Did you know that Huey Lewis successfully sued Ray Parker Jr. over the similarities between the two songs, “I Want a New Drug and the theme song to the movie “Ghostbusters?” It’s true!
Not too long ago, I was seated in a noisy restaurant, with music playing in another room. I couldn’t hear the melody from where I was, but I clearly felt the vibrations and sounds from the driving baseline.
I immediately identified what I thought was the song “I Want a New Drug” by Huey Lewis. Before the song ended, I walked to another part of the restaurant and could hear the melody, and, to my surprise, the tune that had been playing was the Ghostbusters theme by Ray Parker Jr.
I told my wife that those two songs sound very similar. My wife laughed and said that there was a famous copyright infringement lawsuit over the two compositions. I was shocked that I’d never heard of that case and decision.
Google Overview
“The similarities weren’t a coincidence. Movie producers originally approached Huey Lewis to write the theme song, but he turned it down. During early film screenings, producers used “I Want a New Drug” as temporary background music and ultimately directed Ray Parker Jr. to write something stylistically similar to the Huey Lewis track. [1, 2, 3, 4] Wikipedia
“Because the resulting “Ghostbusters” melody and rhythm mirrored their 1983 hit so closely, Huey Lewis sued Parker for plagiarism. The two parties eventually settled out of court in 1985 for an undisclosed sum and a strict confidentiality agreement.” [1, 2] Wikipedia
Can you hear the similarities?
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That sounds about right, Roark, and I don’t disagree with you. 👍😎
John
Hi John,
about the time that Sony had their Walkman, I heard that in Japan they had 10 engineers for every one attorney, and in the US it was the opposite!
And we wondered at the time why American products were flailing.
Top of the night to you!
Roark
Yes, the world is very lawsuit happy, for sure, Lisa. 🤣
Although, in this particular case, I believe Huey Lewis was well within his rights to file a suit against Ray Parker Jr. because it’s basically the same song musically speaking, in my opinion.
They’re both really talented writers, and I’m sure Ray Parker Jr. was following the studio’s orders, and I’m sure the corporate giants settled the financial burden, not Ray Parker Jr.
John
John, I’ve listened to Ghostbusters song more often over the years than the song I Want A New Drug. That song doesn’t appeal to me. But it does have good rhythm just like the Ghostbusters song.
Maybe there are similarities? But I’ve never noticed it before. I’m not a musician to really know.
But I do think that the world has become sue-happy!
Lisa
No worries, Roark! 😃
John
No worries, Roark! 😃
There’s a lot of abuse out there in the creative arts, for sure. I think that a lot of these copyright infringement cases are predicated on baloney. However, this particular case between Huey Lewis and Ray Parker Jr. is a unique situation where you can easily hear the similarities between the two compositions.
But you’re right, in my view, about people and multi-billion-dollar corporations going after one another when the stakes are so high.
This realm has become so litigious that someone is always out there filing a lawsuit against someone else.
I appreciate your feedback and the time you took to read the article. 😎
John
John,
I apologize for not proofreading my AI transcribed posts, more thoroughly on here! Thank you for putting up with me! 😉
Roark
hi John,
I can see myself standing on either side, depending on the case.
for instance many of us have heard about the alleged copyright of the song Happy birthday.
like you I looked it up with the help of ai, and found out that it was fairly bogus and Warner of Warner Brothers I believe eventually, had used the rumor to collect money to the tune of millions of dollars annually from cable companies all across the US and maybe the world. Anytime the song Happy Birthday appeared in a movie, or even was played in a restaurant, Warner was there to collect the money from the movie houses and restaurants that willingly or otherwise had to pay.
there has been a reverse class action suit since and Warner was essentially slept on the wrist for a few million dollars perhaps, but nothing compared to the money that they had swindled. For decades.
interestingly enough Warner Bros is one of the parties that has sued or is suing suno, the AI music company. Personally, I hope sooner prevails. I think the recording industry of America has for too long paid artists a few pennies per record and kept the balance of $15 Plus. They have done this for 100 years or so.
When we purchase an album on LP, and then want it on cassette, and then need it on cd, and eventually wanted an MP3 format or heaven forbid on Apple tunes, we have to pay the fee that is set by the recording industry over and over each time. We never get credit for the original purchase of any album. That to me is something to be looked at from a legal standpoint in the courts. And retroactively rewarded to the people. You know, those of us who have worked most of our lives to pay the outrageous rents charged by landlords these days especially, and the outrageous cost of every music album regardless of any previous purchase.
I have been making music with suno for four or five months now and I have yet to hear any song resembling a popular song that I have heard before, in the way that you witnessed the Ghostbusters theme song resembling The power of Love. The closest thing is a song I made that reminds me a little bit of The Munsters theme, you know the one that goes…”da da da da da… Da da da da da da.. . Da da da.. da da da da da”. And even that one was probably picked up by something I had played on the keyboard, which may have accidentally sounded somewhat like the munsters theme.
further, as you may recall, Ed Sheeran has been essentially harassed multiple times, being accused of plagiarizing people’s songs. Fortunately for Ed Sheeran, he has usually prevailed legally. They go after the money, of course, when they think that there’s a chance at it. I’m not saying that I don’t hear the similarity between Huey Lewis’s song and the Ghostbusters theme. That is a special case, I suppose. And I’m sure there are others. But there have been equally abusive flip side accusations in this legal battle that seems to flare up in various places.
my apologies if I have stepped on any toes, I certainly am not without emotion and disregard, especially with my new found joy in music Creation using AI.
regards,
Roark
You can say that again, Kenneth! 😎
To me, it looks like many new things start with something old.
Is anything “new” ever created anymore?
New AND improved? (if it’s improved it’s NOT new) ha haha
* there’s nothing new under the sun *
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kenneth. It’s a crazy realm out there. It’s hard not to hear the chord progressions of other works when creating any music content. I think many borrow parts of songs; it’s just a matter of how much and, I guess, whether a legal threshold is reached. 🤣
John, I’m like you and have never heard of the copyright issues with the two artists.
But I can say this much, I’ve bought music from both of their music catalogs.
Are they so much alike to warrant a lawsuit? I don’t think so. *but whatever*
Now having said that— I will add that the youtube selection you inserted here is a good AI mashup.