Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember the name Morris Albert. Even while “Feelings” was ubiquitous on lite radio in the mid-’70s, the Brazilian artist behind it remained largely anonymous. (Indeed, we initially thought the song was something Carol Burnett made up for her sketch-comedy show.) Years later French composer Loulou Gasté accused Albert of borrowing heavily from his 1957 song “Pour Toi”; a judge agreed, and Gasté was awarded the lion’s share of the smash tune’s royalties.
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
Morris Albert, “Feelings”
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”
