Mike Cykoski is the frontman and bassist of NYC-based A Is For Atom. With a Master’s degree from NYU’s Music Technology program, his ear possesses an acute sense of thievery… Let’s check out some of his favorite musical rip-offs which you might find disappointing/entertaining, depending on your point of view!

It is often said that Pablo Picaso stated that “Good artists borrow, great artists steal.” The reality is probably more like: a great artist will take another idea and make it better.

In music this is sometimes the case, but more often than not I’m left scratching my head wondering “how did someone get away with this!” Now days with more access to music than ever, I have noticed more and more songs that are even outright copies!

There are certainly a lot more than 10 songs but I’ve broken down my favorite rip-offs of all-time. Hail to the thieves!
[new page = Led Zeppelin]
10. “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” Led Zeppelin/Anne Bredon
“Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” was written by Anne Bredon in the late 1950’s and performed by Joan Baez and others in 1962. It was then recorded by Led Zeppelin in 1969 and attributed to Jimmy Page as a traditional arrangement. The song credit was changed in 1990 to Anne Bredon split 50/50 with Page/Plant…hmmm.
Led Zeppelin:
Joan Baez:
Joan Baez Babe I'm Gonna Leave You by Selvilicadde
[new page = Coldplay]
9. “Viva La Vida” Coldplay - “Foreigner Suite” Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens released “Foreigner Suite” in 1973 and Coldplay released “Viva La Vida” in 2008 and they do sound similar. There was a lot of controversy about this song, even a lawsuit including Joe Satriani and a few others. I can’t imagine that Coldplay were jamming out to Cat Stevens or Satriani very often, but you never know.
Side by side comparison:
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8. "We Will Rock You" Queen - "Fanfare for the Common Man" Aaron Copland
“We Will Rock You” from Queen sounds very similar to a section in Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.” I think Queen were able to boil down Aaron Copland’s sentiment very nicely in this one.
Copland (at 2:25):
Queen:
[new page = Flaming Lips
7. Flaming Lips, "Fight Test" - Cat Stevens "Father and Son"
Cat Steven’s “Father and Son” was released in 1970 and “Fight Test” by Flaming Lips was released in 2002. Cat Stevens was apparently upset about it, and it does sound similar. But I do believe that if you are a certain age—Cat Stevens songs are burned in your subconscious.
Flaming Lips:
Cat Stevens:
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6. “Born this way” Lady Gaga - “Express Yourself” Madonna
I imagine that Lada Gaga listened to her share of Madonna tunes. But once Lady G got to the studio, she should have changed this one up a little more… just saying. Luckily Madonna isn’t hard up for cash!
Mashup:
[new page = Jennifer Lopez]
5. Jennifer Lopez “On the Floor," Los Kjarkas “Llorando se Fue”
The song “Llorando se Fue” was released in 1981 by Los Kjarkas. It is based on a Bolivian folk song and has a long history of being lifted. Most notably by Koama in the song “Lambada” in 1989 then by Jennifer Lopez and company in their song “On the Floor” the song is credited to Kinda "Kee" Hamind, AJ Junior, Teddy Sky, Bilal "The Chef", Armando C. Perez, Gonzalo Hermosa, Ulises Hermosa, along with the song's producer RedOne. There are also lyrics lifted from a more contemporary artist Kat Deluna…hmmm.
Los Kjarkas:
Jennifer Lopez:
[new page= The Beatles]
4. “Lady Madonna,” The Beatles - “What I Got”, Sublime
“What I got” is definitely using the same melody line in the verse as “Lady Madonna”. I don’t really think that The Beatles have gone after Sublime for this, but I would never mess with The Beatles legal team…
Mashup:
[new page = Pearl Jam]
3. Pearl Jam “Given to Fly,” Led Zeppelin “Going to California”
Pearl Jam definitely grabbed this one from Led Zeppelin… I really doubt that Led Zep has the karmic authority to sue Pearl Jam though.

[new page = Offspring]
2. Offspring “Get A Job” - The Beatles “Obladi Oblada”
This one is a classic song rip-off… I mean even the bridge is similar. You can even play the songs over each other although they’re in a different key.
[new page = Led Zeppelin]
1. “Dazed and Confused” Led Zeppelin - “Dazed and Confused” Jake Holmes
This song is definitely the best song rip-off of all time… Page/Plant didn’t even bother to change the title. Jake Holmes released the song in 1967 and after he opened for the Page led Yardbirds in New York in 1968, the Yardbirds began performing the Holmes song as a cover. When Led Zeppelin released “Dazed and Confused” in 1969, no credit was given to Holmes…hmmm.
Jake Holmes:
Yardbirds:
Led Zeppelin: