Incontrovertible evidence

[caddyman]

Silly season indeed!

Did Bob Marley steal Buffalo Soldiers from the Banana Splits?

...a musicologist, who asked not to be named for professional reasons, says the songs are "strikingly similar."

The main differences are in bars two and six, where the timing and inflection in Buffalo Soldier is more jumpy and Marley sings with a groove, whereas the Banana Splits theme song is "straight". And in bars three and seven, a note is gained in Buffalo Soldier or omitted in The Tra La La Song.

And it goes on.

Spot the difference:



1. Buffalo Soldier is more jumpy - repeated in bar six
2. Buffalo Soldier has an extra note - repeated in bar seven
3. Buffalo Soldier goes down to a C, The Tra La La Song goes up to an E
NB: The bars are illustrated in the same key for comparison

Comments

My 2c-worth

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

I noticed this, as I'm sure many did, when Mr Marley first unleashed it upon us. I suppose he thought he could avoid a lawsuit if he added the extra note going down the scale there. "Look mon, it's not the same, seen?"

The Banana Splits ended the first phrase on the 3rd (E, here) to give us a bit of tension, a common melodic trick, resolved by ending on the root the second time through (C, here), whereas Bob didn't care a toss, he liked that root note and he was jolly well going to resolve to it each time, and woe betide any academic who crossed his path.

Either way, as good as Bob's song is, the Banana Splits' song is ripping fun to play.

[good1zrtaken.livejournal.com]

i feel like i want to say something, but i don't know what that something is.
what a strange, nutty thing you've found.