Avril L's song Girlfriend... plagiarism???

Question

You be the judge..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3rZEuR242Y
Tell me what you think..

Plagiarism (from Latin plagiare "to kidnap") is the practice of claiming, or implying, original authorship or incorporating material from someone else's written or creative work, in whole or in part, into one's own without adequate acknowledgement. Unlike cases of forgery, in which the authenticity of the writing, document, or some other kind of object, itself is in question, plagiarism is concerned with the issue of false attribution.


Plagiarism isn't just word for word stealing something. It can apply to music film and countless other things.

I hope she has to pay them lots of money! Throw her under the jail I say!

Answer 1

Perhaps Avril would have known better if she had finished high school! This is a girl who brags about being married and also thinks there is no need to be educated. Is this what young people want to look up to these days? I was surprised at "The View "bringing her on a few weeks ago and almost acknowleding that it's ok ( not all the hosts just Elizabeth!) not to finish high school especially if you can be a rock star. This is not a message we should be sending to our teenagers! Being a rock star is great but what happens if it all goes away and you have nothing to fall back on?
This could be the case soon with Avril if she is sued and loses everything. Might teach her a lesson.
Anyway, yes the song is plagiarized. Most of the lyrics and the entire melody of the chorus are identical. I remember the original and it was a great song! To be plagiarized a song's melody also must be the same even if part of it is.

Answer 2

Tsk! So what's new? I remember Vanilla Ice's hit song "Ice Ice Baby" from way back which sounded like he ripped off Queen's "Under Pressure" and nothing came of it. Besides, Avril's not the only one, most of the songs outta the U.S. charts these days sounds like a rehash of some song I heard in my youth, blame it on the U.S. music industry, they give more importance to image and hype than on quality of talent and music to sell albums these days. I look at MTV and I cringe at the sight of booties and bling, what the heck does that have to do with good music? In the old days, a guitar and drumsticks was all the bling a musician needed. Even Rock is no longer held sacred.

Answer 3

I have seen the video before.. Yes, it could be classifed as plagiarism.. Her song speaks of a rocky girl who was trying to steal the geeky girl's boyfriend... And indeed, she was successful.. There are also other songs or videos depicting those kind of stuff but the viewers doesn't take it seriously... She would only be put to jail if she copied or stole that song (Griflriend) from the original composer...

Answer 4

Yeah, I thought that the first time I heard her song, too! I used to love the Rubinoos' "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", and all the other '70's pop when I was a kid. I'm surprised Avril (or whoever writes her songs) thinks the public is that stupid, or has no memory of anything beyond a few years ago!!

Answer 5

wow hearing them next to each other...they are way too similar to dismiss.

But at the same time...maybe it isn't her fault. I personally have not heard the song before (maybe thats just me) and i could understand her not hearing it before. It was a hit back in the 70's, right? She might be too young to have heard it much.

also, the theme is so common. Who doesn't see good looking me/women and think "how did THAT girl get you?" and want to be their girlfriend/boyfriend.

honestly, i don't think that a successful artist like her would so obviously copy a song.

all in all, its a coincidence for me.

Answer 6

Okay..uh..Hey hey you you is about the only thing that sounds similar. I'm sure that that phrase has been used many times in music. It just sounds good. I'm sure avril didn't even know who that group was. Anyway, i like that song and i think other people should stop hatin' on her.

Answer 7

I'm starting to think that many (not all) of the people who say "Don't care' are Avril fans.

That, to me, is a total reflection of today's pop audience: don't know & don't care. I hope her & her writers get sued til the cows come home!

Then we'll she her singin the blues at McDonald's.

Answer 8

UMM...allot of people use the word "Hey" in songs and books etc. why don't they sue them too? I don't think it's alike. Now songs like Ice Ice Baby and Under Pressure...that's another story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk6NhjD3Dbg

Answer 9

All of those pseudo stars sound the same. How much can you do with three major chords and a dance beat?

The word for word for word is "verbatim"
Wow too many words!
LOL

Answer 10

I don't know, it may have a few lyrics from that other song, but they sound nothing alike. Avril wasn't even alive when that other song was written, so she probably hasn't even heard it before. Coincidence?