet with Colbie Caillat, Mraz's Lucky sounds just like David, a gem from little-known yet adored Nellie McCkay, who released her song FOUR YEARS ago.
The chorus of Mraz's Lucky sounds IDENTICAL to McKay's David, and the song structure for both songs are very similar as well.
Check them both out below!
Posted: May 5, 2008 at 10:39 am
Stupid white people wack corny songs keep it movin bounce hey.
I can see how someone would say the two songs sound similar, but I think it is coincidence. Jason Mraz doesn't need to plagiarize!
what the fuck are you listening to Perez…?
Do mess with my Mraz Bitch!
I don't hear it….it may be kinda close - but I hear two totally different and distinct songs there.
They don't sound alike at all. They both have a beatles vibe but what doesn't. They have influenced everyone. Jason & Collbie's song will be the wedding song of the year. Just watch.
First of all the lyrics are totally different (which doesn't help prove plagarism) and secondly it is ridiculous to say they are plagarized because the song structure is the same. They are both pop songs and pop has very consistent musical ideas.
Maybe one marketing firm plagarized another's marketing scheme
I don't think they're that similar.
And the duet with Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat is so cute!
The other song is not.
I agree, they sound oddly alike, one just slower… That's actually quite hurtful for a writer… I'm hurt for the original…
similar in style, but completely different songs!!
Definitely a stretch. If you're grouping those together, I'd also throw in that one by Lily Allen. It's got a faster beat, but it's that same rhythm.
I don't think these 2 sound the same. Mraz is an individual and original - he doesn't need to copy someone else to make great music!
God that Nellie McKay song is horrific.
Nope…I don't think it sounds the same…I mean the beat is kinda the same but it's not Identical!! I like Mraz's version better anyways!
they dont sound the same at all, they both do sound like shit however
Re: Meg – totally agree i dont think they sound alike at all.
Does not sound alike. Not from where i'm listening.
slightly similiar, but alot of songs sound alike. How many different combinations can there be? Any they sound like songs out of old time musicals, 1940s? Maybe, they copied from their grandma's albums. Please, don't try to start something that isn't there.
Yes, it sounds similar. Doesn't everything! Your precious MILEY CYRUS' song is a rip off of Corey Harts … I wear my sunglasses at night…..But i don't hear you bitchin' about that one…and that one is very obvious!
I have never heard of that chick, but the songs are identical with different lyrics!!!!!
I dont hear it.
why would you try and bash jason mraz? he's an amazing artist.. and plus all music sounds similar these days…
no, no, no. they sound nothing alike. Mraz = god.
where do the people live who have never heard of jason mraz?
…except that Jason Mraz'z and Colbie Callet's song sounds much better?
Plagiarism is a big word.
You suck Perez. Go post some more stories about Satan's little helpers like Paris and Tom Cruise and leave the real people like Jason ALONE! You're icky.
Pah! and hers sound like a ska song from the eighties and so on and so on…show me one original thought anywhere these days.
Maybe I'm biased as a huge Mraz and Caillet fan but I just don't hear the similarity….AT ALL.
What are you talking about? I can't hear the resemblance.
not really
I am a hugeeee fan of nelly mckay but i really dont think you can accuse jason mraz of plagiarism. They don't sound overly similar and I actually think that jason mraz's song is very pretty and any similarities are just a coincidence.
They both suck.
you need to get your ears checked Perez.
Love ya Perez but they just don't sound that similar to me…
Jason Mraz is honestly an original music genius. His song doesn't sound remotely like this other chick's. Besides Colbie Caillat penned it… so, let's blame her. mmmkay?
THEY ARE SIMILAR…..BUT IT IS JUST A COINCIDENCE. HE DID NOT COPY HER TUNE. YOU ARE REALLY GRASPING AT STRAWS AS USUAL MARIO.
Clean out yer ears, Perezzerzzz. this is quite the stretch….
Ahhhh, NO. Not at all. You're looking to create whole cloth out of bullsit
it's called a chord progression, perez.
chill.
So what, I love it. Heck of a lot better than the orig.
