Epic MapleStory find (Sleepywood music on Sirius Satellite Radio)

 Spoiler

Being able to play an instrument does not give you good ears. And you sir, do not have good ears. Pitch or no pitch, it doesn't mean it's "stolen".

To answer that, I compose. Sort of. Most of the stuff I do tends to be just me remaking some songs from scratch. That requires I be able to make everything out in a song. My ears work just fine and I can tell while a few of the notes may be on target, the chord is wrong and the instruments are a good bit different.

Not only that, but the sleepywood music sure as hell isn't the first bit of music to play that. I'd provide the proof, but it was something I heard years ago on the radio that I didn't know the name of. I tend not to listen to music much anymore. Only when I'm listening for things.

I do have good ears, as I have been playing guitar AND composing music for 7 years now. To me, the songs are similar. When played together, they blend in. Not because one is louder than the other, but because both songs are hitting the same notes at the same time. They're even the same BPM. I will agree that the instruments are different though, but that doesn't make it a different song. If I played The Beatles - Yesterday on an accordion, would it make it a different song? no, it would still be Yesterday. I may have said that the song was stolen, that may be a bit much. But I do think he drew inspiration from the song, took parts of it, added to it, then called it his own.

I read up on Rory and found out a few things about him.
He is 19 years old and autistic. His parents were musicians, and he was always around music. He is also a filmmaker, making his first short movie at 15. He was alway into computers, which is how he makes his movies and songs. He has a real ‘feel’ for creating tracks, especially electronica, chillout and ambient stuff.

Now, this is my assumption here. Being autistic, the guy probably had trouble making friends in school, as school kids can be pretty mean to people with disabilities. Since he was into computers, I'm sure he found Maplestory from an online friend or stumbled apon it by sheer luck. While using the game as an escape and a way to meet people, he noticed the style of some of the songs in Maplestory. Most notable, sleepywood, since it is an area you get to by level 20 or so. Intrigued by this song, and being into "chillout" and "ambient" music, he drew inspiration from the song, and made a track using a similar chord stucture, similar note patterns, the same BPM, added more to it, then called it his own. Again, this is just a theory as there is no way to know unless you ask the guy himself.

source

 Spoiler

Ahh, I see, a lot better than me then! I'm almost certain musical sense isn't really related to whether you've got good ears not, but I'm sure you must have fantastic ears to be able to compose - I have a lot of respect for people who can create their own music, so props to you. I understand you make a hobby of rearranging music. If that is true, you must feel quite strongly about how people talk about Rory Hoy as "stealing" people's music. Indeed I agree that nothing is truly "original" in this world, so there's not much point arguing it really, anyway.

And I guess that's why none of us will ever know one way or the other. I personally found Unthor's evidence quite compelling; evidently you did not; but it's immaterial. Well, what can I say except good job to Rory Hoy for having good taste in music! Of all the thoughts in this thread, I think most of us can agree that Maplestory music is pretty, especially Sleepywood's!

A lot of artist do borrow from others. There is only so many notes available, and thousands of musicians. Someones song is bound to sound like someone elses. Original music is hard to come by these days. I do agree that there is no point in arguing. I think we should let the people of southperry decide if they sound the same or not.

I have to disagree with you about Maplestory's music being pretty. It's cool at first, until you hear it for 8 hours straight. I'm guessing more than 75% of MS players have thier music turned off, and they listen to MP3's instead.