From the desk of Nadia Pflaum:
People really love that song by Gym Class Heroes called "Cupid's Chokehold." You know, the one with the chorus that goes Take a look at my girlfriend. She's the only one I got ... not much of a girlfriend, I never seem to get a lot...
After insisting to anyone who would listen -- friends, family, bar stools -- that the GCH song is a complete rip-off of some '70s British rock, I finally unearthed a YouTube video of Supertramp singing "Breakfast in America." I like the original better, maybe because Supertramp doesn't look like a group that was produced in a lab after endless market research and because its songs don't contain lyrics about ringtones.
I wonder who will be the first to be featured in a Taco Bell commercial: Gym Class Heroes, or Fergie? And which one of them will be the first to remake (or regurgitate) "The Logical Song"?
"Cupid's Chokehold" by Gym Class Heroes
"Breakfast in America" (live) by Supertramp
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ADAM and others: How naive can you all be?! While I do not particularly care for the song: Cupid's Chokehold; GCH did NOT RIP IT OFF!! Supertramp; MUST give permission for ANY SONG TO be covered for recording, commercials, promos..ANYTHING! Can anyone say COPYRIGHT or ROYALTIES?? Supertramp has made milions of $ from the CC recording! If your all so pissed off about the song should not some of your anger be at the Tramp for allowing it?? Money and Biz is the bottom line here Adam! Don't be a sucker...
How about the fact that GCH's two singles are "samples". If they have such "unique qualities" as Nicole says... then how come they have to sample hooks from other artists. By definition that makes them the opposite of unique. Wait... unless you mean their unique qualities include the amazing ability to rip off real artists.
Face it GCH are awful and they really don't have true talent. It has become the norm that a one dimensional artist can lean on the works of others and be called insightful, when really they are just B.S. street musicians leaching on the sucess of those before them in hopes to make a few easy bucks.
F them.
Uh, sampling is a rip off, P. Diddy. Hip hop is completely unoriginal due to this technique. Yes, some of the lyrics may be cutting edge, but if you can't write music and are recycling other's music, it certainly shows a serious lack of talent. Puff Shiddy waits until people are dead or broke, then enters to compromise artistic integrity. That is not a remake of the Supertramp song, but a bastardization of a catchy hook. I'd like to see one rapper write their own music, instead of just shouting elementary rhymes from a child's rhyming dictionary to drum machines accompanying other';s songs. It's disgusting, actually.
I totally agree with Duck Rogers... Gym Class Heroes must have liked Breakfast, otherwise they wouldn't have used it. So wouldn't it seem natural to give a hat-tip to Roger and Supertramp?
On second thoughts, maybe they didn't really like it but simply took advantage of the renaissance of 80s Supertramp songs, which came about through Roger's hard work in the last couple of years...
I actually like Cupid's. And don't mind them covering Breakfast. They did a good remake.
But make no mistake it is a hit because of all the Breakfast parts. I don't hear people singing the non-chorus parts. The Ringtones being sold are the chorus.
I've seen them mention when "they wrote it". They didn't. Roger Hodgson did over 30 years prior LONG before any of them were born, and Supertramp recorded it.
Again, Gym "Class" Heroes could REALLY show some Class by giving credit where it is due, and that is to the musical genius that is Roger Hodgson.
It's only recently have they started to, kinda, sorta, make that muddily clear.
Roger should have been in the Video. Even just a guy on the bench reading the paper would have been perfect.
I second NCTRNL - "sampling" (as it is actually called, and not "ripping off") is actually a musical technique that is employed in several genres of music.
Especially in hip-hop (which, GCH's style is strongly influenced by the hip-hop sound and culture) - sampling was actually what hip-hop was born out of.
Basically, just saying that you can't really rip on them for using an accepted and rather standard musical technique.
In fact, I actually like this song a little more knowing the obscure musical reference that they sample in it - very cool.
Though it may not be a stellar usage of the sample.. it is still just a sample. Not fair to call it a rip-off.. because then 80% of hip-hop, even the good stuff, is a rip off.
Everyone knows the song is a ripoff. It's acceptable these days to regurgitate the hook from a past hit in order to get a band's name out there.
It's not good but it's not news either...
Contrary to what you believe, Gym Class Heroes are anything but a lab produced band.
They're by no means a typical band. Their record label, Decaydance did not create them...they were signed because of their unique qualities, witty lyrics, and overall creativity as a band. Decaydance signs bands and singers who wouldn't be considered by major record labels because major record labels create carbon copies of bands and artists according to their genre. Due to their poor decisions, creativity and originality is limited in the mainstream music industry.
GCH are one of the very few hip-hop/rock bands out there and the interracial members makes that much more unique. They're original and a breath of fresh air from today's disposable mainstream music. I for one, happen to enjoy GCH's music and admire them for being themselves.
Most artists are afraid of being who they really are. Why? Because they fear rejection. Originality is rare these days because nobody is being themeselves. No two people are alike, but everybody is trying to get noticed for doing and creating things that have already been done. GCH may have sampled the chorus from Supertramp, but at least GCH put their own spin on it, making it an entirely new creation in a way. They have an entirely different style that sets them apart from everyone else and people are taking notice. They have a song on their album, "As Cruel As School Children" titled, "Biters Block." Listen to it if you get the chance.
I for one, really like GCH's music and strongly suggest you listen to their discography before prematurely writing them off as a label creation.
Sincerely,
Nicole
you mean to tell me that people didnt know that song? theyve obviously never been in any sort of retail store. i cant go in public without hearing that song.
but my vote goes to gym class heros. i dont know why i love em, but i really do...
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