Country unknown looking for a little publicity or a case of one hit song's music sounding just a little too similar to another song?
Really, how close is too close and should all similar-sounding music be subject to scrutiny? Especially if the themes of the songs are completely different. That seems to be the question here.
Take one "country" unknown named Brittany McDonald and her song Bang, throw in a meeting with an un-named songwriter, add a very famous country gal and her new hit song and you have the latest plagiarism accusation, at least according to Perez Hilton.
Seems Ms. McDonald has a song called Bang that a certain un-named songwriter - and Carrie Underwood collaborator - loved. Ms. McDonald met with the songwriter back in December and then nothing happened. Later on Carrie cowrote her new hit song, Cowboy Casanova, with that un-named songwriter (Cowboy Casanova cowriters are Brett James and Mike Elizondo, take your pick to which is the un-named accused). Now come the claims that Cowboy Casanova and Bang sound very similar.
Do they? Is this a case of a tune was stuck in the songwriter's head and came out via Carrie's new song? Is it a case of too little evidence? Is it a case of someone just wanting a little publicity? Or is it a case of who really cares?
Take a listen and let me know what you think.
Okay, by DIVINE RIGHT Carrie had the RIGHT to take a good beat out of HORRIBLE lyrics and DREADFUL vocals! She was doing that poser chick a FAVOR by featuring a similair beat in Cowboy Casanova.
Posted by: Okie Carrie Fan | November 03, 2009 at 05:44 PM
Brittany McDonald has a great song and is really a good singer - someone should surely pick her up. She's refreshing and her song has a great beat. It's fun.
Posted by: Linda | October 06, 2009 at 05:39 PM
Actually, ya'll are going to think I'm crazy, but the beat during a lot of the song sounds just like Britney Spears "Womanizer". Listen to them both and see what you think.
Cowboy Casinova is no longer available because Sony took it off as a copyright infringement for us to listen to it here.
Posted by: Linda | October 06, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Ugh, I'm just not hearing it. Maybe the beat is similar, but I've had the Cowboy Cassanova running around in my head ever since I heard it, and I'm not hearing it when I listen to Britney's song. Britney's song is good, so why doesn't she just release it and move on. Perhaps the reason for the stink is that she's not got any backing for it and needs a little help in the publicity department. If the song is good, she shouldn't need to finger point and make false accusations. Your 15 minutes of fame is up. Move on!
Posted by: Karen | October 05, 2009 at 04:39 PM
Ever listen to Under Pressure and Ice Ice Baby?
Posted by: joe joe | October 03, 2009 at 04:47 PM
The only thing that is the same in these two songs are the loud drum beats carrie rocks and Mcdonalds song is pretty good
Posted by: j.j. | October 03, 2009 at 03:39 PM
Are you kidding me these songs are nothing alike-no one can do as good as carrie! Carrie's is about a billion times better to that mcdonald girl wishes- thats ridiculous. CARRIE ROCKSSSSS!!
Posted by: Deb | October 03, 2009 at 12:52 PM
McDonald should get proceeds from Cowboy Casanova
Posted by: o.c. | October 03, 2009 at 12:03 PM
OMG! People Get A Life! This Girl Has Nothing On Carrie! All She is Trying to do is get her 15 minutes of FAME! And as for her sounding better than Taylor Swift, Umm let's see..... NOT!!!! I don't Know what your listening to. You May want to Play it again!
Posted by: Dana | October 02, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Wow. I definitely can see a lawsuit sometime in the near future. The songs are identical. Lyrics have just been changed. I do think it's funny that Carrie's fans are claiming it sounds nothing alike. If you take out the vocals, they do.
Posted by: Heather | October 02, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Carrie clearly did NOT steal this song at all! And to Ashley Johnson or how ever you spell your name, Carrie is NOT a bitch, maybe your the one whos a bitch. Brittany is just trying to get attention by saying Carrie stole this! thats BS! Carries is better, and way different!
Posted by: sellyy. | October 02, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I ahve a minor in vocal music and I did not think they sound the same....they sound similar, but not the same. Here is what I think...the drum beat is what sounds the same, not the actual musical notes. Have you ever had a keyboard with the preprogrammed drum beats..it sounds like the two songs used the same beat and since it is predominate in the song, it makes them sound similar. If you listen to the actual chords, it is not the same. I did not think Brittany McDonald had much sellability....her song was not all that great...kind of reminded me of sitting in a karaoke bar with this pretty good singer housewife entertaining the crowd. There are lots of amazing singers out there who will NEVER have a music career...just singing good and even having a good song will not always make money! How many of us had never heard of McDonald until now? It was a nice publicity stunt!
