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Interpolation (popular music)

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In popular music, interpolation is the recreation of a musical element, such as a melody or lyric, in a new composition. Unlike sampling, which is the reuse of a sound recording, interpolation involves the creation of a new recording.

Licensing

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Song compositions and recordings are treated separately under U.S. copyright law.[1] Interpolation requires new permission from the copyright owner of the song composition, and interpolations are not authorized under a compulsory mechanical license under U.S. copyright law.[2] Interpolations do not require permission from the copyright owner(s) of other sound recordings of the song composition, unless the sound recording is also sampled.[2] Interpolating includes altering constituent components of a song composition, such as lyrics or melody, or otherwise reinterpreting the material.[3][4] Acts have employed musicians and producers to recreate samples for this purpose.[5] The Independent cited interpolation as an example of how copyright law influences creative processes.[1]

Examples

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Examples of interpolation in popular music include "Wild Thoughts" (2017) by DJ Khaled, which interpolates "Maria Maria" (1999) by Santana, and "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995) by Coolio, which interpolates "Pastime Paradise" (1976) by Stevie Wonder. "2002" (2018) by Anne-Marie interpolates lyrics from several hit songs between 1998 and 2003 by acts including Jay-Z, NSync and Britney Spears.[6] In 2019, Rolling Stone wrote that "blatant lyrical or melodic callbacks" were popular in pop music.[6]

Examples include Portugal. The Man's "Feel It Still" which interpolates the Marvelettes' 1961 hit "Please Mr. Postman";[6][7] "Bad Liar" by Selena Gomez which interpolates the bassline of "Psycho Killer" by new wave band Talking Heads;[8][7] and Ariana Grande's 2019 single "7 Rings" which interpolates "My Favorite Things" written by Rodgers & Hammerstein and made famous by Julie Andrews.[9]

The 2004 Eric Prydz song "Call on Me" is based on a replayed sample of the 1982 Steve Winwood song "Valerie".[10][5] Winwood rerecorded his "Valerie" vocals, and the instrumental was recreated by the company Replay Heaven, which recreates samples to simplify licensing.[5][11]

Creative implications

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Interpolation became particularly popular in the late 1990s, when many hip hop and R&B producers began interpolating hooks from soul, funk, and pop records rather than sampling them, "cementing interpolation as a creative tool in music production".[4]

The Independent critic Timothy McKenry wrote that interpolation has "higher cultural capital" than covers, which historically are motivated by commercial accessibility. He wrote that "artists who interpolate go beyond reproducing to create a new work that operates in dialogue with the past".[1] In The Guardian, Rachel Aroesti argued that "in a world where practically every new track feels like a haunted house beset by ghosts of melodies past, deliberately evoking another song seems like the audacious and self-aware thing to do". She cited "Blue Lights" (2016) by Jorja Smith, which interpolates "Sirens" (2007) by Dizzee Rascal, and "5050" by Ray BLK, which interpolates "Lovefool" (1996) by the Cardigans, as examples of interpolation that "enrich songs with ... emotion and nostalgia".[12]

In a 2022 Guardian article, Oliver Keens wrote that interpolation poses an ethical question as, unlike sampling, the owner of the recording is not paid. He asked: "Is it right that major labels enable a process that curbs incomes to songwriters, singers and musicians whose talent is clearly still in demand?" He connected it to a wider pattern in electronic dance music whereby white acts benefit from the artistry of black musicians.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 McKenry, Timothy (2025-10-03). "Taylor Swift's Father Figure is an 'interpolation'. Here's what that means". The Independent. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  2. 1 2 "Sampling, Interpolations, Beat Stores and More: An Introduction for Musicians Using Preexisting Music". US Copyright Office. December 2021. 5.
  3. ↑ Inglis, Sam (September 2003). "Recreating samples". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  4. 1 2 "Interpolation vs sampling: a producer's guide to music borrowing and clearance in 2026". MusicTech. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  5. 1 2 3 Salmon, Richard (March 2008). "Sample clearance". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  6. 1 2 3 Leight, Elias (July 5, 2018). "Why You're Hearing More Borrowed Lyrics and Melodies on Pop Radio". Rolling Stone.
  7. 1 2 Billboard, Staff (October 28, 2021). "The 50 Best Song Interpolations of the 21st Century: Staff Picks". Billboard.
  8. ↑ "10 Times New Pop Interpolated Old Pop". Cool Accidents. Archived from the original on 2022-02-08.
  9. ↑ Blais-Billie, Braudie (19 March 2019). "90% of Ariana Grande's "7 Rings" Royalties Go to Rodgers & Hammerstein". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Bein, Kat (2025-03-28). "The 100 best dance songs of all time: staff list". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  11. ↑ "Prydz hits UK. No. 1 with Winwood sample". Billboard. 20 September 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  12. ↑ Aroesti, Rachel (2016-11-17). "Copy-and-paste songwriting for a switched-on world". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  13. ↑ Keens, Oliver (2022-07-13). "Cutting up the dancefloor: the glorious, dubious history of the disco edit". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
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  • WhoSampled.com – WhoSampled is a user-generated database of interpolations and samples in all types of music, as well as covers and remixes
  • Delineation made by U.S. Copyright Office between interpolation and sampling, namely that the former requires a license from the copyright holder while the latter requires a license from both the copyright holder and the recording artist
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