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Hey Avril, the Rubinoos Called. They Want Their Song Back
Avril Lavigne by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com
I know I’m too old to be paying attention to what Avril Lavigne is doing these days (or any day, for that matter), but I’m also old enough to remember a great powerpop band from the 1970s who called themselves the Rubinoos, and the fact of the matter is this: Avril Lavigne’s latest single, “Girlfriend,” is a total rip-off of the Rubinoos’ classic 1979 single, “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.”
The only reason I know this is that I saw the Canadian part-time-punk princess — who got her first taste of stardom when she won some kind of contest and got to appear on stage with Shania Twain (how punk rock is that?) — on David Letterman. I tuned in right as Avril hit the chorus and I immediately thought, “Aw, jeez. She’s ruining that great Rubinoos song. Is nothing sacred?” Then I realized that it wasn’t a cover at all, but an incredible simulation that someone was trying to pass off as their own work.
If you were here with me, I would sing it for you (not that it would help — I’m totally tone deaf), but trust me: the chorus — melody and lyrics — bears a potentially litigious similarity to that powerpop nugget:
“Hey, hey, you, you, I don’t like your girlfriend” — Avril
“Hey, hey, you, you, I wanna be your boyfriend” — Rubinoos
The middle section goes on to lift the bridge from Toni Basil’s “Mickey,” or rather “Mickey” by way of Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl.” Have you no shame, Avril?
But seriously, an artist like Avril Lavigne really can’t be held all that accountable for her art, so who’s the culprit? According to the credits, that would be none other than Lukasz Gottwald, aka Luke Gottwald, aka Dr. Luke, the songwriting machine who's written massive hits for the likes of Kelly Clarkson (“Behind These Hazel Eyes” and “Since U Been Gone,” which I kinda sorta like). Surely Dr. Luke has enough in the bank to pony up a few bucks and cut the Rubinoos a nice check, dontcha think? Or at least get himself a lawyer.
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Apr 20, 2007 7:07 PM
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You can check out the song on their myspace page. That one line does sound similar...but maybe it's more like a parody than a copy?
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Apr 20, 2007 9:28 PM
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I've often wondered if song writers begin to tap into their psyche to find new material and come up with something trapped in there. I've heard other songs that remind me of something from the past, sometimes intentionally so, but sometimes it's just enough to catch my ear and not enough to be considered plagerism. I know my brain only holds so much. I'll have to listen to both songs now. Since I don't listen to AL it won't matter to me. It might to The Rubinoos, however.
I went and listened to the song on myspace and even just the short snippet at iTunes of the AL song sounded pretty much like it, including the lead in to the chorus.
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Edited by CinderAngelkc at 04/20/2007 9:50 PM
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Apr 21, 2007 12:45 AM
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I know what you mean about songs being familiar. John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change" sounded like an old sone from the 60's. I could never place it. The liner notes say the John wrote it, but I truly felt I had heard it before. It has the feel of an old Joan Baez or Woody Guthrie.
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Apr 21, 2007 3:34 PM
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If this is truly actionable, the Rubinoos (who I've never heard of) have the right to take Dr. Luke to court. This is more of a Billboard blog thing, though, rather than a TVGuide blog thing.
In a side note, it wasn't very nice of you to use that picture of Avril LaVigne which was apparently taken soon after someone played a prank on her by painting the eyeholes on her binoculars.
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Apr 22, 2007 9:13 PM
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I remember when Avril first came onto the scene, she was billed as a "punk" singer. When I heard her song "Complicated" on the radio, I thought to myself, "This isn't punk; it's one of the cheesiest, 'poppiest' songs that I've ever heard!"
Now whenever I see Avril, I remember when she couldn't even pronounce David Bowie's name correctly at an awards show, and she didn't even care! She said something like, "How am I supposed to know who that guy is?" If she had any pop culture knowledge at all, she'd know who he is. (She said "BOW ie," in which bow rhymed with cow.)
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Apr 24, 2007 2:43 PM
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In a side note, it wasn't very nice of you to use that picture of Avril LaVigne which was apparently taken soon after someone played a prank on her by painting the eyeholes on her binoculars.
Thanks for the laugh, Staley! I nearly did a spit take with my diet Sierra Mist.
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Apr 25, 2007 3:22 PM
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I listened to the songs and I found that they both say hey you and that about sums it up.
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Apr 26, 2007 11:52 PM
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I'd never heard the song until I downloaded it because of this article here. It's kinda catchy, but it'll never be a favorite, like "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" is. That one is a perfect pop song.
I can't say that I would have noticed the similarities had they not been pointed out to me. I can see where you are coming from, but I don't think they are *that* similar. I would call Avril's song derivative but not an out-an-out copy.
However alike the songs may be, I think the Rubes should cut Avril a break and let the similarities slide. I mean, she is totally corporate, posing as a punker chick or trying unsuccessfully to be the next Alanis. Bless her heart. Along with the racoon eyes, she's got enough problems. Show the poor child some mercy!
I guess I've turned into an old fuddy duddy, but my biggest problem with the song and Avril in general is the nasty attitude. The way I interpret the song, she's basically throwing herself at a guy, telling him that she is all that and that his girlfriend sucks. She comes off as a skanky mean girl, overly disdainful of any- and everything she doesn't like or understand. Self-confidence is great, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. I find her unlikeable. She's, like, so WHATEVER!
As much of a crazy mess as Britney Spears is, I would take 10 of her over 1 Advil Laverne or whatever her name is any day.
And that concludes my hypocritical rant.
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May 4, 2007 10:55 PM
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This all reminds me of the lawsuit against George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" because of its similarities to The Chiffons' "He's So Fine". In that case, I only found the beginning similar in both songs. They're even less obvious in two 1984 songs: Huey Lewis' "I Want a New Drug" and Ray Parker, Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" though that didn't stop Lewis from making some sort of accusation.
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May 15, 2007 2:33 PM
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I heard it this morning at the gym and it reminded me of Joan Jett's Bad Reputation - specifically from when Freaks and Geeks used it as their theme song.
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May 18, 2007 10:05 AM
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I must say that while I'm a fan of Avril, I don't think her recent album is her best. (I do hope/suspect that she's just burning off her "teen princess" steam while she can).
That said, I just listened to the Rubinoos song, and I don't see any huge similarity. But now I have another band to add to my playlist.
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Jun 15, 2007 12:55 AM
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I went to ProjectPlaylist and listened to the song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by the Rubinoos, who I've never heard of, and I listened to the song. The only thing that sounds familiar is the part mentioned in the article, "Hey, hey, you, you, I wanna be your boyfriend..." Some people just have too much time on their hands. It's not like she is taking credit for their one hit wonder. If anything, The Rubinoos should be thanking Avril because finally, after 28 years, their song is getting attention!
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Jul 5, 2007 3:31 AM
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I just read that The Rubinoos are actually suing her now. I'm with the others... other than the "Hey! Hey! You! You!" part, it's a completely different song. They'll settle I'm sure.
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Jul 5, 2007 9:58 AM
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