Dixie

This is kind of a piddly thing to post a thread about, but I was just curious:

Has anyone else noticed the use of the line "just like a paperback novel" in both Gordon Lightfoot's "If you could read my mind" and Nickelback's "Someday?" Even the rhythm of the words is the same in both songs.

I was just wondering if Nickelback was paying homage with this or if they just plain stole it without even a nod in Mr. Lightfoot's direction. Anybody know?

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quadro2000

Not a clue, but I just wanted to point out that I never thought I'd see a thread named "Nickelback and Gordon Lightfoot."

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raoul_duke

I don't know. From what I hear, Nickelback's music has been put under scrutiny for being unoriginal and talentless. This could be a case of that, but I feel that it is just a bit of a wink from one songwriter to another. I don't mind Nickelback, I don't really understand why some people bash them.

cj2112

damn....I was hoping that this was a thread announcing an upcoming concert!

Mr_Chainsaw

I would say they stole it

pan6467

Stealing music is nothing new look at the Doors, Morrison wrote "Hello I Love You" and it was an obvious ripoff of the KINKS' "All Day and All of the Night". MC Hammer stole Rick James' "Freaky Girl" for "You Can't touch This".

Sometimes the ripoff is a tip of the hat and sometimes it sounds better.

If nothing else at least someone is talking about Gordon Lightfoot again (besides Art Bell).

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Redlemon

Does anyone have the physical CD for the Nickelback album to check the liner notes? I know that in one of the Aerosmith songs, there's the line cribbed from Frank Zappa (buns up and kneeling), and the liner notes mention that specifically. There's also the "put my tender heart in a blender", which shows up in "Inside Out" and "I Did it All for the Nookie", but I don't know if that one was credited.

Averett

I've got that CD. Haven't even listened to it yet! I need to stop buying things I'll never use... I'll try and remember to check out the liner notes when I get home.

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Redlemon

Hey, you mean kinda like this? (link to MP3)

Janey

My sentiments exactly. I really don't like some of their songs (Hero) but love others (figured u out) I really think that their guitar work is very tight. I love it.

But again, there are only so many words in the English language, the Beatles used paperback too.

Gordon Lightfoot and Nickelback in the same thread. Who'd've thunk? I was expecting a similar connection like BTO/Tal Bachman link...

Janey

You're right! (about MC Hammer) I always thought he stole After the Fire's The Commodore's in Town. So maybe AFter the Fire scooped Rick James too..

vermin

I clicked on the link, heard two very similarly structured songs playing simultaneously. Were they both Nickelback or is that pointing out a "ripoff" of someone else? Not quite sure I got the point of that.

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kulrblind

I'm not sure those are cases of song-theft. I think sampling / looping got big around the time of MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This" -- also see:
- Tone Loc's "Wild Thing" with the riff from VanHalen's "Jamie's Crying"
- Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" with the riff from Queen's "Under Pressure"

Those are two obvious cases. I understand that, for the most part, permission is given (or dire consequences ensue.)

Back to the topic, though: I would be surprised if any of us could exist without accidentally reproducing something (in the case that Nickelback's similar lyrics are accidental.) I'd be more likely to believe they liked the way that line worked in the song. Frankly, I'd be glad to hear that they were in actuality paying homage to the great Gord.

Jimellow

I've never heard of Gordon Lightfoot, but Nickelback's "Someday" is one of my favorite songs..

I also came across an acoustic version of "Someday" that is really different, but also pretty good.

Anyway, I've never heard of this Gordon Lightfoot fellow, but I'm going to check out the song in question to see if I like it or not.

K-Wise

They're both Nickleback songs. Though interesting you have to take into account that they obviously sped up one (or both) of the tracks. You can tell because Krogers voice is in a higher pitch. I can hear the obvious similarities in the structure though but it's not like some great bands don't do the same thing. Lots of punk bands follow a similar structure, same with old blues riffs. Doesn't mean they suck

Asta!!

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mattevil

Both are canadian right?

Redlemon

...still waiting...

mused76

is horrible!

Harry Cox

Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown" is a great song. Nickleback blows goats.

Slavakion

Interesting... but listen to 60% of punk songs. A lot of them seem to have the 2 verse - musical interlude - verse structure. And if you listen too closely, they all sound the same ( suicide, life sucks, I broke up today, my girlfriend ). Not that I don't like punk. Just don't look too closely

thriolith

Yes, they both happen to be Canadian.

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hawkeye

umm. just to throw my 2 cents in, but as a singer, I am personally able to sing in more than one pitch. I don't think it's edited (I may, of course be wrong)

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SiNai

^^ "Someday" is sped up, you can tell. I'm jumping on the bandwagon, Nickelback sucks, and they're terribly unoriginal.

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Slavakion

It was sped up quite a bit, too. If you can get your hands on it, listen to both.

HeLLVieW96

seeing as how nickelback, uhm, SUCKS. they probably stole it. they even used the same music TWICE with different lyrics. idiots. another reason the music industry blows.

whelming1

I always thought "movie star who gets burned in a three-way script" was a great line. "Enter No. 2" is a strong follow.<<<

If you could read my mind, love,
What a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie,
'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet.
You know that ghost is me
And I will never be set free
As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see.

If I could read your mind, love
What a tale your thoughts could tell.
Just like a paperback novel
The kind that drugstores sell.
When you reach the part where the heartaches come
The hero would be me
But heroes often fail.
And you won't read that book again
Because the ending's just too hard to take.

I'd walk away like a movie star
Who gets burned in a three-way script.
Enter number two.
A movie queen to play the scene
Of bringing all the good things out in me
But for now love, let's be real.
I never thought I could feel this way
And I've got to say that I just don't get it.
I don't know where we went wrong
But the feelin's gone
And I just can't get it back.

If you could read my mind, love
What a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie
'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet.
But stories always end
And if you read between the lines
You'll know that I'm just tryin' to understand
The feelings that you lack.
I never thought I could feel this way
And I've got to say that I just don't get it
I don't know where we went wrong
But the feeling's gone
And I just can't get it back

Ananas

^ One of my favorite songs. "In a castle dark or a fortress strong / With chains upon my feet" is my favorite line. Great lyrics and Lightfoot is an excellent storyteller.

MPower

I thought Gordon was dead. Is he still around? The wreck of the Ella Fitzgerald is my fav.