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Is my song a parody, a cover, or neither?

Business 4 views 3 answers
I have created a song by re-arranging the lyrics from Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock N Roll" - transforming it from an anti-disco song, into a pro-disco anthem entitled "Take Me To A Disco". I would like to release the song commercially, but I'm not sure whether my song is a parody, or a cover version. What do you think? Bob Seger's lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/bob+seger/old+time+rock+and+roll_20644222.html My Lyrics: Just take those old records off the shelf I'll sit and listen to them by myself Today's music ain't got the same soul I like that old time disco Chorus: Take me to a Take me to a Take me to a Disco, Disco (repeat Chorus) Call me a relic call me what you will say I'm old fashioned say I'm over the hill Today's music ain't got the same soul I like (Chorus again P.S. My song only uses lyrics from Bob Seger's song - it does not use his recording, nor the written music.

Attorney Answers

3
Pamela KoslynBusiness AttorneyLos Angeles, CA ·
Ys, it probably qualifies to be a parody, since you're commenting on Seger's pro-rock n' roll song. However, the reality is that changing one phrase of the song from rock n'roll to disco doesn't take much skill, so you might want to do some more work on the lyrics to make this is a true parody.
0 upvotes
Mario Golab ·
A parody needs more that a change in lyrics, it must make parody of the original. I don't read parody in yours.
0 upvotes
Oscar Michelen ·
You dont have enough here in my opinion to make this a parody. You changed "Rock n roll" to "disco" and that's it. I think most music distributors would want you to have permission to use the copyrighted Seger song before releasing any record. Talk to an IP lawyer who cna hear you rversion in full and how you want to use it.
0 upvotes

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