Thursday, April 17, 2008

106. The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony

Found On: Urban Hymns (1996)

The title of the song is especially apt. Though the lyrics and melody were completely original to the band, Bittersweet Symphony is credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards alone.

What gives? Well, the song uses a sample from a symphonic recording of the Rolling Stones' song The Last Time, which was authorized ahead of time. Once it became a huge hit, the Stones' manager saw dollar signs and successfully sued for full writing credit.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

fuck the rolling stones

Unknown said...

Stones had nothing to do it you clowns, the manager who sued them had exclusive rights to the songs, the Stones didnt, Exile on Main St. in 1972 is the first album that they have sole rights to. Richards talks about how the manager stole the rights to royalties extensively in his book. Get your facts straight.

Anonymous said...

It is quite obviously stolen from the Andrew Oldham Orchestra's reorchestration of The Last Time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKC5cdGBY04

The tune is pretty much identical and the lyrics even follow the same melody from the Stones original version (If I told you once, I told you twice: It's a bittersweet symphony)

Anonymous said...

Idiot