The similarity between "What I've Done" and "New Divide"

Discussion in 'Linkin Park Chat' started by lime treacle, Feb 25, 2012.

  1. #1
    lime treacle

    lime treacle You are not alone Über Member

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    So I guess you all know there has been people saying that these two songs are very similar. Do you think they really are?
    I think there's two similar things:
    1. they're both epic
    2. the outro (in "What I've Done" it's really the outro, but in "New Divide" it's a part of the chorus - that is sung a capella with the guitar in the background)
    But overall, I don't think they're that similar. Especially the themes of the lyrics are very different.
     
  2. #2
    Super Sonic

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    I kind of see how people say that there identical.
     
  3. #3
    travz21

    travz21 Muscle Museum LPA Super Member

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    One song is really bad and one is just average.
     
  4. #4
    lime treacle

    lime treacle You are not alone Über Member

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    Which one do you think is bad and which one do you think is just average?
     
  5. #5
    travz21

    travz21 Muscle Museum LPA Super Member

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    What I've Done is so bland and unoriginal. New Divide has more interesting elements involved with the instrumental.
     
  6. #6
    Derek

    Derek LPAssociation.com Administrator LPA Administrator

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    The song structures are completely identical. From the slow drum buildup, the hard rock intro, soft verses with energetic choruses that lead into a stripped down bridge, followed by the chorus repeated until the end.

    They even end the same. "Whaaaat I've Doneeeee..." vs "Across this new divideeeeeee....". That's why there's mashups combining the two. They're near blatant copies of eachother.
     
  7. #7
    hawk

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    They pulled in Infinity Ward. Bastards.
     
  8. #8
    jare0674

    jare0674 There's a seat here along side me...

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    The guitar parts in both songs are pretty much identical too.
     
  9. #9
    lime treacle

    lime treacle You are not alone Über Member

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    Gosh, people, I thought you like Linkin Park. :WTF:
    "New Divide" is much more moody, for sure. And it has much more electronica, expecially Joe's breakdown, while there's barely some electronica in "What I've Done". I don't know. I just don't think they're that similar.
    Did the band ever comment these comparisons?
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2012
  10. #10
    lpfanhun

    lpfanhun Banned

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    There are much more similarity between Crawling/Easier To Run/Numb. :WTF:
     
  11. #11
    Apop

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    In Linkin Park's defense, it must be pretty difficult to make a new song that sounds nothing like, or even close to, anything you've made before. The similarities are there, especially with the bridge, but New Divide was made specifically for the sequel to Transformers so maybe it's a sequel to What I've Done.
     
  12. #12
    lime treacle

    lime treacle You are not alone Über Member

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    No. Crawling is one of the most unique Linkin Park songs and should not be compared to Easier to Run only because they both start with the chorus. Numb? Really?
     
  13. #13
    Maunsbach

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    The reason the two sound so familiar is because of their chord progression. They're identical. New Divide's chords are 2 semitones lower than WID. Burning in the Skies is also identical to these two but it is pitched 2 semitones higher than WID...
     
  14. #14
    Bennington_Hahn

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    I don't think their 100% identical, but their very similar. New Divide is more interesting structure wise compared to What I've done:

    New Divide: Intro>Verse>double chorus>verse>single chorus>heavy breakdown>Bridge>breakdown>single chorus>outro
    What I've Done: Intro>Verse>chorus>verse>chorus>bridge>breakdown>chorus>outro

    WID has a more generic formula to me.
     
  15. #15
    Super Sonic

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    Fuck off. :lol:

    I see what you mean though.

    Just because you like a band doesn't mean that you ignore the fact that 2 songs are identical.
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2012
  16. #16
    Star Scream

    Star Scream Does A Machine Like You Ever Experience Fear

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    very identical songs... but very different meaning, in the end both epic for me
     
  17. #17
    lime treacle

    lime treacle You are not alone Über Member

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    I know. But they're not. At least for me.
     
  18. #18
    DaMU

    DaMU Well-Known Member

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    They're damn near the same song. Previous posts point to the similar structure and lyrical delivery, but they also carry a very similar meaning (a narrator speaking of regrets as he bridges a transition into a new beginning). "New Divide" functions slightly better on account of its atmospheric instrumentation, lyrics, and unique breakdown.
     
  19. #19
    Super Sonic

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    :shrug:
     
  20. #20
    minuteforce

    minuteforce Danny's not here, Mrs. Torrance. LPA Team

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    Should've made this thread a poll. ;P
     

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