The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => The Writing Process => Topic started by: James Nighthawk on April 02, 2014, 02:38:44 PM
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Here is one for you all...
I am writing a song (I do this sometimes ;) ) In the song, I have a coda where, cheekily, the line
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
fits perfectly to the theme, and the music.
It is one line only, and I am mostly "saying" rather than singing the melody. (Not too far from the original, I guess!)
I am purposefully quoting. Not stealing. Now. Do I need permission to do this? Is a cheeky lift fine?
Should this end up on an album I release down the line, I don't want to run into litigious B.S. Even as small fry you need to be careful...
Thoughts? Knowledge people?
Jx
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Be careful James.
There are two copyright issues to deal with in songs :
The Topline and the Lyric.
This is clearly a Talking Heads Lyric and, as such, is protected.
Go by the book. It ain't worth it.
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I agree - it is definitely not worth the risk
HOWEVER, I do think if you played it "by the book" and contacted the relevant people to ask for permission you might be pleasantly surprised
In all honesty I can't think why you would not get permission from the copyright holder to use the line if you were up front, professional and honest
It may even open some doors by asking - ie they might want to hear the track before approving it
It could actually turn out to be a cheeky way in!
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I am clearly concerned about this, but on the flipside, I do see the benefits.
Like a cover: people love the thing they know, so covers bring this. A reference/quote is actually really common in pop music. I just wonder how it works... do these all get cleared, or is there a line where a certain amount of quotation is allowed? I suppose that was my question!
Did Noel G sue Travis for the line "and what's a wonderwall anyway?"
The song had the same chord sequence and the nerve to then nod to the song.
This legal stuff is a brain freeze!
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Chord sequences aren't copyrighted.
Topline melodies and lyrics are.
Just email the artists/song publisher and get permission.
'Wonderwall' is taken from an old George Harrison song anyway.