- yesterday
From borrowed melodies to reimagined classics, these songs may have sparked legal battles but became legendary in their own right. Join us as we count down the most successful musical "borrowings" that turned into beloved hits despite their controversial origins. Some were settled in court, others acknowledged their inspiration, but all became cultural touchstones.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at the songs that may have been heavily inspired
00:12but ended up as classics in their own right.
00:16They're really rockin' in Boston, in Pittsburgh, PA, deep in the heart of Texas, and run off
00:25for me.
00:3010.
00:31Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
00:41Although The Verve never became big outside of the UK, their greatest hit remains timeless.
00:48Bittersweet Symphony has a deep sense of sadness and self-reflection, as if speaking to each
00:54of its listeners' personal journeys.
00:57The powerful violin loop tugs at your soul, drawing us into the song notes from start to
01:03finish.
01:04But the now-iconic loop is sampled from an orchestral version of the Rolling Stones song The Last
01:09Time.
01:18The Verve licensed the orchestral version, they were sued for failing to secure rights
01:23to the original.
01:24The dispute was finally resolved in 2019, allowing the world to fully appreciate Bittersweet Symphony
01:31for all its haunting beauty.
01:33You know I can't change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change, but I'm here
01:40in my mold, I am here in my mold.
01:459.
01:46Stay With Me – Sam Smith
01:48Still ranking as the biggest hit in Sam Smith's career, Stay With Me is a gospel-inspired ballad
02:00that continues to resonate with listeners.
02:03Its raw portrayal of loneliness and longing is amplified by the song's soulful melody.
02:09The message of clinging to love, even when it's slipping away, is universal, connecting
02:14even with those who haven't experienced heartbreak.
02:17Interestingly, Tom Petty's name is credited as one of the songwriters.
02:32It's because of the uncanny similarity between Stay With Me and Petty's 1989 hits, I won't
02:39back down.
02:48Petty's version is more positive and upbeat, but the melodic overlap is impossible to ignore.
02:54Still, there's no hard feelings between Petty and Smith, with the former calling it
03:00a musical accident.
03:02Number 8.
03:03Wholesome Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
03:07As far as lyrics go, Johnny Cash lifted them straight out of Crescent City Blues, a song
03:13written by composer Gordon Jenkins and performed by his wife Beverly Marr.
03:18I hear the train a-comin', it's rollin' round the bend.
03:26Two decades later, Cash settled a lawsuit for reported $75,000.
03:31Still, Cash deserves credit for tonally reinventing Jenkins' song.
03:36That gritty, rhythmic beat captures the dangerous vibe that Cash goes for, turning Folsom Prison
03:43into a foot-tapping, finger-snapping experience.
03:46I'm stuck in Folsom Prison, and time keeps draggin' on.
03:52The song never lets up, starting as strongly as it ends, keeping the adrenaline pumping through
03:59every second.
04:00Sure, it's a rip-off, but the track defined a generation, and left a lasting legacy that
04:06endures to this day.
04:21Number 7.
04:22My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
04:25Following this song's massive success, Harrison lost a copyright lawsuit alleging he had lifted
04:31the melody from He's So Fine by the Chiffons.
04:42Whether you agree that the ex-Beatle subconsciously plagiarized it or not is up to you.
04:48What we do know is that Harrison's song remains a transcendent masterpiece.
04:54It's easy to lose yourself in its gentle rhythm, transporting you to faraway lands that exist
05:00entirely in your imagination.
05:11Even if you aren't a believer, Harrison's vocals and spiritual overtones will make you
05:16one for as long as the song lasts.
05:19It's heartfelt, it's real, and it remains the defining hit of Harrison's career as a solo
05:26artist.
05:33Number 6.
05:36Viva La Vida – Coldplay A crown jewel in Coldplay's discography, Viva
05:49La Vida was a runaway success, topping charts worldwide and winning the Grammy for Song of
05:54the Year.
05:55But shortly after release, guitarist Joe Satriani's lawsuit alleged that the song copied elements
06:02from his composition, If I Could Fly.
06:08Though the case was dismissed, allegations have persisted.
06:16Still, that hasn't stopped fans from enjoying Coldplay's genre-defying hits for years to
06:22come.
06:23The track evokes a grand regal tone, complementing its lyrical themes about fallen kings and the
06:30search for meaning.
06:31Listening to it feels like a journey across centuries of human history, witnessing the rise
06:37fall of empires.
06:44It's the kind of song that still gives you goosebumps no matter how many times you hear it.
06:51Number 5.
06:52Creep.
06:53Radiohead.
06:54Three decades after its release, Creep remains Radiohead's biggest success and one of the
07:08greatest debut singles of all time.
07:11However, the song borrows heavily from the Holly's 1972 hits, The Air I Breathe, with songwriters
07:18Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood receiving songwriting credits after a legal dispute.
07:23Lyrically, it captures how unrequited feelings can border on obsession.