Posted by: Diana | October 02, 2009 at 10:21 AM
THEY DO NOT SOUND A LIKE
This is redic. People really listen to it. This Brittany girl is just trying to get her name out there and use Carrie's name.
Posted by: Brittany | October 02, 2009 at 10:00 AM
This song is exactly the same song as Britany Mcdonald. Listen to it a few times. It's the same music just different lyrics. Carrie just has the country twang and different vocals and money to make it sound good. But Britany Mcdonald, has a rock//pop beat mixed with a touch of country. Just like the Black Eyed Pees new song does which is a #1 hit. One song may appeal to a younger crowd "BANG" whereas Carrie's song appeals to country lovers. Don't knock Britany Mcdonald she sounds great too. She's rated 5and 3/4 stars to Carrie's 6 If Britany had the money and producers of Carrie she'd be out there.
Posted by: Marlene Fuerst | October 02, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Looks like a good opportunity for some publicity for this girl, huh? Not similar enough at ALL.
Posted by: gretch | October 02, 2009 at 09:27 AM
I like the Brittany McDonald song better than Carrie's version. I also think she has a better voice. I like Carrie Underwood, but this unknown singer IS better, and she is also better than Taylor Swift!!!
Posted by: Lin | October 02, 2009 at 09:09 AM
The words obviously are not the same, the music eh, it's similar but definately not the same. I think McDonald should get over it. Now people know her name but they don't like her because of her claims.
Posted by: Alex | October 02, 2009 at 08:14 AM
The one thing both songs have in common is they are both horrible pop songs and NOT country!
Posted by: SL | October 02, 2009 at 07:53 AM
haha this is so funny how can you compare these two come on. why do people have to make someone popular and then try to ruin someone reputation shame on you. get the wax out ya ears and really listen to it. alot of bands and songs have same beat but this has totally different music and lyrics. waste of my time right now. get a life and find her a producer and leave carrie out of it. thought i was going to find some dirt on carrie but NOT!
Posted by: tina | October 02, 2009 at 07:50 AM
I REALLY ENJOYED BOTH SONGS AND DID NOT AND WOULD NOT HAVE COMPARED THEM TO EACH OTHER - EVER.. I AM A LYRICS KINDA PERSON. SO THAT'S WHAT SPEAKS TO ME 'CONSCIOUSLY' IN A SONG. I LOVED BRITTANY MCDONALDS SONG (I DON'T THINK SHE'LL BE AN UNKNOWN FOR LONG) BUT AGAIN, I LOVED THE LYRICS AND HER PRESENTATION.
CARRIE UNDERWOODS SONG I LISTENED TO SECOND. I WAS REALLY LISTENING FOR THE OVERWHELMING DRUMS. EH- IT WASN'T AS POWERFUL 'THE DRUMS' AND THEN I GOT TOTALLY LOST IN HER SONG.
TWO (2) TOTALLY DIFFERENT SONGS. MS. MCDONALD BETTER HAVE SOME C.D.'S READY TO SELL. SHE'S GOOD. CARRIE COMES THROUGH EVERY TIME. IT'S BEEN SO MUCH FUN WATCHING HER ON IDOL AND THEN SEEING HER NOW. BEAUTIFUL LADY. CLASS ACT. YOU CERTAINLY COULD NEVER COMPARE THEIR DELIVERY OF THESE TWO SONGS. BRITTANY'S WAS FUN AND A KICK TO LISTEN TO. THE TALK OVER PART IS ALWAYS GREAT. JUST A REALLY REALLY FUN AND I HOPE SUCCESSFUL SONG IN ITS OWN RIGHT.. BUT THE SAME - NO WAY AND I WAS LISTENING FOR IT. BEST OF LUCK LADIES. JUDGED BY NON MUSICIAN-JUST LOVE WHAT I LOVE. THEY ARE BOTH GREAT AND HOPEFULLY SUCCESSFUL FOR EACH SINGER. NOT ONCE DID I THINK OF ONE WHILE LISTENING TO THE OTHER.
I HAVE HEARD MANY A SONG OR THE BEGINNING OF ONE AND THINK- OH THEY ARE GOING TO PLAY _ AND BE SURPRISED WHEN IT WAS SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFERENT
THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AND I WAS LISTENING FOR A SIMILARITY. NO WAY A COPY OR RIPP OFF. NO WAY.
