13 Songs that Interpolate other songs

I didn't copy my friend's homework, I just "interpolated" it.

Land down under by Men at Work has a flute interpolation of “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree” which ended up in a completely nonsensical lawsuit

“It's not where you take things from – it's where you take them to.” - Jean-Luc Godard

I guess you could just call it "quoting" like jazz musicians do.

I remember when Rich Girl came out, and I would sing Fiddler on the Roof and people asked me why I was singing a Gwen Stefani song.

David Bowie quoted "I heard the news today, oh boy" from "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles into his song, "Young Americans."

The blue Monday/shut up and drive interpolation blew my mind when I first found out about it—then I couldn’t unhear it. glad you included that one!

Elvis was famous for interpolation. O Sole Mio became It's Now or Never, Plaisir d'Amour became I Can't Help Falling In Love (WIth You) and Aura Lee became Love Me Tender.

My understanding is Dr. Dre is said to have preferred re-recording “samples” for better control over the sound, but methinks other motives were in play.

I frickin love this series. Keep it up David.

One example has to be "Talk" by Coldplay, interpolated from Kraftwerk's "Computer Love". The iconic keyboard riff is moved to a guitar. Coldplay famously wrote to Kraftwerk to ask permission, and got an envelope back with a piece of paper inside with just the word YES on it. Both are excellent in my view, and I'm not a Coldplay fan at all.

One of the most clever interpolations I’ve come across is in Tori Amos‘ song, In the Springtime of his Voodoo where she says: “standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona / and I’m quite sure I’m in the wrong song,” of course interpolating a line from the Eagles song, Take it Easy

Radiohead 'Creep' and 'The air that I breathe' Comes to mind. It's an interesting one, because they've interpolated from the Hollie's version which isn't the original to begin with; and so ended up settling credits with Albert Hammond for the original, even though they'd ironically probably never even heard that version. Then Lana Del Rey interpolated Creep with 'Get Free' - creating a unique situation of an interpolated song three times removed from the original. Lord knows how they'd decide royalties on that one

Now, when I try to remember a song and start hearing it in my head, my neural implant recognizes that as an interpolation of a protected song and sends a copyright strike violation report to the holder and also debits my bank account accordingly.

Excellent video and a real eye opener I'll be happy for 'Another 13 songs that Interpolate other songs..' when you're ready.

Eric Prydz’ “Call On Me” is based on Steve Winwood’s “Valerie” and originally used a sample, but Steve liked it so much re-recorded his vocals for the song

Kid Rock - All Summer Long. Singing about singing "Sweet Home Alabama" and using its riff... while also using the riff from "Werewolves Of London".

As someone with a maths degree, i would call most of these example extrapolation rather than interpolation.

For anyone interested in musical theatre examples, Michael in the Bathroom from Be More Chill interpolates I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston and I Don’t Need Your Love from Six interpolates Independent Woman by Destiny’s Child

Take Me Home Tonight, Eddie Money “The song's chorus interpolates the Ronettes' 1963 hit "Be My Baby", with original vocalist Ronnie Spector providing uncredited vocals and reprising her role.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_Home_Tonight_(song))