Led Zeppelin Face Trial

Transcription

1 2 Listen to the first song and say who it is y and if it reminds you of any other song. Listen to the second song and say in what ways you think it is similar to the first song. B Read the first part of the article elow and find out what similarities have een cited. The Washington Post April 2016 Led Zeppelin memers face trial Led Zeppelin s Stairway to Heaven has faced a lot of accusations in the 45 years since it was released. It s overplayed, some say, particularly at high volumes y dudes trying to impress other dudes at guitar shops. It s overlong, say others. And, for years, people have said Stairway sounds a lot like Taurus a song y a much less famous and called Spirit who performed it allegedly while sharing ills with Zeppelin in the late 1960s. And after decades of gossip, memers of Led Zeppelin specifically, singer Roert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page, the writers of Stairway will face a jury trial on May 10. The question: Did they copy at least some parts of their most famous song? While it is true that a descending chromatic fourchord progression is a common convention that aounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure, U.S. District Judge Gary Klausner of the Central District of California wrote in a 20-page opinion denying, in part, Led Zeppelin s motion for summary judgment. For example, the descending ass line in oth Taurus and Stairway to Heaven appears at the eginning of oth songs, argualy the most recognizale and important segments. Additionally, the descending ass line is played at the same pitch, repeated twice, and separated y a short ridge in oth songs. Citing another opinion, he added: Enough similar protectale expression is here that the issue of sustantial similarity should proceed to the jury. Both the plaintiff and the defendants have had experts review the songs to determine whether they were soundalikes. Spirit s expert noted the presence of acoustic guitar, strings, recorder/flute sounds, and harpsichord as well as the noticeale asence of ass and drums (and other instruments characteristic of rock and roll) lend oth songs a decidedly classical style, particularly evoking a Renaissance atmosphere. A Led Zeppelin expert remarked that such analysis does not mention or reflect, for example, performance techniques, instrumentation and orchestration, or tempo (i.e., performance speed). B Do you agree with the judge and Spirit s expert? Discuss the following questions and then read the second part of the article and check your ideas. 1 Why do you think the plaintiff s lawyer says they have rought this case? 1/4

2 2 What do you think the parties involved present conflicting versions of? 3 In 1991, the plaintiff said: I ll let Led Zeppelin have the eginning of Taurus for their song without a lawsuit. How do you think this comment affects the case? 4 What happened when the family of Marvin Gaye claimed Blurred Lines was ased on Gaye s Got to Give It Up? 5 How have Led Zeppelin remedied other copyright claims? This case, from our perspective, has always een aout giving credit where credit was due, and now we get to right that wrong, Francis Malofiy, a lawyer for the plaintiff, told Reuters. An attorney for the defendants did not respond to requests for comment Monday from Reuters or the Associated Press. Michael Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin et al. was rought y Michael Skidmore, a trustee for Randy Wolfe of Spirit, who tragically drowned in 1997 while trying to save his son. Wolfe, a.k.a. Randy California, wrote Taurus in 1967, the suit said; the two sides can t agree on whether Page and Plant, efore they wrote Stairway, heard Spirit play Taurus while playing at music festivals in the late 1960s. The parties present conflicting versions of the interaction etween Led Zeppelin and Spirit at these three events, the judge wrote. The surviving memers of Led Zeppelin testified that they never toured with, shared a stage with, or listened to any of Spirit s music during these rief encounters. The surviving Spirit memers, on the other hand, recalled conversing with the Led Zeppelin memers ackstage etween sets and performing in succession at two of the festivals. In 1991, Wolfe said Led Zep used to come up and sit in the front row of all Spirit s shows and ecame friends and if they wanted to use Taurus, that s fine, adding, I ll let Led Zeppelin have the eginning of Taurus for their song without a lawsuit. But this declaration, the court said, doesn t mean Wolfe aandoned his claim, noting testimony that he had contemplated a lawsuit in the 1980s. Now, British nationals Page and Plant will face Californiastyle justice. It was a Golden State jury that awarded the family of Marvin Gaye $7.3 million (later reduced to $5.2 million) after claims Roin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I. ased Blurred Lines on Gaye s Got to Give It Up. Led Zeppelin have een suject to copyright claims efore, and now pay portions of the royalties for songs like Whole Lotta Love and Boogie with Stu. They have also een ordered to add credits to several tracks. Who do you think will win the case etween Spirit and Led Zeppelin? If Spirit win, what do you think their damages should e? 2 Before listening to Stairway to Heaven again, complete the gaps in the lyrics elow. Then listen to the song a second time and check your ideas. 2/4