Posted by: Qwtaldy2 | October 02, 2009 at 05:16 AM
Bang..bang.. yup sure the 'miss unknown' is famous now, she got a lot of attention and support from Carrie's haters. Seems it works to use superstar name Carrie Underwood to make you famous.
Btw, congrats Gab.. I think you have a new record, the article reached 175 comments. Great, Carrie's news always bring much attention, pro and con :)
Posted by: pien | October 02, 2009 at 05:05 AM
Carrie Underwood clearly sings it better. I think she deserves the right to the rythem and the beat, because the words are not even close to the same. Props to Carrie for making a great song.
Posted by: Samantha | October 02, 2009 at 04:51 AM
Carrie Underwood is a BITCH!She stole sombody's tune (not lyrics.) i have heard both songs 5 times and i think mcdonald's is better. you dont steal sombody's tune and put together different lyrics. Carrie Underwood should get sued for stealing Brittany McDonald's tune.
Posted by: Ashley Johnson | October 02, 2009 at 01:44 AM
took the melody and changed the lyrics....wow, lawsuit in the making.
Posted by: o.c. | October 02, 2009 at 12:28 AM
The only similarity of these two songs is the rythme and beat. Other than that the lyrics are different and so are the notes that are played. Both songs have the same rythme and changes. I've heard lots of songs that carry the same beat or rythme.
Posted by: Duck | October 01, 2009 at 06:15 PM
As a songwriter, I feel like she was infringed on a bit. The songs are similar, and it is too much of a coincidence that the writer of the song met with her earlier in the year. There are differences in the melody, but from an attitude standpoint, its the same song and idea both musically and conceptually. If the songwriter had never met, or heard the other song in question, than I might give it a pass, as people write similar songs all the time. Mind you, this is nowhere near the Avril Lavigne scandal. For those of you defending Carrie, stop it. We know you love her from American Idol, and that is fine. She is an extraordinary talent. She probably didn't have anything to do with this song anyway. Nashville suits tend to pick the music for a lot of their artists, and they shouldn't be defended.
Posted by: J. Luke Cochran | October 01, 2009 at 05:58 PM
As a lyricist, I don't see enough of a parallel thematically for the claim to be made. The music comes closer, but isn't a match (I didn't hear four bars matching note for note, as is the requirement to my understanding).
This claim to me is perhaps only strategic, as Brittany is going to be getting a lot of attention now to her version, which is a hot song, sung by a definitely hot rising star. Watch out for this gal, gang, as she's coming out with a big BANG!
Posted by: Steve Graham | October 01, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Wow the people that are saying they sound alike are clearly hearing something I'm not. I can't believe this is even an issue.
Posted by: jo | October 01, 2009 at 05:50 PM
Same song just different lyrics.
Posted by: seuss | October 01, 2009 at 05:40 PM
WHob really cares u cant tell that its copied
Posted by: Alexa | October 01, 2009 at 05:37 PM
I listened several times to both - other than some places where the beat sounds the same, they are nothing alike really. And actually, I do like Brittany's song and she sings well...
Posted by: Jan | October 01, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Sorry folks.......but the songs do not sound the same one bit.The don't even contain the same lyrics.Carrie Underwood's song is more of a country song than Brittany McDonald's.Brittany's is more of a pop version and not sounding like a country song.So there's no need to have to sue anyone here.Just go your own separate ways and record your songs. Leave well enough alone and just enjoy your music careers.Whoever said that Brittany should sue Carrie Underwood for song stealing is out of their minds.You go Carrie Underwood!!
Posted by: Brenda | October 01, 2009 at 05:17 PM
The lyrics are nothing close to the same... The background music is the same, so if Brittany brought that to the table then she MAY have something there, but I'm guessing that it was the studio/producers that put that with her lyrics. So what if they wanna recycle music. Carrie's voice is easier on the ears too, Brittany's is tooooo raw. I didn't like her song at all. So this is what I have to say, "Brittany, leave Carrie Underwood alone, she is famous, you aren't. Now that you've had your fifteen minutes of fame, you can just go hide under a rock now."
Posted by: Crystal | October 01, 2009 at 05:16 PM
NOT CLOSE AND NEVER HEARD OF OTHER CHICK ANYWAY AND WHO REALLY CARES. WE ARE AT WAR OR CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TO WORRY ABOUT. ALL SONGS PROBABLY HAVE SOME SIMILARITY BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY KEYS AND CHORDS. GET OVER IT AND CARRIE KICKS BUT IN HERS.
