According to Joe Satriani, Coldplay took his awesome guitar solo, added words, strings, and hair, then called it their own. Now one day after their Grammy nomination, The Satch decided it’s thunder-stealing time.
From Pitchfork: “According to Reuters (via Billboard.com), virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani filed a lawsuit Thursday in Los Angeles federal court claiming “Viva la Vida” contains “substantial original portions” of his 2004 instrumental tune “If I Could Fly”. Satriani wants a jury trial, damages, and “any and all profits” from the song.”
The only problem is that Brooklyn’s Creaky Boards already internet-famously accused Coldplay of stealing their song in this very unlawsuity YouTube video:
Wait, there’s more! The melody and strings sound remarkably similar to a song by French singer Alizee called “Jen Ai Marre.” In French that means, “Are we human or are we dancer?” I kid. Roll the video tape!
Here’s The Satch noodling away on that irresistible melody:
Ahhh look at his fingers boogie up and down them silver frets…So I have a solution to all these three pop music acts. One of you is the thief and one of you is the victim. The song shall be destroyed! (The rightful owner would rather let the song live on with another artist than see the demise of their creation blah blah blah).
And I’m spent.
P.S. In the spirit of plagiarism and Christmas I stole that “fingers boogie/silver frets” thing from this James Taylor video. Okay, now I’m spent.