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Elvis Costello on Not Suing Olivia Rodrigo Over ‘Brutal’: ‘It Would Be Ludicrous’


Elvis Costello has once again explained why he didn’t get litigious over similarities between his 'Pump It Up' and Olivia Rodrigo’s 'Brutal.'

When “Brutal” first arrived as the opening track on Rodrigo’s Sour back in 2021, listeners were quick to note how similar the single’s chord structure was to Costello’s 1978 hit. In a new interview with Vanity Fair three years after the release of “Brutal,” Costello was again asked about keeping lawyers out of the situation (and missing out on potentially millions in royalties). Other artists weren’t as passive when it comes to Rodrigo’s music, with the singer retroactively crediting Taylor Swift and Paramore on her songs “Deja Vu” and “Good 4 U,” respectively.

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