Million Years Ago: Listen to the song Adele is accused of plagiarising
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Pop singer is accused of copying a classic song by Brazilian singer Tonhino Geraes. British star Adele is the subject of a “landmark” plagiarism lawsuit in Brazil, where a judge has ordered that one of her early songs be wiped from streaming services around the world.
Brazilian composer Tonhino Geraes, 62, is seeking royalties from the pop singer’s 2015 track “Million Years Ago” from her third album, 25. Written by Adele and her frequent collaborator Greg Kurstin, the song’s lyrics touch on themes of fame and mourning lost youth.
Geraes claims that “Million Years Ago” plagiarises the music from his samba classic, “Mulheres” (Women), which was recorded and released by Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila in 1995. He is suing for lost royalties, $160,000 (£127,000) in moral damages, plus a songwriting credit on Adele’s track.
Geraes’s lawyer, Fredimio Trotta, said his firm would work to ensure that radio and television broadcasters and streaming services around the world were made aware of the judge’s ruling. He said that the injunction should be a warning to foreign artists and labels seeking to rip off Brazilian tunes: “International producers and artists who… have Brazilian music ‘on their radar’ for possible parasitic use will think twice, given this decision.”.
Sony and Universal Records have yet to comment on the case. The Independent has reached out to Adele’s representative for comment. Adele was also accused of plagiarising “Million Years Ago” by Turkish music fans in 2015. They claimed the tune was similar to that of the 1985 song “Acilara Tutunmak” (Clinging to Pain) by Kurdish singer Ahmet Kaya.