I just happened to be innocently buzzing around youtube a couple of minutes ago watching preformances from glastonbury and oxygen last when i saw an interesting link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls_J6_jtvGQ

The video is called The story of Bitter Sweet Symphony, now you can watch it yourselves if you want to but just to summarize for those who don't want to watch it:

The controversy surrounds one of the best songs ever (in my opinion anyway) and how The Verve sampled an orchestral version of 'The Last Time' which is a Rolling Stones song from the 60s. Basically even though The Verve got permission to sample the song, Allen Klein (who was the Rolling Stones manager and whos company, ABKCO Industries subsequently owns the rights to the Stones material) ended up getting 100% of the royalties from Bitterweat Symphony and made millions more off it by selling it out to advertisements and films all becasue he successfully argued that The Verve sampled too much of 'The Last Time'. Another kick in the teeth for The Verve is the fact that Jagger and Richards (Rolling Stones lead men for those who don't know) get song writing credits even though they never wrote a single word of Bittersweat Symphony.

Now i knew there was controversy surrounding the song when it came out back in 1997 but i never really tried to find out what happened but in light of what i just saw in that video it seems extremely unfair on The Verve and Richard Ashcroft in particular because he took what was an average orchestral version of a decent song and turned it into a massive hit.

So i was just wondering if anybody has any opinions on whether this was unfair on The Verve or that they deserved it for using too much of the sample and can anyone else think of any other songs that were very controversial for whatever reasons?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 07/07/2009 15:12:57    335739

Controversal songs; smack my b*t*h up, a nation once again,

Lad (Meath) - Posts: 136 - 07/07/2009 15:33:43    335774

Give Ireland back to the Irish----think that was banned when it came out.

Fredthered (Donegal) - Posts: 1144 - 07/07/2009 15:58:29    335824

Controversy- song by Prince.

Fredthered (Donegal) - Posts: 1144 - 07/07/2009 16:03:10    335836

it should be credited to ashcroft. he's a genius. "sonnet" is my favourite song and "on your own" by him and the verve

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4195 - 07/07/2009 16:42:22    335910

Kid Rock (the waste of space) Robbed the tune of "All Summer Long" from "Werewolves of London" by Warran Zevon, added some ***** Lyrics. For anyone not familiar just listen to it on youtube. Its blatently robbed and he never credited Zevon with the music.

Inactive x5 (Cavan) - Posts: 1452 - 07/07/2009 17:16:12    335965

Ring a ring a rosey. A horriffic nursery rhyme about disease and death. Should be banned.

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 07/07/2009 17:39:58    335997

Holly Johnston singing "relax don't do it!" Mike Reid of Radio fame nearly had a Canary when he heard the LYRICS!

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 07/07/2009 17:46:38    336007

Bittersweet Symphony is an average song in my humble opinion. All Ashcroft added was a basic melody and some derivative lyrics. The only good thing about the Verve is/was Nick McCabe.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12452 - 07/07/2009 18:05:47    336040

JonSmith
County: Cavan
Posts: 98

335965 Kid Rock (the waste of space) Robbed the tune of "All Summer Long" from "Werewolves of London" by Warran Zevon, added some ***** Lyrics. For anyone not familiar just listen to it on youtube. Its blatently robbed and he never credited Zevon with the music.

I always thought that was just him singing over a sample of "Sweet Home Alabama" - having looked it up, wikipedia credits Warren Zevon as a writer of the song

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12452 - 07/07/2009 18:07:53    336045

A whiter shade of pale.

HokeyPokey (Tyrone) - Posts: 1744 - 07/07/2009 18:22:31    336065

Irelands Call !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 07/07/2009 19:29:56    336130

Helicoptor Song

Dr.Shephard (Leitrim) - Posts: 2187 - 07/07/2009 19:50:45    336162

Puff the Magic Dragon

bluboy (Dublin) - Posts: 318 - 07/07/2009 19:52:40    336165

Bluboy we all loved Puff the magic dragon.

williewentwell (Tyrone) - Posts: 1712 - 07/07/2009 20:22:17    336190

Ebeneezers Good by Scottish Dance legends The Shamen. Es r Good Es r Good Es r good he's Ebeneezer Good. Still a big hit when i went to uni in Belfast two years ago but that might say more about that town in all fairness. Good times

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 07/07/2009 22:05:56    336353

Invisible sun by the Police, supposed to condone IRA violence at the time which was complete rubbish!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 07/07/2009 22:13:05    336373

Nirvana ripped off Boston's more than a feeling in Smells like teen spirit

JuanVeron (Westmeath) - Posts: 1866 - 07/07/2009 22:49:14    336488

07/07/2009 17:39:58
RMDrive
County: Donegal
Posts: 1642

335997 Ring a ring a rosey. A horriffic nursery rhyme about disease and death. Should be banned.


Were you listening to Sean Coyle today on BBC radio foyle?

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 07/07/2009 23:08:36    336541

the turfman from Ardee

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 07/07/2009 23:38:03    336596