Prince vs. Radiohead: Whose 'Creep' is it?
No surprises here, but Prince has again taken his anti-fun copyright claims a bit too far.
The Associated Press reported today that the artist's label, NPG Records, has requested that all versions of his Radiohead cover of "Creep" be removed from YouTube. The artist sang the song at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.
For those who have forgotten, Prince had earlier stopped a video of a baby dancing to his "Let's Go Crazy," which was barely audible in the background of the clip. One of the ironies in that case, and likely here as well, is that Prince has only served to make more people aware of the video and will once again send music fans on a scavenger hunt to find it.
But at least "Let's Go Crazy" was Prince's song. The AP story quotes Radiohead's Thom Yorke as saying that he wants Prince to unblock the tune:
"Really? He's blocked it?" asked Yorke, who figured it was their song to block or not. "Surely, we should block it. Hang on a moment."
Yorke added: "Well, tell him to unblock it. It's our ... song."
YouTube apparently declined to comment to the AP. But for now, you can click this link and find it on YouTube. It's a muffled, poorly shot, 1 minute and 14 second clip, and it will surely destroy Prince's career if it's allowed to stay online.
The Times' Ann Powers reviewed Prince's performance and noted of his version of "Creep" that he "changed it from a dissection of self-loathing to an admonition to feel uplifted." But was the re-interpretation enough for Prince to claim ownership of the tune?
Photo courtesy Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times
Requests like this, only serve to reignite fading fame!
Posted by: Rob | May 30, 2008 at 01:10 PM
I effin love Prince, but he's definitely taking copyright infringement claims too far here. I'm no copyright attorney, but he can't possibly have a leg to stand on in this sitch. Put the video back online!
Posted by: Jeremy | May 30, 2008 at 05:13 PM
I think Prince can copyright his performance, and radiohead already have a copyright on the music and lyrics. (Or Thom Yorke does.)
Prince certainly owes peformance royalties on the song.
Woadan
Posted by: Woadan | May 30, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Prince is a TOOL!
Posted by: timmmmaaay | May 31, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Ooops, it's back down again.
Posted by: Dusty668 | May 31, 2008 at 04:09 PM