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Are Mariah & John Legend Stealing Ish?
I received an e-mail last night from a Grammy nominated songwriter named Jeanine claiming that both Mariah and John Legend have stolen songs from her. Apparently, John’s track “PDA” off his Once Again album and Mimi’s track “Thanks 4 Nuthin” off E=MC2 were both originally written by Jeanine and both artists’ songwriters allegedly jacked the tracks from Jeanine. A copy of the e-mail when you read the rest…
As you all know I’m a writer. Some of you are familiar with my work and if you aren’t you will be soon. Anyway, I discovered that both John Legend and Mariah Carey have ripped me off. John Legend and Jessyca Wilson basically re-did a song I have called “Take Me With You” off of my Julius & Ann’s Daughter album and called it “PDA” on his Once Again album. If you would like a link my song I will send it. I will pursue legal action because I have a copyright number and I can prove that Jessyca stole the concept, melodic and song structure and reworked the lyrics. I am flattered because the best idea she’s had came from me, however I think she needs to be locked up for stealing. If she had stolen my car she would be doing a bid and this is worse. Stealing intellectual property is like attempting to rob someone of part of their legacy.
Mariah recorded a song called “Thanx 4 Nothin” on her new album and her writer Manuel Seal stole the concept, song structure, lyrical interpretation, title and theme from me. I know Manuel. I have an eye witness that went to his home and watched him play my album so much that he knew all the words to all of my songs. Again I’m flattered but he must pay me and go to jail for stealing my intellectual property. I am asking you personally to sign this petition that I am circulating. I am tired of major artists stealing copywritten songs that have been shopped to them in good faith. Paying someone after the fact has so far been ineffective so I am calling for this crime to be punishable with 5 years jail time. Spread the word! Song theft = jail time!
Here is the link to the petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/304686416
Interesting…
the truth
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:53 am | Reply | Quote1rst
Crystal- Baltimore
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:53 am | Reply | QuoteWho did she send this to? Sounds bitter…
FIRST PLAY BOY
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:53 am | Reply | Quote?
rhonda
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:53 am | Reply | QuoteOh wow. I doubt an eye witness will be enough to get him convicted. That is why you should copy right all of your material–JMO.
candycan
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:54 am | Reply | Quotewow
Candace
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:54 am | Reply | QuoteWho is this again? I’ve never heard of her, singer, songwriter or otherwise…
holla06
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:54 am | Reply | Quoteuh oh LOL.
SweetDiva
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:56 am | Reply | QuoteWas Jeanine’s material copyrighted? A Grammy nominated songwriter would know how to get that done. Rather than circulate internet petitions, why isn’t she getting her lawyer to pursue this. Suspect. . .
Mila T
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:58 am | Reply | QuoteBITCH Please… damn stupid fucktard knows mariah cd is coming out just now.. and wants to hurt sales.. LEAVE MIMI alone.. she has been writing songs for damn near 20 years and does not need to steal shit!
the truth
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:58 am | Reply | QuoteAs a writer to have your lyrics stolen away and barely get credit for it, it definately hard and its wrong and justice should prevail, even though there big time celebrities whom i love and admire. When you wirte you put your heart and soul into the music, and to have someone steal it away and make claims on your writting without crediting you for it, has to be extremely hard.. although 5 years prison the G is asking for is to much… why cant she settle for some royalties and for them to to acknowledge and let be known the song came from her…
Serena
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:59 am | Reply | QuoteShe did copyright it….she’s got a point, but I don’t think five years of jail time makes any sense. That’s ridiculous. I think something like half the profits the artist ever receives from that song should go to the writer, as well as, the cut that would have gone to the person who stole it. It teaches the artist to be more careful from who they shop from and will weed out the writers who do such a thing.
the truth
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:59 am | Reply | QuoteMila T wrote:
LMAO
Ms. Wura
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:16 am | Reply | QuoteI think her lawyer should follow this up.. not sure about the petition.. humm
ROBIN
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:17 am | Reply | QuoteI dont think people should be stealing songs- true true, but to punish them with 5 years of jail time is absurd….
