OBVIOUS RIP-OFFS
... These are not sampled-based song or cover songs (the 'originators' are credited nowhere), but they sound so similar to older song I couldnt help but post the resemblance and denounce them!!

Just check the song and the copycat on YouTube... Believe me, you'll be quite surprised...
I'm gona start with the queen of it : Alicia Keys

Thieves/owners :
Alicia Keys "Fallin' "/ This Is A Man's Man's Man's World (James Brown)
"The Life"/ "Give Me Your Love" (Curtis Mayfield)
"Sexy Thing" ("Men In Black" OST)/ Inner City (Marvin Gaye)
"Lovin You'/ You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman (A. Franklin)
"Prelude To A Kiss"/ Angel (Aretha Franklin)
"Sure Looks Good To Me "/ Until You Come Back To Me (Aretha F.)
"That's How Strong My Love Is"/ Tender Love (Force MDs)
"Love Is My Disease"/ Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)
"This Bed"/ Do Me Baby (Prince)
"Impossible" (written for Christina Aguilera) = If I Ain't Got
You (by Alicia too!)
"Like You'll Never See Me Again"/ Purple Rain (Prince)

50 Cent"Ayo Technology (She Wants It)" = "Courtship Dating" (Crystal
Castles) = whos pimping who?

Dr Dre "Xxxplosive"/ Bumpy's Lament (Isaac Hayes, from 'Shaft' OST)

Robin Thicke "Magic"/ Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield)

John Legend "She Don't Have To Know"/ Just Like A Baby (Sly & The
Family Stone)

Trey Songz "Yo Side Of The Bed"/ Purple Rain" (Prince)

Black Eyed Peas"I Gotta Feeling"/ Open Your Eyes (Snow Patrol:-o

Justin Timberlake"Like I Love You/ Why You Wanna Trip On Me (Michael
Jackson)... The guitar
"Losing My Way"/ The Chauffeur (Duran Duran)

Marques Houston"Can I Call You" I Can't Help It (Michael Jackson)

Craig David"Hidden Agenda"/ "Don't Talk" (Jon B) the verse part is.. wow!

Babyface "The Getting To Know You"/ "The Makings Of You" (Curtis
Mayfield)... Another



... And you? Have you noticed the same on some so-called other 'original' songs? lol..

Post them

anything the Barkays released.

sosgemini said:

::Lord who art in heaven, please let that be one of his crazy sarcastic jokes::

The Barkays:

Freaky Behavior/Super Freak - Rick James
Freakshow On The Dance Floor/No Parking On The Dance Floor - Midnight Star
Unforgettable Dream/Easy - The Commodores
Dance, Party, Etc./DMSR - Prince

Something About You - Ebonee Webb/Head - Prince

James Brown:
"What My Baby Needs Now is a Little More Loving"/"Come L'Amore" (Bobby Womack)
"I Need to Be Loved, Loved, Loved (Hot)"/"Fame" (David Bowie)
"Makin' Love"/"Skin Tight" (The Ohio Players)
"The Grunt"/"Keep On Doin'" (The Isley Brothers)

The Isleys:
"Choosey Lover"/"Devotion" (Earth, Wind & Fire)

----
Best ones I can come up with.

vainandy said:

I shoulda kept my smart mouth shut, then.

Harlepolis said:

Yeah you know someone was gonna bring them up.

Joe:
"Let's Stay Home Tonight"/"Sexual Healing" (Marvin Gaye)

Maze:
"Silky Soul Singer"/"What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye) - though that one was OBVIOUS since it was a tribute song and all.

I really can't think of any at the moment....

Just one, but I'm not even sure about calling it a rip.

Prince's "Erotic City" reminds me so much of Laid Back's "White Horse".

You asked for obvious, but some orgers pointed this one out to me:

"Freak A Holic" by Egyptian Lover = "Free World" (Jesse Johnson's Revue)

I just looked up that Trey Songz video for Yo Side of the Bed. Man! That was sad!!!

vainandy said:

"Freaky Behavior" and "Unforgettable Dream" both win hands down : Not only they ripped the music, chord and 'theme" BUT they copied the vocal tone as well!!
loool!!

Timmy84 said:

OMG!! Just checked Earth Wind & Fire song... It does sound like 'Chosey Lover'!!
[Edited 5/27/10 15:31pm]

Two others:
Avant "Read Your Mind" - "Strip For You" (R. Kelly)
Usher (Yeah, the 'next Michael Jackson ) "Do It To Me" - "The Beautiful Ones" (Prince)
Marques Houston "My Favorite Girl" - "Let Me Love You" (Mario)

FrenchGuy said:

whaaa I gotta compare those two

FrenchGuy said:

Or more like "Choosey Lover" sounded like "Devotion". I named the copycat/rip-off first and the original version second.

The Isleys didn't copy EVERYTHING about "Devotion" just mainly the chorus and the melody. And of course there's the guitar by Ernie.

Another song the Isleys (or Ronald Isley & Angela Winbush) imitated (or two songs):

"Float On" (1996)/"Mary Jane" (Rick James) and "Float On" (The Dramatics)
[Edited 5/27/10 15:46pm]

Marvin's "Praise" admitted a Stevie "rip" but I still haven't found out WHAT song though. I honestly can't compare it. Or even the songs from "Midnight Love", they just seem like tributes than rip-offs/copycats.

THOUGH I would admit the chant in "Time to Get It Together" imitated Stevie's chant in "As".
[Edited 5/27/10 15:48pm]

Timmy84 said:

:hmmm2/ .. I doubt it. Its way tooo similar, bro

FrenchGuy said:

I was trying to give the two songs some credit on their own but I see what you mean.

Borderline by Madonna rips off Stephanie Mill's Never Knew Love Like This Before.

HrdwcH said:

YES!

Love both songs too lol
[Edited 5/27/10 16:02pm]

HrdwcH said:

I wouldn't say its a rip off, the intro is the same and thats about it. But then again, both songs were composed/co-composed by Reggie Lucas(of Lucas & Mtume team).
[Edited 5/27/10 16:03pm]

Harlepolis said:

Yeah. There were some changes though. So yeah not an obvious one.

OK, ya right! Shoulda done my homework!

Here's another 1. I'm Lovin' It - Justin Timberfake - 7779311 - The Time.

Britney Spears - Slave 4 U and Nasty Girl - Vanity 6

Obvious rip-off:

"Emotions" by Mariah Carey/"Best of My Love" (The Emotions)

It would've been a real rip-off if Maurice White hadn't sued.

Cashflow Mine All Mine(produced by Larry Blackmon)/ The Fatback Band I Need Lovin

Timmy84 said:

I actually noticed that a long time ago. Glad you pointed it out.

vainandy said:

Shut the Funk Up and Move Your Boogie Body

I was trying to post the Unsung piece showing that they
were years ahead of Prince and Rick James. James Alexander
said before Rick became Rick James he used to come to the
BarKays shows and take pictures of Larry Dodson.
You have to type in BarKays and look it up yourself.