re: Sam Smith/Tom Petty controversy

quote:

---

And for his allegations toward Dani California.

It's music you dumbfrick. He didnt copy or cover your song uncredited and sell it. He wrote a song that has the same basic chord progressions. Its not like Petty is a guitar god who has his groundbreaking original sounds being ripped off.

---

Ummm, according to this Rolling Stone article he didn't care about the Danny California thing.

quote:

---

RS: Have you heard the Red Hot Chili Peppers song "Dani California" yet, because obviously it sounds a lot like "Mary Jane's Last Dance"?

Petty: Yes, I have. Everyone everywhere is stopping me. The truth is, I seriously doubt that there is any negative intent there. And a lot of rock & roll songs sound alike. Ask Chuck Berry. The Strokes took "American Girl"[for their song "Last Nite"], and I saw an interview with them where they actually admitted it. That made me laugh out loud. I was like, "OK, good for you." It doesn't bother me.

RS: There have been news reports that you were going to sue the Chili Peppers.

Petty: If someone took my song note for note and stole it maliciously, then maybe. But I don't believe in lawsuits much. I think there are enough frivolous lawsuits in this country without people fighting over pop songs.

---

And it's way more than just the chord progression the song copied, it's the entire melody. You can't just take a song, slow it down and add your own words to it without crediting the original artist.

ETA: Video showing the melody