Was That Your Idea?
Date: February 4th, 2010In my teenage years I thought I had created my own genre. My supposedly unique idea was to combine the rhythm and programmed nature of dance music with the aggression and vocal style of metal music. I’d been perfecting this idea for a couple of weeks until I was alerted that my music sounded similar to industrial and EBM. I’d never heard of these genres before and my accuser referred me to two specific songs by two different bands. I couldn’t dispute the fact that my music sounded similar.
When the time is ripe for certain things, these things appear in different places in the manner of violets coming to light in early spring.
— Farkas Bolyai
Simultaneous discovery, or what science historians call multiples are extremely common phenomenona. Natural selection, the polio vaccine, the telephone and the first law of thermodynamics are among countless theories, discoveries and inventions that have been made in a short space of time by people working independently of each other and completely unaware of their peer’s work.
A case of plagiarism or multiple independent discovery?
Scientific development is inevitable, and the concept of multiples parallels with music closely. Whilst it would be unfair to label the creative process behind music, or any other form of art as a science, music does indeed follow rules. Even if you’re not abiding to them by the book, the vast majority of compositions follow rules about rhythm, melody and harmony. If these rules aren’t followed, the result is often displeasing to the ear and you’ll probably not even want to classify what you’ve just heard as music.
Another thing to note is that musicians are undoubtedly influenced by the music they’ve heard throughout their lives be it consciously or subconsciously. Pick a track. Can you honestly say you’ve heard nothing like it before? That it is completely unique? Choose any song and it could almost certainly be compared to a song written in the past and strong similarities could be drawn between the two tracks.
It’s no secret that plagiarism is rife within the creative industries. Just take a look at the Timbaland controversy or listen to Indian filmi music. Whilst it is definitely unfair to exploit the artistic work of others, it’s also important to encourage other artists to be creative and march ahead in the direction of their predecessors. The secret to creating original and innovative music isn’t to do something that’s never been done before – that’s fairly impossible. It’s to approach the classic concepts and ideas in a fresh way.
Some really good points there… I’ve not really thought the progress of music could be compared to the progression of science. Wow, it’s made me think twice.
I had no idea Do It was copied from another song! What a poor excuse too!
It’s not right for bigger artists to steal from smaller ones and not expect retaliation.
Vik
Actually i totally agree about being influenced by what you listen to. To name 2 cases : Zeppelin were successfully sued for “whole lotta love” and another band – i think U2 – got away with as the judge said “there are only so many notes”.
I think the fear of “accidental plagiarism” has led a lot more people to experiment with unusual dynamics/instruments for the type of music traditionally associated with their field. As you say you can write something and someone will say how its sounds like this or that, i’ve done it myself as has the person i used to work with who had never heard the song i said it sounded like (or even heard of it).
I think the judge was spot on, Stuart. The possibilities of melodies and chords may seem endless, but if you take a look at it in depth with the way the melody might work with the chords and the way everything relates with each other musically there is a bit of a limit than you might think.
It is indeed true about the blatant copyright infringements in Hindi filmi music. Whilst it is breaking the law, I think it appeals to us listeners who are familiar with the original work as a light hearted kind of joke, and not in the same vein as the bully Timbaland.
You have to remember that copyright laws aren’t really taken seriously in Eastern countries, and people will act on what they know they can get away with.
how can u really say that shobnah? stealing is stealing, it doesn’t matter whos done it, its still a crime. you cant condone one criminal and punish another…
Funny you should mention this, Men At Work have just hit the news for their hit ‘Down Under’.
They apparently ripped off song from Girl Guides called ‘Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree’. They are have been ordered to pay 60% and I believe that comes to £33 million according to Daily Mail.
That’s going to kill the band since they were pretty much a one hit wonder.
Carmen, I wasn’t talking about stealing a song from an unknown and making millions, I see the music in the Hindi films more as a tongue in cheek reference… I still see it as plagiarism, but even to the songwriters it’s not worth pursuing as a court case.
I’m not surprised about Timbaland or the Hindi film industry, it’s so common everywhere as artists are getting lazy and don’t even care to give any credits to the original artists,I think it’s the least they can do!
Wow thats quite interesting, I’m reading more on the discovery now. I guess it makes sense really as in societies people have the same wants and needs so similar products would be made independently.
Some people need do differentiate between inspiration and intellectual theft.