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1:40 pm - 07/02/2007
The case of the stolen Josh Groban song
Not a single drunken Hollywood starlet in sight but I thought this story fitted the title of this community rather snugly.
Icelandic musician Jóhann Helgason has filed a copyright suit against Rolf Løvland claiming Løvland's song "You raise me up" - made famous by singer Josh Groban - is too similar to Jóhann's own "Söknuður" to be considered anything but outright theft.
The Norwegian Løvland has in the past spent quite some time in Iceland working with various musicians and it's more than likely he'd heard it before as it's been one of the most beloved songs in the country for the past 30 years. Jóhann originally wrote "Söknuður" for singer Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson, who wrote the lyrics, and it was released in 1977 shortly before the singer's death.
Løvland wrote "You raise me up" in 2001 for his band, Secret Garden, and it was featured on their album - sung by Irish singer Brian Kennedy. Since then it has been recorded more than 473 times around the world in different languages but it's Josh Groban's version that's found the most success.
Jóhann had experts compare the two songs, melody and harmony, and the verdict is that the two songs are 97% the same. A British law firm has taken the case.
For me the similarity is startling - but that might be because being Icelandic I know the original so well. Please judge for yourselves:
Söknuður (please excuse the peek into my picture folder - I made this in a hurry):
You raise me up:
Sources:
RÚV
Wikipedia
Icelandic musician Jóhann Helgason has filed a copyright suit against Rolf Løvland claiming Løvland's song "You raise me up" - made famous by singer Josh Groban - is too similar to Jóhann's own "Söknuður" to be considered anything but outright theft.
The Norwegian Løvland has in the past spent quite some time in Iceland working with various musicians and it's more than likely he'd heard it before as it's been one of the most beloved songs in the country for the past 30 years. Jóhann originally wrote "Söknuður" for singer Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson, who wrote the lyrics, and it was released in 1977 shortly before the singer's death.
Løvland wrote "You raise me up" in 2001 for his band, Secret Garden, and it was featured on their album - sung by Irish singer Brian Kennedy. Since then it has been recorded more than 473 times around the world in different languages but it's Josh Groban's version that's found the most success.
Jóhann had experts compare the two songs, melody and harmony, and the verdict is that the two songs are 97% the same. A British law firm has taken the case.
For me the similarity is startling - but that might be because being Icelandic I know the original so well. Please judge for yourselves:
Söknuður (please excuse the peek into my picture folder - I made this in a hurry):
You raise me up:
Sources:
RÚV
Wikipedia
lawn mowed chest hair
This guy definitely has a case.
Uhh... Sö-knuh-thur.
I can't find an English equivalent for "ö".
I tend to take the path of least resistance :)
I think chest hair is hot, but not on a guy who looks like he's still 12.