The Clash vs. One Direction – Song Parallels

British boy band One Direction have been the center of attention since topping charts around the globe last year with their debut album, 'Up All Night.' Now, they're getting attention for something else: possibly lifting a portion of an iconic '80s punk anthem by the Clash for their new single, 'Live While We're Young.'

The opening bars of 'Live While We're Young’ have an uncanny resemblance to the opening and main riff in the Clash's 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go,' with a similar chord progression followed by the unmistakable sound of guitar picking across muted strings. One Direction's riff is much more melodic and jangly, and it only lasts a few bars before leading into a song where nothing else sounds even remotely similar to the Clash tune, but even so, it seems too similar to be a coincidence.

All this fueled a flurry of Twitter posts about the supposed rip-off, and One Direction were forced to release the official 'Live While Were Young' video early after it leaked online last week. This gives us the perfect opportunity to compare the tunes while reminding ourselves of how inherently opposite these two bands really are. Check out clips of both songs below.

Listen to the Clash's 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go'

Compare That With One Direction's 'Live While We're Young'