Crush Accused of Plagiarizing Eric Bellinger’s “Awkward” in New Track “Oasis”

[theemii.livejournal.com]

Crush‘s new song “Oasis” has been criticized as being overly similar to hip hop artist Eric Bellinger‘s “Awkward,” not only by netizens but also by one of Korea’s top hip hop music critics.

Crush’s “Oasis” was released on July 9 along with a music video that has now reached almost a million views on YouTube. On July 15, editor of the hip hop magazine “Rhythmer” Kang Il Kwon took to his Twitter to comment on what he sees as the similarities between Crush’s song and “Awkward” by Eric Bellinger.


“Thanks to the ‘Show Me the Money’ lyrics controversy, it’s gone under the radar that Crush’s ‘Oasis’ copies American R&B musician Eric Bellinger’s ‘Awkward’ to the point that it’s practically a translated version of the song,” says Kang Il Kwon.

“I can’t use the term ‘plagiarism’ because there has not been a legal ruling made after a lawsuit from the original copyright holder,” he adds.

“Right now in the Korean popular music industry, there are too many musicians who are addicted to copying that is done under the mask of referencing,” he says. “There are even those who don’t know that this is wrong.”

Many netizens who listened to the two songs also agreed. They’ve posted comments such as, “It’s to the point that you could call it a translated song,” and “The two songs are similar down to their chord progression.” However, others have said “The feeling in the beginning is the only thing that’s the same, the rest is different,” and “Four bars have to be the same for it to be plagiarism, but they’re not in this case.”

On a video that compares the two songs, another netizen has written, “I’m very disappointed because it seems almost totally the same, from its BPM [Beats Per Minute] down to its chords.”

“Oasis” was composed and arranged by Crush and the production team Stay Tuned. The song also features Block B‘s Zico, who helped write the lyrics.

Article: [Exclusive] Crush's 'Oasis' under plagiarism suspicions "practically a remake"

Source: Kukmin Ilbo via Naver

with Eric Bellinger's Awkward

1. [+2,654, -72] Ehhh????? The song's plagiarized? If it's on par with a remake, that's too far

2. [+2,609, -64] If he copied it, he copied it. It doesn't matter to what extent.

3. [+2,400, -56] This has been in the buzz for a few days now but it's been kept quiet for some reason.. finally an article's up;; anyway, the plagiarism is undeniable

4. [+1,814, -55] I took a listen and even I suspected it of plagiarism

5. [+1,387, -868] Just a reminder that these are just suspicions for now, it hasn't been ruled as plagiarism yet

6. [+439, -13] tsk tsk.. Amoeba still hasn't woken up yet.. from Plagiarmary to Crush now?

7. [+424, -13] So embarrassed of plagiarizing composers... honestly an embarrassment to Korea. Can't there be a rule that kicks composers from releasing songs if they have three counts of plagiarism? Even if not a ban, at least a ban from releasing songs for a few years or a limit on how many they can release in a time period.

8. [+420, -10] I know nothing about music and it's undeniable to me. Crush needs to clarify this...

9. [+400, -9] There's a video of the two songs compared side by side and I didn't even know a new song had started because it flowed so naturally..

10. [+338, -9] It's totally the same ㅋㅋ better not call it an homage


source: Soompi naver & Netizenbuzz & Kim David

Comments

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

Only the chords and the key are the same, and that's only for the chorus. The chords don't even follow the same rhythm.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

umm oh dear
not you babyboo
it sounds yeah.

[seroquels.livejournal.com]

They sound similar, but a lot of songs from the same genre sound similar.
But I can see why ppl are calling it plagiarized tho :(((( I really hope not.

[lily-of-west.livejournal.com]

Those songs sound exactly the same. I hope he bought the rights cause if not...yikes

[musicnkisses.livejournal.com]

Dead at netizen 7, what a waste of tax players' money if such a law was ever considered.

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

lol i love how it says give them 3 chances... what

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

lol it's rly similar. don't see how they can lie their way out of this one

imo the song is mediocre, no idea why it topped charts in the first place.

[jaelissi.livejournal.com]

Not you again too, Amoeba Culture! The songs do sound exactly the same. They could have at least tried to hide it a little better.

Kpop is just determined to ruin my week, I see.

[kanghodong.livejournal.com]

"Plagiarmary"

... lol

[woohyun.livejournal.com]

is that a real word?

[dickslikejesus.livejournal.com]

It's making fun of Primary

[woohyun.livejournal.com]

oh lmao i didnt even get that...shame on me

[tree-star123.livejournal.com]

lol oop

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

i usually have to strain to hear similarities when these accusations come up. but i heard this right away.

you in danger, crush.

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

It's not even the first time he's done this. Want to see how he tries to weasel his way out of this one.

[leighbee333.livejournal.com]

What was the other time?

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

&

[lily-of-west.livejournal.com]

Really now????? SMH at him and his company allowing bs like this.

[pumpkinskin.livejournal.com]

Does his company still think Korea is in the 90s and no one pays attention to their music industry?

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

More like if they think he's a nugu, everyone else must think so as well and they'd be able to get away with this crap.

[leighbee333.livejournal.com]

ty!

Wow.

One of the commenters on Crush's video is like, "It's just sampling!!1!" lol

[ababobaby.livejournal.com]

eeeeeek eric's songs are so nice tho

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

Oh boy he did ti again.

I like him with Zion T tho.

[horichansenpai.livejournal.com]

Album cover on the right is so fitting for this situation lol

[time.livejournal.com]

lol

[canxi.livejournal.com]

Aw man. I feel like Oasis is just a faster, bassier version of the other song.

[missingmisnomer.livejournal.com]

Lol

[kyokomurasaki.livejournal.com]

Awkward is right.

[time.livejournal.com]

welp

[leighbee333.livejournal.com]

This does seem very, very similar, but I'm no plagiarism expert.

I like the sound of Eric Bellinger's track more too, but listening to it reminds me of how weak & lazy the lyrics are for most current American pop/R&B/hip-hop songs.

[staaan.livejournal.com]

this is so blatant lol

[10135.livejournal.com]

It sounds really similar but it's not similar enough to say it is a copy.

[lauha.livejournal.com]

They sound similar and he's done it before so it wouldn't surprise me.

I feel like a lot of Korean music is plagarised or at least trying to imitate other songs. I always hear stuff when I'm out and I think it's something else until the lyrics start. It's kinda amazing how they get away with it.