I was listening to the radio today when I heard Jordin Sparks’ newest single, “Battlefield” come on and couldn’t help but notice it sounded very similar to another song I had heard recently, but couldn’t place my finger on it. After a quick Google search, I realized my suspicions were true and the chorus in her song is nearly, if not exactly, the same as the chorus to “My God is an Awesome God.” If you don’t believe me, listen for yourself.
This is the most recent in a trend where musicians are coming across the same chord combinations for their chorus lines, whether intentionally or not. Coldplay has been in hot water for the numerous similarties their song “Viva La Vida” has with at least 3 other songs, including an uncanny similarity to “If I Could Fly” by Joe Satriani.
Either musicians are taking the risk of being cheap because they can’t use their own creativity or, as I once wondered years ago, maybe we’re reaching the point where all possible 3 or 4 chord combinations have been used and that maybe musicians will have to resort to (gasp) actually writing music like they did in the old days with distinct movements and melodies that weren’t confined to a pop driven beat or a 3 chord combo that will for sure rocket to popularity since it can be remembered so easily.