The Plagiarism Game: Coldplay vs Satriani

[m42]

In court papers filed in Los Angeles on Thursday, he said the song used "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental If I Could Fly.
Satriani, 52, wants a jury trial and is seeking damages and "any and all profits" for the alleged plagiarism.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7766683.stm

Have a good ear for music? What do you think? Did Coldplay lift part of their melody from a Joe Satriani tune? Here are the sound bytes in question:

Coldplay - Viva la vida (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgZkm1xWPE)

Joe Satriani If I could fly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMcjXo8ZuqE)

[kerrin]

Nonsense. I would expect more from Satriani, guess he's feelin' his years without mass stardom. I don't even like Chris Martin, even though he's a fellow Brit, because he whines too much. Satriani is the superior musician, but this is ridiculous.

Here is a quick look.

1) The chord progressions are not similar at all:
Viva
Intro: C D G Em
Verse: Em C D G

If I Could Fly
Intro: Gmaj7 F#m7
Part1: Em7 A Dadd9 Bm

2) The melodys are not similar
Viva
G G G B C A
If I Could Rule the World

If I could Fly
B D D B D C#

[kerrin]

This guy had a better case:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s

[m42]

This guy had a better case:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s

*laugh* Yes, he does. It's a shame he has poor oral hygiene and his lyrics suck. :eek:

[kerrin]

*laugh* Yes, he does. It's a shame he has poor oral hygiene and his lyrics suck. :eek:
The mustache was a little disturbing as well.