Posted by: LYNN JUHL | October 01, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Anyone that has ever played in a band can tell this is a rip-off. In addition, after listening to both of these songs I know why I hate country music.
Posted by: RBR | October 01, 2009 at 05:14 PM
I am a Carrie girl through and through...I love music as well, all music. That said...I hear a lot of similarity in the two songs...just saying. If a songwriter decides to write a song, and record it, and it gets panned when someone shops it around, it still belongs to the songwriter, unless they sell the rights to it. We could all argue that Shania Twain was a plagiarist of Def Leppard songs...but the sound is similar because Mutt Lang was producer to BOTH artists! Some Shania songs sound Def Leppard-ish! Also, The recorded artist and the songwriter are not always the same person. So, while there are many scenarios, it could be that the songwriter wrote, produced and recorded Ms. Brittany, and nobody liked it, so, he took the same arrangement, layed it down to new lyrics, and the country sunshine of Ms CARRIE shone down and turned it into Billboard GOLD. This doesnt make her or the songwriter a plagiarist....please Perez (POSER) Hilton, have facts before you go dissing people!! I hear similar beat, similar snazz, different lyrics....I like both songs to be honest...But I will always love my Carrie! And it isnt plagiarism if the songwriter is one and the same....
Posted by: Marina G | October 01, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Not the same song...Never heard of Brittany McDonald anyway. Same beat but come on lots of songs out there sorta sound the same
Posted by: Teresa | October 01, 2009 at 05:03 PM
"Hello", it's not about the song, the singer, or the artists: this is not close enough to be called stealing. This is all about a fame seeking writer in the form of a false journalist (P.H.) trying to keep his own name in the headlines, just like all that drama when he accused someone of physically attacking him not to long ago. Anything this guy reports in my eye's is suspect; THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Remember to be music plagerism there is a need for similarity in framework, structure, notation, & chords, not to mention lyrics. This song sounds similar to Carrie's earlier song releases, so if anyone should be brought out as a thief it should be the other writer, who seems to be a sound alike of Carrie & not the other way around.
"ENOUGH SAID"
JR
Posted by: Joseph Riley | October 01, 2009 at 05:02 PM
I don't think they sound alike at all. They are both good though.
Posted by: Susan | October 01, 2009 at 04:57 PM
Brittany sings really great. Better than carrie and you can tell Carrie ripped this song off by Brittany
Posted by: wendy | October 01, 2009 at 04:54 PM
Honestly WHO CARES! Yeah the songs sound alike, but there are several songs out there right now from other artist and sound alike and you dont see them making a big deal about it. I think its a publicity stunt! Even if Carries writers had the tune stuck in their head..McDonald should be flattered that Carrie used it!
Posted by: Ashley | October 01, 2009 at 04:53 PM
I don't think they sound at all alike. They are both great songs. I think they just need to drop all the drama about it. And let them sing there music. No one should be getting sued over this!!
Posted by: Brenda Kenney | October 01, 2009 at 04:50 PM
Obviously a rip off and the Brittany's vocals sound 10 times better to boot.
Posted by: Tony West | October 01, 2009 at 04:49 PM
sorry to say but brittany has got a good crutch to stand on. as a matter of fact her version quite better vocally. the arrangement is the same,. Sorry, Ms. Underwood.. you gotta give the writer and Mr.Elizondo a pee pee spankin.
Posted by: king louie | October 01, 2009 at 04:47 PM
please Carrie is 100 times the singer that chick is or ever will be!!! The songs are nothing alike except like some posters have said up beat she just wants MONEY!!!!!
Posted by: mary | October 01, 2009 at 04:46 PM
this is stupid. carrie is amazing. this girl is just trying to get a little attention because she's not famous. well of course she's gonna get her 15 minutes of fame over this little stunt, but other than that she's a nobody. go carrie!
Posted by: carly:) | October 01, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Not guilty.
Posted by: C McB | October 01, 2009 at 04:32 PM
If you mute the lyrics on both songs, the music is identical. And the inflections is both songs are in identical places. Sorry folks, this is the same song, just diffent lyrics.
Posted by: dee | October 01, 2009 at 04:13 PM
Sounds like they both ripped off Katy Perry. both songs also suck.
Posted by: Merian | October 01, 2009 at 04:09 PM
I believe someone is out to start a stir about a great song by a great singer when the two songs are not similar to my listening ear. Baloney.
Posted by: Sunny Powell | October 01, 2009 at 04:05 PM