Is it impossible to come up with your own chorus for a song these days? I can’t believe how many songs released in the past few months are taking the heart and soul out of older songs. In 99% of cases, it’s unsuccessful. But for some reason, it’s catching on these days. Here are a few of the most recent/popular.
Live Your Life - T.I. and Rihanna used the Numa Numa song in Live your Life, but this borrowed music is the least bothersome to me. First of all, most Americans have only heard of the Numa Numa song because Gary Brolsma (the Numa Numa Guy) made it famous on You Tube. But the song is actually a real single released by a Moldovan pop band called O-Zone in 2004. So, as the song is foreign, it isn’t a classic, and it has been copied and remixed hundreds of times, I don’t think T.I.’s integration of the Numa Numa song degrades Live Your Life in any way. My only qualm is that it really has nothing to do with being less gangster or caring too much about money. The song would’ve been just as good without the Numa Numa inclusion.
Right Round - Flo Rida’s “Right Round” is ruined by using Dead or Alive’s You Spin Me Round. I like everything about the song but the chorus. The lyrics sound great with the fast-paced beat and the bridge is perfect. The chorus is it’s downfall. With a massive and innovative hit like Low, Flo Rida should’ve stuck to making original music. You can only listen to the “right round” lyrics so many times before they get old. I change the radio station every time it comes on. It’s funny because Flo Rida could’ve probably gotten away without buying the rights to use part of the original You Spin Me Round because it could pass as satire. And it’s not like Flo Rida’s stealing a potential market from Dead or Alive. I don’t think they’re looking to break into pop/hip-hop. Just look up Campbell V Acuff Rose and see how 2 Live Crew got away with using Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman lyrics without permission.
Sugar - It seems like Flo Rida’s found a fast-track way to the #1 spot. This case of using pre-released music is more like T.I. using the Numa Numa song because it’s not really needed and the song he borrowed is 90s techno, not an 80s classic. “Da ba dee da ba die…” follows the best part of the song – it could absolutely be taken out and not effect the song. And because Eiffel 65’s original song Blue was techno, using it in a hip-hop song isn’t too bad of an idea. It’s not like they’ve tainted a golden oldie or something. I actually like Sugar better than the original and much more annoying Blue. Sugar is light, refreshing and original. The lyrics are cute and catchy and you can’t help but sing along. Wynter also proves to be a great addition. It’s not one of the best hip-hop songs of all time, but it’s worth downloading. I don’t regret it.
Goodbye - Kristinia DeBarge’s first single includes the chorus from Steam’s Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye. For her first release, including such a familiar and overdone song is a little presumptuous. It seems she’s getting in over her head. You should have to prove yourself in the music industry before you can buy rights to use a huge hit, slap a different vibe to it and claim it as your own. Goodbye is basically just the Na Na Na song. The lyrics and the flirty tunes are completely overpowered by the popular chorus. The old-fashioned chorus drones on while the verses just be-bop around it trying to fit in. The original parts of the song aren’t memorable, and even the older chorus isn’t used successfully — not a good mix. I wouldn’t buy it.
For other popular songs that have taken parts from other music, see this Rolling Stone article on Flo Rida’s success at integrating older songs into his new releases. The last paragraph is particularly enlightening as to whose music isn’t entirely their own:
