“Uptown Funk” is truly a song that doesn’t seem to want to go away, but this time for all the wrong reasons. The mega-hit by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars has already been in hot water thanks to some complaints by ’70s rap group The Sequence and their song “Funk You Up” and the song already has to share songwriting credits with The Gap Band over similarities to “Oops Upside Your Head.” Now, according to Pitchfork, “Minneapolis electro-funk band” Collage has filed suit against Ronson and Mars claiming that the song is a copy of their song, “Young Girls.” Pitchfork obtained a copy of the complaint, also noting that Ronson and Mars had mentioned the Minneapolis sound as an influence on “Uptown Funk”:
Upon information and belief, many of the main instrumental attributes and themes of “Uptown Funk” are deliberately and clearly copied from “Young Girls,” including, but not limited to, the distinct funky specifically noted and timed consistent guitar riffs present throughout the compositions, virtually if not identical bass notes and sequence, rhythm, structure, crescendo of horns and synthesizers rendering the compositions almost indistinguishable if played over each other and strikingly similar if played in consecutively.
“Trinidad James, Jeff Bhasker, Devon Gallaspy, Phillip Lawrence, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner/Chappell Music, Atlantic Records, RCA Records” are others listed in the suit according to Pitchfork, filed by surviving Collage member Larry White and the estates of deceased members Grady Wilkins and Lee Peters. Ronson and Mars have no issues any statements on the suit yet, but we will keep you updated when that happens. Until then, you can listen to “Uptown Funk” above and the Collage song below.
(Via Pitchfork)
