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
They don't sound alike at all.
they sound completely different mainly because
A. jason mraz's is good
and
B. whoever the fuck that chick is on the second one is AWFUL! no wonder shes had a song out for 4 years and no one has EVER heard it!!! jason mraz probably hasnt either meaning there is no way he could have plaigarized.
It kinda sorta does a wee little bit, but it's really stretching it. If you hadnt pointed it out, i doubt anyone else would ever think they sound the same at all.
I don't hear the resemblance at all. They sound completely different.
They don't sound anything alike. The biggest difference is that the Mraz track is good. I've never even heard of the other one. Mraz is way too original to have to copy anything from anyone.
Can I just point out that Lily Allen's Littlest Things sounds ridiculously like the Nelly McKay one
You're just a jealous douchebag, Perez! You just can't stand sweet boy-girl duets as this. Jason would never copy other's works cuz he is just an original-generating machine. Anyway, you're probably just saying this cuz his new album, out May13th is titled: We sing, we dance, we STEAL THINGS. so what?
perez:
I usually agree with you but why are you hating on Jason?? he writes ALL of his own music and it does not sound alike at all
not at all, not because its like jazz with reggee needs to be plagiarism! besides mraz is the most original singer, that we have right now
They do not sound alike at all!! I LOVE JASON MRAZ!!!!! All his songs are amazing and so is his voice!
they sound exactly alike! jesus.
Not that anyone is going to read this all the way down at the bottom, but it's interesting that the title of his new album is "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things."
Though, as a fan of both artists (for a long time now), they don't really sound that similar.
This is a hard one……Lyrics………TOTALLY DIFF. Song sound….has some variety. The "hook" is similar. But the rest is up for interpretation. It's very much different than the Vanilla Ice vs. "Pressure" controversy.
Mostly it's like saying Shakespeare has the patent for rhyming couplets…
Good music is like good poetry.
I have always said that music is very formulaic. If you don't believe me….well, you don't listen to music.
def. not plagarised [sp?]
its a similar melody but still different
Jason Mraz is such a gross person who makes even grosser music.
Perez. You have the most overrated pair of ears in the music industry. I'm thankful that you expose artists that would normally not get heard, but this comparison is really off the mark. You are a music fan Perez, nothing more, nothing less. Your statement about the song form just makes you appear knowledgeable. You are not even remotely musically educated. That's cool though, I still appreciate your enthusiasm.
I'm a huge Mraz fan and well, they almost sound a like but then you have to listen to EVERYTHING to realize that THEY ARE DIFFERENT. Geez.
WSWDWST: May 13. \m/
they don't sound alike at all!! you know how much influence you have (for some reason) y r u trying to sabatoge this dude's carreer his voice is beautiful and he's a great artist stick to trashing ppl
they sound nothing alike. jason's song is much better. no, sorry, they are nothing alike.
wtf are you talking about ??
they sound NOTHING alike!
Sorry, Perez, but I don't hear it. They are sorta semi-kinda similar styles, but definitely not plagiarism. That's a might nasty word to throw around at a singer/songwriter… not something to just BS.
And you're call of this? Just BS.
total stretch. these two songs sound nothing alike and it is sad to see that this post was put up to cause drama for people that don't deserve it.
they do sound alike. although i don't think it's plagiarism. i mean, identical may not be the best word to describe them.
maybe it's just a coincidence. i don't know.
it is possible that he sort of based his song on this. or.. uhh..
wait, let me organize my thoughts and i'll get back to you.. uhh.. whenever.
wow the songs do sound very similar
i don't think they sound anything alike.
they have different lyrics and a different style of music i think.
just a coincidence
..xoxo
What a complettely unneccesary and harsh accusation. They honestly couldn't sound more different. Mraz is one of the most original artist around.
Do you even read music?!
No jury would ever agree these songs are the same. What BS. Nellie is a total scumbag hack anyway. Just her desperate attempt for attention.
not really p-rez
Not only do they not really sound alike (I hear some similarities), Jason Mraz can shit on my eye hole if he wants to and I'll still worship him. Who the fuck is Nellie whats her face???
Perez! They sound nothing alike to me! But if I had to choose, MRAZ/CAILLAT is 10x better.
i dont feel like it sounds alike at all, i like all three of them really well and i'd be slightly dissapointed if mraz and colbie had done that.. but i really dont think they sound identical
duh….it doesn't sound the identical Perez, you noob. Why don't you learn something about music before you run your stupid mouth. Dick.
I hear similarities, but not enough to brand it 'copy &pasted' . The arrangements are similar in a way they follow the same chords. The same could be said of so many songs…
Sure, they're similar styles. I can kind of see where you're going with this atrocious accusation, but they are hardly identical and you're really stretching to get it.
Also.
How many artists sample these days? If you're going to talk shit about "songs that sound similar" why don't you hit all the horrible rappers out there who've RUINED perfectly good songs by sampling them?
khtnx.
