Did these pop stars rip off their songs?
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Lady Gaga’s hit “Born This Way” sounds strangely similar to Madonna’s “Express Yourself”
Source: Supplied
Hmmm … that song sounds a little familiar …
This week, a jury decided Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams had ripped off Marvin Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up” when they released their smash hit “Blurred Lines”.
The pair were ordered to pay $ 7.3 million to Marvin Gaye’s family.
The court said they lifted the same beat from Marvin’s 1977 hit — and while they do sound similar, is it really a blatant rip off?
“Blurred Lines” — Robin Thicke ft. T.I., Pharrell
“Got To Give It Up” — Marvin Gaye
Robin and Pharrell aren’t the only ones to be accused of ripping off other musicians.
Sam Smith and Tom Petty
Earlier this year, Sam Smith was forced to settle a copyright dispute when it was noticed that his Grammy winning song “Stay With Me” sounded very similar to Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” Thanks to the settlement, Petty now has a songwriting credit on “Stay With Me”.
Lady Gaga and Madonna
Lady Gaga copped flak from everyone — including Madonna — when she released her 2011 hit “Born This Way”. The catchy message of individuality was strangely similar to Madge’s 1989 song “Express Yourself”.
Madonna didn’t push legal action, but she made sure EVERYONE knew how she felt, telling Newsweek: “What a wonderful way to redo my song.” She later commented in a TV interview: “I’m glad that I could help her write it.”
Reece Mastin and Pink
It even happens to X Factor contestants! Reece Mastin’s debut single, “Good Night” was picked up for sounding almost identical to Pink’s smash “Raise Your Glass”. The track was written for Reece by former Australian Idol contestant Hayley Warner — who’s a self-confessed fan of Pink.
The internet went nuts mashing the two songs together to show the similarities online.
Katy Perry and Sara Bareilles
When Katy Perry and Sara Bareilles released their songs “Roar” and “Brave” around the same time in 2013, the internet got a little suspicious. Everything from the melody to the opening boppy notes sounded the same.
Neither pursued any legal action — and Sara says there’s no hard feelings between them.
One Direction and The Who
When One Direction released their hit “Best Song Ever”, rumours swirled the boyband would be slapped with copyright infringement after critics pointed out similarities to The Who’s “Baba O’Riley”.
1D fans then went into meltdown on Twitter when there was talk the band’s videoclip would be removed from YouTube.
And while the similarities are clear, The Who’s Pete Townshend refused legal action, saying: “The chords I used and the chords they used are the same three chords we’ve all been using in basic pop music since Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry made it clear that fancy chords don’t mean great music — not always … I’m happy to think they may have been influenced a bit by The Who!”
Take that, Marvin.
