Coldplay Drummer Responds To "Viva la Vida" Plagiarism Claims

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With a pending lawsuit already filed by Joe Satriani and Yusuf (the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens) waiting anxiously on the sidelines to see how that court case fleshes out, it's as if everyone's laying claim to Coldplay's infectious "Viva la Vida." Satch thinks the song sounds litigiously similar to "If I Could Fly," and Yusuf believes the band used his 1973 tune "Foreigner Suite" for inspiration.

In an interview with HamptonRoads.com, Coldplay drummer Will Champion addresses the most recent plagiarism claim from Yusuf, humbly defending the band and what has become a massive radio hit. "It's tough when people accuse you of stealing something when you know that you didn't," he says. "So, we accept that it's part of the territory and know it is only for some reason, God only knows why, the successful songs that seem to be the ones that are accused of being stolen. So, you go figure it out."

Champion feels the matter is very subjective, and agreed with the interviewer that similarities can found between so many different songs, especially if you're listening for them. "There are elements of our music that I've heard in other people's music but it's kind of... I don't know," the drummer reflects. "There are only eight notes in an octave and no one owns them. And there are probably about 12,000 songs that feature the exact same chord progression. I think it lies on an intent to steal, which we certainly have never done and never would."

Ultimately, Champion concludes, "We're confident we haven't done anything wrong."

Do a lot of songs sound alike? They sure do. Here's a list, as voted by the RS readers: The Twenty Craziest Soundalike Songs

Related Stories:

• Coldplay Say Satriani Lacked Originality as "Viva la Vida" Fight Hits Court
• Joe Satriani Sarcastically Roots for Coldplay at the Grammys
• Cat Stevens Considers Lawsuit Over Coldplay's "Viva la Vida"

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Song Stories

“Everyday People”

Sly and the Family Stone | 1968

"Everyday People" managed to trailblaze in two different ways -- it was one of the first pop hits to deal with the subject of racial harmony, and it utilized Larry Graham's "slap" technique on the bass guitar, which would soon be copied by countless other bassists. Graham once said about his pulsating style, "I'd never done that before … that's where the freedom of creativity came in for the band, that we'd be allowed to do that." In 1978, the song's line "Different strokes for different folks" would be borrowed for the title of the hit television show Diff'rent Strokes.

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