DUA LIPA VS REGGAE BAND LAWSUIT: Let’s Compare!

In this episode I discuss the Dua Lipa vs Artikal Sound System Lawsuit.
Artikal Sound System is suing Dua Lipa claiming that her hit song "Levitating" copied their 2017 release "Live Your Life". Let's compare them.

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[RickBeato]

A lot of people are commenting that this is a copy of the Outkast song Rosa Parks. That doesn’t matter. The lawsuit is apparently between Artikal Sound System and Dua Lipa. In court, they would never be able to talk about the Outkast song. That would have no bearing on the case. Even if they both stole it. It wouldn’t matter if OutKast copied it from someone else. I don’t personally care about either song. They are both clichéd Pop songs.

[scottpatrick]

If Duo Lipa doesn't lose this suit, I'm writing a third version.

[bannnnner]

They didn't wait 2 years after Dua Lipa because they were struggling to find a lawyer to go against the big record labels. They were advised by their lawyers to wait until the song had grossed as much money as possible before launching a lawsuit. No point getting 20% of near nothing at release (and it being pulled from sale)... you wait till its made millions then claim

[ShamanMick]

As an Aussie I hope to god someone in this court case actually says "It's the vibe, your Honour"

[jelswick]

The strangest part of this whole thing to me is that the Artikal Sound System song is considered Reggae.

[DavidStella]

I played Artikal Sound System to my 4 year old, and she started singing Levitating. I would assume the defendants wouldn’t want to take this case to court.

[TomStrahle]

Yeah, it's very close. Much closer than the Marvin Gaye Estate vs Robin Thicke/Farrell or Marvin Gaye Estate vs. Ed Sheeran cases which the estate won. It's hard to get the right lawyer and the prep work can be very expensive.

[SomeBlackGuy]

Blatant rip off. I mean, why not just sample and pay royalties to avoid the possibility of a lawsuit? This is ridiculous.

[Thegameshowcase]

I'm a strong believer that melodies, chords whatever can't be copyrighted but this is actually a slam dunk for Artikel Sound System. Same key, chords, melody and general atmosphere.

[salvadorperezmunoz]

Not just the chord progression, also the rythm, the phrasing... Everything.

[tippytailmckitty]

I'd hire Rick as an expert in a music copyright case any day. Wouldn't be a problem qualifying him either.

[voodoolab]

The problem with this lawsuit is that even if Artikal Sound System win they are setting themselves up for a slam dunk of a lawsuit by Outkast..

[johnnysocket]

These kinds of videos need to be shown in court during these cases. These types of situations are so insane they're like south park episodes. If i go through this kind of thing I'll be sure to hit up ma man Rick!

[HofTheStage]

Clear as day to me, the chorus is definitely plagiarized.

[scottwherle]

I wouldn’t be at all shocked if this video is shown during the court case. Great job as always, Rick.

[AnthonyMartinez-jglo]

Interesting note: I made a piano song when I was 23 years old. When I was finished, I started to realize it sounded familiar. Few weeks later I heard "apologize" for the first time and I immediately new my song was already a song. I was actually worried at the fact I thought I made an original song and in fact it wasn't.

[I-Sharted]

Even when he's presenting evidence he's still can't help but nod his head to the beat. A true music lover.

[geminidreamno]

Yes. It definitely sounds almost exact. If I was a judge or juror, I’d rule for the reggae band.

[romulus_]

When you're highly incentivized to keep the hit train rolling there's gonna be a temptation for unscrupulous writers/producers to copy the work of others. This is a *clear* case of theft. Much different than the Blurred Lines/Got To Give It Up suit, which was decided on the basis of "feel." Those songs did not share a melody or progression. Pay up, Dua Lipa.

[beforethestorm]

If I am not mistaken, the only aspects that are copyrightable are lyrics, melodies, and short phrases. The chord progression, while virtually identical wouldn't matter. But that melody is extremely close too.