Copyright Case-Study #3
Lady Shaw vs Gwen Stefani
Have a listen to "If I was a Rich Man" from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. Apparently, Gwen Stefani's song, Rich Girl, was reviewed and approved by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock, the original lyricist and composer respectively, for Fiddler on the Roof.
Harnick quoted, "Dr. Dre - a very reputable and contemporary artist - contacted the Rodgers and Hammerstein office (publishers of the song) and said he wanted to do this record. He sent [Jerry and me] what he intended to do so we could look at it. We listened to the sample record and we both thought it was a great song." Harnick is 80 and is pleased with the song's popularity, especially with his grandchildren, as he puts it "I guess you could now say that grandpa's hip."
Now have a listen to Louchie Lou & Michie One's Reggae hit, "If I was a Rich Girl." Does it sound a little more familiar? Have a listen to Gwen's "Rich Girl" and you be the judge.
Original from the Fiddler on the Roof Soundtrack (1964)
Song 1 - "If I was a Rich Girl" by Louchie Lou & Michie One (1993)
Song 2 - "Under Pressure" by Queen & David Bowie (2007)
Vote Here!
How similar are the two cover versions compared to the original? (from "Not similar at all" to "Exactly the Same")