SHAYSHAYNYC
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:20 am | Reply | QuoteEVEN THOU IT MIGHT SOUND VERY FISHY STUFF LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND IS HAPPENING STILL TO THIS DAY EVERYBODY KNOWS THE MUSIC BUISNESS IS VERY SHADY MANY UNKNOWN ARTIST HAS HAD MATERIAL STOLEN ITS HARD TO PROVE SO I WILL WAIT FOR THE OUTCOME OF THIS ONE WITH OUT DRAWING ANY CONCLUSIONS YET BECAUSE I LOVE JOHN BUT JUST LIKE ELVIS FANS HOW WILL YALL FEEL WHEN YOU FIND OUT HE IS NOT AS CREATIVE AS YALL THOUGHT
Bird
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:23 am | Reply | QuoteAs long as she gets paid and credit for writing the song why should she care beyond that? She knows how the industry is. This is par for the course.
Dani
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:25 am | Reply | Quote—–I am sorry Mariah makes way too much money to steal songs…and she is way too talented…
—–There must be miscommunication I don’t think she or John would openly steal someone else’s song knowing they would be taken to court…
Dani
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:26 am | Reply | QuoteMs. Wura wrote:
—-If it is true they should just have to pay up…if its true.
Yep.
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:30 am | Reply | QuoteI believe her. Stuff like this happens all the time in the music/show business. Oprah’s production team just ripped off the person who came up with the idea of Oprahs new show called “Oprah’s Big Give” and Oprah’s production team (or whoever) is currently being sued. Kanye West and T-Pain are currently being sued by the original writer of “Good Life.” He claims he wrote and copywrighted “Good Life” when Kanye was only about 7 or 8 years old. Sometimes, ish like this happens. So hey…I beleive Jeanine.
Yep.
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:34 am | Reply | QuoteOprah had no idea that the concept of her new show wasn’t the original idea of her production team and Mariah may not know that the person that gave her that song was ripping off someone else. But John Legend is supposedly a song writer SO he may or may not have known. Sometimes the artists have no idea that the song they are singing is a rip off until that person comes out publicly.
Jokes
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:39 am | Reply | QuoteUm… Bitter much.
John Legend is a lyrical and musical genius. He doens’t need to steal anything from anyone. This is pure crap!
What the writer may have also failed to realize is that many ideas are non-unique. How many people have wrote about getting busy in public. LOTS OF PEOPLE.
les923
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:45 am | Reply | QuoteDani wrote:
The woman clearly states that mariah got the song from her writer Manuel - so i wouldn’t go as far as to say that Mariah stole it! Her writer stole it.
Monique
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:54 am | Reply | QuoteSteal the Rhyme and do the time!!
la la land
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:00 am | Reply | Quoteoh wow, not good if its all true. this is going to be a hard case
Dominique=[♥]
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:02 am | Reply | QuoteI dont think I believe this one….
But a note to all songwriters(including myself) get your songs copyrighted
***Maxwell FAn=[♥]***
This is Me
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:05 am | Reply | QuoteJokes wrote:
Boo! She isnt talking about the idea. You should go back and read the quote. You can have the same idea of the song. But when you steal the concept, melodic and song structure, lyrical interpretation, title, and theme and rework the lyrics, thats stealing. Hell, if you only steal the melody (and nothing else) and not give credit AND pay the writer, then that is also stealing. So, YES, I would be “bitter” too if someone stole my ish and said it was theirs and didn’t pay me. That is COPYWRIGHT INFRINGEMENT and the stealer should be punished. Period.
READ
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:10 am | Reply | QuoteDominique=[♥] wrote:
Her song was copyrighted. Duh! She offered to send Natasha the COPYRIGHT NUMBER! People PLEASE READ THE POST BEFORE MAKING A DUMB COMMENT!
