So I heard this song today on the radio.......(94.5) <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NCdMMd3dpk4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NCdMMd3dpk4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> I thought it sounded awfully familiar, sifted through the ipod and sure enough.....they ripped off Battles' "Atlas" dam near to the T. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IpGp-22t0lU&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IpGp-22t0lU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> dam, even the bridge is exactly the same.... I probably shouldn't make a big deal out of it but, Muse is now in the same category as Pearl Jam ("Yellow Ledbetter" ripoff of Jimmy Hendrix's "Little Wing") and Coldplay ("Viva la Vida" ripoff of Joe Satriani's "If I Could Fly") lost a little respect for Muse today. I hope Muse at least gives some credit to Battles for writing their latest single.
Meh, its a radio-friendly big deal, Coldplay did the same thing. I believe that ripping off others' work is how the hip hop industry has remained alive for the past 15 years.
its pretty close to that battles song, but they have more plausible deniability than coldplay did. the first thing that came into my mind when i hear that 2 note guitar squall at the :41 mark is blondie's 'call me'. it also sounds like that gary glitter song they play at sporting events (so does the battles song though!)
They share a similar groove, but I don't hear anything remotely similar in the vocal's melody (or even rhythmic phrasing). A lot of bands have used a pulsing, swinging beat like this, so I don't think calling the Muse song a "ripoff" is justified. That being said, the Muse song kind of sucks.
I agree with almost everything you have stated, but the foundation of both songs sound STRIKINGLY similar. perhaps I am overreacting. I really like Muse, always have, and I actually like their new single, but whenever I hear this song....I will always think of Atlas by Battles.
Similar drum groove does not a ripoff make. Just like a similar chord progression doesn't mean one song was a copy of another.
Similar in some aspects, but far from a ripoff. If Muse did rip them off at least they made it into a song you can actually listen to without cringing.
Maybe they were just both inspired by one of the best songs of all time... <object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DNrbiZoKQLU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DNrbiZoKQLU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object> Then again, I could be the only one who hears it.
If you can post a link that would be appreciated. I had this discussion with a few friends this evening and after sifting through gigs of tunes......this is the only thing we could find that is even remotely close.... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gafc0kE3-V0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gafc0kE3-V0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> btw..... apparently, this is not the first time Muse has been labeled a copycat.... according to some....this song has striking similarities to Queen...I don't think it's as deliberate of a ripoff, but.... <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8u-DAhg-ie4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8u-DAhg-ie4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
The pulsing beat from Animal Collective's "Summertime Clothes" is also somewhat similar. But the video is so awesome that it must be posted: <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GxhaRgJUMl8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GxhaRgJUMl8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
United States of Eurasia does sound like Queen, but I'm going to go ahead and presume that they were well aware of that. You can't have a falsetto chorus without thinking Queen.
A perfect example has been mentioned already - "Rock n' Roll Part 2" by Gary Glitter. Iron Maiden also used a drum beat with a similar swing feel in "Running Free." It also is reminscent of "Strict Machine" by Goldfrapp. Look these up when you have the chance - I'd post YouTube links but YouTube is down for maintenance right now. The opening bassline for both "Atlas" and "Uprising" is a standard root-octave pedal, which was used in nearly a billion disco songs. So Battles hardly has a claim to originating that. Furthermore, "Atlas" stays on the same pedal note all the way through, while "Uprising" has actual changes. Both songs start on the same note and there's definitely a similarity in the feel of both songs. But beyond that, there's actually nothing else that's even remotely the same. From a copyright standpoint, a song consists of chords and a melody. Even you have agreed that the melodies are nothing alike and as I've noted, the two songs are different in their progressions (or lack thereof, in the case of Atlas). I actually like the Battles song - though I'd probably tire of it quickly if it were on the radio everyday. It's a really unique piece of music. The Muse song sounds like the same overproduced modern radio crap that permeates "buzz" stations everywhere. If it makes you feel any better, the writers at NME feel "Uprising" is reminiscent of a lot of songs
Love the Battles song...I always thought it sounded like something from the future. And the lyrics are about as strange as the music. People won't be people when they hear this sound That's been glowing in the dark at the edge of town People won't be people, no The people won't be people when they hear this sound Won't you show me what begins at the edge of town The singer is a crook The singer is a crook The singer is a crook The singer is a crook The kitchen is the cook The scissors are the barbers The singer is a crook The chorus, full of actors The chorus doesn't matter
Haha, wow, that is pretty damn similar. I heard this Muse band a few years ago and I remember them sounding just like Radiohead at that point, also. Meh. I guess this is better than that Lightning Bolt cover they attempted a few years ago. Talk about absolute garbage. At least they ripped off a talented band, because... come on, let's face it Battles > Muse No contest.
The first thing I thought of when I heard the Battles song was that they were ripping off the Gary Glitter song and Beautiful People by Marylin Manson.
