Perhaps the most famous example
is... My Sweet Lord... by George Harrison..
obviously inspired by ... He's So Fine.... recorded by the Chiffons
the song written by Ronald Mack.

George made a brilliant new song which was a huge hit and really did nt deserve all the subsequent hassle.

I remember Paul saying on some TV show that one or two songs were copies, or based on earlier melodies.... but he would nt be specific.

I d like to speculate here that Paul's wonderful song...... And I love her...
is heavily influenced by the classic song.... Till there was You .......
It must have been one of Paul's favourites back in time, before they were famous.
They sang it on stage and I think they recorded it too.

Hes caught the wistful mood of Till there was you.... and , for all I know perhaps the same chords too !

Nina Simone-I Put A Spell On You inspired Beatles-Michelle.

John Lennon said he'd listened to Simone's recording the night before, and the "I Love You" is sung identically to the way Nina sung it in I Put A Spell On You.

We are detective.... by the Thompson Twins...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8OnzWpyAs4

just gotta be inspired by the Abba song....

.... Head over Heels....


I would have put the song ... Michelle ... down to Paul... he learned French at school ... cant really see any similarity to ..... I put a spell on you !

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B by The Andrews Sisters and Candyman Christina Aguilera

Listen to he chorus of Geuwine's "Last Chance", JLS blatantly ripped it off and used it for their chorus of "One Shot", they even stole the bloody lyric from Genuwine's chorus "If I only get one shot", which they changed to "you only get one shot"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxoZ3...bedded#t=1m01s

I've only just noticed this today, I bet it has been mentioned a thousand times before around these parts though.

Going back... almost to the beginnings of pop and rock.... take a listen to the song in South Pacific
.... Im gonna wash that man right out of my hair...
There's a slow intro to the song

If a man don't understand you,
If you fly on separate beams,
Waste no time, make a change,
Ride that man right off your range.
Rub him out of the roll call
And drum him out of your dreams.

.... Its obvious this was the inspiration to the song.... Heartbreak Hotel..... way back in the 1950s !

I don't know if this is exactly what you wanted, but I love this story. Killing Me Softly, now known to be sung by Roberta Flack was originally written and sung by Lori Leiberman is about Don Mclean. Lori went and saw Don Mclean at a concert and when he sang Empty Chairs, it affected her and she wrote a song about it. So, the guy 'killing me sofly with his song' is Don Mclean!

Sorry, if people already know the story, I just think it's completely amazing and I adore the song because of it.

I think Lloyd Webber has said that he is deeply influenced by Bizet the composer...

but going over to Bublil and Les Mis
theres a song in there
.... Bring him home...


God on high, hear my prayer.
In my need you have always been there.
He is young, he`s afraid.
Let him rest, Heaven blessed.
Bring him home.
Bring him home.
Bring him home.

If Im not mistaken, that melody is a complete steal from Bizet...
( Think its from The Pearl Fishers )

quote
written and sung by Lori Leiberman is about Don Mclean.
end quote

Interesting to know that a bit like George Harrison and Eric Clapton competing to compose songs about Pattie Boyd who has probably inspired more songs about her than any other rock babe !

Have to be honest, I hadn't noticed that one before, but you're spot on regarding the similarity.

Don't know if that was intentional or just coincidence, as Head Over Heels wasn't that big a hit or that well-known.

Nirvana's come as you are is really similar to Killing Joke's earlier song eighties. Smells like teen spirit also bears similarities to Boston's more than a feeling which in turn has similarities to the Kingsmen's louie louie.

Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge of classical music than me can confirm
the link between the .. Bring him home... song in Les Mis to the exact same melody in the Bizet opera.

A popular song in the 60s was .. "Cast Your fate to the wind...."
(Not sure if originally it was an instrumental piece that someone put some words to ?)

But listening to that song... you begin to realize how much it inspired Andrew Lloyd Webbers song....
Jesus Christ.... Superstar !

listening to the Abba song.....Hasta Manyana

Where is the spring and the summer...?
That once was yours and mine...
Where did they go ?
I just dont know

Cant help thinking that this fabulous Abba song is inspired by an earlier top pop song

... "Tie a Yellow Ribbon round the Old Oak Tree ....."