Does This Gretchen Wilson Song Sound Familiar To You?

noah | July 30, 2008 1:30 am
Take a listen to “Work Hard, Play Harder” by self-proclaimed redneck woman Gretchen Wilson–above, used in an ad for TNT’s Holly Hunter vehicle Saving Grace–and ask yourself: “Does this song sound familiar to me?” Because someone who heard it recently answered that question, “Hell yes, that song sounds familiar because I wrote it–well, at least the verses to it–17 years ago.” After the jump, the song that Wilson may have ripped off!

Yes, the Black Crowes are pretty hopping mad about the strong similarities between the verses of “Work Hard, Play Harder” and their own “Jealous Again”–so mad, they’ve issued notices of copyright infringement not just to Wilson, but also to Wilson’s parent label Sony BMG, publishing company J Money Music, and TNT. No response from the filed-against parties, but Black Crowes manager Peter Angelus said in a statement, “We find the musical verses of Wilson’s song to be such an obvious example of copyright infringement that I expect all parties to reach a relatively quick resolution to avoid litigation.” I just have one thing to add: If that resolution could involve replacing Wilson’s track with “Jealous Again” in the ads, it would really liven up my daily Law & Order rerun watching.

Gretchen Wilson – “Work Hard, Play Harder” [YouTube] Black Crowes – “Jealous Again” [YouTube]

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