10 Bands That Stole Another Band's Sound

A band’s goal is typically to find a sound that no one has ever heard before. While it’s easy to follow along with genre trends, it’s always more fun to find a sound that you can really identify with. These bands certainly have their sound down to a science... it’s just that it belongs to someone else.

For as much as some people try to distance themselves from their influences, a lot of bands have come to the forefront who aren’t even shy about where they got their sound from. Whether it’s playing in the same style of music or actively lifting the chord progressions of famous songs, these bands have all worn those influences a little too much on their sleeves.

Even though some of these bands have had to live in the shadow of their influences, some have been able to successfully distance themselves from their heroes by switching up a style or improving on the sound they stole.

From having a one-off song tribute to making a full-blown career out of plagiarism, these are just a handful of bands who could have benefited from being just a touch more original in their heyday.

Lady Gaga was a breath of fresh air for the entire pop scene at the end of the ‘00s. With so many divas crowding the charts, here was a bonafide superstar that was ripped straight out of the golden age of pop music. A lot of Gaga’s talent came from years of hard work, but the style and aesthetic was a bit too on the nose.

Ever since her debut with “Just Dance,” Gaga has always gotten dozens of haters claiming that everything she is doing is based on Madonna. It might seem like a cheap shot comparing the ‘80s superstar to a new pop star, but using the same chord structure between songs like “Express Yourself” and “Born This Way” are a bit too close to just be a coincidence.

While it may have been easy to put Gaga in the realm of throwback act, she has actually done plenty of other musical ventures to distance herself from the genre as of late, from the country tinged Joanne to the duets album with Tony Bennett.

Also, Gaga has one-upped her competition by giving a much greater acting performance in A Star is Born than Madonna has given in her entire filmography. It was a long road to acclaim, but Lady Gaga shook off the naysayers and has turned into one of the most interesting pop stars of the past 20 years.