Hi Lynman,

I'm not sure how you fit into this issue, but I'm only replying to the Jim Brickman issue which was more or less a carbon copy of Nelson's song.

As far as similarities in a riff (or similarities in general), I wouldn't give that a second thought.

I'm sure all of us have similarities with other composer's music. We're all using the same raw materials. It's gotta happen. Let him without similarities cast the first stone.

But when it's such a close match as the Brickman/Nelson matter, that's another story altogether. It would be difficult to convince me it was accidental that Brickman mistakenly copied note for note (including the bridge) of Nelson's song.

Best, John

Stop analyzing; just compose the damn thing!
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