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Thread started 05/03/09 1:06pm

Jerky

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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?
“Tuna, you better do something or else we gonna have to put you back in the can!”
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Reply #1 posted 05/03/09 1:37pm

stanleylieber

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check out some sly stone records
it's time for a new direction / it's time for jazz to die
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Reply #2 posted 05/03/09 1:53pm

Tame

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"Slow Jam," had more airplay on the radio and still does today in comparison to "International Lover, " which has that pornaudastic flavor. cool
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight...
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Reply #3 posted 05/03/09 2:03pm

Accujack

Jerky said:

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?"


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)?
He is exactly who we thought he was
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Reply #4 posted 05/03/09 2:16pm

lotusflower

Accujack said:

Jerky said:

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?"


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! lol
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Reply #5 posted 05/03/09 2:22pm

Accujack

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! lol


Yeah, and I think Babyface either wrote or co-wrote "Slow Jam". Maybe he was bitin' Prince?
[Edited 5/3/09 14:23pm]
He is exactly who we thought he was
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Reply #6 posted 05/03/09 6:04pm

stanleylieber

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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.'
it's time for a new direction / it's time for jazz to die
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Reply #7 posted 05/04/09 12:45pm

keyboardwizz

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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.
peace& headbang
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Reply #8 posted 05/04/09 12:56pm

Jerky

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

“Tuna, you better do something or else we gonna have to put you back in the can!”
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Reply #9 posted 05/04/09 2:10pm

NDRU

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Jerky said:



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.



you mean Voodoo Child?

A lot of things prince does are familiar, and I think that comes with being pop, creating hooks, & writing hundreds of songs. Coincidences happen, especially when you use familiar phrases like "can I have this dance?" If someone wrote about a "purple banana & a truck" I would be more suspicious.

But certain songs seem directly "inspired," such as Dreamer from Jimi, and 3 Chains o Gold from Queen. Neither song steals music in a way that they could sue him for, but the basic styles of the songs seem to be obviously based on the older ones.
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Reply #10 posted 05/04/09 2:43pm

NME

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.?
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Reply #11 posted 05/04/09 3:07pm

NDRU

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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"
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Reply #12 posted 05/06/09 9:34am

Jerky

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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?
“Tuna, you better do something or else we gonna have to put you back in the can!”
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