Pinoy Big Brother Theme “Pinoy Ako” - a ripoff?
October 31, 2005There are discussions (my bro’s blog, Inq7.net, Manila Bulletin 1, Manila Bulletin 2, the rest of the blogosphere) that the Pinoy Big Brother theme song, Pinoy Ako by Orange and Lemons, was ripped off from a 1980’s song Chandeliers by the Care.
I tend to agree with my bro on this one.
Orange and Lemons claims that the song was indeed inspired by Chandeliers, but there was no copyright infringement perpetrated, since the similarities ended with the guitar intro.
According to ONL vocalist Mcoy Fundales, there was no other similarity, even in the melody.
But I got to listen for myself, and I can say you’d be frickin’ tone-deaf if you don’t think Pinoy Ako’s rhythm approximates that of Chandeliers almost to a T! Not only is the guitar intro a sound-alike, but the rhythm and structure of the two songs do approximate each other (check out the bass guitar riffs and the drums).
Listen for yourself.
Don’t get me wrong. I find Pinoy Ako a catchy and ear-friendly (though too frequently played) tune, and the kids love it! But it just seems so eerily similar to Chandeliers that you can’t help but wonder about the intentions of the composer.
Well, maybe he wasn’t aware that his music so closely resembles another song already in existence. Or perhaps the group wasn’t betting on their song going very popular in pop culture.
At any rate, according to the Manila Bulletin article, the recording labels owning the rights to either song don’t find any infringement.
So in the legal realm, ONL is safe. But I still have my doubts in terms of artistic integrity.
Previous Comments
KOPYA TALAGA! THESE PEOPLE PRETEND TO BE MAD AT PEOPLE SUPPORTING PIRACY BUT THEY COMMIT A CRIME WORSE THAT PIRACY–PLAGIARISM. THEY TAKE SOMEONE'S WORK AND MAKE IT APPEAR LIKE IT'S HIS. AT LEAST THE PIRATES DON'T PRETEND TO OWN THE COPIED MEDIA.
Posted by VERTIGO at November 26, 2005, 3:10 amTo be honest, I never liked the Pinoy Ako song because it seems so heavy handed. It's like the song is carrying a huge sledgehammer with the phrase "Pinoy Ako" on it and they keep hammering us on the head with it. There are lots of ways to say that you love this country and you love being Pinoy without being so blatant and repetitive about it.
Posted by Gerry Alanguilan at December 17, 2005, 10:49 pm
copycats no doubt
I'm proud to be Pinoy. But I;m not proud of Orange n Lemons.
Posted by Ronald at January 12, 2006, 7:31 pmLet's just say that these guys were HEAVILY influenced like Parokya ni Edgar were when they "copied" famous songs in the past.
Let's not forget VST as well.
In short, dati na yan. At least narinig natin yung the Care di ba? Meron ding positive thing na lumabas sa bruhahahaaaarrrgh na ito.
I still hate Big Brother though.
Posted by taorist at January 14, 2006, 6:21 pmSorry Chandeliers pala. Iba yung the Cares. Sorry!
Posted by taorist at January 14, 2006, 6:22 pmAaay kita mo pati ako nalilito na. LOLZ!!!!! The Cares' song "Chandeliers" yung kinopya.
The ignoramus in me is fucking up again.
Sori!
Posted by taorist at January 14, 2006, 6:24 pmThere is a BIG!, VERY BIG!! DIFFERENCE between these two words..INSPIRED and COPIED…when you say a song is inspired, somehow, or in some ways..maybe the lyrics or the idea of the two songs (the ORIG and the let say the similar), maybe both similar in nature or goals, coz it's inspired or maybe the instruments used or the technique in arranging the music are quite the same…BUT…yes! .. A BUT is always there…coz if the songs are the same in melody and in total musicality..of course a chnage in lyrics is obvious but the smiilarity is always there..then!..we can say, strongly that IT IS COPIED…let us not use STOLEN..coz it's a strong word…well maybe if the artist of the latter song had change its subject..which is ORIGINALITY AND UNIQUENESS OF THE PINOY…well i think it's kinda IRONIC coz the music is not that…let say it has the same melody and rhythm of an EARLIER RELEASED SONG….how can we call it an ORIGINAL?… .i hope i'm wrong but the "PINOY AKO" song tries to show how " GALING!!" we filipinos are, di ba?… yes, i agree, magaling nga tayo..kita mo nga nman, we can do something like these..but without violating any rules or what so ever di ba?… pero think about this….. can we proudly say or sing PINOY AKO, if we know that a smiliar MELODY or song not to mention, an original version which is FOREIGN in nature has been already played? can we be proud of it as…SARILING ATIN?… i'm just wondering if somebody will agree with me….i wonder….
