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Avril Lavigne Is Hey, Hey, Sued, Sued!
Avril Lavigne by Paul Drinkwater/NBC Universal Photo
TV Guide's own Ken Fox called this one months ago. Songwriters Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer allege in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court that Avril Lavigne and the cowriters of her current hit, "Girlfriend," cribbed from their 1979 song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," which was originally performed by new-wave band The Rubinoos. "We are not so naive as to chalk it up to some sort of cosmic coincidence," Dunbar says in a statement to the AP. "The lyric, the meter, the rhythm... they're identical." A spokesperson for Lavigne declined comment. A court date has been set for Aug. 28.
In related news, this rather insane girl I broke up with back in college is suing Kelly Clarkson for stealing "Never Again" from the hourlong harangue she directed at me some 15 years ago.
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Jul 6, 2007 9:29 AM
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crazy would be if she called you now and ranted 
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Jul 6, 2007 9:46 AM
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And,lest we forget,Avril was born in 1984-5 years after your song was released. Do you honestly mean to tell us that she got the inspiration in utero? Or that Lavigne and her co-writers did it on purpose?
Ronald Isley had a case for song-stealing,and proved it in court. Right now,you don't have one. Just allegations. And I wouldn't be surprised if this met the same end Bill O'Reilly's case against Al Franken did: getting laughed out of court.
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Jul 6, 2007 9:54 AM
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So, Matt, will you be a witness for the prosecution - or for the defense?
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Jul 6, 2007 10:16 AM
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ckg68, since when did you have to be alive when a song was recorded and released to hear it? People who were born in the 80s and 90s can go back and listen to songs from past decades.
Besides, she wasn't the only writer on this song. The stealing of that line could've come from Dr. Luke. After all, he's been known to copy his own songs multiple times.
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Jul 6, 2007 10:31 AM
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ckg68:
See, there is this thing called "recording". It allows you to "record" and document music to be listened to at a later time.
It's kinda cool. They have even found ways to "record" movies and TV shows. You can find them at the store on these things we call "DVDs" and "videotapes". Check it out!
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Jul 6, 2007 11:46 AM
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I listened to both of the songs...am I crazy for not thinking they sound anything alike, other than the fact that one's about a girlfriend and one's about a boyfriend? Avril's is catchier.
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Jul 6, 2007 12:23 PM
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And you honestly think it was done on purpose? People recycle stuff in entertainment since the dawn of time...plot lines,etc. It's only the details that change. And most of the time,it's not done with malice.
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Jul 6, 2007 1:06 PM
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Classical composers borrowed from each other all the time. But this was before the days of copyright law.
Besides, Avril ain't no Amadeus!
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Jul 6, 2007 1:23 PM
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I'm not familiar with the original, but I read the lyrics go something like "Hey (hey) you (you) I wanna be your boyfriend..."
Link to listen on Rhapsody here.
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Jul 6, 2007 1:31 PM
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Matt, that title tag line is really clever. It got a big "laugh out loud" from me. lol 
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Jul 6, 2007 1:47 PM
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myyearofnewthings, I listened to the Rubinoos song & thought it was garbage. I like Avril's song & don't think they sound anything alike either, but then again I'm not a musician.
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Jul 6, 2007 2:34 PM
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I had this idea, WAY before anyone else, for people to be able to write opinions following a story--So anyone commenting after me--I'll see you in court! By the way, the concept of sueing is also mine, and Tell Al Gore I invented the internet...
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Jul 6, 2007 2:57 PM
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Did you get a patent or a copyright? No? Too bad.
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Jul 6, 2007 3:03 PM
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"Mr. Furley" is mine....Wait a minute...Mr Furley...achyfakey...I am not so naive as to chalk it up to some sort of cosmic coincidence, The lyric, the meter, the rhythm... they're identical!!!!! Hello, meal ticket!
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Jul 6, 2007 3:10 PM
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