Matt Nathanson Thinks Taylor Swift Re-Appropriated His Lyrics
posted in: Country • Music News • Pop
Man, people these days. You break a couple of sales records and OUT COME THE HATERS.
I’m sure all Taylor Swift wants to do right now is sit back, relax, maybe get into a fraught high-profile relationship, and bask in her achievements. Red, the pop songstress’ fourth album, went platinum and then some in its debut week on the charts. I’m not sure if you’re aware of the current state of the music industry, but that just doesn’t happen anymore.
But no, Swift find herself beleaguered, in spite of (or maybe because of) her runaway success. First was the Country Music Association Award skewers and snubs. And now, allegations of plagiarism?
Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson thinks that Swift might have copied some of his lyrics for her most recent album, specifically for the song “All Too Well.” Gossip blog Oh No They Didn’t! spied the since deleted tweet above sent by Nathanson on October 30th.”[S]he’s definitely a fan…and now she’s a thief,” said Nathanson, apparently throwing shade at Swift. Further confirmation of the beef came a few days later when Nathanson responded to the Swift fan backlash. “[S]o far,” said Nathanson, “my favorite thing about today is the wave of @taylorswift13 fans calling me a prick on twitter for writing “i saw” in 2003.”
Is Nathanson on to something here? Swift is definitely a fan; she’s been photographed in concert sporting his lyrics written on her arm. But what about the lyrics? Here’s the line in question from Nathanson’s song “I Saw”: “And I’ll forget about you long enough/ To forget why I need to.” Here’s the line from Swift’s “All Too Well”: “And I forget about you long enough/ To forget why I needed to.” Similar! But is it theft? Check out both songs below and decide for yourself.
Lyric at 1:32 in “I Saw”
Lyric at 1:45 in “All Too Well”
If you like Matt Nathanson, check out OurStage artist Brandon Kelly.
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