Uh-oh. Just keeping it real, you didn't really bring anything of your own to "Feels Like Tonight." In fact, it sounded like like you just took The Asphalts' "Tonight." Okay, it didn't go down like that, but The Asphalts have brought allegations of plagiarism against Daughtry. They even put together a snazzy video that samples both Daughtry's "Feels Like Tonight" and their own "Tonight" so you can judge for yourself.Unfortunately for Daughtry, Chris apparently climbed in bed with a guy by the name of Dr. Luke who wrote "Feels Like Tonight." This, even though Luke has already settled in a similar case brought against him and Avril Lavigne for her single "Girlfriend," which bore a striking resemblance to a band called the Rubinoos' "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." You know how sometimes you get a tune stuck in your head and you can't get it out? Apparently Dr. Luke has that problem a lot. Only he writes it down and makes "new" songs out of it.
After watching the below video, I don't know if I'm convinced 100% that plagiarism is what's going on here. Sure both songs use the phrase "It Feels Like Tonight" in the chorus and they are sung similarly, but there are not note-for-note identical. In fact, the ups and downs across the four words are different in both pieces. That said, the emphasis is almost the same and the tune utilized is very similar. Other than that, though, the two pieces sound very similar. But isn't coincidence possible? How many different ways can you sing "It Feels Like Tonight" in a chorus?
I'm not looking to defend or denounce Daughtry or Dr. Luke here. I'm no expert in music ... or the law ... or marine biology ... or even TV ... what the hell am I doing with my life?
But I did manage to get a hold of Dr. Luke's notebook where he writes down various song ideas as they come to him. I see a lot of great potential hits here. Now I'm not going to post all his lyrics here because that would be stealing, which is wrong. But I will give you some samples:
- Don't Pause the Music - this one has a great refrain of "Please don't pause the music" throughout, very catchy
- Escalator to Heaven - This one threw me for a loop as who would build an escalator? I don't know, I just wasn't buying the story. It's a lot easier to just build a stairway, you know? He did have a note here that he wasn't sure if he could get away with this one; probably because escalators are so hard to build
- I'd Do Anything for Love - I really liked this one, and I like how there was a bit of a twist in the chorus because you think he'd do anything for love, but apparently not. In fact, he says "he won't do that!" Very clever of Dr. Luke to not put that phrase in the title. Innovative, really
- Green Eggs and Jam - I have to admit I didn't think I would like this, but in the end when the narrator realizes he does like green eggs and jam ... very moving! I see this on Jessica Simpson's next album
Giveaway Monday: That '70s Show The Complete Series Stash box set
Giveaway Monday: Back to You season one DVD
Six shows that I am watching pretty regularly this season
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-11-2008 @ 2:09PM
Sy said...
The Asphalts has a very good case. The lines and the hooks of both songs are almost exactly alike.
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4-11-2008 @ 4:53PM
diane said...
Clarification: "Feels Like Tonight" is one of the two tracks on the Daughtry CD NOT written/co-written by Chris D. Please check your facts...
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4-11-2008 @ 10:28PM
Deborah said...
My husband is a musician/songwriter. he has been playing bass/acoustic etc. Plus, singing. My question/comment is Could Simon take the same critisim, brutal remarks as he gives out.
Deborah
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4-12-2008 @ 1:33PM
asad said...
I also have a question. It's for Yoda, from Star Wars. How come your skin is so green?
TVSquad, please make sure Yoda gets this, as I'm sure you have direct access. Thanks.
4-13-2008 @ 1:07AM
JenniferDee said...
I knew that song sounded familiar the first time I heard it. I just assumed it was a cover tune. Didn't know they didn't even give the Asphalt credit.
Poor form!
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4-13-2008 @ 10:23AM
The Midnight Penguin said...
Isn't this more the writer's fault and not Daughterty's? I don't know how the contracts really work, but it seems to me if he came up with the original lyrics given to The Asphalt's, then it's still his written song, no? If he wants to take those lyrics over somewhere else and alter them can't he do that? I guess I don't understand how the Asphalts can claim it if they just performed it but didn't write it...we see similar "themes" flow through certain creators in television and movies, but none of the characters from a former show claim that the same type of character in the producers next attempt complains they're copying their character.
At some point in music, we're going to get to the point where it's only covers unless people start putting random words together for songs or start making up notes that jump all over the place.
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4-14-2008 @ 7:00AM
Michele said...
It doesn't sound the same at all. The only similarity is that they both say "Feels Like Tonight". They sound like totally different songs.
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4-14-2008 @ 8:18AM
Rh2458 said...
Chris Daughtry/Daughtry never claimed to be the writers of that song. If you check the CD you will CD Daughtry credits whom they thought were the writers of the song. Sensationalism is why DAUGHTRY's name is even in the article to begin with. Shame on the reporters that make it out to seem that Chris Daughtry/Daughtry stole the music. If anyone stole it (determined in a court of law) it will be Dr. Luke.
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4-14-2008 @ 10:33AM
ORKMommy said...
Ok, there are some similarities BUT how is an artist supposed to know if the song writer plagiarized the words and/or melody? There are millions and millions of songs out there in how many genres? I've personally never heard of the Asphalts and wouldn't know if anyone stole their song or not.
Is there some huge song database that has every single song ever written that anyone can use to look up a song? If there is, please tell me so I can figure out that song that won't get out of my head!
This country is just too "sue" happy these days.
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