6 Times Kpop Did Plagiarism Right

(And the one time it didn't.)

1. Lady Gaga - Telephone feat. Beyonce plagiarized by... CO-ED SCHOOL

Lady Gaga was absolutely on fire in 2010, and it was only a matter of time before she became an international influence. Be that as it may, CO-ED SCHOOL may have felt a little too inspired after hearing "Telephone." You may recognize "Bbiribbom Bbaeribom" from their viral MR removed of the song. Or, you may recognize Chanmi of Produce 101 fame. Less than likely, you do recognize CO-ED SCHOOL for being a sibling group of The Collective's official mascots, the criminally underrated Gangkiz.

Aesthetically, "Telephone" and "Bbiribbom Bbaeribom" are not too far off: one is a colorful, arthouse film about using music as an escape from an unjust society and the other is Lady Gaga's "Telephone." But, let's not mince words here: the "Bbiribbom Bbaeribom" video is ableist, but CO-ED SCHOOL did not profit off exploiting mental illness or grey-area plagiarism laws, as they probably still have no money to this day.


2. Aly & AJ - The Potential Breakup Song plagiarized by.... Tahiti

Aly & AJ were robbed in 2008 when their album Insomniatic lost Best Album to some act that had no cultural or spiritual impact whatsoever, unlike these sisters' cult classic album that saved most of the world. Can we really blame Tahiti for picking up on "Potential Breakup Song"'s potential as a massive hit? No, but we can blame their producer! Their company takes an apologetic stance on the issue through a YouTube comment: "Thank you for your support. We'll show you a better activity," and Tahiti's lack of public recognition may have saved them this time. As Merwane Djidel puts it, "I remember when this song was out i was like they will be big ...... Here we are nearly 2yrs latter! They are even less famous then before!"

"Potential Breakup Song" is a song about ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas (while "Flattery" seems to be another). As the myth goes, AJ mailed Joe a piece of birthday cake after he forgot her birthday, and "Potential Breakup Song" is just as sassy as that anecdote. "Love Sick," however, capitalizes on the darker undertone of the song. It is more dangerous, sexier, and still brimming with attitude: "Even if you run, you’re still in the palm of my hand/I don’t like you." (eng source)

3. Britney Spears - Do Somethin' plagarized by... Lee Hyori

Hyori's plagiarism scandal is probably the most notorious, partly because it is so blatant, and partly because of the way Hyori handled it: after the public brought it to attention, she immediately stopped her promotion of "Get Ya" as a single. And she continues to prove herself as a person of morals; she is an avid animal rights activist and consistently releases songs about acceptance and womanhood. We truly loved Hyori up until 2017.

Britney and Hyori are easy to compare: they are both breathy, sexy soloists that previously went through a more family-friendly phase (Britney as a purity-ring-wearing child star and Hyori as a girl group member). As a Britney stan for most of my natural born life, "Do Somethin'" is one of my favorite singles from her, because it captures the transformation of her image from innocent to misfit in a really fun way. As for Hyori, "Get Ya" is great as a follow-up to "10 Minutes," but it does not sound like what we know today as a typical Kpop hook song. Both "Do Somethin'" and "Get Ya" charted low and never reach their full possibility. It was a sad day in pop music.

4. Taylor Swift - Shake it Off plagiarized by... BLADY

"Secret Number" was directed by Blady themselves, making it an automatic feminist smash summer hit. It takes place in a strange land with no other people, only mannequins. Blady uses Plato's Theory of Forms to make commentary on society's unrealistic standards for women. Meanwhile, the lyrics talk of a secret that a code is needed to open your heart. Blady trades in Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off" attitude for a loving, welcoming vibe "Our love, pretty love, please come true/I pray to Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon, Mr. Star." Truly, an utter masterpiece, and I have no more words. (eng source)

Learn more about cute girl groups we recently fell in love with, click here.

6. Katy Perry - California Girls plagiarized by... Kiss Me Five

(No, this is no Kpop. But yes, it is probably plagiarism.) While I have never been a personal fan of Perry, "California Girls" is her stand-out for me. It has a soft, retro feel, mixed with Perry's signature bawdy lyrics and aesthetics. However, Kiss Me Five do something with it that Perry could never pull off: they make it delicate and sensitive; it is a long, immersive song that splashes you with a Sunday-morning, happy feeling. "Morning Kiss" is not only is it my favorite Kiss Me Five songs but one of my top Tpop girl group songs in general.

And the one time it didn't:

1.

Let's just be honest here. It didn't age well :/