AH HA HA HA HA.
Didja hear 70s pop band the Rubinoos are suing Avril Lavigne over similarities between their “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” and her “Girlfriend”?
You should take a listen to their original.
Go because it’s a pleasant, dense power-pop song. Stay because Lavigne’s is so similar as to be a parody.
Now, I know with the skillion songs in the world at this point, and the narrow parameters of popular music, complaining that one song is like another is sort of like complaining how many movies have the plot of She’s All That (they got together on a dare! But then he really likes her! But then she found out it was a dare!) or the premise of Fight Club/Secret Window/Identity/Hide and Seek/American Haunting/Number 23 (person tormented by a mysterious stranger who is revealed to be… HIMSELF!)
And the popular music necessitates, nay THRIVES ON, borrowing and reinventing itself. That’s why we have jazz, Christmas albums, and the Great American Songbook.
But these two are ALIKE. A LOT.
Because “Ghostbusters” may be like “I Want a New Drug,” and “Caribbean Queen” may be like “Billie Jean,” but they’re at least different enough in lyrical content as to give it the flesh of a different song.
Enough of my opinion. Here’s the evidence. What do you think?
LYRICS
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I WANNA BE YOUR BOYFRIEND
Hey (hey!) You (you!) I wanna be your boyfriend! Sitting here so close, together Late at night when I, when I can’t sleep [Bridge:] (c) T.V.Dunbar |
GIRLFRIEND
Hey (hey!) You (you!) I don’t like your girlfriend! You’re so fine [Bridge: Sounds more alike than the words indicate] (c) I Have No Crappin’ Idea |
