Gretchen Wilson Sued by Black Crowes
July 31, 2008 by Kimberlee Morrison
Being sued for copyright infringement can’t be good for your career. Unfortunately, for country singer, Gretchen Wilson, the Black Crowes have filed suit against her for just that reason.
The Crowes allege that the chorus to Wilson’s single, “Work Hard, Play Harder” is an obvious rip off. A representative from the Black Crowes was quoted saying, “We find the musical verses of Wilson’s song to be such an obvious example of copyright infringement that I expect all parties to reach a relatively quick resolution to avoid litigation.”
The law suit also names TNT and Sony BMG, claiming that by using Wilson’s song in a promotional campaign for the TNT series, Saving Grace, the Crowes’ debut single “Jealous Again” was “wrongfully exploited.”
The melody and arrangement of both songs do sound very similar. Similar enough to warrant filing suit? Check out both videos and see what you think:
Gretchen Wilson – “Work Hard, Play Harder”
Black Crowes – “Jealous Again”
Yeah the verses are similar…so what? It’s a basic boogie woogie groove. The Black Crowes have been stealing from the stones since they started, even tuning to open G. It’s a bullsh*t law suit and I hope they lose.
I like the Crowes, but if they don’t drop the suit I would just as soon drop “them” for the drama. Everything has been done before and a suit like this opens doors for tons of frivolous B.S.
Even if it was blatantly intentional I would take the wink as a compliment and go on with my rat killin’ besides that….who would want to sue a hot MILF like Gretchen?
Crowes get a life!
In my opinion, they do sound simular, but not completley, The Crowes song, is considerably slower, and has no fiddle, Gretchen’s song also has a variation to the pauses that differes I believe that she simply took a good beat and created her own sound, just like everyonelse does, if you want to check 2 very simular songs out, check out All Summer Long by Kid Rock and Werewolves of Lundon.
Doesn’t matter what instruments is involved bottom line IT IS The Crowes’ song. I hope they nail her A$$ in court for that. I like Wilson too but she can’t be that completely stupid.
And for the half witt that said the Crowes have been ripping others off. You are completely ignorant. Just because you tune in OPEN G doesn’t mean you’ve ripped the style off.
This coming from a guitarist of 20 years.
NONE of the Crowes’ songs sound like someone elses songs. Obviously Wilson can’t write so she has to steal others.
The Black Crowes should accept a songwriting credit and be done with it. This is what KD Lang did with the Stones in 1999 with ‘Anybody Seen My Baby’. That way, everyone involved still gets paid.
Ironically, as much as I like the Crowes, originality has never been their strength.
Blatant rip-off. Straight-up theft. If she get’s away with it, anything goes. Just find a good song from fifteen years back and re-record it with different words. This is so lame it defies even talking about. How dare she?
I love idiots who say the Black Crowes do nothing but rip off the Stones.. SHOW ME ONE BLACK CROWES SONG THAT SOUND JUST LIKE A STONES TUNE !!! ONE !!! Similar styles? Absolutely ! Rip off.. NO WAY IN HELL !