Rip off? So once someone has a hit with a song nobody else can touch it? If that was the case half my music collection would disappear.There are many songs that are great enough that they can be done by more than one artist and be well done by all.For me one case in point is "Mr Tambourine Man".Dylan,the Byrds and Judy Collins have all done it and all three versions are among my very favorite songs of all time.Three very different interpretations,all classics.
Nina Simone sang the song first. The Animals covered her version.