It was a phantom echo. A musical déja vu that lodged itself in the back of my mind, a nagging question that I couldn’t shake off. Back on July 19, 2016, I fired off a column for this very section, musing on the undeniable, almost haunting similarity between Gracenote’s ‘Taciturn’ and Metric’s ‘Youth Without Youth.’
The melody – specifically that repeating, infectious keyboard riff – was too close for comfort among other strong musical similarities between the two songs. It was as if the very essence, the musical identity, and ‘soul’ of ‘Youth Without Youth’ by Metric existed within that of ‘Taciturn’ by Gracenote. How is that even possible?
For a music aficionado and music historian like myself, for someone who lives and breathes the minutiae of sonic construction, instrumental arrangement, and music theory, it wasn’t a matter of if, but how this happened. And to be frank, I caught some flak for it. In fact, forget mere ‘flak,’ I was bombarded with a ton of hate, bashing, and threats for it. Funny how things work, right? Haha. Then, to add to the sometimes-caustic ecosystem of online comments, I was accused of overreaching, of hearing things, of being a ‘hater’ for drawing a comparison between a rising Filipino band and an indie rock powerhouse from Canada.
But I never wavered. I knew what I heard. I, in fact, had back then, and still do have many friends who are artists and musicians themselves, and some are even icons in the local scene, recording industry, and OPM, listen to and watch the respective music videos of ‘Taciturn’ by Gracenote and ‘Youth Without Youth’ by Metric, back to back, and do their own comparison as well. They all backed up my analysis, assessment, and observation that the two songs are too eerily similar to each other in every way, and they gave me the strength, courage, and backing to go forward and put out that important article because it was the right thing to do. It was a matter of principle. I felt it was my duty to do what had to be done.
Take note: ‘Youth Without Youth’ by Metric was made and released in 2012, and ‘Taciturn’ by Gracenote in 2016. All it takes is common sense, connecting the dots, and adding it up. It does not take a rocket scientist to know what happened and how it happened that their song ended up sounding nearly identical to that of Metric’s.
Why so?
Because let’s face it, music isn’t born in a vacuum. It’s an intricate tapestry woven from influences, conscious or otherwise. And sometimes, that influence becomes a little too heavy-handed, a little too transparent. But in this one particular instance, the resemblance was simply too uncanny to ignore.
Fast forward all these years later, and the ghost of that melody has finally spoken. Time, the ultimate truth-teller, has done its work. The online discourse, once filled with dissent and accusations, has shifted. Slowly but surely, more and more listeners, both casual and critical, have heard the same thing I did. A quick visit to YouTube or a trip down a Reddit music thread reveals comments and posts discussing the same comparison, often linking back to that very article. The melody is still there, echoing across the digital ether, a testament to what my ears – and my gut – told me all along. I knew in my heart, in my gut feel and conscience that it was the correct decision for me to have put out that crucial piece because I prayed for an answer, and I got it. I braved the storms for it because in the end, I knew it would result in a greater good for everyone!
This isn’t about bragging rights. It’s not about being a ‘music snob’ or reveling in some kind of ‘I told you so’ moment, or, what’s more, being mislabeled as a so-called ‘hater.’ I am not that shallow, I am not that narrow-minded, and my frame of thinking is never one that can be pigeon-holed. Simply put, this is all about vindication for the discerning listener. It’s a quiet victory for anyone who wholeheartedly believes without compromise that artistic integrity and originality are cornerstones of a great piece of music. It’s a testament to the fact that you shouldn’t be afraid to call out what you see, or in this case, what you hear.
My passion for music is not just about celebration; it’s about dissection, about analysis, about holding a mirror up to the art form I love. And when I held that mirror up to Gracenote’s ‘Taciturn,’ I saw a reflection of Metric’s ‘Youth Without Youth’ staring back.
Did Gracenote copy Metric? I’m not a judge, and this isn’t a courtroom. The answer lies in the ears of the beholder, but the mounting chorus of agreement with my initial observation in that article of mine speaks volumes. For a long time, it felt like I was shouting into the void. Today, it feels like the void is finally shouting back, and it’s confirming my suspicion.