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Did Cascada Rip Off Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' ?

Posted on Jun 2nd 2011 2:25PM by Contessa Gayles

Cascada, Katy Perry Getty Images (2)

German Euro-dance act Cascada may have used popstar Katy Perry's hit 'California Gurls' as the inspiration for their latest single, 'San Francisco.'

The Cascada song sounds just like Perry's summery ode to the West coast and its bikini-baring babes -- from the nearly identical beat to the lyrical content. Compare Cascada's lyrics, "Wake me up in San Francisco/ Where you got flowers in your hair girl/ Party everywhere girl" with Katy's hook, "California girls/ We're undeniable/ Fine, fresh, fierce/ We got it on lock/ West coast represent/ Now put your hands up."

Ironically enough, 'San Francisco' comes from Cascada's fourth studio album entitled 'Original Me'!

There seems to be quite a lot of rip-off allegations flying around in the music industry these days -- Justin Bieber's Marc Jacob-esque fragrance bottle design, Beyonce's Billboard Music Awards performance, Rihanna's David LaChapelle-inspired 'S&M' video, heavy comparisons between Lady Gaga and Madonna, Kanye West's French film-inspired 'All of the Lights' video ...

Do you think Cascada plagiarized Perry? Compare the two songs and watch the videos below!

Watch Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' feat. Snoop Dogg video.

Watch Cascada's 'San Francisco' video.

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Jess

Why is she upset...As soon as I heard her song E.T. I thought about T.A.T.U.s song "All the things she said" they sound alike ...so she needs to get over and she does the same thing.

June 07 2011 at 1:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

richan@aol.com

This is how Cascada's "San Francisco" may have come about:

Evacuate The Dancefloor

Cascada releases Evacuate The Dancefloor 6/29/2009.
Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor (Official Music Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A68j28KQaik

PH Electro a German Dj remixes "Evacuate The Dancefloor"
Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor (PH Elektro Mix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJTX-BtBHCI

San Francisco - PH Electro - "Remake" of Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco"

PH Electro releases a remix of Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco." Comments of video translated:
Known first for his remixes: PH Electro belongs today to the list of the most successful Djs of Germany. Accounting for more than 15 years, 200 Remixes. His productions are always found in the best international sales. His version of "Alive" to "mondotek", title more played in France, has allowed PH Electro to publicize all the cheeky French. CSTA over 2 million Singles sold worldwide! Since then, he pondered the tubes in re-mixing: "Cascada – Evacuate The Dancefloor", R.I.O or Guru Josh "infinity" Today, it arrives on our airwaves with his own single: "San Francisco" a Remake of the classic 70 ' of Scott Mc Kenzie Entry 18 EMS sales in FRANCE Playlisté on all air...!
PH Electro - San Francisco (Official Video HD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsRPGImIt6c&feature=related

Cascada - San Francisco - 6/6/2011
Cascada takes "Evacuate The Dance Floor" and combines it with PH Electro's "San Francisco."
Cascada - San Francisco (Official Video HD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xA6AWzy3vk

And the madness, er creativity, er theme continues?
Cascada - San Francisco (remix by Dj Spetzi)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR-1hOLf1Bo&feature=related

Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl (Ph Elektro Remix) mp3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v57xZNut218&feature=related

I couldn't find a Katy Perry - "California Gurls" (Ph Elektro Remix) though. Other remixes of "California Gurls?" Yes.

June 05 2011 at 2:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

bob

she ripped it off but you wont be able to prove it in court so katy should be the bigger person and let it go. and that other girl who I have never heard off should have gave her atleast a line credit on album

June 05 2011 at 2:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kate23095

IF ANYTHING TIK TOK AND CALIFORNIA GIRLS IS THE SAME... THIS IS LESS

June 05 2011 at 2:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

wutevermeyjerlosesir

they both suck LOL

June 05 2011 at 1:56 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down Reply

dancingheaven101

i played them at the same time and they matched up the tempo beat instrumental the beginning ending it was insane they sounded like they were singing the same sound but with different words. either way California gurls is way better

June 05 2011 at 10:46 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

buskatouli

Really? They are very dissimilar in my opinion.

June 05 2011 at 10:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

joandy79

I really cannot stand Katy Perry. But the Cascadia song is a total ripoff....if I heard this San Fran song I would think it was done by the same producer. Both songs suck to be honest along with most anything today all of which is manufactured.

June 05 2011 at 7:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

D'Ann

Katy Perry's video looks more like Civet's "Son of a Bitch" Video from Hellcat Records! Check it out, pink hair and all! www.myspace.com/civet

June 05 2011 at 3:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Andrew

To those posting about suing, you can't copyright beats or tempos, only lyrics. Nothing here to sue over. Either way they aren't that much alike. Making something out of nothing here.

June 04 2011 at 11:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Andrew's comment

Gabe

So you're saying that David Bowie and Queen didn't sue Vanilla Ice for stealing their beats, right?

June 05 2011 at 6:59 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Gabe's comment

qapla5

No, Gabe, they didn't. What they sued VI over was a lack of CREDIT. (It may be a nitpick, but Ice didn't steal "their beats"; he stole a HOOK--specifically, Under Pressure's opening bass and piano notes.) Of course, Ice wasn't alone in the rap community at that period of time in failing to fully credit the samples (or their songwriters), but Ice went a bit further by trying to pass his sample as being significantly different from the original "Under Pressure" hook. (Also, it's worth noting that Queen hadn't paid attention to the dozens of rap songs sampling "Another One Bites the Dust" in the years following that song's release--possibly due to those songs' not selling millions of copies or getting much radio airplay, even at urban/black radio stations.)

June 06 2011 at 2:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down

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Euro-dance act Cascada may have used popstar Katy Perry's hit 'California Gurls' as the inspiration for their latest single, 'San Fransico.'

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