There are discussions (my bro’s blog, Inq7.net, Manila Bulletin 1, Manila Bulletin 2, the rest of the blogosphere) that the Pinoy Big Brother theme song, Pinoy Ako by Orange and Lemons, was ripped off from a 1980’s song Chandeliers by the Care.

I tend to agree with my bro on this one.

Orange and Lemons claims that the song was indeed inspired by Chandeliers, but there was no copyright infringement perpetrated, since the similarities ended with the guitar intro.

According to ONL vocalist Mcoy Fundales, there was no other similarity, even in the melody.

But I got to listen for myself, and I can say you’d be frickin’ tone-deaf if you don’t think Pinoy Ako’s rhythm approximates that of Chandeliers almost to a T!  Not only is the guitar intro a sound-alike, but the rhythm and structure of the two songs do approximate each other (check out the bass guitar riffs and the drums).

Listen for yourself.

• Pinoy Ako – from tristancafe.com
  


• Chandeliers – from nestlepoell.net
  

Don’t get me wrong.  I find Pinoy Ako a catchy and ear-friendly (though too frequently played) tune, and the kids love it!  But it just seems so eerily similar to Chandeliers that you can’t help but wonder about the intentions of the composer.

Well, maybe he wasn’t aware that his music so closely resembles another song already in existence.  Or perhaps the group wasn’t betting on their song going very popular in pop culture.

At any rate, according to the Manila Bulletin article, the recording labels owning the rights to either song don’t find any infringement.

So in the legal realm, ONL is safe.  But I still have my doubts in terms of artistic integrity.

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