This Coldplay business really sucks man... I'm gettin' pretty upset listening to what people are saying... The grammy accusation and all, anybody who has been writing music for a while can tell you that if you boil most songs down to just melodic and harmonic content they are usually just a minute or so; maybe even a few seconds of solid musical idea... You can therefore take it and stretch it out, develop it, break it apart whatever...

But those few seconds are the "kernel" that all the rest of the song springs from... This is how a lot of us work musically, and coldplay seems to have made a "kernel" out of Joe's tune. It's sort of a case of revealing the magicians trick, he is a hack when his tricks are obvious... In this case, they made a bad call by, not just accepting the song as inspiration, but by opting to copy, the same progression AND the same melody... Secondly, they refused to reach out to Joe, two boneheaded mistakes that will hopefully cost them their street cred, give Joe more cred, and a little $$$ in his pocket for the work he did on it.

Hi,

First of all, I'm from Belgium and with all due respect, I had never heard from Joe Satriani until the thing with Coldplay. Now honestly, I'm not really thinking very high about Coldplay. Okay, they have a few good songs but it's not really that artistically if you know what I mean.

I checked out the youtube video and I can't understand there are people who still claim they hear something 'different'. For cryin' out loud, the two songs are played over each other and you get the same chords, same tone, same notes! Duh! You must really be totally musically-handicapped not te hear its the exact same thing! So did coldplay rip you? Likely but not necessarily so. Maybe they did. Maybe they heard 'If I could fly' somewhere and the chords got into their sub-conscious or maybe it's all just a coincidence.

But who can proof he was the first to come up with the melody? That's what counts I think and Coldplay should at least open a diologue with Joe. By the way, I checked out your album 'Is there love in space' and that's some nice guitar work there dude! Wish I could play like that! There's way more soul in there than in Coldplay.

STrange how coldplay La vida gets nominations and grammy's while the original doesn't even get mentioned. Let everybody please "remember" what this says about the ones who decide about grammy's and nominations please! Bunch of fucking nitwits who've grown an attitude, thinking they are Gods defining what we ought to think is great music and what should be forgotten. Damn fools.

Joe, I'll be following your work man, you're one hell of a guitar player and I got total respect for what you do. I hope the cold-rip-players have to transfer every damn dime they made with that song to you including a penalty and interests!

Hola!

Cappy Steve - It is the one you sent...thanks for that...feel free to send me more! TA muchly

Maritime - Snow....whats that then? dont get that round these here parts very often....HAHA thanks for the douze points! You know I always route for the UK getting NIL points at Eurovision...I am most dsappointed when we get points!

Kayla - Awww thanks....twas you who inspired me to pick up my pencil remember!

Roo - You know I do always worry about that, so I usually make subtle changes just in case.

-----------------------------------------------------

The Washington Post's Style Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Bozone (n.):
The substance surrounding stupid people that stop bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

Foreploy (v):
Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

Cashtration (n.):
The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

Decafalon (n.):
The gruelling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

Arachnoleptic fit (n.):
The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

Beelzebug (n.):
Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

Caterpallor (n.):
The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature:

Ignoranus (n):
A person who's both stupid and an asshole.

Offside rule for women

In preparation for the World Cup, the "offside rule" explained for women: You're in a shoe shop, second in the queue for the till. Behind the shop assistant on the till is a pair of shoes which you have seen and which you must have.

The female shopper in front of you has seen them also and is eyeing them with desire. Both of you have forgotten your purses.

It would be rude to push in front of the first woman if you had no money to pay for the shoes.

The shop assistant remains at the till waiting.

Your friend is trying on another pair of shoes at the back of the shop and sees your dilemma.

She prepares to throw her purse to you.

If she does so, you can catch the purse, then walk round the other shopper and buy the shoes!

At a pinch she could throw the purse ahead of the other shopper and "whilst it is in flight" you could nip around the other shopper, catch the purse and buy the shoes!

BUT, you must always remember that until the purse has "actually been thrown", it would be plain wrong for you to be in front of the other shopper and you would be OFFSIDE!

------------------------------

What makes 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?

We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.

How about achieving 103%?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26,

then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and,

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T

2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

and, look how far ass kissing will take you:

A-S-S--K-I-S-S-I-N-G

1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can then conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hardwork and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, Bullshit and Ass Kissing will put you over the top!

Powerslave214 - That blog post is lame. There are a lot of ill-informed opinions out there, and Coldplay has a huge fanbase so that stuff can spread pretty quickly.

But putting up with a few months of this is nothing compared to a ruling in Joe's favor that sets everything right for the future. So I'm OK with dealing with it for now... ;-)

I downloaded a Guitar Pro file of Viva La Vida to use as a starting point to try to transcribe the vocal melody...and, sure enough, I couldn't find a file with the vocal part! I thought that was pretty funny...Coldplay fans say the songs aren't similar, but then that's the only response you can expect if the fans who made the Guitar Pro files didn't feel the vocal melody was worth including.

The best thing to do is put all of your music on your computer and then put most of you favorite music on your MP3 player. Keep that stuff there all the time, but leave a few GB empty and move things on and off your player as your musical moods change. It only takes a few seconds, so you really don't need to spend the money for a huge player.

As I mentioned in the post I linked to, I keep complete discographies of some of my favorite bands on there, but that still leaves plenty of room for other stuff. Aerosmith's studio discography is about 15 hours of music and only takes up 1.25 GB. Satch's studio discography is about 13 hours of music and only takes up a little more than 1 GB.

I've been a fan since I picked up my first guitar at 8 (23 years ago). I have just read the statement, Joe, you put out about the Coldplay song and I'm devastated. I think this is a big mistake that you will look back on and regret. You claim it is for Artistic integrity that you are pursuing this suit but you look like someone begging for coins. I've heard both version and it is uncanny but it's not the same song. I would ask you to go back over your own catalogue and check your music against others and you will find similarity. Big Bad Moon uses the one of the most obvious chord progressions in blues yet you don't see Mr BKing asking for money. You would have been better simply asking for a writing credit and acknoledgment if it wasn't about the money. Shame on you. I'll buy your records still and I'll buy Coldplays. I'll listen to your "If I could fly" and I'll listen to "Viva", both are great tracks. Sometimes it is best not to pursue .(ask Lars Ulrich).and be proud of your original intentions which was to create a great song for all to hear. Enjoy your new public attention but remember they won't be saying what a great guitarist they'll be saying what a bitter man out for a penny.

I think this has been an embarassing week for Joe Satriani fans.

Still love you though just pick up the guitar and do what you do best, leave the bickering for loose change to the failed musicians.

Jame

"Hey Joe, where you goin' with that black ax in your hand...."

Go for it. I think a guitar battle in court should settle it.

I had to give away my ticket for your last concert in Brisbane, so you have to come back soon.

Good luck and all our support in your effort to correct the wrong.

Dear Mr. Satriani,

As I am sure you are bombarded with thousands of emails I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to read my email.

My fiancee has been a long time fan and had an extensive collection of your music. Just recently many of his CDs were stolen, including a cherished signed copy of "Is there Love in Space?". He is hoping most of the loss will be covered by insurance however the signed CD is priceless to him.

I was wondering if I purchased a copy of this CD and sent it to you, would you mind signing it for him?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

coldplay a bit more than coincidnce?..i mean vocal range is the same tempo as guitar i mean what the hell if satch does not get what is rightfuly his ...the people who decide that are "not of this earth"

this for me is a "super colossal case"-satch's song"it's so good"(if i could fly is awesome "just like lightnin'" satch has put"the meaning of love" into his guitar work ..coldplay think they can keep on "movin' on" if so i beleive there will be a massive "crowd chant" lol" satch you have my vote if they get away with this i will be "made of tears"....sorry for the satriani songs...but maybe most people will understand these titles...and that satch does not just accuse..they have a pretty big story and meaning with them

joe satriani may the force be with you lol

OOOohhh Yeah baby......

Been going through the photo archive; Is that an SSL Axiom console? Hah! Next time I'm arguing with morons claiming that digital recording consoles sound harsh I'll let them hear some of your music LOL! Sounds bloody awesome! Then again, SSL are know as the best of the best consoles... Love them!

I've not yet examined the specific burden of proof that someone in Joe's shoes must carry (and I'm going to get into it), but perhaps we can put on our detective caps and all lend a hand.

