Definately the same song

Sounds like a ripoff to me. I am a little biased because I have very little respect for Coldplay to begin with. They backtape their concerts. (backtaping = play a tape over the show to make it sound like there are more instruments playing then there actually are.) Any band that can’t create a authentic sound live gets no respect from me.

Two mediocre artists arguing over a mediocre song. Turn off mainstream radio.

Music is funny. under US copyright law, if you want to “cover” another artists song all you have to do is 1) NOTIFY the copyright holder (you don’t need permission, you just need to tell them you are doing it) and 2) pay royalties. furthermore, you can always claim “homage”, or that you changed the music significantly to make it different. what about a rapper who samples “super freak” and turns it into a huge pop hit? MC Hammer? granted you can argue that “Can’t Touch This” is different enough from “Superfreak”, but where do you draw the line? Is “Viva La Vida” not also different than Joe Satriani’s song?
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but the big thing is that if Coldplay did not get in trouble for lifting the guitar riff from Kraftwerk’s “Computerlove” for their song “Talk”, then they won’t get in trouble for this. And here’s the thing — Coldplay are big fans of Kraftwerk and have even been seen wearing their t-shirts when they play live…

I think they\’re guilty. Straight-up. Pay the man and stop cheating. Freakin\’ coldplay….Millivanilli part 2.

And Supersleuth (#3)…how is Joe Satriani a mediocre artist? I suppose you’re a better guitarist than he is. Get off your arrogant public-radio-listening high horse.

I don’t know if Joe Satriani can describe what a dagger through the heart feels like unless he has been stabbed in the heart before. If he had, I think he’d be dead. He is alive, so I will presume he is exaggerating and therefore this claim may be exaggerated. One vote for Coldplay.

But, Coldplay plays pretty music that appeals to yuppie boys and girls while Joe likes to inflict flesh wounds on his hairy fans with a nuclear six string assault that would scorch the shiny smiling faces right off these four losers who picked a wuss name for a band. Look at the photo above and tell me you don’t want to slap them upside the head. Ten votes for Joe Satriani.

So, the result is 10-1 in favor of Smokin Joe.

I agree. The songs are pretty similar, but it is not completely impossible that it is coincidental. Let’s think about this. How many people actually sit down and listen to a Joe Satriani record? I would hate to break it to you, but I’m sure we could find another song (chords and melody) that would match up with this tasteless tune. I really can’t believe either would really want to claim ownership.

More disposable music. Yippee!

The fact is, similarities between pieces of music has, and will continue, to happen. His song is 6 minutes long and the part that sounds similar lasts for about 30 seconds. Good luck to Coldplay.

There are at least two other pieces of music, written before Joe Satriani’s song, that sound exactly like his (check out french pop star Alizee). So if he thinks Coldplay stole from him, them he stole from her first. Similarities are just inevitable in music and Satriani needs accept that and get over himself.

Coldplay DIDN’T rip off Kraftwork. They got permission to sample their music and they PAID for it. If they are going to bother to pay Kraftwork then why wouldn’t they do the same for Satriani? The answer - they didn’t use his music.

Also, how interesting that Viva La Vida has been out for months and he waits until the day after the Grammy nominations to go public. Blatant media-w*oring from Mr Satriani.

Supersleuth, you are a MORON.

A lot of interesting comments here. I am LOVING this discussion. Lots of good points.

And I’m always amazed at how people either love or hate Coldplay.

I’d wager Coldplay never heard of the Joe Satriani track, or possibly even Joe Satriani, lol. But who knows?