Did David Cook Rip-Off "Eleanor Rigby"?

76. All I have to say is David Cook's version was way better. And I agree he is better than Archuletta. Give me a break with the ripp-off stuff it's a cover, Doxology should build a bridge and get over it. David Cook can wail!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 5:41PM on Mar 12th 2008 by nik

77. All the Doxology fans that happened to watch Idol last night immediately recognized the arrangement - it was obvious to those of us who know NOTHING about the "technical side" of making music. the idea behind "rip-off" becoming an "issue" isn't for fame, money or all the glory - it's the common courtesy and respect that everyone in the business should have for each other. THAT MUCH likeness cannot be passed off as coincidence. it's apparent that david cook, as well, is a doxology fan. he just took it a little too far.

and to all the negative comments concerning doxology: do you fools just sit at home in front of your computer, refreshing your screen for the latest story on tmz to pop up so you can (anonymously) bash people that you don't even know? at least post a name or a website and own up to your ridulous immaturity. get a life. seriously. or even better, get smart and listen to ten seconds of just one of their songs. you cannot deny talent, and they didn't even have to use a FOX reality show to make a name for themselves.

Posted at 5:34PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Corianne

78. I do not believe that DOXOLOGY is saying that David ripped off their SONG, rather they are pointing out that he ripped off their ARRANGEMENT! None of them are my sons, my boyfriend, my best friend - in no way am I related to them. I simply enjoy their music and commend their talent. I support them in their effort to be recognized for the adaptation.

I in no way disagree that David has talent of his own either. However, I believe that it is DOXOLOGY’s talent that should be recognized in this case. Many of you may not realize it but this more than just who is ripping who off – there are copyright laws that state that this arrangement is in fact DOXOLOGY’s.

As fans we are not being asked to come and comment or debate with any of you, it is our sole decision to support and stand up not only for the band itself, but for the right to be recognized for the work and effort they put into an awesome arrangement.

I will allow you all to continue to negatively debate this topic and insult the DX supporters, in the ignorant fashion that you so choose to do. As for me, I will be getting back to focusing on my important career. Something I am assuming many of you lack based on the ignorance you so blatantly display in your commenting.

Posted at 5:35PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Ashlynn Sanders

79. Cook rocked and he has a great voice. The version by this other band is similar but it's the same damn song, there's only so many ways to sing it. I mean, both versions are similar to another version floating around out there. You know, the one by that group called the Beatles.

Posted at 5:37PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Jenny

80. yes kristina Im on their friends list even though I dont care about them or their music *sarcasm*

Posted at 5:40PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Robin

81. Christina are you a "starving musician"? You sound a little jaded!! No one on Idol is ripping anyone off, they are only permited to do already existing songs at least until the final show. You need to get yourself in check, what is wrong with people getting an open door of opportunity, isn't that what makes the USA so great. If you had a creative mind you could see past your rose colored stained glass windows. Sell your crap somewhere else!!!

Posted at 6:35PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Nik

82. Ashlynn has it 100% right. As they’ve stated through their manager, DOXOLOGY is not threatening to sue nor are they trying to grab their 15 minutes of fame. They’re not a no-name band from WA, in fact they have opened for some major acts including Hoobastank and even AI’s own Blake Lewis. All these talented musicians want is for credit to be given where credit is due. They created the ARRANGEMENT for the cover of ‘Eleanor Rigby’ that David Cook claimed as his own last night (as he said, it “fell into” his lap “at the right time”…) and they deserve to be recognized for it.

It’s disturbing to watch one musician take such advantage of one of their peers when not too long ago he was slinging drinks and singing in a bar on Friday nights for a living. It seems to me that David Cook assumed that this “no-name band from Seattle” was obscure enough that he wouldn’t be caught ripping off their version and decided to step on them to get ahead. He missed out on a great opportunity to show America an honest and true passion for the music and those who pursue a career in it by not recognizing DOXOLOGY as the creators of this arrangement. It obviously impressed him enough to choose to perform it, so why not give props to those who don’t necessarily have the access to national exposure on a TV show?

Regardless of people’s opinions on this matter, they have absolutely no right whatsoever to pass personal judgments on the individual members of this band. They are hard-working, genuine, and talented guys who do what they do because it’s their life’s passion and they can’t imagine themselves doing anything else. David Cook needs to swallow his pride, step up, and give some recognition to those who deserve it.

Posted at 5:56PM on Mar 12th 2008 by AP

83. Well then Robin... maybe you should go pick out something else to debate about.. since you have no idea what the F*** you are talking about. lol

Posted at 5:55PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Kristina

84. Huh? I don't get the idiotic low-ball by "Nik". I am not a musician but I am an artist and I wasn't "selling" something; simply stating the matter of fact truth, American Idol sucks and here (the story above) is just another reason why. Sorry bud. I do hate shows like American Idol. I can have an opinion and spew my cynical verbiage wherever I so please.

Posted at 6:10PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Christina

85. All he's doing is ripping off other artists "rock" versions of songs. He's lame and I don't really buy his whole rocker attitude anyway.

