Nickelback: A fraud?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4258547

Someone on some LJ community linked this. It's a sound news file about how Nickelback is accused of copying their hit song "You Remind Me" for all their other hits and even non-hits on their newest CD. They play Nickelback songs along with "You Remind Me" simutaneosly and you can only tell the difference through the vocals pretty much. It's very interesting, and I never even realised it. What do you think?

And it's a shame if it is true, I always thought Chad Kroeger had an AMAZING voice.

I personally can't stand the band. I hope it's true.

Well I'm a not a big fan of radio music because I think it typically all sounds the same as well, I didn't know it went this far though... Interesting.

I think I've seen that before, and yeah, it's all prettymuch the same song.

It was interesting how Avril's "Happy Ending" and their songs sound alike too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by theundeadhero

I personally can't stand the band. I hope it's true.

---

agreed

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kawaii Ryûkishi

I think I've seen that before, and yeah, it's all prettymuch the same song.

---

Well, regardless...if people like the music, I can't blame them.

No one's a bigger(or smaller, since he's like, 5'2") fraud than William Hung though. I can't believe iTunes actually has his stupid album. *dies*

At least everyone knows he's a joke. This band tries to pass themselves off as serious.

He's not a fraud. People like him because he's funny, not because of his non-existant talent and his non-existant awesome song making skills. I think he's hillarious, imo.

Yeah he was just fun to laugh at and that's why he's faded out of view now.

The fact is they are serious. They've had number ones and have made a packet from what they do. In all seriousness though, if it ain't broke don't fix it. How You Remind Me was huge and there aren't many bands out there that can honestly claim they haven't repeated something from a previous song on to a new one. There's only so many combinations of chords possible.

Chad Krouger always sounds like he's constipated.

Yeah, this isn't exactly anything new.

It's called 'being formulaic'.

vs. being artistic?

I couldn't care less about Nickelback, but I find it amusing that the expert witness testimony says that it's not the same song. And then the guy just goes way over the edge suggesting that another artist stole the How You Remind Me theme.

I'm inclined to say it's a bunch of crock, but I don't know. Nor do I really care. It all sounds like crap anyway.

I'm somehow reminded of Linkin Park and Ace of Base.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skogs

It's called 'being formulaic'

---

This is a bit tricky, because of course there are many songs that sound similar by certain bands - because some bands will have a tendency to drift towards certain chord patterns etc. I wouldn't say for a minute nickelback were attempting to commit fraud - i'd just say they should've spent a bit more time making their newer songs.
For the record, i can't remember their name, but there was a band out a while back that SHOULD have been accused for fraud with respect to nickelback - you'd have to hear them to get it, but their songs were uncannily similar, and hilarious. The same attempted husky voice, the same type of chorus harmonies - the lot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by theundeadhero

vs. being artistic?

---

They make music to make a living. Music is a business and most businesses rely on a formulaic structure to make money. Is it Nickelback we should be knocking for playing the music industry for what it is, or should we really be blaming those dumb enough to buy each song?

I agree artistic is better, but if you wanna survive and make the big bucks you have to be, to a degree, formulaic.

I (illegally) own and listen to all but the very last song you hear in that. :p

Personally, I think they just sound a tad similar, but they aren't exactly the same. Not original enough for some people? Perhaps, but as for me, I've decided that as long as I enjoy listening to it, I don't care.

And no, it's not "fraud" or "ripping people off". If you want to alter your own work and redistribute it, there's nothing wrong with it. It's the people that pay for this stuff, or listen to it, and just feel the need to bitch at everyone who likes it just because they don't. Don't like it? Think it's a ripoff? Then don't consume it. Simple as that.

I do however think this was neat, especially the sync-up with "My Happy Ending" by Avril Lavinge...very interesting. This guy pays more attention to the music he's hearing than perhaps I do.

I definitely agree that there's similarity with their two hits, "How You Remind Me" and "Someday", I thought that from the moment I heard "Someday" on the radio. I enjoy them both though...I think though, like the guy said, the same baseline...that could be playing a role.

Saw them in concert like 3 years ago downtown TO with my sis. They were awsome live and I think I sorta liked them then....now it's just "meh".

http://www.thewebe.net/nickelback.htm

this should do the clearing up

where the skulls are, its a " S' H' I' T"

Well I could have told you THAT.

Do Linkin Park next for heavens sake.