I adore Nellie McKay. And yes, the Mraz song does sound JUST LIKE it.
how do people not hear the similarities??? they're extremely similar — even the duet's slightly-off vocal pairing mimics the way nellie's voice is double-tracked.
These songs sound nothing alike.
Jason's too cool for words. Can't wait for the new album next week!
Not even close to similar.
PEREZ OWES JASON AN APOLOGY.
PEREZ OWES JASON AN APOLOGY.
PEREZ OWES JASON AN APOLOGY.
I really don't notice a similarity. Both songs are pretty good, though.
you are definitely reaching…
is it just me and my nonmusical genes or do i not hear any similarities??
i say coincidence. the songs had a similar feel to them, but the melodies were distinct and the messages were completely different. they are both nice songs. mraz and collbie are so talented i sincerely doubt they would resort to plagiarism. just a thought
not even close.
I've never heard of any of these folks before. But the songs don't sound alike. Though, the first one, Lucky, is much better than the second. I guess there's a reason the second person is little known.
Perez, I normally agree with you on stuff like this but I don't think it is anywhere close. That's an awful allegation to make when they both may have the same progression of notes and that's the extent of it. And I even strain to hear that. It's not like Mraz is Avril….
I love Nellie McKay!
She's absolutely brilliant!
They couldn't hold a candle to her.
Both of these sound similar to a french song I heard before, I cannot place the name of it at this time, I think it may have been in the movie "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg". Either way, it is a style of sound that is similar, which is not plagiarism, if that were the case a whole lot of artist would be in court right now.
Jason Mraz is a wonderful songwriter, I highly doubt he plagiarized. I don't hear the similarities. It must be a slow day in the entertainment world, huh?
Jason's new album comes out May 13th
You've got nothing here, Perez. The songs have a similar vibe but Lucky is completely original. Jason Mraz rocks.
THEY SUCK BALLS. NELLIE FOREVER
They do sound a bit similar, but I doubt Jason Mraz intentionally tried to make the song sound like Nellie McKay's.
As for Nellie McKay, she's absolutely fucking brilliant.
wow, thast really bad… the fact that they are exactally the same!
no, you retard, they are completely different. just because they used similar instrumentation techniques to make the songs doesn't mean they are the same.
I don't think that Jason Mraz would copy another artist. His style is really unique. It's also worth noting that I would bang him, like, 1000 times.
You can't plagiarize a sound. I think it's just the words.
Re: Clark –
You are probably just saying that because Jason Mraz is more known than Miss McKay.
If you actually knew something about music, you would know that Nellie McKay is every critic's darling.
that chick looks just like elisha cuthbert!
HAHAHA they sound NOTHING alike. The melody is very common, why the hell would the amazing Jason Mraz need to steal? I dont see it at all….
LEAVE JMRAZ ALONE
This is the dumbest thing Ive ever heard. Theyre about as alike as Sunshine of your Love by Cream and Brain Stew by Green Day. The keys arent even similar, one is major and one is minor. And besides, Jason Mraz is one of the few people out there who really doesnt need to plagiarize. Hes certainly proven that by now.
AND
Even if he had plagiarized, I would thank him for giving us a much better take on an awful song.
Normally I'd be the first to jump all over something like this. They're both derivative, and uninspired. It's like comparing two vanilla ice creams. Welcome to popular music in 2008. Most of it sucks.
I adore BOTH those artists. Yes, there is a certain simmilarity btwn the songs. I HOPE it's coincidental! Perhaps it's due to a simmilarity in the STYLE of music they create (I mean, don't most hiphop/rap/R&B tunes sound alike?
BTW Nellie is an AMAZING talent!! You really should plug her like you do all those other artists! I can't believe she isn't better known! I got hooked on her double album some years ago and I'm very excited about her new one coming out!! Everyone - check her out!!
Not even close, idiots.
The very basic song structure do sound similar, but the instrumental work, lyrics and voice quality are drastically different. There is no way this is plagairism, it almost sounds like they are in different keys.
they don't sound alike at all. and jason mraz and colbie callait's song is WAY better
Yes, they do sound alike. What's up with that?
perez…are you dumb?? that nellie thing will never even be on mraz and colbie's level..especially mraz. back off, he's doin his thing…
new album may 13th!
