Gretchen Wilson and the Black Crowes
So, attorneys for the Black Crowes are coming after Gretchen Wilson for copyright infringement. They say that her song "Work Hard, Play Harder," used in a promo for TNT's Saving Grace, is just a little too much like the Crowes' "Jealous Again." I have to say, the verses sound rather similar, but so what? I mean, we're talking about songs with a couple of chords and a melody line. Occasionally, somebody is bound to write one that's like somebody else's. Plus, this probably happens a lot more often than we hear about, and most of it probably gets settled out of court. I can think of a couple of country songs from this year alone that sound like they've been used before. But such is life in a business of selling feelings and ideas. No word on whether the Rolling Stones plan to sue the Black Crowes for copying their entire career.
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TNgirl says:
I think this is the crazyest thing I’ve ever heard.
They do sound a little alike but how crazy, I dout Gretchen was sitting around planning this.
Black Crowes need to get over this.
DaleL says:
a straight up ripoff, the sign of a truly lazy and apparently talentless artist. must be nice to take someone else’s work and pass it off as your own.
jep says:
god! how awful. gretchen is pathetic. it’s such an obvious steal. shame on you cmt for saying negative things about the black crowes. they are beyond talented and are a very “real” band.
JCH says:
Black Crowes need to move on. I mean, I know they haven’t had a platinum record since the mid-1990s and their main source of publicity is Kate Hudson, but commotion over a melody line?
Warpaint says:
Hey Chris, you spend all day thinking the Crowes/Stones cliche up? Pretty original. Maybe Gretchen should have ripped-off one of their million un-radio friendly songs… not one of their only hits. DUH! Don’t be a hater.
Cole Edwards (JensBoyfriend) says:
This sounds like a group Gretchen probably listened to before becoming famous that helped her craft her sound and type of music. Having said that, I seriously doubt she was “violating” their lyrics. Sure, they may sound similar, but everything that is being said in music today has been said plenty times before- it’s just about coming up with different ways of saying it. I honestly think the Crowes need to drop this and quit trying to get publicity out of something just because they’re not famous enough themselves!
kayefun says:
I haven’t studied enough reports or listened to the two songs in question to know if it is the lyrics or music riffs and patterns that are alleged to be a copyright infringement in this particular lawsuit.
I do think sometimes these things happen inadvertently or unconsciously with music.
In other cases, it is the ‘chic’ thing to purposefully include or incorporate one artist’s music/part of a song into another, usually with permission.
Making it public and filing suit is supposed to deter known ‘piracy’ and set up compensation for ‘inadvertent piracy’.
Derek says:
Country music, unfortunately, has transformed into an empire full of frivolous music (fun!) and manufactured artists (beautiful!) guided by an army of buck-hungry marketing gurus (genius!) who lack any sign of having a soul.
It is quite ironic that Gretchen Wilson’s song is called “Work Hard, Play Harder” when, in fact, she must not have worked very hard at all. Though I’m not well-informed about Wilson’s songwriting strategies, I would suppose that this song was not crafted by her but, rather, by someone in her camp looking to ride her success.
I thank the The Black Crowes for maintaining integrity in their music for nearly two full decades. Drawing from an array of talent that ranges from Humble Pie, Otis Redding, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and indeed, The Rolling Stones, among so many others (including many country artists), they have never sacrificed their own sound and beliefs for a little success. Instead, that success has come naturally as a result of fans’ appreciation for music that is still art.
I bite my tongue before expanding any further…
kayefun says:
Derek, I hope your tongue is OK. I enjoyed reading your perspective and the points you made. Your post had thought, articulation and flow. While I don’t have much knowledge of the Black Crowes myself, as just another interested reader, I appreciated your take on this subject very much. Thank you.
Always Right says:
I expect nothing less than rip-offs when it comes to “songs” penned by John Rich.
