The latest controversy surrounding BLACKPINK’s Rosé’s song “APT.” has emerged from Japan, where claims of plagiarism have surfaced. While some argue there are similarities to Miku Sawai’s 2013 track “Sorry, I Can’t Be a Good Child,” industry insiders suggest the similarities are minimal and rooted in widely used chord progressions, making the allegations seem unfounded.
Critics have pointed out that the chorus of Rosé’s “APT.” at the 32-second mark shares similarities with the melody of Sawai’s song starting at the 41-second mark. Although some listeners might notice these resemblances, music experts emphasize that the chord progressions are common in the industry, complicating any claims of plagiarism.
Moreover, similar chord progressions can also be found in popular songs like Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” (2008) and One Direction’s “Night Changes” (2014), as well as tracks from groups like IVE and Baby Monster.
A music industry source told Ten Asia that the key factor in determining plagiarism is whether a song has a unique progression, adding that “APT.” has distinct characteristics apart from a few similarities. They also noted that many legal precedents exist where plagiarism is not recognized due to genre similarities.
Furthermore, the source suggested that the allegations might stem from jealousy due to Rosé’s global success, highlighting that the claims originated from Japanese online communities. They referenced the previous plagiarism accusations against Psy’s “Gangnam Style” during its massive success, indicating this situation could be a continuation of that trend, describing it as an unreasonable controversy.
Source: Daum
