"Uptown Funk" is one song that plays over and over again on you head, but for all the wrong grounds; this time around. The mega-hit by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars has already been in the platter thanks to some objections by '70s rap group The Sequence and their song "Funk You Up" and the song already has to share songwriting copywrite credits with The Gap Band over similarities to "Oops Upside Your Head."
Now, per Pitchfork, "Minneapolis electro-funk band" Collage has filed suit against Ronson and Mars claiming that the song is a copy of their song, "Young Girls." Pitchfork obtained a copy of the complaint, also noting that Ronson and Mars had mentioned the Minneapolis sound as an influence on "Uptown Funk":
Eighties Funk Group Collage Claims 2014 Smash Hits Rips Off Their 1983 Single "Young Girls"
Upon information and belief, many of the main instrumental attributes and themes of "Uptown Funk" are deliberately and clearly copied from "Young Girls," including, but not limited to, the distinct funky specifically noted and timed consistent guitar riffs present throughout the compositions, virtually if not identical bass notes and sequence, rhythm, structure, crescendo of horns and synthesizers rendering the compositions almost indistinguishable if played over each other and strikingly similar if played in consecutively.
"Trinidad James, Jeff Bhasker, Devon Gallaspy, Phillip Lawrence, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner/Chappell Music, Atlantic Records, RCA Records" are others listed in the suit consonant Pitchfork, filed by solely elite survivor Collage members Larry White and the estates of deceased members Grady Wilkins and Lee Peters. Ronson and Mars have no pinball issues on any statements on the suit yet, but we will keep you in touch when that happens.
The assert, which never went to court, argued that "Uptown Funk" shared staggering comparisons to the Gap Band's "Oops! Upside Your Head"; the chorus on both singles is cadence-wise identical. As a result, the Gap Band's Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, as well as two band members, were added as "Uptown Funk" songwriters.
