[LINK] "Men at work" up a gum tree

[Rick Welykochy]

Jan Whitaker wrote:

> At 05:34 PM 4/02/2010, Kim Holburn you wrote:
>
>> http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/04/2809848.htm
>>
>>> Men at Work plundered Kookaburra riff: court
>>> Iconic Australian rockers Men at Work could be facing a hefty legal
>
> Yeah, but it's similar, not exact. I'd like to see the overlay of the
> transcription of the tunes. There are limited combinations. There are
> only 12 tones. I wonder what was presented in evidence or if the
> judge just listened and 'heard' what he was told by the lawyers.
> There are lots of riffs that are similar in modern songs from earlier pieces.
>
> As a theme, it could also be said to be a variation on the main
> melody, which is what Beethoven and Bach did. It's a natural musical
> technique. I would hope that the 'men' at work are musically adept to
> make that case.
>
> Anyway, I hope they appeal.

George Harrison suffered similarly for nabbing a few notes from the
50's hit "He's So Fine" when he penned the music to "My Sweet Lord".

The court in that case dissected each song note by note and found
that, oh, five or notes in Harrison's song matched the other!

cheers
rickw



-- 
_________________________________
Rick Welykochy || Praxis Services

Hofstadter's Law. "It always takes longer than you expect, even when
you take into account Hofstadter's law."