3 There s a lady who s sure all that glitters is When she gets there she knows, if the are all closed With a word she can get what she came for There s a sign on the ut she wants to e sure Cause you know sometimes words have two In a tree y the rook, there s a songird who sings Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven There s a feeling I get when I to the west And my spirit is crying for leaving In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the And the voices of those who stand looking Which of the two songs do you like the est? VMake a list of law-related words in the article. And it s whispered that soon, if we all call the Then the piper will lead us to reason And the new will dawn for those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter If there s a ustle in your hedgerow, don t e alarmed now It s just a spring clean for the May queen Yes, there are two you can go y, ut in the long run There s still time to change the road you re on Your is humming and it won t go, in case you don t know The piper s calling you to join him Dear lady, can you hear the wind, and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind? And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul There walks a lady we all Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold And if you very hard The tune will come to you at last When all are one and one is all To e a rock and not to roll 3/4

4 VComplete these sentences with words from your list: 1 Someone who rings a legal case against someone else in a court of law is called a. 2 To is to make a statement in a court of law aout something that you saw, know, or experienced. 3 A is a court order ruling that no factual issues remain to e tried and the case can e decided without trial. 4 Someone whose profession is to provide people with legal advice and services can e called a or. 5 A presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel. 6 The evidence given y a witness in court is their. EWhat does the areviation in this extract from the article mean? The Washington Post April 2016 Wolfe, a.k.a. Randy California, wrote Taurus in 1967, the suit said... VNow say what the areviations and acronyms elow stand for. There are clues in rackets. DIY (repairs, etc.) OAP (group of people) RSVP (party invitation) VAT (tax) i.e. (writing) e.g. (writing) p.t.o. (letters, etc.) PS (letters, etc.) c/o (address) A.O.B. (meetings) Co. (company) Ltd (company) Inc. (company) P.L.C. (company) G.M.T. (time) HQ (place) cc: (faxes, , etc.) a.s.a.p. (letters, faxes, etc.) cc: (faxes, , etc.) UFO (aliens) Do you have acronyms for the same things in your language? Explain to your teacher some acronyms from your language. 4/4

5 week of Teacher s notes 1 student pages 4 intermediate+ (B1+) VMake a list of law-related words in the article. V Make sure the students have these words in their list: jury trial summary judgment plaintiff defendant case lawyer attorney parties judge testify court Complete these sentences with words from your list: 1 plaintiff 2 testify 3 summary judgment 4 lawyer / attorney 5 judge 6 testimony EWhat does areviation in this extract from the article mean? a.k.a. = also known as DIY OAP RSVP VAT i.e. e.g. p.t.o. PS c/o do-it-yourself old-age pensioner please reply (from French répondez s il-vous-plaît ) value-added tax that is (from Latin id est ) for example (from Latin exempli gratia ) please turn over post script care of A.O.B. Co. Ltd Inc. P.L.C. G.M.T. HQ cc: a.s.a.p. cc: UFO testimony lawsuit award any other usiness Company Limited company Incorporated Pulic Limited Company Greenwich Mean Time headquarters lind copies to as soon as possile copies to unidentified flying oject Transcript C track 4 There s a lady who s sure all that glitters is gold When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for There s a sign on the wall ut she wants to e sure Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings In a tree y the rook, there s a songird who sings Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven There s a feeling I get when I look to the west And my spirit is crying for leaving In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking And it s whispered that soon, if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason And the new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter If there s a ustle in your hedgerow, don t e alarmed now It s just a spring clean for the May queen Yes, there are two paths you can go y, ut in the long run There s still time to change the road you re on Your head is humming and it won t go, in case you don t know The piper s calling you to join him Dear lady, can you hear the wind low, and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind? And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last When all are one and one is all To e a rock and not to roll