Oddly enough the song always reminded me of the 80s song Micky.



'70s band sues Lavigne over "Girlfriend"
Thu Jul 5, 2007
By Larry LeBlanc

TORONTO (Billboard) - Avril Lavigne is being sued by two songwriters who claim that her hit "Girlfriend" sounds like a track their American power pop band recorded in the '70s.

Tommy Dunbar, the founder of the Rubinoos, filed the suit in California's Northern Federal District Court in San Francisco on July 2. The suit alleges that "Girlfriend" bears striking similarities to the Rubinoos' song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," co-written by Dunbar and former Rubinoos' road manager James Gangwer, and released by Beserkley Records in 1978.

The lawsuit also names as defendants Lavigne's publishing company, Avril Lavigne Publishing, and the co-writer of "Girlfriend," producer/remixer Dr. Luke.

Dunbar and Jon Rubin formed the Rubinoos as middle school students in Berkeley, Calif., in 1973. The band is best known for its 1977 remake of the Tommy James and the Shondells' hit, "I Think We're Alone Now," which reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Lavigne's Vancouver-based manager, Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk Music Group, claims the suit "has no basis. There's nothing similar (between the two songs)," he said. "Our musicologist says there (are) no similarities of melody, choral progression or meter."

McBride, however, might settle the suit out of court if the costs of defending the case start to prove too high. He said, "You are forced to consider doing this because American lawyers can do these cases on contingency. If I defend and win, it costs me $300,000 U.S. If I go to get my costs back, the other party declares bankruptcy. You end up footing the bill."

McBride added, "Avril has insurance that covers off these sort of suits that are so prevalent in this business."

Reuters/Billboard


© Reuters 2006. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

Reuters journalists are subject to the Reuters Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.

was posted about before

Hey like I was being punk. I am wearing a skull tee shirt, with a cigarette hanging out my mouth, and giving the screen the bird. Like whatever! And all other “hardcore” punk phrases.

Seriously, sorry I didn’t see a thread about this