Line up the Fly

Jul 5, 2007 at 8:24 AM
13 comments

Cristina requested a comparison between Elastica vs Wire. So here it is:

There's really no doubt about it, Elastica ripped off that "I am the Fly" chorus in their "Line Up" single. Would a 10 second rip off warrant a lawsuit? That's exactly what I think is happening in the Rubinoo's lawsuit: they are suing for one alleged copied line in a song.

So listen to The Rubi-boos' version and Avril's "Girlfriend" (in Japanese) and can you honestly tell me they are the same song or that Avril deliberately stole their chorus?

The Rubinoos - I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

1 comment

Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend (Japanese)

5 comments

July 05, 2007 08:08 AM vu vu@weheartmusic.com elasticated.org avrillavigne.com rubinoos.com

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Natalie Imbruglia ripped off James - She's a star when she released Torn.
It's just one of many. It's all part of the game - ask any rapper.

[this is good]

A good site for song samples vs. the original: http://www.illegal-art.org/

Check out the audio section, where you can download the original and samples (or rip-offs -- whichever you prefer to call them) and compare. :)

Funny - Lush did a bona fide cover of the Rubinoos track (I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend).

yep, it's one of my favorite covers

[this is good]

Thanks, Vu -- always lovely. Elastica also ripped off Wire's Three Girl Rumba in Connection. Was there ever any legal action taken? I don't remember.

How? I don't hear it. Torn was a cover that was given to Natalie Imbruglia by one of the writers. It was originally released in 1995.

Maybe it was the other way around but listen to the guitar.
And if I am wrong I apologise. Sounds spot on to me. But then I am notorious for getting things wtong!

Let's not forget Elastica's Connection and Wire's Three Girl Rhumba which is spot on impersonation.

Samples are one thing, Rappers after Puffy have out and out started ripping whole melodies, but there are a lot of samples that are reconstructed into completly different sounding riffs.

I'll listen again, but honestly I couldn't hear the similarity at all. I'd actually forgotten all about that James song, and only now realized that Keeley Hawes is in the video. She's no Diana Dors, but very, very cute.

imho wire was practically begging to be ripped off just by their very existence. all of their songs are only partially good. there is always something missing or something that probably could have been improved on. ill even bet wire was rather interested in who might be able to fix their songs.

but ill bet the rubinoos had more of a creative investment in their pop tunes, even if they were simple ones. i read their wiki and it seemed they experienced some fame in their heyday. even though i like avril, im all for artist rights, so im going to have to side with the rubinoos. the song just sounds too much alike to me. its not a big deal. avril probably has tons of money. ill bet she can just pay them off. its their song, so they deserve it.

they seem rather unfashionable, at least now, but they did write that chorus and they deserve to be credited. i think the lawyer threw the rolling stones comment in there, because the rolling stones sues everyone. therefore hes hoping people will think the song isn't sue-worthy and all since the jagger didn't take a stab, but it is.

not to sound disagreeable. :)

cris,
From www.illegal-art.org:

Elastica*
"Connection"
The British punk band Wire thought the main guitar riff from this song sounded too similar to its "Three Girl Rhumba," released in the 70s. In 1995, Wire threatened Elastica with legal action, and the matter was settled out of court.

Download Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba"

interesting thanks for that bit of info vu

Line up the Fly

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