I can totally hear it.
I guess maybe there are similarities, but Jason and Colbies song is way better!!! And I dont care Jason is the bomb dot com
no way.. even if there are some vague similarities, the songs are nothing alike. youre just causing trouble!! besides artists can be inspired by other artists.. it doesnt mean he's copying her. the songs are completly different!
I will always be a loyal Mraz fan!
Re: Kristen –
youre absolutely right… perez does owe jason an apology!!!
slow news day perez? they sound nothng alike? quit trying to create your own drama…its boring.
I think there are similarities in timing, but assuming Jason Mraz completely ripped of McKay is ridiculous. I just don't understand why he had to duet with Callait. Nellie McKay is phenomenal.
jason would never plagiarize
OK Perez you're crazy…these don't sound very alike, and it is very consistent with MRaz's sound!
umm…yeah….they really don't sound that much alike.
Seems that Ms. Nellie NoName just wants a little publicity.
I DONT THINK THEY SOUND ANYTHING ALIKE..
Doesn't sound the same at all. I like Jason Mraz's song better. : )
Bullshit sounds nothing alike
Bull sh*t they sound nothing alike
They both have a similar whimsical sound, putting them in the same genre, but plagiarism? NO!
I hear some similiarity, but I love Jason a lot and I can't stand Nellie McKay!! She is so fucking annoying! 20 seconds of listening to her and I want to start punching people — preferably her.
You are such an idiot because you write this stuff and your vapid fans read it and cry foul on musicians. Most of the time when you hear songs and they sound alike, its all coincidence. All art is recycled to some degree. Artists write music based on what they hear in their head, and what they might think is divine inspiration is actually bits and pieces of other songs they've heard throughout their lives that were buried in their subconscious. From the time a song makes its way from a cruddy 4 track in the artist's basement to the shelves at walmart, it passes through hundreds of hands. I doubt all these people are snickering saying "its a good thing we ripped off some obscure band in Arizona, nobody will know!" Its not worth the headache or the lawsuits. And, out of all of these songs that people supposedly "plagiarize", it seems like most of them are from a bands and singers nobody has ever heard of. Gee, if the song was so good, wouldnt Nellie McKay be famous?
191 and they both suck
Um … no. You're reaching.
I don't think they sound alike at all, they have a few similarities in the opening piano. Other then that..nothing…but Mraz's song is better.
sound nothing alike. Sorry perez.
omg u ppl are stupid theres no similarties at all just trying to make Jason look bad which is really low
Doesn't sound anything alike. John Mayer's "Say" is way closer to plagiarism to Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" or Steve Winwood "High Life" than this is.
It does sound similar, but I doubt he ripped her off - coincidence.
i dont care i LOVE jason!!
she is my favorite musician and I listen to get away from me religiously. the chorus sounds exactly like david. not as good of course.
I saw Jason Mraz in concert and it was a fucking snooze fest. It was so boring and he mostly played songs from his second album which no one gave a shit about. It was the worst, most boring concert i've ever been too. He over sings to the point that its obnoxious and unnecessary.
i hear the similarities but there are definitely so many songs that you can do the same thing with. jason is still awesome. his album stuff doesn't really show off what he is capable of though. everyone should seriously go see the dude live!
)
I've never commented on your page before Perez but this post ruffled my feathers. I usually like the music you post and tend to agree with you on many subjects but not on this one.
The music does sound a little similar, only a few strings from the guitar though, but that tends to happen in the music industry, especially from the same genre.
With only a few strings similar and one word, lucky, I seriously think that crying plagarism on Jason is shameful. Jason Mraz is a beautiful, imaginative, lyricist/poet and doesn't need to "copy" other people's work.
I agree with some others, you owe Jason an apology for even trying to stir this cauldron. Even if you're just trying to boost publicity for his new album coming out, I'm sure you could have done it better than crying 'plagarism!'.
BTW I never heard Nellie's work before, but now I'm interested. J