The reggae singer claims Damon Albarn took parts of his 1981 song “Time Warp” for Gorillaz’s “Stylo” single. Grant is particularly angry because they’re both represented by EMI, and he thinks Albarn had a musicologist evaluate any similarities, to avoid asking permission: “Damon Albarn knows in his heart of hearts.” Read EMI’s “no-comment” comment at The Guardian.
Compare:
Eddy Grant “Time Warp”
Gorillaz “Stylo”
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You have to go 40 seconds into “Stylo” to hear it, but they definitely use the same three-note riff. Not a complete ripoff, maybe a ‘blatant’ one.
How does one become a musicologist? Obviously the progression is the same although you could probably find a hundred songs with the same pattern in different keys. I have a feeling this will turn in to the same discussion about every song being written already and the inevitability of repeating or “ripping off” as others may call it.
2 become a musicologist u go 2 college and get a degree in music or really any liberal art. then go to graduate school and get a phd in musicology.
It definitely sounds the same…but as JaggerT said, you could probably find that same progression in tons of other songs.
theres no way damon albarn was listening to this song and though “oh hey, im totally going to rip this off.” its only 3 notes. there are only 12 notes that are possible to work with. im sure albarn was really probably listening to some old disco songs or something like that, because that kind of riff happens there all the time.
I find it very hard to believe that Damon Albarn made a conscious decision to copy Eddie Grant’s song, blatantly avoid getting proper clearance, and then release his own song as the lead single to his new album – but according to The Guardian article that’s pretty much what Grant’s claiming. Like nearly everyone else has said, yeah, it sounds the same, but I’m sure it’s hardly the only time that particular three-note progression has been used in a song.
I guess all that “Electric Avenue” money is gone now…
Maybe I gone completely deaf, but this song have nothing to do with each other except maybe for a bit of rhythm, but how many songs sound actually similar, plus gorillaz’s song sounds so much better. clearly Eddie needs some cash
I can see his point, but it’s so generic. Just as easily I could argue that the beat in “Dare” was ripped off from this song as well. Maybe Eddie Grant is Damon Albarn’s secret weapon….
it’s Eddy Grant. not Eddie.
Everybody together now! “We’re going to rock down to…”
I normally scoff at these claims (that Coldplay fiasco was frustratingly stupid) but I see where this guy is coming from. The riff is nearly identical.
thief!
I don’t hear a “blatant rip-off” at all… seems like if this guy wants to be mad at someone, it should be black devil disco club.
They don’t sound identical at all to me…Time Warp is just annoying, Stylo is just awesome.
eddy grant can suck my shaft