Did Beyonce steal one of this artist’s songs?
Beyonce is facing a lawsuit from a backup singer who says she stole her 2013 single ‘XO’, according to a report in Radar.
Ahmad Lane, who goes by his stage name Javon, says he played his track ‘XOXO’ for Beyonce’s backing singer Chrissy Collins, who then showed it to the star.
But there are doubts over whether the songs sound anything like each other at all and Beyonce’s legal team strongly deny the claim.
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Beyonce altered ‘XOXO’ to ‘XO’ according to Javon, and he wants US$3 million in damages.
‘XOXO’ was released in June 2013; Beyoncé’s ‘XO’ came out in December 2013.
Javon, 27, told ‘Queen Bey’s legal team there were four similarities between the songs: at six seconds into ‘XO’, then at two minutes 54 seconds into it, as well as the song’s titles and single artwork.
“I am seeking the earnings she has made from the copied record,” Javon says in the filings. “Also live performances, etc. I would like money compensation of $3 million, or whichever is greater.”
The response from Beyonce’s legal team was emphatic: “The two works at issue are entirely different songs that share no lyrical or musical similarity, other than perhaps the letters ‘X’ and ‘O’.”
“There is no meaningful similarity in pitch series … melodic development or structure.”
They are asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed.
See if you can spot the similarities below: