I Want It Ballet

Is this even possible? 80's cheesy group and 90's boys band united by one little (yet easily-recognizable) riff? Truth is we're getting nitpicky from now on.

Pay Attention To: Go straight to minute 4:20 on Spandau's song, listen to the piano; then check out the BSB's Smash hit's chorus on minute 0:50 and elsewhere.

Spandau Ballet-True


VS.

Backstreet Boys-I Want It That Way

Knockin' Tonight

Two spectacular guitar players. Two riffs. One subtle "coincidence". Is the snake a big fan of the ex-creamer? Conscious or unconscious borrow? Truth is, one can hardly listen and don't get the similiraties between these two. (Extra credit: Guess who also covers the Dylan song?)

Pay Attention To: The main riff on Clapton's. Slash's first solo's hook. (around 2:55 on this clip)

Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight

VS.

Guns N' Roses - Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Always Sunshine

Well, it's not hard for hip-hop to repeat itself, but here's one that went straight to the source (an already existing source, that is) and came up with something too familiar. One can easily jump from one chorus line to the other and back again...

Pay Attention To: Ashanti's and Lea's material.

Ja Rule - Always On Time


Vs.

Lil' Flip - Sunshine

Unfaithful No More

Here goes an easy one. If you've been listening to the Top40 the last couple years you probably noticed this adulterous case of song-snatching courtesy of the upcoming pop princess!

Pay Attention To: The chorus! It's painful to hear how idiotically similar they are. Not only the chord progression, but the "profound" lyrics.

Rob Thomas - Lonely No More


VS.

Rihanna - Unfaithful

In a Little Mistake

Well, I was off to see Sir Elton John last night. Opening for him was this bitter guy, James Blunt. I'll break into tears if nobody else noticed this before. Even worse, this rip-off is apparently "a hit".
Without further ado.

Pay Attention To: "Ah-ooooooooooooo". Minute 1:31 in the U2 clip. Minute 0:50 in Blunt's.

U2 - In a Little While


VS.

James Blunt - Same Mistake

Hollaback Bridge

Most pop princesses don't write their own material (or sing or play or even have anything to do with it).
"Hollaback girl" was a pretty big hit back in '05. Somehow, a couple years later some absent-minded producer thought it would be cool for "the dutchess" to have an identical song.

Pay Attention to: Chorus. Particularly to Gwen's: "A few times I've been around that track, so it's not just gonna to happen like that..." compared to Fergie's "How come every time you come around my London Bridge wanna go down..."

Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl



VS.

Fergie - London Bridge

Old Habits of Mine

Our first showdown includes two old fellas who know a thing or two about writing hits. Question is: Is Micky J. plagiarizing Rod or is it just a huge huge coincidence...? You decide. Hint: He even borrowed a word for the song's title.

Pay Attention to: The whole intro.

Rod Stewart - This Old Heart Of Mine

VS.

Mick Jagger - Old Habits Die Hard