Pants on the Ground Gets To the Grammys, Exposed as Plagiarism

Posted by thefunnystone on Friday, January 29, 2010 at 4:15 PM EST
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The saga of Pants on the Ground was old even last week, but people still seem to care about it. But it's been all over the news. First of all, General Larry Platt was mad that people were stealing his song without paying him... but the song was likely plagiarized in the first place. The 1996 song "Back Pockets on the Floor" by the Green Brothers is almost the same song. The General is also going to perform his song on the Red Carpet at the Grammys. The real question though is why hasn't everyone moved on? The song had a shelf life of a week. That week has passed.

Analog_Kid
Posted: 1/29/2010 at 5:02 PM Reply with quote
Location: Middletown

He will just claim that he was "inspired" by it and nothing more. Seems to me like he liberally borrowed from it as well. This is nothing new under the sun. Music history is replete with cases of artists ripping each other off. Entire books have been written about it. As for whether it's "right" or not, I'm not sure. I'm someone who doesn't believe that intellectual property is a valid form of property. I know... gasp, right?

SPOON
Posted: 1/29/2010 at 5:42 PM Reply with quote
Location: Location: Location:

<p>BULLSHIT!*cough-cough*BULLSHIT!  AI/19E has a proven record of making fun of the handicapped, infirmed, mentally impaired, et al.</p><p>I personally hope that this time they choke on it.  "General" Platt was taken advantage of by AI/19E.  They had to have known this song was plagiarized.  I don't find it funny that they used a man, that marched for his rights in the '60s, as a joke for American Idol's ratings.  Yeah, I went there, so should you.</p><p>BTW, I hope everyone knows that the first one to say:  "there is nothing new under the sun" was King Solomon?  I hope karma, and The Green Brother's Lawyer's go Biblical on their asses.   </p>

WizardofIB
Posted: 1/29/2010 at 6:10 PM Reply with quote

I think the Green Brothers should blow it out their ass. Sure the songs are similar. If rappers sued eachother every time they mentioned big screen tv's or fat asses there would be no rap music. Well wait, that might not be so bad. I digress, point being: Most of those Hollywood grassfuckers copy one another constantly and no one cares so long as everyone is making money. Because those Green Brothers d-bags are penniless it's an issue all of a sudden. Eat S and Move on Green bro's.

The Wiz

A-Jacks
Posted: 1/29/2010 at 7:19 PM Reply with quote

Remember when the I Am Your Brother guy performed at the season finale, months after its shelf life expired? Remember how that tapped into your inner Charles Whitman? Well, this song is starting to do the same thing. Hey, let's talk about something else, like Susan Boyle.

SAQUISHA-MISHA
Posted: 1/29/2010 at 8:18 PM Reply with quote
Location: IMMA BLOW THIS MOTHERFUCKER UP!

This is what happens when its shoved down your throat. Oh and if the General really did copy it on purpose then shame on you! If it was an accident then I think that's okay. But either way, songs of today are basically copies of other songs but they're just under disguise. Its the truth.

Jessamy
Posted: 1/29/2010 at 8:19 PM Reply with quote

So wait a second. You're confused that American Idol might be fake, and the Grammies might not be relevant?

dhealy2003
Posted: 1/29/2010 at 10:03 PM Reply with quote
Location: Springfield, MO

Generic old school rap style, and similar "message" in the song hardly equals plagiarizing.

Moxie
Posted: 1/30/2010 at 1:55 AM Reply with quote
Location: In the icebox.

^^^^^

Agreed. Although they clearly are based on the same premise, and Pratt clearly was "inspired" by this song, I do not think it fits the definition of plagiarism. Back pockets = pants, floor = ground, and he does mention the guy's hat being on the wrong way, but that's about it. I'm sure some lawyers out there could make a case in court, I just don't know that a jury would buy it.

Mosca
Posted: 1/30/2010 at 2:44 AM Reply with quote
Metal Skool with Kelly Clarkson Location: I been everywhere, man

Sorry, not even close. The only similarity is that they are both stupid.

SAQUISHA-MISHA
Posted: 1/30/2010 at 2:49 AM Reply with quote
Location: IMMA BLOW THIS MOTHERFUCKER UP!

I object. I think it kind of does fit the definition of plagiarism because it sounds too similiar to the original. That's like me singing "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne but changing the title name to "Boyfriend" and doing a little change in the lyrics and slightly changing the tune to the song. Which is almost exactly what Avril did. So I don't think the jury should buy it.

But still, I like the General. He's fun.

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