Homage Vs Rip-off

Having listened to a lot of 'Ol School Company tunes recently, I can hear a lot of familiar sounds, familair phrases and strangley familiar notes that I know and love from Prince.

Now I'm not saying that our main man is a plagarist by any stretch of the imagination... no, I'm just signposting a few moments where our Purple Prince either lifts a piece or two from the soul/funk World as a nod of appreciation OR he's a thief in the temple (without realising!)

Exhibit A:
'Slow Jam' by Midnight Star.... very very 'International Lover' on the intro... even usng "may I have this dance?"

Exhibit B:
'Turn Off The Lights' by Teddy Pendergrass..... 'Shhhhh' (you have to hear this to hear the influence.....

There are many many more but most recently was 'Dreamer' which has elements DIRECTLY (not slightly) lifted from 'If 6 Was 9' by Jimi Hendrix.

Check them out and tell me I'm wrong.

Obviously great musicians influence great musicians and I'm in no way suggesting that Prince is a rip-off merchant. he can often take a great groove or line and give it a new vibrancy. I'm not a fan of the "Haters On The Internet" and thsi post is merely an observation rather than a criticism.

Any more examples?

check out some sly stone records

"Slow Jam," had more airplay on the radio and still does today in comparison to "International Lover, " which has that pornaudastic flavor.

Jerky said:

Accujack said:

lotusflower said:

Accujack said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't "Slow Jam" on "No Parking on the Dance Floor", which was released after "International Lover" (1999)?

Yep, 1999 was released in 1982 and the Midnight Star album a year later, just Google'd it!

Compare the mix of drums and rhythm guitar on George Clinton's Computer Games album with Prince songs like 'Erotic City,' 'Shockadelica' and 'Scarlet Pussy.'

Listen to "Get it on "by T Rex very similar vibe as Cream,
The melody of "little red corvette" was borrowed from "Up the ladder to the roof"
from the Supremes.

&

keep them coming! All these songs should be in your collection anyway.
[b][Edited 5/4/09 12:56pm]

Jerky said:

there's lots clear influences on Prince tunes. like others have said, Sly &Family Stone, Funkadelic, George Clinton and obviously Grand Central Station. Also, check out The Brothers Johnson....sick stuff and very Prince-like.

there's threads on here about 'purple rain' being a ripp of Journey's 'faithfully'. it's pretty similar...

but then Prince gets ripped too. 'slave 4 u', 'runnaway' (janet jackson, produced by Jam & Lewis), etc... i'm sure you could add to this list, listening to Pharrell produced hits.

one last question on this subject if any of you can shed some light... Janet Jackosn's 'what have you done for me lately' sounds very prince. i remember on some Nude Tour 90' dates Prince would cover this and shout out at the begining, "who wrote this?"

....did he.?

Oh yeah, haven't seen anyone else mention this one, though I have a few times

off 3121, Love's chorus
"like a bird flying over the hilltop"

is pretty similar to Janet Jackson
"we are a part of the rhythm nation"

On the flip side, Justin Timberlake & Ciara have lifted the groove of 'Controversy' on their very Prince-sounding 'Love Sex Magic'

http://www.youtube.com/wa...TYT-SiZeFo

yes? no?