07:36The slow, hazy verses convey a struggle for control before erupting into an overwhelming
07:42chorus as pent-up emotion boils to the surface.
07:56It may not be completely original, but Creep continues to speak for anyone who's ever felt
08:02like they don't belong.
08:04Number 4.
08:06Surfing USA.
08:07The Beach Boys.
08:11When most people think of rock and roll, they picture explosive guitar riffs and gritty,
08:19rebellious lyrics.
08:20But The Beach Boys helped turn surf rock into an influential subgenre.
08:25Chuck Berry deserves equal credit considering the song mirrors the musical structure of his
08:30single, Sweet Little Sixteen.
08:32She just got to have about half a million.
08:39To avoid a prolonged legal dispute, Berry was credited as a co-writer and the band's management
08:45forfeited the copyright to Berry's publisher.
08:47Even so, Surfing USA remains their claim to fame, portraying the carefree spirit of an era
08:54when surfing under the sun represented youth culture.
08:58So, whenever you're feeling down, hit play on Surfing USA and feel all your troubles just drift away.
09:05Everybody's been surfing, surfing USA.
09:11Number 3.
09:12Come As You Are.
09:13Nirvana.
09:14One of Nirvana's most iconic hits,
09:27Come As You Are, consistently ranks among the greatest songs of all time.
09:32But its release nearly didn't happen, as Kurt Cobain was reportedly worried about Killing Joke's
09:37single, 80s, which features a similar guitar riff.
09:42Although rumors of a lawsuit circulated, the dispute was ultimately unresolved.
09:55Today, few are aware of the song's controversial background, instead focusing on what it represents.
10:02Blending guitar solos with thought-provoking lyrics, it's a deeply introspective experience.
10:09The emotions it conjures up remain a beautiful mystery, keeping it relevant and revered for generations of music fans.
10:18No matter how young or old, come as you are, it's in a way that defies explanation.
10:23And I swear that I don't have a gun. No, I don't have a gun.
10:33Number 2. Whole Lotta Love. Led Zeppelin.
10:36Way down inside. Honey, you need it. I'm gonna give you my love.
10:45No act has fused blues and hard rock quite like Led Zeppelin, who remain trailblazers in this form of arts.
10:52Whole Lotta Love is a collision of multiple genres, radiating a sense of control amongst all of its chaos.
10:59The homage to blues is more than just a tribute, however.
11:03As the song borrows from Muddy Waters, You Need Love, written by Willie Dixon.
11:08Baby, way down inside. Woman, you need love. Woman, you need love.
11:17After a legal dispute, Dixon's name was added as a songwriter.
11:21Even with its blues-inspired theme, Whole Lotta Love feels entirely unique, marching to the beat of its own drum.
11:29From killer guitar riffs to the band's infectious energy, it's a rousing track that surges straight through your veins.
11:37Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:49Hello, I Love You. The Doors. Ripped off the drum beat from the kinks all day and all of the nights, but the swagger is all their own.
11:59Hello, I Love You. Won't you tell me your name? Hello, I Love You. Let me jump in your game.
12:07I'm not content to be with you in the daytime.
12:13Lust for Life, Iggy Pop. Same beat from the Supremes' You Can't Hurry Love, yet absolutely slays nonetheless.
12:21Here comes Johnny in again, with a little bit of dogs.
12:28I need love, love, I need my man, I need to find fun.
12:35Born This Way, Lady Gaga. So good a spin on Madonna's Express Yourself, even Madonna approves.
12:42Don't let yourself in regret, just let yourself instead. I'm on the right track, baby, I will fall this way.
12:50What you need is a big, strong hand to lift you to your higher ground.
12:57Borrowed tune. Neil Young. Bold enough to borrow from the Rolling Stones' Lady Jane, and bold enough to make it his own.
13:06I'm singing this borrowed tune. I took from the Rolling Stones. Just heed this plea, my love. Unbended knees, my love.
13:26M-O-R. Blur. The chord sequence is from David Bowie's Boys Keep Swinging, but the attitude is all blur.
13:34Here comes the love, boy and you're a girl. Here comes the heart, I want you.
13:40Boys. Boys keep swinging. Boys always work it out.
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14:02Number 1. Come Together. The Beatles.
14:08Chuck Berry's genius inspired a whole generation, and the Beatles were no exception. Written by John Lennon, Come Together owes its funky rhythm to Berry, becoming one of the band's most iconic tracks. The similarities led to a lawsuit that was settled out of court, although that's never diminished the song's reputation.
14:35It's slower, contemplative style reimagines the original through a rock and roll lens. The brooding tone, shadowy lyrics, and smooth vocals create a noir-like aesthetic that sets it apart from anything else. While true to its era, the song's reach stretches beyond it, uniting generations of music fans.
15:04Into one timeless groove.
15:07Come Together. Right now. Over me.
15:16Which rip-off do you think stands on its own? Let us know in the comments.
15:21Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy.
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