B.W. LaRoy says:
Great points! Imagine how much money would be owed to Chuck Berry if he were to call everyone in to court. Ever wonder what a great opportunity this is for The Black Crowes to get a little exposure and get a blood tranfusion from ut and climb on the geriatric rock band tour of life? Go Gretchen girl…you can do what you wanna do Redneck Girl…and besides…if the industry fires you for being a great singer who does what they tells ya ta do…you can always use that High School diploma…and…well…maybe not. Great blog CP.
delores says:
I’m afraid the redneck has gone to far this time. I really dont know what she will think fo next.
The Dude says:
Derek and Warpaint,
I couldn’t agree more with all of your points! It is truly a travesty to know that modern (pop) country music has lost so much respect for its founders. I’m sure the greats that laid such a sturdy foundation are turning over in their graves to know that today quantity takes precedence over quality. Maybe this industry needs to take a look into the past before taking any steps forward. Maybe we as consumers, and lovers of music need to focus our attention to artists that are more concerned with the music. We have artists such as The Black Crowes, Hank III, and Wayne “The Train” Hancock that are keeping true to the purity of music and do have an appreciation and respect for the supporters of their craft….the fans.
Jay says:
I think the Black Crowes claim is ridiculous. Just coincidence. So many songs from so many different genres sound alike. Listen to Jo Dee Messina’s new song. The bass line sounds just like “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5. It wasn’t done on purpose and with so much music out there it is going to happen.
Jim Overton says:
People who have a serious problem with this obviously don’t know much about songwriting. So many songs are derivative of so many other songs these days that a complaint like the Black Crowes is ridiculous. Only when it’s melody AND lyrics that sound very similar is there a genuine complaint. If you went through the Black Crowes catalogue (or anyone else’s for that matter) you’d find plenty of things that sound similar to songs that came before. That’s the way modern songwriting is. There are very few truly original melodic ideas in popular music anymore.
gloria says:
I listened to both and they do sound exactly alike. I noticed on Kid Rocks song…All Summer Long sounded, when it started off, just like an old pop song called Werewolves of London! Guess it happens a lot!
A. Fan says:
There’s no such thing as a new idea. Every song was inspired by some other song. Get over it.
starbaby says:
I totally agree with derek. I found this blog when I googled the black crows/Gretchen Wilson. and I could not believe that someone from CMT would not see a problem with artist not coming up with original material. The first time I heard her version I truely thought that it was a cover of the song. Shame on you for thinking it is ok to steal someones song. If you can not find new sounds then hire someone to write some for you. I think I have more of a problem with your views on the subject than I do about her taking their song. I Wonder if a rock group stole a country song if your point of view would be different?
27 says:
Honestly, how can you put the blame fully on Gretchen Wilson? She usually has a co-writer or two. I think in this song John Rich was one of them. I don’t think it’s fair that her name it being taken down when it may have been some one else who is responsible for the part that is similar. Who’s to say that she’s even heard the song that she copied? Some one probably pitched it to her and the sound was probably something she liked so she went with it. I’m not saying that stealing other people’s work isn’t bad, but what if she didn’t even know? Give her some time to respond and make things right before you call her out. Gretchen Wilson comes across to me as a very real, respecting individual. I don’t doubt for a second that she’ll find some way to resolve this issue in a way that makes everyone happy.
Billie says:
The way I look at it, if you’re in the same type of business you’re bound to bumps heads with somebody, somewhere, somehow. JMO.
Travis Lane says:
I believe that its completely incompetent and arrogant on Wilson, Rich, the label, and the publishing company. How could this get overlooked? Its embarrassing to think that I live in Nashville/ Music City, yet two of the most popular people in country music ( I hesitate to use the word artists) cannot come up with original sounding music. But then again I consider contemporary/country music as no different from the catchy sing along children’s songs that you’d hear on Sesame Street, only the majority of the fan base of CMT listeners are a bunch of simple minded idiots that enjoy songs like “Save a Hors” and “Redneck Woman”.
