Avril Lavigne Stealing Music?

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Considering the lyrics of her songs and her general punk rock appearance and sometimes very outspoken and untoward public behavior, Avril Lavigne appears to have sensitivity about her reputation that belies the rest of the way she acts.

Allegations have been spewing back and forth regarding the 22-year-old’s potential plagiarization of her hit single “Girlfriend” from a 1979 Rubinoos song called “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”.  The songwriters for the Rubinoos, Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwar, are in the process of getting a decision on a lawsuit that they filed against the singer.

According to Lavigne, “I had never heard this song in my life and their claim is based on 5 words.  All songs share similar lyrics and emotions. As humans we speak one language...Simply put, I have been falsely accused of ripping their song off. [Songwriting partner] Luke [Gottwald] and I have done nothing wrong and there is no merit to their claim.”

Apparently, this is not a first time allegation.  Chantal Kreviazuk previously discussed collaboration with Lavigne and told a magazine in an article that she gave Lavigne the song “Contagious” but was not credited on the album by Lavigne.

Lavigne responds: “I was going to be the bigger person and not reply when I read Chantal Kreviazuk’s article.  Our songs have no similarities and opposite meanings, i.e. different lyrics, different melody, different genres. . . . There are hundreds of songs out there with the title ‘Contagious, 75+ on iTunes alone.”

Lavigne concludes: “I am not going to sit here and defend my writing skills. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I know who I am and what I have done and accomplished and no one can take that away from me.”

The first court date in the lawsuit is set to take place on August 28th in Oakland.