Is Uptown Funk plagiarism and what else was ‘stolen’ (borrowed!) in disco

This week the message came that Uptown Funk would be plagiarism. The Sequence, a rap group from the eighties (with no hits on their name) claimed the song would be quite like their song Funk You Up. I think the simularities are very very very little, but there are several cases where it is more obvious.

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FlinterFile: Warren G & Nate Dogg- Regulate

In 1994, Warren G. & Nate Dogg made their debut on the music scene. Warren G. made a song in his appartment, with his musical equipment stored in a bedroom. With no furniture in the appartment and his the poo of his dog all over the floor, he still asked Nate Dogg to record his part. Warren G. made a microphone in the closet, so Nate Dogg could record his part. In the song, there is also a sample from Michael McDonald (I Keep Forgettin’), a dialogue from the movie Young Guns and a quote from Bob James. All together, it made a number 2 hit in the US and a number 5 hit in the UK. Enjoy

Warren G. & Nate Dogg- Regulate

Song of the day: Snap!- The Power

In 1990, Snap! released their third single The Power. The song starts with a Russian line, which says an American compagny has started the production of a voice-controlled computer for blind people. Originally, the complete song vocals were made up of samples, but for a US release, they couldn’t use those, since they were not authorized to do that. Instead, they re-recorded the song with different vocals and still used some samples. The result: number 1 in the UK, Canada, the Netherlands and several other countries, number 2 in the US. Enjoy

Snap!- The Power

Song of the day: Yarbrough & Peoples- Don’t Stop The Music

In 1980, Yarbrough & Peoples made their debut. They brought the song to number 7 in the UK and number 19 in the US, and even number 1 in the US R&B chart. After the song left the charts, it became a favourite to sample in other songs. Artists who sampled the song were TLC, Puff Daddy and 2PAC. Enjoy this lovely disco hit

Yarbrough & Peoples- Don’t Stop The Music

Song of the day: Brenda Lee- Sweet Nothin’s

In 1959, Brenda Lee released the song Sweet Nothin’s. The song, written by Ronnie Self, peaked at number 4 in both the US and the UK. The song itself doesn’t have a special history, but it has been a favourite to sample. Kanye West used a sample, as well as Sigma in their hit Nobody To Love. Enjoy

Brenda Lee- Sweet Nothin’s

Song of the day: The Bucketheads- The Bomb

Tonight it’s party time! That’s another song, but let’s talk about the nineties house classic, made by the Bucketheads, which actually was one Buckethead, better known as Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez. He made this song, used a sample of the Chicago song Street Player. For the ones who want to know: it’s the lyrics, Street sounds swirling through my mind. I have misunderstood those, because I’m always singing “Beat time rolling through my mind”, which does not make sense, I know. But most songs do not make sense, especially house songs. However, a great song, enjoy

The Bucketheads- The Bomb (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind)

Song of the day: Tiziano Ferro- Perdono

In 2001, an Italian singer made his debute with the album Xdono. The lead single made it to number one in lots of countries, like Austria, Spain, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. The music was based on a sample of R. Kelly. Though I do not very much like R Kelly, I do like this song. Not typically summer, but it has the right feeling for a summer day with a bit of rain (like today). Enjoy

Tiziano Ferro- Perdono

Song of the day: EMF- Unbelievable

This song comes from the early nineties (1990)! And it has some influences from a US comedian in it. The words ‘you’re unbelievable’ and the oh! in the beginning were sampled from Andrew Dice Clay. Thereby, there’s another sample from a Hi-Teck 3, which was a project from Technotronic. However, the rest of the song was made by EMF, and what a hit it was. Enjoy

EMF- Unbelievable

Summer Song of the Day #17: Underdog Project- Summer Jam 2003

This is a song with some history. Let’s start with the original release of the single in 2001. I suppose, although I’m not sure, that it became no hit.
However, never give up: in 2003 the single was released again, this time with a lot of success. By the way: that’s the reason for the 2003 after Summer Jam.
In the song, the Underdog Project used several samples from the Sunclub, from the hit Fiesta. This song was released in 1997.
And all this history together made it to a big summer hit, which is on number 17 in the Summer Song Of The Day Top 20!

Number 20: Underdog Project vs The Sunclub- Summer Jam 2003

Song of the day: Mel & Kim- Rocking Around The Christmas Tree

With less than a week to go before it’s Christmas, I will today promote a Christmas song with a funny clip.

But first: U Can’t Touch This! I’ve been looking up some information on the song, and where is it? Here! U Can’t Touch This promotes MC Hammer as a rapper.
The whole song is based on a sample of Rick James’ Super Freak, but the lyrics are written by MC Hammer. He says that he’s magic, and that he can’t touch Rick James in the lyrics.
But, because of this, it is such a perfect song! It was a number one hit for MC Hammer and he won a Grammy with it.

Okay, enough about the song of yesterday, let’s move on to the song of today.
It’s actually a song for charity, for Comic Relief. The name of the singers are a parody on a sister act, and the original was recorded in 1958 by Brenda Lee.
Don’t know it yet? Here’s the answer:
Mel (Smith) & Kim (Wilde) with Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree!

Tomorrow two new songs, and after that we are going to have some nice Christmas songs…