Top 50 Most Infamous Rip Off Songs Ever

VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Cillian Cunningham

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but these artists might disagree! Join us as we count down the most notorious musical copycats in history. From Vanilla Ice's infamous bass line lift to Led Zeppelin's blues borrowings, we're examining the thin line between inspiration and infringement that has led to some of music's most contentious legal battles. Our countdown includes Queen/Bowie vs. Vanilla Ice, Marvin Gaye vs. Robin Thicke, The Hollies vs. Radiohead, The Verve vs. The Rolling Stones, Olivia Rodrigo vs. Paramore, and many more! Which musical ripoff shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments below!

  • #50: a-ha "Take On Me" (1984) vs. Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera "Feel This Moment" (2013)
  • #49: Jethro Tull "We Used to Know" (1969) vs. Eagles "Hotel California" (1976)
  • #48: Keith Jarrett "Long As You Know You're Living Yours" (1974) vs. Steely Dan "Gaucho" (1980)
  • #47: Public Enemy "Security of the First World" (1988) vs. Madonna "Justify My Love" (1990)
  • #46: Pat Benatar "Shadows of the Night" (1982) vs. Rascal Flatts "No Reins" (2007)
  • #45: Killing Joke "Eighties" (1984) vs. Nirvana "Come As You Are" (1992)
  • #44: Stealers Wheel "Stuck in the Middle With You" (1973) vs. Sheryl Crow "All I Wanna Do" (1994)
  • #43: Lynyrd Skynyrd "Sweet Home Alabama" (1974) vs. Warren Zevon "Werewolves of London" (1978)
  • #42: Olivia Rodrigo's "Good 4 U" (2021) vs. Paramore "Misery Business" (2007)
  • #41: The Marvelettes "Please Mr Postman" (1961) vs. Portugal. The Man "I Feel it Still" (2017)
  • #40: Right Said Fred "I'm Too Sexy" (1991) vs. Jimi Hendrix Experience "Third Stone from the Sun" (1967)
  • #39: Pearl Jam "Given to Fly" (1997) vs. Led Zeppelin "Going to California" (1971)
  • #38: T-Rex "Get It On" (1971) vs. Oasis "Cigarettes and Alcohol" (1994)
  • #37: Audioslave "Cochise" (2002) vs. Audioslave "Your Time Has Come" (2005)
  • #36: The Black Keys "Little Black Submarines" (2012) vs. Jethro Tull "Aqualung" (1971)
  • #35: Iggy Pop "Lust for Life" (1977) vs. Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" vs. The Supremes "You Can't Hurry Love" (2003)
  • #34: Foo Fighters "Times Like These" (2003) vs. The Offspring "These Days Go By" (2005)
  • #33: Jorge Ben "Taj Mahal" (1972) vs. Rod Stewart "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" (1978)
  • #32: Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California" (2006) vs. Tom Petty "Mary Jane's Last Dance" (1993)
  • #31: Bryan Pringle "Take A Dive" (1999) vs. Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" (2009)
  • #30: Flame feat. Lecrae & John Reilly "Joyful Noise" (2008) vs. Katy Perry feat. Juicy J "Dark Horse" (2013)
  • #29: Artikal Sound System "Live Your Life" (2017) vs. Dua Lipa "Levitating" (2020)
  • #28: Bruno Mars "When I Was Your Man" (2013) vs. Miley Cyrus "Flowers" (2023)
  • #27: Sami Switch "Oh Why" (2015) vs. Ed Sheeran "Shape of You" (2017)
  • #26: The Turtles "You Showed Me" (1968) vs. De La Soul "Transmitting Live from Mars" (1989)
  • #25: David Bowie "Boys Keep Swinging" (1979) vs. Blur "M.O.R.[e]" (1997)
  • #24: Roy Orbison "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964) vs. 2 Live Crew "Pretty Woman" (1989)
  • #23: Gilbert O'Sullivan "Alone Again (Naturally)" (1971) vs. Biz Markie "Alone Again" (1991)
  • #22: Spirit "Taurus" (1968) vs. Led Zeppelin "Stairway to Heaven" (1971)
  • #21: 3LW "Playas Gon' Play" (2001) vs. Taylor Swift "Shake It Off " (2014)
  • #20: The Kinks "All Day and All of the Night" (1964) vs. The Doors "Hello, I Love You" (1968)
  • #19: Tom Petty "I Won't Back Down" (1989) vs. Sam Smith "Stay with Me" (2014)
  • #18: Joe Satriani "If I Could Fly" (2004) vs. Coldplay "Viva La Vida" (2008)
  • #17: The New Seekers "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" (1971) vs. Oasis "Shakermaker" (1994)
  • #16: Muddy Waters "You Need Love" (1962) vs. Led Zeppelin "Whole Lotta Love" (1969)
  • #15: The Rubinoos "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" (1979) vs. Avril Lavigne "Girlfriend" (2007)
  • #14: The Kinks "Picture Book" (1968) vs. Other Garden "Never Got the Chance" (1997) vs. Green Day "Warning" (2000)
  • #13: Larrikin Music's "Kookaburra" (1932) vs. Men at Work "Down Under" (1981)
  • #12: Huey Lewis and the News "I Want a New Drug" (1984) vs. Ray Parker Jr. "Ghostbusters" (1984)
  • #11: Sleigh Bells "Infinity Guitars" (2010) vs. Demi Lovato "Stars" (2015)
  • #10: Creedence Clearwater Revival "Run Through the Jungle" (1970) vs. John Fogerty "The Old Man Down the Road" (1985)
  • #9: Gordon Jenkins "Crescent City Blues" (1953) vs. Johnny Cash "Folsom Prison Blues" (1955)
  • #8: The Rolling Stones "The Last Time" (1965) vs. The Verve "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (1997)
  • #7: Chuck Berry "You Can't Catch Me" (1956) vs. The Beatles "Come Together" (1969)
  • #6: The Chiffons "He's So Fine" (1962) vs. George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" (1970)
  • #5: The Hollies "The Air That I Breathe" (1974) vs. Radiohead "Creep" (1992)
  • #4: Marvin Gaye "Got to Give It Up" (1977) vs. Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams "Blurred Lines" (2013)
  • #3: Chuck Berry "Sweet Little Sixteen" (1958) vs. The Beach Boys "Surfin' U.S.A." (1963)
  • #2: Multiple Artists vs. Mark Ronson "Uptown Funk" (2014)
  • #1: Queen & David Bowie "Under Pressure" (1981) vs. Vanilla Ice "Ice Ice Baby" (1989)

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Tags:

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