Lawsuit Accuses Olivia Dean of Copying Melody from Bill Withers' Classic Song Just The Two of Us

A lawsuit has been filed in California accusing British pop star Olivia Dean of copying the melody of Bill Withers' classic song Just The Two of Us in her own track I've Seen It.

The complaint centers around the fact that both songs "share musical features" that are so striking they cannot have arisen by coincidence alone, according to the publishers of Withers' catalogue. They claim that a musicologist hired to review the two songs concluded that the works contain substantial similarities, including repeated copying of the melody from Just The Two of Us.

The lawsuit names Olivia Dean's record label Capitol Records, parent company Universal Music Group and her publishing companies as defendants, but does not seek damages from the singer herself or her co-writers Bastian Langebæk and Max Wolfgang.

A review of the two songs by a musicologist hired by Withers' publishers found that they contain substantial similarities in their melodies, with repeated copying of the iconic tune from Just The Two of Us being one key similarity noted.

The lawsuit filed by Mattie Music Group against Olivia Dean hinges on proving that she and her co-writers had prior knowledge of Bill Withers' iconic song Just The Two of Us.

To establish plagiarism, the plaintiffs must demonstrate that Dean's team was exposed to the original composition before writing I've Seen It. They argue that the sustained commercial success of Just The Two of Us, including decades of radio play, would have provided a reasonable opportunity for Dean and her co-writers to have encountered the song.

The commercial success of Just The Two of Us is undeniable, with the song having achieved widespread recognition and acclaim over the years.

Dean's representatives have yet to respond to the lawsuit, despite multiple requests for comment from both them and their team.

The lawsuit against Olivia Dean has raised questions about her songwriting skills and potential copyright infringement.

Just The Two of Us, a song by Bill Withers, is one of his most famous tracks, having been streamed 246 million times on Spotify alone.

Its chart success in the US was significant, reaching number two in 1981, and it earned Withers a Grammy for best R&B song, a prestigious award that acknowledges outstanding work in the genre.

The track's enduring popularity is evident in its massive play count of over 948 million streams on various platforms.

While Dean has achieved considerable success with her own music, having picked up the best new artist award at this year's Grammys, her album The Art of Loving also reached impressive heights.

The Australian singer-songwriter Olivia Dean has been accused of copying Bill Withers' classic hit Just The Two of Us in her own song.

Dean's version of Just The Two of Us was uploaded to YouTube and features a recognizable rendition of the 1981 original, with some minor adjustments to the melody and tempo. While it is unclear whether the changes are sufficient to avoid copyright infringement claims, the similarities between the two songs are undeniable.

The comparison raises questions about originality in music composition and the fine line between homage and plagiarism.