A group of accusers are hoping they’ll soon be dancing to a courtroom victory over claims ‘Dancing with a Stranger,’ the 2019 megahit from Sam Smith & Normani, was stolen from them.
Details inside:
Reports have surfaced of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed Friday (March 4) that asserts Smith and Normani copied key elements of a 2015 song – also titled “Dancing With a Stranger” – in their joint single four years later.
Songwriters Jordan Vincent, Christopher Miranda, and Rosco Banlaoi allege that the multiplatinum Smith and ‘Mani duet – which went on to be one of the biggest songs of 2019 – not only has the same chorus and composition as their song, but also strikingly similar music videos.
“The hook/chorus in both songs — the most significant part and artistic aspect of these works — contains the lyrics ‘dancing with a stranger’ being sung over a nearly identical melody and musical composition,” the complaint reads.
In reference to the cut’s award-winning, Vaughan Arnell-directed music video (seen above), the suit says:
“A girl dancing alone is not an obvious visual theme for a music video titled ‘Dancing With a Stranger,’ tending to dispel any notion that this similarity is a coincidence. When the extraordinary musical similarity between the songs is also factored in, it becomes even more apparent that it is impossible that the infringing composition and sound recording were independently created.”
Reportedly filed as a “last resort” after contacting the defending parties in 2020 about the alleged infraction, the group of accusers are seeking damages of an undisclosed amount from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, EMI Music Publishing, and others.
“Defendants were given every chance to come up with an innocent explanation, but, despite assurances that a response was coming including a musicological analysis and report, the defendants never issued a response,” the suit alleges.
As of time reported, Smith nor Normani have responded to the report.
Who isn’t getting sued. For the little money people make on singles is there any point? You waste more suing than actually winning a case
😂😂😂
God’s timing is always right.
And his timing is also right for evil spirits such as yourself the negativity you spread comes from the devil so you may wanna chill mr holy now
So u think God really enjoys you calling Normani racist names porch m***** etc such a fake evil person that wishes failure on other but using God name smh
Stfu. God will punish your asss for calling Camila illegal and bathroom maid. Go f u c k yourself with your other 50+ troll accounts. Farrah Luggage, Nicky, u h o e s funny, lele…. And so much more 💅🏾 Diva f u c k u all🖕🏿🖕🏿🖕🏿🖕🏿
marilyn monh-O-E ® 👠(#1 DIVA) went HAM on you filthy animals 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
“Dancing to a court room victory” Dancing 💃 shady a$$ 🤣
Hahahaha
Well, it ain’t the first time thief mani stealing somebody else’s song. She got a free pass for stealing Aaliyah’s one in a million.
Sis I was about to say 💅🏾 Got that rightttttt. Diva is always rightttttt
Drag that ashy mani b i t c h 💅🏾 Y’all stupid f l o p m a n I stans will say that’s a Sam smith song now🤣😂🤣 screaming. Normani thief history; motivation is a rip off from Queen B’s check on it. Wild side is a rip off of Aaliyah’s one in a million.
Hahahaha karma is a b I t c h, get that f l o p m a n I b I t ch 💅🏾 U know I know that lazy a p e won’t get in any trouble coz she didn’t write nor produced the song. All she does is providing her boring ass vocal.
F l o p m a n I is going to make RCA bankrupted at this level💅🏾 Just dump her like a used condom. We love to see it. 💯💋
marilyn monh-O-E ® 👠(#1 DIVA) has turned into a savage, get ’em marilyn monh-O-E ® 👠(#1 DIVA) and 𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 slap the 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕥 out of them!
Her single was certified platinum and video over 100 million views try again hater
It’s called payola, look it up.
I hear and see no similarity. One is EDM with modern dance in the video, and the other is Pop with jazz elements.
Gagging 😂
Is a musical concept copyrightable? Because other than the title and some of the video’s frames, there’s no similarity. This is a reach
WITHOUT even reading the first comment, imma post this:
i better not see CLARKSOON try to comment now about how NORMANI is now being sued…’cause up until now, according to a lot of y’all…she’s a FETAURE…..so there we go….
NOW imma read the article and comments
Not u denying the song.
😂😂💀
Normani isn’t a feature! She is co-credited
Okay this is a reach. The “original” song by Jordan Vincent is an EDM dance song whereas Smith and Normani’s is a dance-pop and lower tempo. The only similarly is the phrase “Dancing with a stranger” though Jordan actually singles “dancing with strangers”. Although both songs repeat the phrase multiple times as part of a refrain, you can’t copyright a phrase and others from creating a song using it. Is it similar? Kinda. Were Stargate, who produced Normani and Smith’s song, influenced by the original? Most likely yes. Does the Smith and Normani song actually sound like or sample any of the original? Nah.