Dec 052008
Guitar virtuoso, 52 year old Joe Satriani has filed a lawsuit against the British band Coldplay, charging that a ‘substantial original portion’ of their song Viva La Vida is strikingly similar to his 2004 instrumental If I Could Fly.
It was just announced that Coldplay has received seven Grammy nominations for their album Viva La Vida.
The copyright infringement suit was filed in Los Angeles federal court on December 4. Satriani has asked for a jury trial, damages and profits from Viva La Vida.
Check out a comparison below and see what you think.
This gave Satrianin a come back because he was nothing. Somebody compared him to Hendrix, What a joke. He’s boring. Coldplay is the future.
Songs are identical except for pick ups. It could have been inadvertent, but coldplay should own up, and be the gentlemen that they should be.
The most suspicious thing about all of this is WHY did Joe Satriani wait SIX MONTHS after the release of the album to conveniently sue them right when the GRAMMY’s where announced? I mean, he was quoted as saying that the first time he heard the song he knew it was his song… so why wait so long to sue?? I think the whole thing is to get himself in the limelight…
Honestly, that’s shameful…Depends on who has the best lawyer though.
Satrianin is no one hit wonder or small time bum. He is a guitar legend and has enormous respect in the biz. I hope he wins against these frauds, who lets face it, have been ripping off U2′s sound for years. As far as Coldplay’s lyrics go, they may be loved by fans, but inside the industry they are regarded as complete fluff – a joke.
I saw this too! You’re right it isn’t the first time Coldplay has been accused of stealing, it’s shameful that they would do something like that. It looks like he stole the vocal melody from the first video, and then stole Satriani’s melody for the song… He/they deserve what they get. Satriani is a legen, and to the idiot “Coldplay fan” Satriani is not “and old guitar” anything, he is a LEGEND. Jesus is old, do you want to take him out and bring in a new religion? Yeah Stupid example, but I’m sick… and at work… happy day without a gay! lol
Sorry, there’s nothing so original about that chord progression & melody that two musicians couldn’t come up with it independently.
What about the song by the Creaking Boards?It is even closer to the coldplay song than Joe’s!Howard played them back to back on his show and it was obviously the same song.I doubt they have the lawyer muscle of Joe though.Who knows,FTW.
they should squash the squable and cold play should give joe credit (and money ) where credit is due and then they should record this song together with joe on the guitar it would make cold plays song a thousand times better satriani kicks a^&
WOW SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ripped off
Absolutely, I hope Joe wins this, so many mainstream bands taking credit for the creativity of unknown musicians.
I have to admit, it is exactly the same melody/chord progression/structure. I hate the endless lawsuits and I usually agree with the songwriter being sued, but in this case I have to agree with Joe. Look at the precedent with George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord”- an absolute genius- he got ripped off. But if we’re gonna do it to him we gotta do it to everybody under the same circumstances. Sorry Coldplay! This isn’t the first time they’ve been accused of being unoriginal anyway.
Well, the chord progression is the same in both songs. The melodies are very close also. Satriani is very well versed in Theory, I am sure he went over the Coldplay song with a “fine-tooth comb” before initiating the lawsuit.
both songs are super gay
Actually, you CAN copyright the “sound” of a song. If by that you mean the melody and chord progressions. George Harrison had to cough up most of his royalties for “My Sweet Lord” because it sounded like the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine.”
ummm….the difference between weird al and his music is that he gets PERMISSION from and or contacts the band before he rips the song. not to mention that he is making a known obvious parody whereas coldplay are passing off joe’s original music composition without his consent or acknowledgment and in the process are making millions and coming up for grammys. neither are hard up for cash so its obviously a respect deal to. im sure if coldplay would have asked joe or listed his name on the song and given him a cut of the profits this would not have happened. it seems to me that band as big as coldplay probably had knowledge of joe’s song and decided to risk it and have tried to pull on over on old joe just as the red hot chili peppers just a couple of years back did to tom petty. tom petty won the suit because just as this comparison shows the songs are much more alike than not. not to mention that coldplay have no place winning anything as it should be given to radiohead anyway : ] so go joe! give em hell!!!!
hmm, he must have made the lyrics while listening to the song, but i don’t think you can copyright the “sound” of the song. I think when it comes down to the actual specifics, then it’s not an identical replica or even close. Sorry Joe, I see where your coming from but even you know Michael Jackson would lose a case against Weird Al.
ColdPlay completely ripped off Satriani!!
There well maybe some very distinct comparisons.
But why only after it was announced COLDPLAY has been NOMINATED for 7 grammys is this suit been taken out .
*The copyright infringement suit was filed in Los Angeles
federal court on December 4. Satriani has asked for a jury trial, damages and profits from Viva La Vida.
Would seem they are a way of being profited from.
After all this song was out for many months now as is the Viva La Vida Album. It’s has a popularity in USA, Australia and UK to name some of the countries.
Is this a way for a old guitarist to try make some money.
His days are over it is now time for the new.
Uh.. no, sorry. that chord isn’t exactly super imaginative, nice try though
In the youtube video, the names are wrong. the first song that plays is coldplay and the second song is Joe Satriani.