MJ
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:10 am | Reply | QuoteGo get that Mariah! The album is fire!
bdaf07
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:12 am | Reply | QuoteI just listened to John Legend’s “PDA” and Jeanine’s “Take Me With You”, and they sound nothing alike. I hope she’s not trying to use this for publicity. John Legend is a songwriter and I’m sure he wouldn’t want anyone stealing his music, which is why I doubt he did the same. I hope that the truth comes out, but I seriously doubt that John Legend stole her music.
Windy Citygurl
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:18 am | Reply | QuoteNatasha: The title of your article is misleading - as well as the contradictory statement in the email from this woman Jeanine - who first says that Mariah and John ripped her off but then later says exactly who she alleges did the stealing. If the writers stole her work then its not Mariah and John who “jacked” the songs. According to the contradiction in her own email, Jessyca Wilson and Manuel Seal allegedly stole her songs. I’m sure its more effective, though, to use Mariah and John’s names in her email and in the title of your post.
ClearlyUMissed
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:27 am | Reply | QuoteGo back and read what Natasha posted and you will learn that the original songwriter had her song copyrighted. I know that a Grammy-nominated songwriter knows to have her material copyrighted. Besides, how can you sue and have a strong case without having proof that your material is copyrighted? She was going to send the copyright number to YBF. Please read Black People.
Umm
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:40 am | Reply | QuoteShe needs more people. And no one is going to jail for that shit.
princesgurl3
On Apr 14, 2008 at 11:44 am | Reply | QuoteI agree with bdaf07 I listen to her song “Take Me with You” and it sounds nothing like John Legend’s “PDA”, no same concept, sound , and the lyrics are completely different. Can Jeanine provide us off the song she has that was “stolen” by Mariah and her songwriter so we can compare the two versions.
HELLO?
On Apr 14, 2008 at 12:46 pm | Reply | QuoteSweetDiva wrote:
Exactly what I was thinking!
Fabulosity
On Apr 14, 2008 at 12:56 pm | Reply | QuoteHogwash! People do less time for murder. Get over yourself.
dang on dummies
On Apr 14, 2008 at 12:59 pm | Reply | QuoteWindy Citygurl wrote:
If Mariah and John recored said songs, then they are MARIAH AND JOHNS SONGS! When Beyonce was sued for the same thing, the suit was against her. Not the producer or the person who brought the music to the table…once YOU record a song and it drops on YOUR album, the song belongs to YOU!
melissa
On Apr 14, 2008 at 1:00 pm | Reply | QuoteI really don’t believe this. I understand that this stuff happens, but seriously, why in the world would someone that has been around for 20 years like Mariah Carey, and writes her own music, and has for ever, steal someone else’s song? They have nothing to gain from that, especially being in the bus. for as long as she has been, she knows ALL the rules and consequences for something like this and she would NEVER allow this to happen. So even if it is true, Mariah I’m sure 150% knew nothing about this, and I will never sign a petition to put her in jail!
Numero Uno
On Apr 14, 2008 at 1:02 pm | Reply | Quotehow is she asking people to sign a petition without posting the songs so we can judge if this is even true? who has time to go back and forth reading this, emailing her, her sending the songs, listening, deciding if we want to jump on the petition, then going somewhere else to sign….TOO MUCH!! just typing all the steps was TOO MUCH!! i don’t think this will go far. she started off wrong.
Dominique=[♥]
On Apr 14, 2008 at 1:33 pm | Reply | QuoteMy fault…but its not all that serious.lol
sdedee
On Apr 14, 2008 at 2:59 pm | Reply | QuoteThere should be jail time because this crap keeps happening. Folks feel like they have enough money to pay the peasants off and make millions(if not on the song, on the concerts that they do based on the strength of the song). I dont know what happened in this case but this is not a strange event. I’m still waiting to hear who’s the Diva that doesn’t do most of the singing on her CDs!!!!!!!!!!
sick
On Apr 14, 2008 at 4:07 pm | Reply | QuoteI hope she gets her dough. All she has to do is show and prove the copy right is only part of the formality the other part is the recording it self. If you can prove when you recorded/wrote the song SUE; they would probably rather settle than get caught up especially since these recordings will generate big hits. SUE, SUE, SUE,. It worked for me.
