Elvis Costello Defends Olivia Rodrigo Against Plagiarism Claim
June 29, 2021 11:15AM EDT
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 30: Elvis Costello & The Imposters headline the Main Stage on day 2 of Love Supreme Festival on June 30, 2018 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Tabatha Fireman/Redferns,)
Musician Elvis Costello is coming to the defense of pop star Olivia Rodrigo.
Rodrigo was called out on Twitter for what some say is plagiarism of Elvis Costello’s “Pump it Up” in her song, “Brutal.”
Costello himself, though, says it’s no big deal.
Costello wrote on Twitter, “It’s how rock & roll works. You take the broken pieces of another thrill and make a brand new toy. That’s what I did.”
In his hashtags, Costello also referenced Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” which inspired “Pump it Up” and Chuck Berry’s “Too Much Monkey Business,” which influenced Dylan.
Do you think it’s impossible for musicians to not write music similar to others? What is your favorite Elvis Costello song?
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