Lana Del Rey Sued By Radiohead For Copying Creep

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Photo: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock.

British rock titans Radiohead are suing Lana Del Rey for allegedly copying their 1993 breakthrough anthem "Creep" with her song "Get Free", which features on her most recent album Lust For Life.

Following rumours at the weekend, Del Rey tweeted that while "[she knows her] song wasn’t inspired by Creep, Radiohead feel it was and want 100% of the publishing - I offered up to 40 over the last few months but they will only accept 100."

She continued: "Their lawyers have been relentless, so we will deal with it in court."

"Get Free" is the closing track on Del Rey's album, which was released to acclaim last July. She is credited for the track along with co-writers Kieron Menzies and Rick Nowels.

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It’s true about the lawsuit. Although I know my song wasn’t inspired by Creep, Radiohead feel it was and want 100% of the publishing - I offered up to 40 over the last few months but they will only accept 100. Their lawyers have been relentless, so we will deal with it in court.
— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 7, 2018

Listen to the songs in tandem here.

Musicians suggested that the allegations are likely based on the chord progression used in the song's verses.

Wow

If Radiohead are claiming ownership to I-III-IV-iv, we should go through Radiohead’s catalogue and litigate their own lifts https://t.co/plqA5s4w2e
— waluigi: my wah (@owenpallett) January 7, 2018

Funnily enough, Radiohead were themselves sued over the song. Musicians Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, who were behind The Hollies' track "The Air That I Breathe", were eventually added to the song's credits and now split royalties with the band.

Fans of Del Rey and Radiohead, both known for their dreamy and arguably depressing music, have lamented the conflict, comparing it to familial in-fighting.

watching Lana and Radiohead fight is like watching ur parents fight :-(
— S (@seanbgoneill) January 7, 2018

While others have accused Radiohead of being "vindictive and gross" by asking for 100% of the publishing royalties – particularly considering they lost their prior lawsuit. Someone compared it to "suing someone for breaking the window of the house you're squatting in".

whoa.. from what i can figure, this radiohead / lana del rey lawsuit is allen klein-level uncool. even if she did rip them off, to settle for nothing less than 100% of the publishing is just vindictive & gross.
— matt nathanson (@mattnathanson) January 7, 2018

Radiohead got sued by The Hollies, because creep was a rip off of the air that I breathe. Now Radiohead are suing Lana Del Rey for ripping off creep.

It's like suing someone for breaking the window of the house you're squatting in.
— Gareth Icke (@garethicke) January 7, 2018

Lana Del Rey’s song Get Free is extremely similar to Creep, so Radiohead are suing.
Presumably on behalf of Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, who wrote The Air That I Breathe.
— Mitch Benn (@MitchBenn) January 7, 2018

Wow - kind of a harsh move from Radiohead. Del Rey's song - 'Get Free' - features a similar chord progression as 'Creep', sure, but the rest is a completely different timbre IMO https://t.co/076QXYfxhj
— Luke Appleby ?? (@lukeappleby) January 7, 2018

Boy George also threw his weight behind Team Del Rey.

The publishers usually go for everything but the artist can and should reach a comfortable and fair compromise. Since the song does not entirely belong to Radiohead or The Hollies, why should they get everything. The song is not exactly like 'Creep'. @LanaDelRey @radiohead https://t.co/PLZJJ1P98U
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) January 7, 2018

Whose side are you on?

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