Dwight Schrute says:
Anyone knowledgable in music can tell you the Black Crowes have shown nothing but the utmost in integrity throughout their career. And, though they tend to flaunt their influences, they have never blatantly ripped anyone off. And now… they’ve been stolen from. What do you want them to do, just ignore it until the next idiot comes along? The Robinson brothers, just as any artist with integrity should, have decided to end this now, before every hot-shot out begins stealing from everybody else. I do not put blame on Gretchen Wilson, she’s too stupid to run her own career, I’m sure she’s just doing as told. I do blame that dick, John Rich, always trying to convince us of how “cool” he is. Doesn’t he know that by “trying,” he is automatically negating any coolness factor he might happen to conjure? John Rich is a joke and should be treated like one.
walter neughsted says:
You can’t blame the Black Crows for this one. It’s so very close that they just had to say something. Wilson would do the same if they were to tread so close to one of her bread and butter tunes. That’s part of the business. She must have been banking on the disconnection between Pop/Country and Rock fans that would somehow let such a rip-off go unnoticed. Wilson is more of a “red-neck” sloganeer than an artist anyway. We haven’t exactly come to know her for her originality. I’m not surprised.
Branwen Cromer says:
I’m sure Gretchen Wilson will come out of this fine. She seems like a hard working individual. Even if something sounds similar doesn’t mean it’s full out infringement there are many people who have their own creative ideas that somehow have influences else where. I back Gretchen Wilson to the fullest.
27 says:
Gretchen is not “too stupid to run her own career;” she’s smart enough to let other people handle what she knows she doesn’t have the ability to do. I agree with you that John Rich is bad news, though. He’s coasting on her success. Big & Rich wasn’t a huge hit right away like Gretchen was so he’s running around saying, “Look at me, I found her.” In a recent CW magazine, he calls her his investment.
charlie says:
It’s good to see CMT reporting this story with no bias. This is clearly sarcasm on my part. It is a little sad to see the direction that the country music genre is taking. Gretchen Wilson’s song is an illustration of the lack of originality and depth in today’s Country. The melody of this song is EXACTLY the SAME as Jealous Again and is in clear copyright infringement of the Black Crowes. Good for them to sue her and get what they deserve. CMT’s cheap shot at the Black Crowes to close the report is shameful. If the writer of this article had done any more research on the Crowes then just listening to Jealous Again, he would be very hard pressed to say that the Jam Band legend Crowes had a career even slightly resembling the Stones. This is disgusting
Monica Land says:
You know it really pisses me off when someone said that they got their publicidy from KATE HUDSON when really they had been SELLING OUT places they played way before that mistake happened!!!!!!!!!!! They have their own sound that comes from their heart not anywhere elese. TALENTED completely. And anyone that trys to take from any of their music is just plain SORRY if you ask me. I have watched them grow and they have done a hell of a job and I bet you there going to come out and sell out as all wasys!!And I will be there to watch as ALWAYS!! I LOVE THEM AND ALWAYS WILL BE THERE #1 FAN HERE IN RALEIGH NC. THEY ARE TRUE TO THEMSELVES AS TO THEIR FANS. SO NO MORE BAD TALK OF THE BEST BAND WE HAVE THIS DAY. JUST GIVE THANKS WE STILL HAVE THEM TO ENJOY!!!!!! I COULD NOT EVEN IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT THEM. THEIR MUSIC HAS PULLED ME THROUGH SOME BAD, BAD TIMES IN MY LIFE SO I SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. WISH I COULD GIVE A BIG HUG AND KISS TO THEM!!!!!
Eric says:
Copying the Rolling Stones? Thankfully they never have. Name one song of theirs that even remotely resembles the chord progression, lyrics, or melodys of the Crowes.
Back to this Wilson lady, never heard of her, nor care to, but the song does sound waaay too much like JA not to get at least a credit in the name. Thats like idiots who listen to Green Day and are unaware that Ray Davies and the Kinks wrote most of those songs 20 years ago. (ie Kinks’ Picture Book=GD”s Warning)