Off Topic GLEE rips off independent artists

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Check out the following (extremely creative) arrangement of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Greg Laswell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWj8fxTlC-w

Now check out Glee's version of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun:"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fugv9kja-2I

Laswell was never contacted for permission, nor was he credited by Glee.


The same thing has happened with Jonathan Coulton's arrangement of "Baby Got Back" (which I will not link here due to its decidedly-not-child-friendly lyrics)



This sort of thing makes my blood boil. I have no idea if these are the only arrangements stolen from independent artists, but I suspect they aren't.

 

[bogwoppit]

That is crazy GT. How can that even happen in this day and age?

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Here's the question: did they think nobody would notice? Or did they just flat out not care?

I'm not even sure which of the above two would be more offensive.

 

[bogwoppit]

It is not like they could pretend not to know, when the similarities are glaring them in the face.

 

[Jono]

I think they did it because legally nothing can be done as far as I know.
I'm not an expert but an artist can't have any rights on the way a song is sung, only to the song its self and the rights to girls just want to have fun belong to the writer which I think was Robert hazard and cyndi lauper, but I can't be sure.
I know its not very good, we don't know if they are deliberately ripping off independent artists. I personally feel thats its not a bad thing as if it weren't for glee people wouldn't have heard of these versions before i know i hadn't so it makes them look up the songs and possible purchase the other versions

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Aside from the lyrics, both tracks can legitimately be called original work (especially JoCo's Baby Got Back cover, in which the melody, the backing, the harmonies, EVERYTHING except the lyrics are original).

 

[Gymchick]

That is what GLEE is its just like the annoying Kids Bob stuff at least the people from GLEE can sing!