Green Day the Copycats?

[Nobody_Likes_You]

I think they sound pretty similar, but that wasn't Green Day's purpose.

And if you write a song you often write down anything that you've heard somewhere without knowing what song it was and you don't even notice it..

Just my opinion

[Jaymee!!]

When FBHT wrote 'Alligator', it sounds a great massive amount similar to 'You Really Got Me' by Van Halen.

Just to add another comparison to the 'copycat' list...

Though it's ridiculous to go as far and say that they 'stole' the music from another band.

Plus, Green Day aren't the only band to be subject to this!

[chatnoir]

yeah, that seemed the most logical to me, but only because it's both calm and features a guitar...

with American Jesus compared i can hear the similiarities

Sorry, it is actually more the "Tales of another broken home" part.

it is mostly the guitar part after "but not this time", that sounds like the melody of ring of fire.

I think it is meant as a reference.

[Eirik]

When FBHT wrote 'Alligator', it sounds a great massive amount similar to 'You Really Got Me' by Van Halen.

Just to add another comparison to the 'copycat' list...

Actually, "You Really Got Me" is by The Kinks

[Jaymee!!]

Actually, "You Really Got Me" is by The Kinks

Well I'm not a get knower of music.

So thank you for correcting my mistake.

[Marie_GD]

The Other Garden claimed Green Day ripped off Warning's riff as well.

[Boston]

but they didn't reinvent the wheel.

exactly. name me a rock band that did after, say, the '60s and I'll give you a gold medal. (even then, its a stretch since rock evolved from blues which evolved from jazz, etc., etc.)

Melodies, chord progressions, song titles, and the works get rehashed over time. Most of the time, the songs hold different meanings, and maybe even different audiences. To me, its not really a big deal.

[She-Loves-Him]

Last Night on Earth is a Mel C song!

Well. The title, anyways

[coco7]

exactly. name me a rock band that did after, say, the '60s and I'll give you a gold medal. (even then, its a stretch since rock evolved from blues which evolved from jazz, etc., etc.)

Melodies, chord progressions, song titles, and the works get rehashed over time. Most of the time, the songs hold different meanings, and maybe even different audiences. To me, its not really a big deal.

I agree. Many songs have stuff in common with other songs, wether its the title or the melody, etc.. Although "Warning" did sound a bit like the Kink's "Picture Book", that doesn't mean Green Day are copycats. There are just soooo many songs out there

[rootbeersoup]

Waiting is essentially "Downtown"... Dunno who wrote it, but it sounds too much alike

[Guest TwoDollarMellie]

It's a pretty common thing actually.

But one thing that I think is completely shitty is that Oasis said that GD ripped off "Wonderwall", but then Oasis called it 'a coincidence and a common thing' and didn't give a crap when this girl pop band "ripped off" their chorus (the chord progression, and even the chorus sounds so fucking similar), the song is called "Life Got Cold". And idk why Oasis is always accusing people of ripping of their material, cause most of their stuff sounds like The Beatles.

But anyway, for Green Day, the background music sounds similar, but not the vocals. If their vocals sound identical to one from another song, then I'll consider that "ripping off".

And the title,"Last Night on Earth" has been used numerous times. If I had a song, I'd probably name it that too.

[Supermodel*Robot]

wow. Picture book and Warning are freakishly alike.

I never did like Warning though.

[Robin105]

I don't care if Green Day copied other songs or not. I hate when people do that. Fuck all haters! They don't have anything better to do then comment a song that sounds like another song. To me when I hear a song that sounds similar I end up liking the song.

[rootbeersoup]

Fuck all haters!

Use a condom.

[The Disappearing Boy]

at the end of the day, they all have the same notes and the same chords to work with. i mean, blink 182's whats my age again has the same chords as when i come around, as as the chorus in 80, but that doesn't mean that blink intentionally copied green day, or that green day intentionally copied anyone else on those songs.

[Hayley]

the only one I think is even remotely close is Warning vs. Picture Book

i seriously dont see the similarities in the others xD

[Hermione]

Psh, you can find songs by any band that sound like existing songs, that's just the way music is. Usually it's not even intentional.

But also, Green Day are very proud of their influences and don't shy away from showing them love. And they don't shy away from displaying those influences in their music either, so sometimes they tip their hat to an act they admire by borrowing from them. But they don't do it sneakily or try to hide it, they're honest about it. So it's all good as far as I'm concerned.

Waiting is essentially "Downtown"... Dunno who wrote it, but it sounds too much alike

Haha yeah, they're very similar. But I think Billie Joe must've known that, because he starts one line with the word "Downtown...", and I don't think that could be a coincidence. I reckon he realised the songs were almost the same and added the reference as a little nod to the original. I'm glad he did that (admitting it was similar instead of scrapping it) because Waiting's a great song.

[Blu]

When I glanced at that part of the article 2 days ago the first thing I did was gasp and say shit. I like Sum 41 so the first thing I noticed was "March of the Dogs" and the the fact that one is a rant about American government and the other is going to be some sort of religious rant. The similarities are a little sketchy, but I think I'll wait to hear the song before I judge. I kind of hope they change the title though. I dislike when bands have the same song titles as someone else, though it's really common.

Now, if "March of the Dogs" becomes a GD single, that will irritate me a lot more. Sum 41's was the first or second single off Underclass Hero.

[J'net]

Yeah, Billie Joe's not exactly subtle in showing his influences.

... and anything else he feels like showing ...

[Guest Billy]

ugh, i know we all love the band, but you have to admit some of it copied.

[J'net]

Psh, you can find songs by any band that sound like existing songs, that's just the way music is. Usually it's not even intentional.

But also, Green Day are very proud of their influences and don't shy away from showing them love. And they don't shy away from displaying those influences in their music either, so sometimes they tip their hat to an act they admire by borrowing from them. But they don't do it sneakily or try to hide it, they're honest about it. So it's all good as far as I'm concerned.

As usual, I agree with Hermione and with many others who have commented above. I often hear songs within other songs, and it's amazing how common it is if you really listen. Sometimes I'll sing one song along with another song, and it drives my son crazy. Just as an example: parts of Sublime's "I've seen better days" and the Beatles' "Lady Madonna" - try it (Start singing Lady Madonna along with "I've got a dalmation, I can still get high...").!

And if you've ever listened to mashups (which I love as an occasional diversion, BTW, because they're doing the same thing I've done in my head since the day I was born), they usually are made with songs that have similar or at least compatible sounds. That's why they work so well.

[Hermione]

Lol, I've never even heard of the Sum 41 song.

So when I listen to Green Day's March Of The Dogs I will blissfully avoid being annoyed by thinking of their song.

[FilmAdaptation]

Ironically, the Sum 41 song in question sounds like a rip-off of Green Day and Blink.

[Jaymee!!]

Ironically, the Sum 41 song in question sounds like a rip-off of Green Day and Blink.

2:24-2:30

[giantbbtstraw789]

the sum 41 news is total bullshit, sum 41 were always trying to copy our boys, and theres a lot of artists who write songs and uses the same song titles as others...

But I always thought that Sum 41's Motivation sounded like She's a Rebel.