Posted at 6:15PM on Mar 12th 2008 by jennnnn

86. Doxology is a group of nobodies that no one knows. They're just trying to get their loser name out there. David Cook's rendition sounded NOTHING like theirs. David rocked! Doxology sucked!

Posted at 6:39PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Tammy

87. Whether this is a cover tune or not... there is no doubt it is the exact same verison/arrangement that Doxology perfomrs. He must have just handed the Idol band Doxology's CD and said "Here, play this!".

I think it's kind of cool that he used the arrangement, but where David Cook goes wrong is when he said "the arrangement just fell into my lap". That's not the same thing as saying that a band named Doxology arranged this tune and I loved it so much I just had to do it. Big difference!!!

With that being said, he definitely ripped off Doxology by not giving them props! It is a Bad-Ass arrangement no matter who played it first!

Posted at 8:39PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Sam

88. Good thing they have no intention to sue -- because they have no case. You can't claim rights in a cover, unless you got the original artist's permission to claim copyright in the new work, which I doubt these guys got.

The idea is that it's really hard to prove what's truly original in the new arrangement, and what's merely an obvious function of converting the original song to the hard rock format.

Posted at 6:23PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Tal

89. Back in 1992 a band called The Violet Burning did a similar cover of Elanor Rigby

Posted at 6:49PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Chris

90. I find this entire humorous for many reasons. First off, Eleanor Rigby was written over 40 years ago and at last count was recorded on 60 plus albums. I have personally seen countless bands up and down the east coast cover this song. Some good and some bad but the best version was by Me First and The Gimme Gimmes. With all of that said I have trouble believing a kid from Missouri ripped off an arrangement from a band in Washington and even if he did, who cares. Its a cover tune and I am quite sure that before this band did this version another had done similar. Get over it guys and as for the manager so graciously stating there was no intent to sue, I am sure there was much fear on the part of AI........Let's see......"your honor, this youth on a reality tv show ripped off a song from us, that we didnt write, that thousands of band before us have played for 40 years"

Numerous artists have recorded "Eleanor Rigby" in a variety of styles, at least 61 released on albums by one count:[18]

Joan Baez's 1967 version, included on her Joan album, was sung to classical orchestration.
Ray Charles also released a famous version as a single and on the album A Portrait of Ray (1968). This soul cover one steers closer to the original, retaining a string section, but adds a driving drum part and a more subdued chorus.
Aretha Franklin, on the album This Girl's In Love With You (1970) and as a single, switching the song to first person and replacing the string quartet with a driving soul backing, complete with a chorus.
Jazz musicians such as The Jazz Crusaders, Wes Montgomery (on his 1967 album A Day in the Life), Stanley Jordan ( on the album Magic Touch, 1985) and John Pizzarelli recorded it as an instrumental, with lead-guitar taking over the vocal line.
The Jerry Garcia Band played an instrumental version as part of a medley with After Midnight. The medley appears on nine bootleg recordings between January 20th, 1980 and March 8th, 1980.
The Nite Liters recorded a funk/soul instrumental version released in 1970.
The Post-hardcore Punk band Thrice recorded the song for the their "If We Could Only See Us Now" Compilation.
In the movie, Magnolia, Aimee Mann produces a song that uses the main background tune.
The American metal band Realm covered this song on their album Endless War.
The group Godhead also recorded this song, on their 2001 album 2000 Years of Human Error. This version is done in an Industrial sounding way, a unique track on the album.
Eleanor Rigby has also been recorded by the band Dirt Poor Robins, being the first track on their debut album "The Greatest of Earth on Show" and on the re-release entitled "The Cage" on Astonish Records.
The group The Violet Burning recorded this song. It is featured on their CD, Strength.
The Swedish Industrial metal band Pain recorded this song on their 2002 album Nothing Remains the Same.
Bobbie Gentry also recorded Eleanor Rigby. Her version can be heard on the Capitol/Cema Special Markets album Great Songs of The Beatles.
Australian band Zoot released a version in 1970. It reached #4 on the Australian charts and went gold after its 1980 re-release.
American rock band Kansas recorded this song on their 1998 album Always Never the Same.
Russian alternative rock band "Animal Jazz" also recorded "Eleanor Rigby" in 2003.
The Outside Royalty, originally from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, recorded an alternative indie rock version in 2006, featuring on their EP.
The Uruguayan rock band La Conjura recorded this song on their live album 1000 km Para Ver.
Jamaican musician, singer, songwriter and producer Harris "B.B." Seaton with the band The Gaylads recorded the reggae version of this song in 1972.
Popular Las Vegas-based "alternative" band Panic At The Disco has covered the track live, but it was never studio recorded.
UK electronic pop group Elevator Suite included a rendition in their 2007 self-titled album.
In 2008 rapper Ja Rule released a song called Father Forgive Me from album The Mirror. It contains a sample of Eleanor Rigby.
Hull-based heavy metal outfit Ethel the Frog covered this song on a single recorded for EMI in 1979.
In 2006 Brooklyn rapper, Talib Kweli, released "All the Lonely People", using "Eleanor Rigby" as the beat

Posted at 6:33PM on Mar 12th 2008 by REALLY