Two Simplistic Songs Both Sound Simplistic
Coldplay is the target of a law suit by Joe Satriani on a plagiarism charge that claims that Chris Martin and friend's Frida Kahlo inspired anthem "Viva La Vida" is a copy of the melody and chords from Joe Satriani's 2004 space ode "If I Could Fly."
The suit comes after much discussion and comparison among fans about the similarity of the songs, and a Grammy nomination for Coldplay.
Coldplay denies the charge. According to the Guardian:
The suit comes after much discussion and comparison among fans about the similarity of the songs, and a Grammy nomination for Coldplay.
Coldplay denies the charge. According to the Guardian:
"With the greatest possible respect to Joe Satriani," they said in a statement, "if there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him."If you ask me (you don't have to), the notion that two people could come up with the same overly simplistic, idiomatic, and cheeseball melody does not a law suit make.
Of course, by dubbing the similarities "coincidental", Coldplay do not just deny that they pinched Satriani's riffs – they deny the possibility that even subconscious riff-jacking occurred. Or in other words, Chris Martin has never listened to a Joe Satriani track in his life.
Nevertheless, "Joe Satriani is a great musician," Coldplay said.
The guitarist was recently interviewed about the lawsuit, describing to Music Radar the moment he first heard Viva La Vida. It was as if "a dagger went right through my heart," Satriani said. Which simply goes to show that "coincidental" daggers cut just as deep.