American pop singer Taylor Swift has spoken out about a copyright lawsuit against her over her 2014 song Shake It Off. The singer has been accused of plagiarizing the 2001 single “Playas Gon’ Play” by American pop duo 3LW. 3LW composers Sean Hall and Nathan Butler filed the lawsuit in 2017. The lawsuit was first withdrawn in 2018, but was later reinstated by an appeals court. Taylor Swift has now come forward to defend the case, pointing out that she wrote the song.
Billboard cited the artist’s statement, citing articles from the movement:
“The lyrics of ‘Shake It Off’ were composed entirely by me.”
Taylor Swift revealed more about the song formation process:
“In composing the lyrics, I drew on my own experiences, especially the constant public scrutiny of my personal life, clickbait reporting, public manipulation, and other types of nasty personal criticism that I find I just need to put aside and focus on my music.”
Taylor Swift insists she never heard the song “Players Gonna Play” before the allegations.
Taylor Swift denied any copyright infringement in her federal court filing on Aug. 8. Swift stated that she couldn’t copy 3LW’s song because she “never heard the song ‘Playas Gon’ Play’ and had never heard of the song or the group 3LW.” She also stated:
“I heard this track for the first time after this statement was made.”
Swift also said that “players will play” and “haters will hate” were popular aphorisms when she was younger. According to the singer:
“I remember hearing other young people use terms like “player” and “hate” when I was in school in Wyomissing Hills and high school in Hendersonville.”
Swift also identified other examples of the phrase “player will play,” appearing in a number of songs, movies, and other works. She also recalls a performance in 2013 when she wore a t-shirt that said “haters will hate”.
Swift’s attorney, Peter Anderson, issued the following statement:
“Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a popular song to face plaintiffs seeking fortunes based on flimsy allegations that their own music is pirated… Even with that context, [the] Plaintiff’s claim stands out as extremely weak.”
Taylor Swift’s 2014 Album Shake It Off
Swift’s fifth studio album, 1989, includes the first track, Shake It Off. In August 2014, the song was released. Playas Gon’ Play was released in 2001 as part of 3LW’s first album of the same name. They dismissed the case in 2018, but an appeals court reinstated the case the following year. In December 2021, the judge ruled that the matter should be decided by a jury, while a formal trial date has yet to be set.
Several copyright lawsuits have been filed against the musician. Ed Sheeran won a copyright lawsuit against his song Shape of You earlier this year. And Katy Perry won her lawsuit over the song “Dark Horse”.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: vcmp.edu.vn