Influence of Midnight Cowboy on TWGMTR

[harrisonjon]

I know that others noticed this before me, but it seems to me that Midnight Cowboy is not just in the melody of the single but also the harmonies. Listen to the opening strings here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6P96ukN5HU

[LostArt]

The similarity has been pointed out since the first promo video was released.  The 'Midnight Cowboy'/You Only Live Twice' bit in TWGMTR is only four measures (that repeat throughout the song), and it's just the harmony/counterpoint line doing it, not the melody.  There are a number of little bits in the song that resemble bits from other songs.  Goin' On,  Keep An Eye On Summer, Silhouettes on the Shade, and more.  These have all been discussed in previous threads.  No big deal.

[pixletwin]

Midnight Cowboy is not so earth shatteringly original that there probably hasn't been many songs with similar motives written decades before and decades after Midnight Cowboy.

[Runaways]

yeah i'm fairly certain the video was first posted, and the 2nd reply was midnight cowboy.

[onkster]

I dunno about Midnight Cowboy, but I do hear similarities between "All Summer Long" and the chorus of TWGMTR.

And I'm lovin' that chorus ever more as the weeks go by.

[endofposts]

It also reminds me of "Surfer Moon" (rhythm/tempo) and "Girls on the Beach" (chord progression "feel" more than similarity).