In perhaps the most famous example of songwriting plagiarism taken to trial, George Harrison was accused of lifting the melody of the Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine” for his first solo recording, the 1971 No. 1 epic “My Sweet Lord.” The similarities between the songs had been noted by many; country singer Jody Miller went so far as to record a quickie cover of “He’s So Fine“ in ’71 using the languid, slide-guitar-infused “My Sweet Lord” arrangement. Harrison was ultimately found guilty of “subconscious plagiarism” — and remedied the matter by buying the publishing company that owned “He’s So Fine.”
You Didn’t Write That: A Brief Guide to (Alleged) Pop Plagiarism
A lawsuit filed against the writers of Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen’s current smash “Good Time” calls to mind other examples of lift-and-tuck procedures in the songwriting process
George Harrison, “My Sweet Lord”
Full List
Pop Plagiarism
- Hey, I Recognize That Tune…
- Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen, “Good Time”
- George Harrison, “My Sweet Lord”
- The Beach Boys, “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
- The Beatles, “Come Together”
- The Illusion, “Did You See Her Eyes,” and Ike and Tina Turner, “Bold Soul Sister”
- Morris Albert, “Feelings”
- Michael Jackson, “Will You Be There”
- Jessica Simpson, “A Public Affair”
- Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”
- Avril Lavigne, “Girlfriend”
