Did The NBA Steal Sia's Song?

[djcraig]

The theme music for the NBA's newest ad campaign sounds suspiciously like [b]Sia's "Breathe Me"[/b]. Compare them for yourself below.

It's not an EXACT replica, probably tweaked JUST enough to keep litigation at bay.

At least the marketing geniuses for the league have great taste!

<big>[b]NBA Promo-
<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pYa5u-lPS8c&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pYa5u-lPS8c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

Sia- "Breathe Me"
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1wPo993nWGw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1wPo993nWGw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

From "6 Feet Under"-
<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eNwARV9tPUw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eNwARV9tPUw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></big>[/b]


<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>

[i_like_lectric_motors]

It's not quite Coldplay level of plagiarism, but it's pretty blatant nonetheless.

[plagiarism]

If I'm gonna be associated with Coldplay all the damn time, I'm gonna have to get my name changed. [xx(]

[Frau_Blucher]

The grouping of notes in the lower keys seems pretty generic. There must hundreds of piano pieces that take on this down-up down-up sequencing that forms something of the basic rhythm of the Sia song. It is just that though, a very basic rhythm piece where, just like somewhat common basslines, don't really make up the essential melodic elements of a song and are frequently heard in other songs. The NBA song pretty quickly moves on to its more-central melodic elements in the higher-key progressions. I don't think it's a rip even though the first few notes make us think it might be. It'd be like hearing Joy Division's chord of 16 consecutive bass d-notes for "Transmission" in some other song and calling that other song a copy. In reality, can a chord of 16 repeated notes be considered a copy? Can Sia's down-up C-F chord really be considered a copy? I tend not to think so in the context of the whole rest of the songs.

[djcraig]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Blir[/i]
<br>The grouping of notes in the lower keys seems pretty generic. There must hundreds of piano pieces that take on this down-up down-up sequencing that forms something of the basic rhythm of the Sia song.
[/quote]

I can't recall any prominent song from say, the past year or so that matches this description. At least nothing that has garnered as much buzz as Sia and her music. And the NBA does like to stay topical with their promotions.

The people that create and choose music for these ad campaigns are way too aware of current pop culture for the similarity to have been some random accident.

The only question is if the promo song was intentionally created in the likeness of "Breathe Me" or simply chosen because it happened to sound a lot like it. Either way, I'm sure the NBA had their legal department clear it before proceeding.




<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>