Even without knowing the specifics of the burden of proof, I know enough of the Rules of Evidence, and the type of thing that common sense and instinct dictate would be helpful to Joe's legal team. Not to mention saving Joe some attorney fees ;)

Obviously, in order to make the case that Coldplay copied from Joe, it's probably going to be necessary to prove that there was some likelihood that Coldplay at one time heard that superb piece called 'If I Could Fly.' What facts would make it more likely that they did?

One fact would be that they had some acquaintace with Joe's music in general. Joe's standing in the musical community alone would probably nail that, but there's the one quote we've read, telling a journalist to procure a quote from Joe Satriani.

So they must concede that they knew Joe existed.

The harder stuff--and the more precious stuff in a courtroom--would be proving that they had actually listened to Joe's music specifically, and then you drive down from there. Listened to Joe's music in the 21st century; listened to an album called Is There Love in Space?; to, finally, listened to 'If I Could Fly.'

The ideal piece of evidence would be a video (with audio) of Coldplay members grooving to 'If I Could Fly,' some with instruments in hand, others with pen and paper in hand. Now that image is not going to be found, but what you need to think about are what FACTS would TEND TO MAKE THAT IMAGE MORE LIKELY.

I am not at all familiar with Coldplay's music, though I've listened to virtually nothing but Joe for the last seven or eight years. Now if some of you industrious souls out there were familiar with the music of both, and could point out prior Joe-influences on Coldplay tunes, that would be something I would want to know if I were in a courtroom.

Any proclamations or circumstances in which awareness of Joe and his music is indicated, would be a great help as well. If Coldplay toured at some point in time that made it more likely they'd heard Joe, that would be something I'd want to know. If there were other interviews in which Joe was mentioned. Anything tending to make it more likely that they had listened to Joe, or were more likely to listen to Joe, now that's great grist for the mill.

So put your Sherlock cap on (leave the pipe alone), and google your brains out. Have some fun.

Jayzus! It's my day off and I slept till 10:45. Nice way to piss half the day away. Guess I needed the sleep with this nasty cold I have. Now I have 4 hours to get a days worth of work done before we go out for the day *grumbles*

Happy birthday to the sweetest lil' birthday boy on the planet! Happy first birthday Johnny Lee!

Slan, make sure ya squeeze him up for us! Glad he's finally feeling better.

Now...where's my vat of coffee....

You know, I love Joe's music. His ideas are amazing, his playing looks effortless, although having tried it, it's obvious it's only easy for him, and his skill is legendary. Our whole neighbourhood is full of Satch-a-bees.

As for this Coldplay business, though, I don't think it's right. As a songwriter and fair musician, I pride myself in being able to track influences in musicians, having contemporary musicians' music based on what they've listened to, and their playing based on what they like.

The problem I have with this stealing song business is that I don't see the influence. Even though a full 13 bars of the song are very similar, the influence isn't there, because before that particular riff the whole feel of the song is different, and right after that riff, and actually within the 13 bar riff as well, the guitar style is nowhere near Satch's.

If you listen to Coldplay's song, you'll find influences of Flock of Seagulls, Sting, and I think Matchbox 20, but the idea of them stealing from Satch just doesn't fit.

My suggestion is that Joe has made his point about them being similar in that particular riff, and his statements have brought that to light, both fantastic advertising for him AND Coldplay.

Now, he should accept the reality that two good musical minds can sometimes come up with a similar sounding portion of a tune.

Both tunes are great in my mind, by the way. And watching the video for Coldplay, it's easier to see why it's not probable that the song idea was stolen. The whole syncopation, picking style, and flavour of the songs are totally different.

Time to Lighten things up a little bit with a battle of the guitars...

Hello everyone!!

Im back from England. Amazing trip! I saw my nanny, sister and my 3 nieces (One of them, has just got born, so i saw her for the first time (She was really cute)) and my nephew and many other family members!

AND!! I also got a JS1200!!!!!!! :DDDDDDDDD

We ordered it the day we came. 1 day after, they had it. But i just got it yesterday on the way back to the airport!!

I JUST LOVE THAT GUITAR!!!!

Thats all for now! Have a good time!