Maybe you should get your degree in Music Composition & Theory before you start running your uneducated, irritating mouth about shit you don't know a thing about?
What the Fuck? Are you all on fucking drugs? Jason is the most amazing person ever. And anyone thinks otherwise is a dumbass just like this fucking place. Fucking waste of space.
The melodies sound a little similar on the chorus I guess, but they're a long way from identical. And the choruses finish in totally different ways- Mraz's song has a bridge on the end that's a totally different melody. And the lyrics bear no resemblance at all.
If you search long enough, I'd expect there's probably something that sounds similar to any song in the world. *shrug*
Not even remotely close. Perez you must be getting hard up for your own material because these tunes are not even close. Mraz is a true artist with more creativity in his little finger then you have in your entire being. How many hundreds of truly great songs has he written and you think he needs to sponge off of the likes of her? Please, get your ears tested and do the world a favor by trying to find something original to write about.
Jason Mraz happens to be my FAVORITE singer, and he's one of the most ORIGINAL on the scene.
I'd like to see his reaction to this supposed "plagiarism".
A lot of songs sound "alike" and I don't think this is the case. There are only so many chord progressions in the world. It's going to happen. This is so stupid.
You're bringing him down to the status of Avril Lavigne. That's low.
Uh, first of all, who cares?! This isn't even news worthy..
Second, who cares about Mckay & that song? They suck anyway
Lastly, Lucky is one of the most beautiful collabs. i've heard recently
ok usually i trust what you have to say, and if you know jason at all you would know how kind hearted and what kind of simpleton he is.
its really wrong of you to say this about him…in reality you can take any damn rap song and they are all the same…dont call out jason because he has two of the same notes, maybe even one same measure as this person that people barley know.
all jason ever is is genuine.
Definitely totally different songs. I only hear an extremely small similarity, but it is absolutely not plagiarism. Jason Mraz doesn't need to rip off someone else's music, he's awesome. Shame shame shame on you Perez. Say you're sorry.
mmmmm Jason…
are you fucking crazy?? Doesn't sound alike at all you moron.
wtf? they sound NOTHING alike.
they're both catchy tunes doesn't mean they're plagiarized. plus the record company already has the say.
if u looking for plagiarism, check out some of the rap songs that are out recently cause they all sound the same.
Similar, but not identical… melodically I can see where you're coming from, but it's not exact! And so many songs sound like so many other songs anyway….
listen to the chorus. maybe the chord progression the vocals follow have similarities, but honestly, these songs are nothing alike. i will, however, say that jason's chord progression isn't well - super unique - in the chorus, though it fits his vocals (which are definitely not jacked from "david"). seriously, put more thought into your accusations before you share them with the world. i really cannot believe you compared these songs. i believe it was just a bad idea man.
The David song is awful she's singing about David and the Colbie song is cute about being in love with your best friend.
My first and last time on here… heard from my workmate today that there was some nonsense about Jason plagiarising someone else's song, so stopped by to find out what's going on… and well, NONSENSE is what it is!… the two songs have soooo many differences that the thought would never have crossed my mind!
Jason is too talented to need to copy anyone, but itz really cool to see so many of his fans here defending his honour! Waiting impatiently for his new album to come out.
both give me a headache after 5 seconds…who cares
Don't create stories out of crap. Just when I read a few things on this site that seem credible I see something like this trying to make conflict where there isn't one. Shame.
Obviously you know nothing about music. Jason is the shit.
Um, not really. That's a stretch- one's minor, one's major.
i don't think they sound alike at all. I like the mraz song better.
They're in a similar style and the choruses are a little alike, but there are many unique elements as well. In reality, there are only so many combinations of notes–songs will wind up echoing other songs, and this is hardly the first or most clear example of it. Don't read too much into this–I happen to like both songs.
First of all, no these don;t sound a thing alike..but anyways if you knew anything about jason, you would know that he does plenty of covers in his sets…bright eyes was on the sold out Cd and that was a live set.. He's done plenty of covers that have appeared on songs he records or have been out out there on the internet, wonderwall integrated with remedy, one love with i'll do anything, three little birds with i'm yours, future boy cover, rocketman etc are songs that he does regularly. He uses influential songs with his music
Wrong again…first CD to have collaborations (major label) for jason, how can u compare this song to every other record…? Ignorance
Perez I love your site man, but your smoking something, these two songs sound nothing alike foo, get your ears checked. Plus Jason Mraz unlike many other guitar playing male vocalists who shall remain nameless, has an insane voice and musical ability so he can create original stuff. Music is all about inspiration anyways so if he hears something somewhere that he can incorporate into his own music than thats a talen in and of itself.
Get off the good stuff Perez theres no plagiarism and no coincidence since they dont even sound alike
I realize that they both sound very similar but the women's voice that you hear on Mraz's song is Cobie Caillat and she is credited on his album. so there you have it….ALL the facts. stop assuming it is Plagiarism
The similar melody is clearly coincidental, settle down.
this is the worst comparison ever
Nothing alike! Mraz is the shit!