Yellowcard Reckon Juice WRLD Stole One Of Their Long-Forgotten Songs, And Want $15M For It
Listen to a mash-up and judge for yourself.
Yellowcard, the violin-toting 2000s pop-punk heroes, were probably the last band you expected to see in the headlines circa 2019 – not least of all because they called it quits back in 2017. Even weirder is seeing their name paired with Juice WRLD, the emo-rap megastar who came out all guns sobbing in 2018 with his Sting-sampling hit ‘Lucid Dreams’. But here we are.
Just under a month before the rapper returns to Australia for SandTunes, news has broken that the former members of Yellowcard have collectively sued him due to perceived stylistic similarities between the aforementioned ‘Lucid Dreams’ and a song from the band’s repertoire.
You’d be forgiven for not knowing the song in question — it’s not ‘Ocean Avenue,’ nor ‘Only One,’ not even ‘Way Away.’ Instead, the band are alleging that Juice has copied “melodic elements” from ‘Holly Wood Died’, an album cut from their 2006 LP Lights & Sounds.
The following is lifted from the suit itself, so excuse the legalese: “The Infringing Work and Infringing Sound Recording directly misappropriates quantitatively and qualitatively important portions of Plaintiffs’ Original Work in a manner that is easily recognisable to the ordinary observer,” it reads. “The Infringing Work and Infringing Sound Recording are not only substantially similar to the Original Work, but in some places virtually identical.”
Now here’s where things get a little more… ahem, juicy: The band are seeking a whopping US$15 million in damages – not just for allegedly ripping off their song, but for the song serving as Juice’s ticket to the world.
“The overwhelming success of the Infringing Work and Infringing Sound Recording as set forth above has provided Defendants substantial opportunities to tour and perform around the world,” the suit continues.
So, what’s the case Yellowcard are making? Essentially it boils down to the fact that the main verse melody of ‘Holly Wood Died’ follows a similar cadence and descending melody to part of two verses in ‘Lucid Dreams.’ It’s transposed from Yellowcard’s C#m to Juice’s F#m, but the rhythmic pacing of the two do hold some common ground between them. $15 million’s worth? Not really, but it’s a nice try from Yellowcard all the same.
Bonus points to Yellowcard’s legal team, who have really gone to the effort of digging up dirt on Juice in order to substantiate their claims. Strap your tin-foils on for this one: The suit argues that because Juice claimed to discover emo in fifth grade aka 2006, aka the year Lights & Sounds was released. Therefore, the suit claims, he must have come across the Yellowcard album. The suit backs this up by noting Juice’s love of Fall Out Boy’s From Under the Cork Tree, which was produced by Neal Avron – who also produced Lights & Sounds.
How far down does this go? Well, that’s up for a jury to decide.
No comment from Juice WRLD or his representatives yet, but it’s safe to say neither side will be going down without a fight. For your consideration: ‘Holly Wood Died’ vs. ‘Lucid Dreams’, both played together and then separate.