Why does ‘Taciturn’ by Gracenote sound so eerily similar to that of ‘Youth Without Youth’ by Metric ?

Metric photo by Justin Broadbent

Last Tuesday (July 12, 2016) while I was lounging on my couch watching MTV, the music video for “Taciturn” by Gracenote started playing. Listening to it made me suddenly sit up, quite alarmed, and with ears perked up now, I thought: “Wait, I’ve heard this before !”

It immediately dawned on me within even the first 15 seconds of the song that it sounds so similar to that of “Youth Without Youth” by Metric. Then after I had finished watching the entire music video of “Taciturn” I was no longer wondering what I was hearing but quite shocked­­–indeed, truly shocked–­­that the two songs were so musically alike !

To confirm my suspicions of the too many similarities between the two songs I did what was the logical next step to do.

I immediately went to YouTube to watch “Youth Without Youth” by Metric and then Gracenote’s “Taciturn”­­back to back­­to be able to pinpoint and confirm what exactly the similarities are between these two songs.

I identified that the intro, outro, riff, bass line, synth parts, vocal effects and drum pattern of “Taciturn” (although obviously tweaked) seem to be all closely identical to that of “Youth Without Youth’s”. Plus, there is an undeniable very substantial similarity between the two songs in the first minute which covers the intro and first verse of “Taciturn” as also that of “Youth Without Youth” minute is easily one of the most recognizable and important segments of Metric’s song “Youth Without Youth”, being that within that said first which includes its intro and first verse.

While, naturally, “Taciturn” has different lyrics and a slowed down tempo from that of “Youth Without Youth”, the very “essence”, the whole vibe, and the musical identity of “Youth Without Youth”, can, however, still be felt and heard in “Taciturn”–so palpable, indeed–that musically, one could say it is almost the same song.

Let me just point this out. The single “Youth Without Youth” by Metric was released over four years ago while “Taciturn” by Gracenote is still a brand new single (taken from their latest studio­release) which is currently on rotation in various FM stations and its music video played on local music channels.

Gracenote is a female­fronted band from the Philippines.

Now, back to Metric. This Canadian indie rock band, Metric, happens to be one of my favourite foreign bands since 2012 ever since I first got to watch their music video “Youth Without Youth” around four years ago on YouTube. In fact, it was this very specific song “Youth Without Youth” which I had liked so much and quickly added to my list of “My Favourite Songs” that led me to discover the existence of the then “below-the­radar” Canadian band Metric and introduced me to their music.

In fact, I had noted at the time I had first watched Metric’s “Youth Without Youth” that it had less than 70,000 views and I had thought, “What a pity that a song of this superior quality has only this number of views.” But I didn’t care because I do not ever allow myself to be dictated by music trends and all these past four years since I had first watched “Youth Without Youth” I have continued to view it. So, naturally I know the song’s very distinctive sound, sultry and catchy melody, and its poignant lyrics by heart. That is why I was able to spot right away the uncanny likeness of “Taciturn” to “Youth Without Youth”. Metric’s “Youth Without Youth” so happened to be the Canadian band’s biggest hit to date which–now as I type this article– has grown nearly two million in views on YouTube.

Of course, something like this happening would call my attention.

I believe there is a fine but unmistakable line that should never be crossed and all of you readers, music aficionados, and especially the musicians, know what I am talking about. The big question here is: “Did Gracenote cross that line with their “Taciturn” ?

Now, you can ask anyone, especially the musicians, to listen to the two said songs: Metric’s “Youth Without Youth” of four years ago and Gracenote’s “Taciturn” of a few months old. Watch their respective music videos on YouTube one after another in any order and I wonder what they have to say about this ?

These are my questions as well to everyone: Was this a “mere coincidence” on the part of the band members of Gracenote or is there more to it ? Was Gracenote simply inspired by the song “Youth Without Youth” from Metric or did they go far beyond that ? Did Gracenote lift the song “Youth Without Youth” by Metric ?

I encourage the readers, music aficionados, and especially the musicians to go to YouTube right now and watch back­to­back the music videos of “Youth Without Youth” by Metric and then the music video and official lyric video of “Taciturn” by Gracenote to make their own ruling on the matter.

I leave it to you guys to make your own judgment.