Comments on: Songwriting in the dock: Satriani vs. Coldplay case

By: How did they get away with it? « Joe Bennett

How did they get away with it? « Joe Bennett — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:08:10 +0000

[...] discussed the Satriani/Coldplay case in the Songwriting Festival [...]

By: Digital Media Art

Digital Media Art — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:24:21 +0000

You’ve made several logical errors. First you presume that someone who doesn’t have the same opinion as you is not informed – I know the track, and the whole body of the man’s artistic output. Second, you set up a straw man by saying that I label “all virtuosos as redundant musical expressionists”, which I didn’t do. I happen to be a big fan of excessive guitar widdle, just not Satriani. My point is that Coldplay developed the basic idea very nicely. But you’re perfectly right to pick me up on it as I was hardly a considered argument – my throwaway Satriani put down was just for humorous effect.

By: DanCanada

DanCanada — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:00:54 +0000

I’m no expert but I know well Satriani’s music. “If I Could Fly” is much better than “Viva la Vida”. Anyway, Satriani has a career of more than 20 years and he did write many outstanding, beautiful tunes. He is a great song writer first and only after that, a virtuoso.
In comparison, Coldplay’s music is boring and even this “Viva la Vida” is lame.
Too bad that it won Grammy “Song of the year”
Song writing is in a dismal state if such a song won a Grammy.

By: Ryan Bull

Ryan Bull — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:57:52 +0000

Obviously the above critic has not heard If I Could Fly by Satriani. Satriani’s playing is quite subdued and soulful on this song and he is more concerned with embelishing the touch and tone of the melody than playing a thousand notes per second.

I feel it is unfair to label all virtuosos as redundant musical expressionists. In any case, Satriani has his roots planted in blues these days moreso than in the old virtuosic rock idiom. Just take a listen to his self titled album, Joe Satriani, to here some very expressive blues playing.

Went off on a slight tangent there…

I’m not sure the similarities in the two songs justify a court case in all honesty. The melodies are about 85-90% the same but my mind cannot rule out the possibility of coincidence. I also cannot imagine how Coldplay would become exposed to Satriani’s music, but having said that I don’t doubt that there are a large number of session and professional guitarists and musicians in the industry that draw inspiration from Satriani’s guitar playing.

I wonder if Sony music, Satch’s current record label, are paying for any of the legal costs at all? There’s no denying the potential for marketing in this court case and the cynic in me would say that Satch is just playing the game to boost album sales, though I’m sure that’s not the case.

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:47:37 +0000

All truth is a lie. Did Coldplay even write the lyrics if they stole the melody?

By: Digital Media Art

Digital Media Art — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:16:45 +0000

Whatever the legal case, Coldplay showed how that melody could have been developed. Satriani, as usual, just wound it up until it sounded like Paganini in a biscuit tin.

By: Rich Atkinson

Rich Atkinson — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:53:55 +0000

Very, very similar. However it happened (and I’m with your loop theory Joe) Satch got there first and the ball is in Coldplay’s court to disprove it. You can deny it off course but how many of us remember melodies or parts of them at least we’ve heard years ago even though we might have only heard song the a couple of times.

If I may quote the great Pete Shelley from The Buzzcocks “originality is the ability to hides ones sources”.
I bet Coldplay end up settling out of court.
Anyhow I was listening to She’s Electric (Oasis) and With a Little Help From my Friends (The Beatles) Check out the endings, talk about Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. As friends I’m sure Macca and Noel sorted it all out over a pint.
” Buy us a pint Noel and we’ll call it quits Noel? O.K. Macca” (allegedly)