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Thread: The great "Hotel California" debate.

  1. #1
    Out on the Border Redcloud's Avatar
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    Default The great "Hotel California" debate.

    Yes it has been claimed for years that the Eagles HC ripped off Jethro Tulls "We used to know". The Eagles did tour with Tull and the first clip is the Tull song. The second is Ian Anderson from Tull talking about it but accepting it is a great song that the Eagles did albeit based on his music. Have a listen, it is very similar I have to say.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xny0Uj4--tk[/ame]

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMh0FS3rcnA&feature=related[/ame]

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    Moderator Ive always been a dreamer's Avatar
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    Well - I've seen those clips before, and I'm glad that Ian Anderson acknowledges that Hotel California isn't plagiarized. I honestly don't hear that much similarity, but I know nothing about guitar chords. If there is any similarity in the chord sequence, I would think it is purely coincidental. Don Felder, who wrote the music to Hotel California, wasn't even a part of the band during the time that the Eagles opened for Jethro Tull.

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    Stuck on the Border WalshFan88's Avatar
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    Gotta agree with Dreamer... They have some slight similarity but in no was is it copying that song at all. I've gotten into some pretty heated arguments about it on YouTube (several people attacking my view) but I fully believe that it is in no way a copy and is just similar. As Dreamer said, Felder wasn't in the band when they toured with Tull.
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    Administrator sodascouts's Avatar
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    I can hear the similarity. Maybe it was an unconscious thing - Felder heard it on the radio or something, and so something like it popped into his brain when he was fiddling around on the guitar.

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    Stuck on the Border Topkat's Avatar
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    I really don't see them as that similar. I think this has been exaggerated. If Anderson isn't bothered by this, why is anyone else??

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    Stuck on the Border Mrs Frey's Avatar
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    Well, to be honest, I haven't even heard Jethro Tull's song until now, and was completely unaware about this debate.

    As Ian Anderson states, the similarity is in the chord sequence, but as far as I'm concerned the similarity stops there. With all due respect, Jethro Tull's song goes on and on with the same structure, whereas "Hotel California" has verses and a chorus, and the chord sequence changes in the latter.

    I actually got bored listening to this song - it isn't in the same league as "Hotel California", in my opinion.


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  7. #7
    Stuck on the Border
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    There is a vague similarity in the verse & perhaps even more in the first guitar solo from 3.32 - 4.15 (when compared with the first guitar solo in HC after the lyrics have finished) but I hardly think it's worthy of concern.

  8. #8
    Stuck on the Border EaglesKiwi's Avatar
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    "It's difficult to find a chord sequence that hasn't been used."
    Quite.

    The song may very well have influenced Felder, just as many bands influenced the Eagles in many ways - their harmonies, their musical style, and there were many sources of inspiration for their lyrics, ranging from Shakespeare to ex-girlfriends.

    The difference between plagiarism and inspiration - in my opinion - is:


    1. does the new work substantially copy the prior work (in this case no, I personally don't think so - it's one chord sequence in the song, and it may even have been used before Jethro Tull given there just aren't that many chords or notes on a keyboard etc to create new music).
    2. Does the new work apply the original in a different way - yes, Anderson talks about a different time signature etc.
    3. Does the new work have a substantial portion of new, original material - hell yes, both musically and lyrically
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    Moderator Glennsallnighter's Avatar
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    I play a bit of guitar and don't claim to be an authority but for my tuppence worth, similar guitar chord sequences can be seen in many different songs. Often when I hear a song if I strip out the notes and concentrate on just the chord sequence it can remind me of a totally sdifferent song. So to say that songs are plaigarised based purely on guitar chords doesn't really hold up. JMHO.
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  10. #10
    Stuck on the Border Topkat's Avatar
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    Default Re: The great "Hotel California" debate.

    I never even heard that song by Jethro Tull. I doubt Felder copied it. It's not that similar.

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