Joe Satriani sues Cold Play

Did Coldplay Steal Their Big Hit?

Joe Satriani, the famed and respected guitarist, has filed suit again Chris Martin and Coldplay.

The issue: that their soaring, magnificent song, “Viva La Vida,” also the title track from their Grammy-nominated albumof the same name, is plagiarized.

Satriani says a major portion of the song comes from his 2004 instrumental, “If I Could Fly.” The song is on his 10^th album, “Is There Love in Space?” Listen to it and decide for yourself. And a You Tuber has already done the comparison work if you’re interested. Yikes!

Frankly, the similarity is shocking. It’s not going to take a musicologist very long to testify on this one. Not only are the two strikingly similar, the melody, the chord structure is surprisingly reminiscent of “Viva La Vida.” Listening to it, you can only wonder why it wasn’t a hit in the first place. That, of course, is another story altogether!

The Coldplay record is credited to all four members of the group. So the question will be, which one of them heard “If I Could Fly” and transposed it over to the group, either by accident or intentionally.

In the meantime, this should pose a dilemma for the Grammy Awards. One listen to that link above by the committee that bestowed nominations on Coldplay and they’re going to be in a bind. Of course, the obvious answer is to let the courts decide the outcome. But right now the Grammys are set up almost as a coronation for Coldplay come February 8^th. It’s not good.

Sure its close, but coincidences happen. I doubt Coldplay intentionally ripped off anyone. This is the last you will hear of this as it will be settled out of court. Joe Satriani will get to have his mortgage paid off by either the Bush Administration or Coldplay. The American Dream, baby.

The Grammys. Bwahahahahahahaha!!! In the words of Deliverance, What a Joke!

I say let'em settle it in a steel cage death match. Whoever comes out in one piece claims ownership of the music.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I say let'em settle it in a steel cage death match. Whoever comes out in one piece claims ownership of the music.

I like freddy's idea, that would be absolutely awesome.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I say let'em settle it in a steel cage death match. Whoever comes out in one piece claims ownership of the music.

4 hipsters against an axe slinging skinhead. nice.

I gotta hear this to see how similar it is. If it's just a chord progression, that will be pretty much impossible to prove it's a rip off.

mc666 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

I say let'em settle it in a steel cage death match. Whoever comes out in one piece claims ownership of the music.

4 hipsters against an axe slinging skinhead. nice.

My money would be on the axe-slinging skinhead!!

Fat Freddy wrote:

mc666 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

I say let'em settle it in a steel cage death match. Whoever comes out in one piece claims ownership of the music.

4 hipsters against an axe slinging skinhead. nice.

My money would be on the axe-slinging skinhead!!

Mine too!

spectrefate wrote:

Sure its close, but coincidences happen. I doubt Coldplay intentionally ripped off anyone. This is the last you will hear of this as it will be settled out of court. Joe Satriani will get to have his mortgage paid off by either the Bush Administration or Coldplay. The American Dream, baby.

Sounds like a rip-off to these ears, but Spec's probably right. Besides, that would be a pretty ballsy move on Coldplay's part to intentionally rip-off another artist like that. But it does give me another reason do dislike those wankers. Go Joe!!!

Temple of Blood wrote:

I gotta hear this to see how similar it is. If it's just a chord progression, that will be pretty much impossible to prove it's a rip off.

Click on the you tube video I posted, it's got the clod play song, Joe's song, and the two together> That one sounds open and shut to me. If alice cooper won against KISS (I'm 18 v dreamin'), this one is a slam dunk.

Joe will be able to pay off his mortgage with this one!

Usually I call these things a joke, because generally it's just a similarity. This one is a little different. The two together are seamless. That's not just a similar chord progression. I don't know.

You can't trust writing credits these days, especially with all the ghostwriters out there. It may be credited to the four Coldplay members, but someone else may very well have penned the song for them. Either way, this one may be tough for Coldplay to wiggle out of.

It's going to be alright for Coldplay. There's no reason for them to shiver over this. Because the hardest part is to realize that everything's is not lost and God put a smile upon your face for a reason.

It sounds almost identical to me, but I can't imagine critical darlings Coldplay sitting around listening to Satch, since Satch is considered so uncool. Of course their producer Brian Eno I am sure is aware of Joe Satriani, either way it should be interesting but I can see the Coldplay's lawyers quickly settling this out of court and giving him a writing credit on future pressings.

Yeah, the simlarities are pretty damning. I'm somewhat of a Coldplay fan, but I've never really liked this song. When I heard that this was the first single off the album, I was hoping that this song was not indicitive of what else was on there. For the most part it's not, but I prefer their first 3 albums. Though I like Coldplay, give me Keane or Feeder over this band.

GET'EM SATCH!!!

I have nothing against Coldplay, and I am somewhat dubious about the likelihood of them deliberately plagerising Satriani. Still, it is a remarkably similar melody.

On a side note, Coldplay went to and met at my uni. Chris Martin even lived in the same halls of residence as me. Crazy.

Satriani has more talent than all of them combined

Alex

exact33 wrote:

Satriani has more talent than all of them combined

Alex

Yeah, because 0 plus 0 is still 0.

Schbopo wrote:

exact33 wrote:

Satriani has more talent than all of them combined

Alex

Yeah, because 0 plus 0 is still 0.

Ouch.

It does sound very similar, but I really doubt it's anything more than a weird coincidence. It reminds me of a few years ago with the comparison of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Danny California" and Tom Petty's "Maryjne." Pure coincidence. Peace.

the sentinel wrote:

It does sound very similar, but I really doubt it's anything more than a weird coincidence. It reminds me of a few years ago with the comparison of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Danny California" and Tom Petty's "Maryjne." Pure coincidence. Peace.

Funny that RIck RUbin produced both albums!

thejokeriv wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

It does sound very similar, but I really doubt it's anything more than a weird coincidence. It reminds me of a few years ago with the comparison of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Danny California" and Tom Petty's "Maryjne." Pure coincidence. Peace.

Funny that RIck RUbin produced both albums!

See, I didn't think that one was similar. A 4/4 beat will match up every time.

I have everything Joe has ever put out. Huge fan. That being said, his last 3 or 4 albums kind of lack a real spark of originality. His melodies are really basic and to someone who's not a fan, maybe boring and simple. But I love his music.

So, that song is REALLY basic. It's a great driving song or biking song and it sounds so much better on cd than that crappy sounding song bite from U-tube. But it isn't really that special or original. I personally dont see how it's a rip off. It seems to me to be a very basic melody that couldve easily been copied without even consciuosly knowing it. Yes, it does sound very much like it but the whole feel of it is different. I love Joe Satriani and couldnt care less for Coldplay. but I gotta think this case is quite a stretch for Joe to be suing them. Let it go, Joe.



Well after hearing it again together simultaneously, I think this is pretty much a rip off. I dont see how Coldplay can get out of this one.

You can't sue over a chord progression, so if it was just that there wouldn't be a case. But a melody is a different animal entirely, the two tracks played together are pretty concrete evidence in my mind.