(sori po sa inglis ko..trying hard po kasi ako e..hehehe)
Posted by in_behalf_ian_broudie at January 30, 2006, 10:50 amalso..this is just for info…the band "ORANGE & LEMON" are really, and truly inspired by NEW WAVE MUSIC of the 80's..yes they can say that…that is obvious with the PINOY AKO song..which really sounds similar with the CHANDELIERS by the CARE featuring IAN BROUDIE from their album DIAMONDS AND EMERALDS..(i'm a n AVID NEW WAVE FANATIC)..i have my collections…well just in case, some of you, might wondering where on earth ORANGE AND LEMONS got their name?…check out the XTC..they haveanr album entitled ORANGES AND LEMONS..I've got that album since i was in HIGH SCHOOL..way back 1988 ( I think..)..but i still got em and playing them too….i'm not sure if that's where they got their name..well..sila lang talaga nakaka alam non..sakin lang e..meron akong album na ganon ang title…
in fairness, di ko pa sila (ORANGE AND LEMON) nakikita sa mga interbyu. I still have no idea of who they really are and what is their influences and type of music…narinig ko lang bigla yung PINOY AKO…the very first time na narinig ko yun! kala ko rendition lang nila ng CHANDELIERS o COVER VERSION..but i was wrong…honestly… di ko siya nagustuhan, kasi mas kabisado ko yung CHANDELIERS…parang pakiramdam ko…nag ala MICHAEL V sila…di kaya?..opinion ko lang po ito…
ang galing mangopya ng ONL…Pinoy ka nga!
Posted by skin at April 9, 2006, 11:16 amSabihin n natin nangopya satingin nyo ndi kau nangogopya hehehehehheehe! abnormal k kung ndi ka nangongopya!
e kung igaganda naman e y not atleast naghit! kaya nga inspired e. kya ndi umaangat pilipinas dahil sa mga tao katulad nyo na malilinis.
Posted by :) at April 24, 2006, 8:51 pmfuck you kau!!!!!! kau lng ang nango2pya!!!!gago!!!!!!putang ina nyo!!!!!!
Posted by ace at May 25, 2006, 1:44 pmwell actually, dami naman talaga manggagaya American Idol and Philippine Idol, Pinoy ako and Chandelier dami dami mga songs na ginaya. Actually pati si Toni Gonzaga nanggaya rin. Yung latest song nya has the same melody with Utada Hikari's melody. haaaaaaaaaayy.. wala na ba tayong originality? kahit pangit susuportahan ko sana atleast original at matatawag na sariling atin =) peace out.
Posted by Boyong at May 30, 2006, 11:53 pmi already hated PBB at first i think its already a waste of time and funds. just one more reason to hate it. how can you blame them? they were once copy-cats and they will always be copy-cats.
Posted by irene at June 7, 2006, 7:24 pmGinagaya rin naman tau ng ibang bansa ahh
ndi lng tau nanggagaya kundi sila rin. example na ang people power and madami pa.
Bakit maraming mga tao kapag sikat o umaasenso gustong hatakin pababa.
"Crab mentality tlga pinoy" Wushhh! 
kaya hindi umaasenso ang mga pilipino dahil hindi nagkakaisa puro kayo kasiraan.
HARAPIN NYO ANG REYALIDAD NG BUHAY.
TINGNAN NYO MUNA SARILI NYO BAGO KAYO MAGHUSGA.
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its's not just the intro nor just the rhythms, almost everything is copied from chandeliers. check this out: http://media.putfile.com/pinoychandelierstayo…
Posted by dacare at November 14, 2005, 1:41 pm