Money for nothing

[Undertoad]

In the Dire Straits song "Money for Nothing", Sting sings the backup vocal "I want my MTV". He also sings this very prominently in the opening intro to the extended version.

The notes that he is singing are the same notes as in the verses of the Police single "Don't Stand So Close To Me".

The re-use of this melody caused Sting's lawyers to get involved after the release of the song, and Sting now gets a co-songwriting credit for it worth million$.

Sting gets money, for nothing! That little faggot, he's a millionaire!

[glatt]

I like Sting, but he comes off as an asshole sometimes.

A similar thing happened with Puff Daddy and Andy Summers.

Puff Daddy heavily sampled an Andy Summers guitar solo from a Police single, but Sting owned the song, and got 100% of the royalties of the Puff Daddy song while Puff Daddy and Andy Summers did all the work. And then he mocked Andy about it.

Summers: We spent about six weeks recording just the snare drums and the bass. It was a simple, classic chord sequence, but we couldn't agree how to do it. I'd been making an album with Robert Fripp, and I was kind of experimenting with playing Bartok violin duets and had worked up a new riff. When Sting said 'go and make it your own', I went and stuck that lick on it, and immediately we knew we had something special.

Copeland: Yeah, Sting said make it your own – just keep your hands off my f***in' royalties. Andy, since we're here, I'm going to back you up on this. You should stand up right now and say, 'I, Andy, want all the Puff Daddy money. Because that's not Sting's song he's using, that's my guitar riff.' Okay over to you Andy, Go for it…

Summers: [meekly] Ok, I want all of the Puff Daddy Money.

Sting: Okay Andy here's all the money [pours some change on the table]. Unfortunately, I've spent the rest of it.

Copeland: So Sting's making out like a bank robber here, while Andy and I have gone unrewarded and unloved for our efforts and contributions.

Sting: Life… is… fucking… tough. Here I am in Tuscany…

Copeland: And don't we know it! You're in Tuscany in your palace with wine being poured down your throat and grapes being peeled for you. Sting can you buy me a castle in Italy too? With the proceeds from the longest running hit single in the history of radio? Just a little chateau somewhere?

Sting: We don't have fucking chateaus in Italy, They're called palazzos. I'll lend you a room.