Did Britney Spears Copy Her New Single?

By Kelly Fisher Posted Jan 13th 2011 07:00AM

As Britney Spears enjoys the No. 1 spot on iTunes with her new single, 'Hold It Against Me,' one music group is crying foul, saying she ripped off the title of the hit song.

Country group The Bellamy Brothers released a song in 1979 called 'If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me,' and singer David Bellamy is speaking out against Spears' new song, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The chorus of Spears' latest hit contains the line, "If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?'

"It's not every day you get in the middle of a Britney Spears brawl," Bellamy told the magazine.

Listen to both songs inside.

The country crooner, who penned the group's 1979 hit, said his son first clued him in on Spears' single. While no legal action has been taken regarding the song's crossover title, Bellamy is looking into the situation.

"I just have to see what the intent was," he said. "I just kind of found it unoriginal, and I guess it makes us realize how old we are, because they're recycling our titles already."

Bellamy, who has not heard from Spears' camp regarding the similarities, understands that the "beautiful body" line is often used, but not always as overtly as with this latest hit single.

"This particular title is kinda hard to disguise, because the title is the song," Bellamy said of Spears' track. "It's not like saying, 'I love you, baby.' ... I think there's just more original stuff out there to do than just rehashing old titles."

The Bellamy Brothers would know. The country band hits the road this year for a 180-show tour as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of their hit album, 'Let Your Love Flow.'

Spears' song, produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke, hit the Internet on Monday and quickly shot to the No. 1 spot on iTunes. Her new album is expected to be released March 15.

Tags: britney spears

Comments

(326)

Thursday 13 January

By T~

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I like the bellamy brothers, i remember the song, and i like britney lol, so i know that is weird lol

However phrases that are so generic cannot be copyrighted. So i understand them being annoyed by it, BUT i doubt anyone who wrote Britney's song KNEW about the bellamy song.

By Mickerie

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This is just publicity. You cannot copyright a title. And I've been using that pick up line for years, so it wasn't even original with the Bellamy Brother. The only case against Ms. Spears would be if there were more than a certain number of musical bars that were the same. Remember the flap about George Harrison ripping off My Sweet Lord? Repeat: you can NOT copywright a title. I wrote a play which was done in San Diego last year that has the same title as a play which recently opened in New York. Different themes, different dialogue, same title.

Friday 14 January

By oj100

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your point is the only point. Titles aren't copywrited. There are literally thousands of songs that don't have unique titles. your point makes it clear this is all about publicity.

By Marla

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

"Copywrited"....really? Copywritten.

By jimschmidt

@marla, hey grammer police its copyrighted not copywritten

@ myself, its grammar not grammer, lol

By staceyastrogirl

Ha,,,Do you know how many times I have heard that line????????????????????????????????????????????????,,,Can I sue Also...hahahahahah,,,

By carol

just listened to her song and i knew from the first 20seconds not at all like the old song..not one little bit.however the discussion has brought back memories,i have not thought of that other song in years!!i really dont see how anyone can detect any similarity in the two obviously there is none.good publicity maybe?for that old song??or just a kid noticing a few words that their parent used years ago...

By shauntavious

benny hill used to say that in skits all the time back in the 70's

By Ed

Hey Slap Hillbillies Silly you need to know that your an Azzhole and those Hillbillies would most likely kick your dunb Azz

By bcardi

I agree with Mr Bellamy and I have to say the first time I heard Brittanys song I said this is a remake of an old song so he might just have a case.

By J.C. Perry

You really, I mean really really think those aongs sound alike? Does it reall really really sound like Britney Spears is singing the SAME song? Listen to them both and then ask yourself.....really.

By Stephen Frears

My answer is "no, she didn't".

By Mostly Mark

Bellamy WHO???

By Denizio

Oh please! That line has been around a lot longer than the Bellamy Bros. What is their problem. Besides, you can't copyright a title; just the song and not the title. That is why you see lots of songs and movies and books with the same title. They need to move along.

By ceswoverland

I think it is so funny when pop music "critic" get all anti-country artist and use such silly language to describe them. Why do they have to sink to such levels? The Bellamy Bros didn't say a thing against Ms. Spears. They just question the originality of the "song title" for pete's sake. There is obviously a market for both music styles, so get over yourselves, (pop fans) and live and let live. Country has some great musicians and there are some good ones in the pop genre too. Listen to your own and forget slamming something different.

By jt

These rap and pop artists rip everyone off. They don't have the talent to write songs, and when they try it's dumb as hell...what a buncha hacks. Music is in the toilet these days...garbage. Gone are the days of the singer/songwriter.

By Carole

Listen to both songs...

Her song was deffinately taken from the
original song...

No doubt...the little phrase that pop culture uses
came from the song...

the difference is...she use the song to make money...

Now for that you pay...now she needs to pay.

By tam

It's copyright!!!!! Who cares about Brittany? If someone falls for the publicity stunt, her agents did their job!!!! Happy Friday PEEPS!!!!!

By Bob Reynolds

Who are the Bellamy Brothers kidding? The line, "If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me?" goes all the way back to the days of burlesque shows! It wasn't any more original when they used it then than it is now. If David Bellamy is trying to claim Britney and her writers are guilty of plagiarism, his case is pretty weak.

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