P_Luvs_B
On Apr 14, 2008 at 4:20 pm | Reply | QuoteIt happens! But are JL and Mariah guilty…don’t know however, if they are, pay the lady!!! You can’t go around copping shyt as your own; famous, talented or not!
nekab
On Apr 14, 2008 at 4:26 pm | Reply | Quote????????
Librettist
On Apr 14, 2008 at 5:38 pm | Reply | QuoteWell I also listened to John Legend’s PDA and Jeanine’s Take Me With You and to be honest I didn’t think they sounded alike either. But then I began to sing Jeanine’s song over John Legends and for those of you who are musicians and have a good ear there were some similarities in the melodic structure of the two songs. I do not believe such artists as Mariah and John Legend would intentionally steal someone elses work but the people who presented this song to him definitly may have been on something sneaky…whether they took her songs and reworked it or used it for inspiration….either way artists are sensitive about their work and do not want to ripped from them.
Lex
On Apr 14, 2008 at 6:40 pm | Reply | QuoteGirl gone…Even if this is slightly true, you’re talking to the wrong people…*yawns*
CanURead?
On Apr 14, 2008 at 7:35 pm | Reply | QuoteHELLO? wrote:
Both of yall need to GO BACK AND READ the post and you will KNOW that her material IS copyrighted. The “Grammy nominated songwriter” did copyright her material and it was still stolen! Please READ before you try to talk sh*t. Did you read first? A Smart Person would know how to get that done.
TwangMaster
On Apr 14, 2008 at 8:06 pm | Reply | QuoteI help Jeanine write “thanx 4 nothin” a few years ago. We work on it until the sun came up in my freezing cold studio with a hot plate of boiling water to keep us warm and focused.
When she told me I didn’t believe her at first until heard it…
People we got ripped all the way off.
They updated the drums and replaced my Live guitar with a cheap sounding r&B “keyboard guitar” the title and the concept is ours.
To hell with flattery.. it don’t pay the bills. I get offended when the main stream ripps off the little people because they got lots of lawyer.
We got lawyer too.
REPARATIONS NOW!!!
GLICIOUS
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:03 pm | Reply | QuoteNEW MARIAH!
APRIL 15TH=
E=MC2
GO GET THE ALBUM!!!!
OKAY…
MARIAH HAS BEEN WRITING HER OWN MUSIC SINCE SHE CAME OUT IN 90….AND WAY BEFORE THAT WHEN SHE WASN’T FAMOUS…
SHES SO PUBLIC WITH THE FACT THAT SHE WRITES HER OWN MUSIC, WHY WOULD SHE EVEN PUT HERSELF OUT THERE LIKE THAT!?
BITCH IS JUST TRYNA THROW SOMETHING OUT THERE RIGHT BEFORE MARIAH’S NEW CD COMES OUT…
BESIDES…THIS AINT THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE TRIED TO PIN THIS SHIT ON MC…AND SHE WON THE CASE EVERYTIME!
MAYBE SHES FRIENDS WITH MADONNA OR SOMETHING LOL!
WAIT TILL MARIAH GETS HER LAWYERS…THIS BITCH IS DONE LOL
Jesse
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:05 pm | Reply | QuoteBitch stop accusing Mimi of stealing ur songs because no one has ever heard of you. She has been writing all of her own songs since her first album came out and every single of mimi’s 18 # 1 singles have been written by her excpt for 1 song. so stop making up stories because no one has ever heard of you. You stupid bitch
Jessica
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:16 pm | Reply | QuoteWell, John Legend’s song was released long time ago. Why is she making such a big deal now?
