Posted by Bob Radil on May 26, 2025 at 13:39:32:
In Reply to: My Sweet Lord posted by Keith McComb on May 23, 2025 at 21:45:25:
I'll agree "My Sweet Lord" wasn't an intentional rip off.
Influenced, yes, but not an intentional rip-off.
Some hear the similarity, some don't.
I do. Snoop doesn't.
A few years ago someone released a recording that was said to be a rip-off of Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up". I heard a similar "feel", but NOT what I would consider a rip-off. But the guy who recorded it got in trouble for it.
So, where do we draw the line between plagiarism and a simple case of influence?
On a similar subject, in 1967 Tommy James & the Shondells had a #1 hit, "I Think We're Alone Now". Played backwards, segments were used(with forward lyrics :) ), to create their next single, "Mirage". Since both songs were written by Ritchie Cordell and Bo Gentry, no plagiarism was involved. But, what if someone were to take a well-known hit by an unconnected artist, reverse it, write some forward lyrics for it, and then release it as a new song? Do copywrite laws cover such an example?
Just a thought...