Plagiarism or Homage? How Chuck Berry Inspired the Beach Boys’ Biggest Hit

Much of classic rock can be traced back to Chuck Berry. His melodies became building blocks from which many subsequent artists crafted their own songs. While most artists simply took inspiration from Berry, others have gone as far as to copy one of his songs directly. While the Beach Boys see “Surfin’ U.S.A” as an homage to Berry, there is an argument to be made for plagiarism. Learn more about this sticky songwriting situation, below.

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Chuck Berry’s Inspiration on the Beach Boys’ Classic “Surfin’ U.S.A.”

The Beach Boys’ calling card is, undisputedly, “Surfin’ U.S.A”. This sun-soaked track embodies everything the band represents: California, beach culture, and easy-breezy rock. Several years prior to the release of that Beach Boys anthem, Chuck Berry shared “Sweet Little Sixteen.” The latter bares a striking resemblance to “Surfin’ U.S.A”. Did the Beach Boys rip off Berry? Or was it a well-meaning homage?

According to Brian Wilson, the decision to borrow Berry’s melody happened unconsciously. The tune was stuck in his head when he got the idea to nod to popular surf spots throughout the U.S.

“I started humming the melody to ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’ and I got fascinated with the fact of doing it,” Wilson once said. “I thought to myself, ‘God! What about trying to put surf lyrics to ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’s’ melody? The concept was about, ‘They are doing this in this city, and they’re doing that in that city.’”

A Track-by-Track Comparison

You can compare the two tracks, below. The Beach Boys changed almost nothing about Berry’s original tune. Despite this, Berry once told the band how much he enjoyed the blithe rock track.

“We ran into Chuck Berry in Copenhagen and he told us he loves ‘Surfin’ U.S.A.’,” Carl Wilson once said.

Nevertheless, Berry got what he was owed. He took the matter to the band’s manager (and father), Murry Wilson. In the end, Berry got the rights to the song. Murry Wilson managed to keep the fact that the Beach Boys weren’t earning royalties from one of their biggest hits a secret for over two decades…We’re sure that knowledge didn’t rest easy.

“Surfin’ U.S.A”, arguably, proved to be more popular than Berry’s track. Though many rock fans acknowledge his influence, Berry has been somewhat overshadowed by his progeny. The “Surfin’ U.S.A”/”Sweet Little Sixteen” debacle is emblematic of the groundwork laid by black artists and the spoils enjoyed by their white counterparts.

Revisit both tracks, below. Do you think “Surfin’ U.S.A” deserved its plagiarism claim? Or should it be chalked up to an homage?

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)