Netizens are discussing a recent debate concerning NewJeans' "Bubble Gum."
On an online forum, discussions have erupted after a YouTube video drew parallels between "Bubble Gum" and the 1980s track "Easier Said Than Done" by British jazz-funk band Shakatak, still active today. The post, titled "Is this a plagiarism by NewJeans?" highlighted similarities between the compositions by 250 and others, and Shakatak's track by Bill Sharpe & Roger Odell.
The video has since garnered over 85,000 views and sparked thousands of comments.
Defenders of the song argue that sampling is a common practice in the music industry, noting that beats and samples can be legally acquired. Some suggest that "Bubble Gum" might have legally sampled the well-known Shakatak song, which itself has been used in multiple tracks, including Japanese commercials.
While ADOR has not yet confirmed whether "Bubble Gum" involves a licensed sample from "Easier Said Than Done," supporters insist that legally purchased samples do not require crediting the original artists. It's also reported that the Shakatak track has been sampled in about 20 other songs.
The Korean media's coverage of this controversy has since been retracted.
Discussion comments range from anticipation of an official release and statement to frustrations over misinterpretations of sampling laws:
"The song 'Bubble Gum' isn't even out on music platforms"
"So they haven't issued an official statement yet?"
"I wonder if this is corporate's way of trying to take down Min Hee Jin even more"
"The journalist who has written this article also wrote so many other articles talking about how Min Hee Jin said 'BTS "copied" her'...oh god"
"I'm so frustrated because once the sampling is cleared then there's no need to credit the owner of the original copyright, no?"
"So, it's like a remake?"
"There was a time when ATEEZ's producer EDEN had to post a message saying how their song "Dancing Like Butterfly Wings" used the same sample as PENTAGON's "Genius." But those samples were all legally purchased so it didn't matter..."
"It's too similar, ADOR will probably make a statement, right? Usually, ADOR is pretty clear about their position on such matters. But if it's just a reference, that would be a bit ridiculous since other groups get severely criticized for using references"
"I guess some people still don't understand the difference between sampling and plagiarism lol"
"ILLIT's 'Lucky Girl Syndrome' is also from sampling..."
Same beat same flow different lyrics. You be the judge. Sounds like plagiarism to me unless they sampled the original or paid the original to use their beat
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