Another week, another chart-topping hit released by Ariana Grande - OK not every week (we wish it was) but it certainly does feel that way.
Ariana dropped her new single last week
Over the weekend our favourite songstress has been the centre of entertainment news after she was accused of ripping off lyrics in her new song, 7 rings.
Princess Nokia accused Ari of copying some lyrics from her single Mine released in 2017.
When you listen to the two songs, there is a clear lyrical similarity between them, but this is not something which would instantly stand out, since Ariana actually used the melody of My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music.
It’s not the first time songs have been compared to each other for sharing similarities in melody or lyrics. Some go unnoticed, whereas others can end up resulting in a full on legal battle.
Here are some other times when artists have landed themselves in hot water over.
Blurred Lines and Got to Give it up
Blurred Lines was released in 2013 by Robin Thicke, T.I and Pharrell, and was pointed out for its similarity to Marvin Gaye’s 1977 hit, Got to Give it up.
This became a legal case, in which Thicke and Pharrell lost and were ordered to pay Gaye’s family $7.3 million as part of the ruling.
Style vs Perfect
Although these two songs resemble each other in many ways, there was speculation about things other than the similarities.
Since the songs were both released post-Haylor (that’s Harry Styles and Taylor btw), fans of the two artists couldn’t help but wonder if the songs were about each other.
Style was released in 2014, and Perfect was released a year later. Have a listen and see if you notice the similarities.
Born This Way vs Express Yourself
Lady Gaga and Madonna are two of the biggest names in pop music. But their likeness in musical abilities do not stop there.
When Lady Gaga released Born This Way, lots of people compared it to Madonna’s Express Yourself.
Surfin’ USA vs Sweet Little Sixteen
When The Beach Boys released Surfin’ USA, it’s hard to believe that they didn’t notice the major similarities between it and Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen.
Chuck Berry often went uncredited for his influence as a pioneer of rock music in the 50’s, but not with this one. This case was taken to court and a lawsuit granted Berry writing and royalties.
What do you think? Do you think Ariana ripped off Princess Nokia’s lyrics?