lalita
On Apr 14, 2008 at 9:24 pm | Reply | Quoteum a petition is good and ol but she really doesn’t need it. there ae enough laws protecting IP rights and if she can prove she had copyright and the material was straight up jacked, there are varous remedies avaiable to her!
a-lyricist
On Apr 14, 2008 at 10:44 pm | Reply | QuoteI’m a singer and songwriter, and personally, I believe this story has some truth to it. Even when a song is copywritten, artists and songwriters under the radar, or those with less fame and notoriety than people like MC and John Legend can be ripped off much more easily because the “stars” have the record deal, the money and more resources. The fact is, just because you are good singer and performer does NOT mean you can write hit songs–even Clive Davis knows this. He encourages his artists to mainly be performers. Mariah didn’t even write most of her hits–that’s factual. So a post that states that once a song is released on an album it belongs to the artist is totally false! Read people, read! Artists have been getting jacked for their ideas for a long time–from Ray Charles to Little Richard! But I hope if there’s any truth to this, that this writer gets her due–monetarily. I think jail time is a little severe.
CanURead?
On Apr 15, 2008 at 10:19 am | Reply | Quotedang on dummies wrote:
Clearly, you are the dummy. Once a song drops on someones albun doenst make it theirs. It still belongs to the writer nad the singer has to PAY the writer and have their name on the credits as writing the song. Do you buy CDs or are all of your bootlegs? Do you read the inside of the CD booklet? If you did, you would know who wrote nad produced each song. The singer is only the singer…thats it! It isnt their song! Come on dumb people…get it together.
sfsinger
On Apr 16, 2008 at 1:22 am | Reply | QuoteIt is very difficult and expensive to go to court over a songwriting copyright case. The major label artist will have unlimited funds for representation whereas the lesser known/unsigned songwriter most likely will not. Even Beyonce was claiming she wrote Irreplaceable for a minute there and we know she had to backtrack on that because Ne-Yo was a big enough artist by this time to correct her publicly. Imagine if he had been lesser-known? Also as a songwriter who is properly credited compensation can take 1-2 years before you get the royalty payments. The music business is like organized crime. Have you seen the youtube clip of the college student who played the garageband loop that Polow Da Don passed off as his beat for Usher’s current hit Love in the Club? There are people that try to take advantage but usually it’s someone in a position of power who’s stealing/claiming material that didn’t originate from them. The white British rock groups used to do it to the Black American blues and early rock artists so this has been going on for quite some time.
Noria
On Apr 18, 2008 at 6:23 pm | Reply | QuoteWell, I went to her site and listened to the song John Legend supposely copied and I personally couldn’t hear any similarity. True or not, she’s going to have a hard time backing this stuff up.
C
On Apr 20, 2008 at 3:57 am | Reply | QuoteYall the law is the law.. I own a copywright myself and and I DARE the celeb that wants to take my shiznit and use it.. When you work hard on anything and get a copywright IT IS THE LAW they are breaking.. and it is some bull to just let them get away with it. Some of yall act like you have no knowledge of copywright laws. This young lady can sue the hell outta these artist with the right lawyer and win but she has to prove her case in court. I dont know about jail time but I think that artist that do this should have HEFTY FINES and I mean HEFTY!! I wanna hear the songs this chick says were lifted because I have heard some of these cases where people claim their songs were lifted and the song sounds nothing like their song..I am not signing a petition without hearing the songs..
NO REALLY LISTEN
On Apr 23, 2008 at 2:17 pm | Reply | QuoteOkay I have seen this artist in NYC and I own a copy of Julius and Ann’s Daughter. I know that song very well. I was not familar with John Legends song and quite honestly I thought she might have been exaggerating based on the posts up here. But I found it online and as soon as I started listening to it I started getting angry. THATS JEANINES SONG!!!! listen to the words how he sings them the words he repeats and when he repeats them. Im sure there are some musical terms for those things but I dont know them. I do know that the songs are alike. read the lyrics or something. sing both songs youll see.