Comments on: Was ‘Blurred Lines’ Stolen From Marvin Gaye? No.

By: egg hegg

egg hegg — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 12:28:42 +0000

*a homage

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 21:26:32 +0000

In reply to Jay. It may have been an inspiration; who knows? TC

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 05:21:28 +0000

I was listening to Marvin Gaye’s Gotta give it up, and for some reason another song came up in my mind, it was Prince’s “Kiss”. Haha…

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 02:36:25 +0000

In reply to Wayne Somerville.

Wayne,
Thanks for the dialogue. I can’t say I hear Blurred Lines that way, but I’m I’m happy to ‘agree to disagree’ with you.
And thanks for reading!
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Wayne Somerville

Wayne Somerville — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 12:46:38 +0000

In reply to Tony Conniff.

Tony, I agree legally it sets the bar too low and would have a chilling effect. And I’m all for the idea that all artists are thieves. When Paul McCartney says he was trying to emulate Motown it came out as “Got To Get You Into My Life”….When Brian Wilson was blown away by Phil Spector’s “Be My Baby” his attempt came out as “Don’t Worry Baby”. I’m just trying to make the point that “Blurred Lines” was a creatively lazy piece of work….just an opinion.

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:21:42 +0000

In reply to Wayne Somerville.

Wayne,
Even accepting the premise of your last sentence, by that standard almost every songwriter who ever lived is liable for plagiarism. That’s the problem with setting the bar so low! Not to mention the chilling effect on creativity, which often starts with ‘copying’.
Thanks for writing,
Tony

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:19:08 +0000

In reply to wallace collins.

Wallace,
So true!
Thanks,
Tony

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:18:32 +0000

In reply to Tres Jordan.

Tres,
Give it a try!
TC

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:17:59 +0000

In reply to Deborah Frost.

Deborah,
I understand. That doesn’t mean the jury can’t be misled or wasn’t responding emotionally. They’re not musicians or musicologists.
Thanks for writing, and for the kind words!
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Wayne Somerville

Wayne Somerville — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 17:13:05 +0000

Basically, Tony, I agree with you. I just think that in this case it is the a combination of the song “form” and the “performance” that makes this more than an homage. Legally, it’s confusing but what is clear to me is that it’s a case of a writer reworking a song “sideways” and reaping the benefits of the original authors brilliant work.

By: wallace collins

wallace collins — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:14:53 +0000

In modern popular music it is understandable that current artists are effectively midgets standing on the shoulders of giants in order to reach new heights… and some similarities are bound to appear in the new works so created. However, when it comes to the particulars and technicalities of copyright law, emotions (particularly envy and jealousy) are usually not well-suited to reaching a correct resolution (and that applies to the jury as well as the many public opinions that abound on this case).

To date, this “Blurred Lines” decision is the only copyright infringement lawsuit ever in which no specific melody, harmony, rhythm or lyrics were copied. The “that songs reminds me of another song” threshold would be a new legal standard. If this is the new threshold for copyright infringement, a lot of modern artists (like Bruno Mars) and 60s British artists (from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin) could be in trouble!

By: Tres Jordan

Tres Jordan — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 04:56:44 +0000

It’s funny but Outkast has a song which sounds even more Marvinish than that one. I myself have always wanted to write a song that evokes that as it was one of those songs we would play over and over again at the party.

By: Deborah Frost

Deborah Frost — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 03:58:35 +0000

Tony, this is really interesting and well informed, as both you and your music always are- and I haven’t read all of the comments above, not all of which refer directly to this particular case. But THIS particular case was determined, according to legal precedent, upon the similarities of the LEADSHEETS of the two songs concerned. It was not about what anyone hears by listening to the PRODUCTIONS.

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 02:25:42 +0000

In reply to Paul Quarry.

Paul,
I guess you read my post, so you know I don’t agree. But thanks for sharing your thoughts; much appreciated!
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 02:24:19 +0000

In reply to Chuck.

Chuck,
They were conscious of the songs origins… I think that’s what got them in trouble in the first place!
I think creators will be discouraged (see my reply directly above)!
Thanks,
Tony

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 02:21:55 +0000

In reply to Peg.

Peg,
Thanks for writing! The case was contested in court, with experts on both sides disagreeing. I think the musical facts speak for themselves, and I’m reasonably confident that the verdict will be reversed on appeal.
If people can win plagiarism lawsuits on the basis of such distant musical relationships (I’m talking facts here – notes and rhythms – not what something ‘feels’ like) it will have a chilling effect on creativity.
I’m sure the lawyers are already lining up.
Best wishes,
Tony

By: Paul Quarry

Paul Quarry — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:50:03 +0000

Billy Cobham’s Stratos/Massive Attack Safe from Harm…Led Zepplin’s When The Levee Breaks and a bunch of people including Eminem….most of James Brown….”vibes” have been sampled straight (and legitimately paid for) as the basis of songs for a long, long time and that’s cool. What this production team did was sample by recreating. Bang to rights, as we say in England….

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 03:33:09 +0000

I heard something about Thicke/Williams’ lawyers saying they were just trying to evoke the “vibe” of the era and that they were afraid others would be discouraged from doing so given the verdict. I’ve a huge fan of 60s revival music that does just that, and when I hear something that comes to close to original song I kinda wince.
I’m not sure difference it makes but when a song is created to be as high profile as Blurred Lines was you would think they would be more conscious of the song’s origins

By: Peg

Peg — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 03:04:41 +0000

I would suggest you read the analysis presented in court by experts. They found all but two bars were identical using technology. Would like to see you refute what the other professionals found.

By: Tony Conniff

Tony Conniff — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 04:50:52 +0000

In reply to Jo Ann A. K. Poll.

Thanks for the kind words, Jo Ann! Like you, I love ’em both.
Best wishes,
Tony