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Sour note silences Expo song
2010. 19 April
A promotional song for the Shanghai World Expo has been hit by the sound of silence because of a copycat row.
(thestandard.com.hk)
The heavily promoted Right Here Waiting For You in 2010 - recorded by Hong Kong artists including Jackie Chan Kong-sang and Andy Lau Tak-wah and mainland stars - has been put on hold by Expo organizers amid claims it was copied from a 1996 Japanese song.
The ditty was credited to prominent composer Miao Sen, a graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. It won in a competition in 2004.
But to many ears, it sounds much like a Japanese song - literally translated as The Unchanged You Is The Best - written by female Japanese pop singer Mayo Okamoto.
Expo organizers confirmed in an official bulletin that they have stopped using the song as the theme since Saturday as a precautionary step since there is a grave concern about copyright.
They noted that the song was based on an entry submitted in an open competition six years ago and was rated highly.
Composer Miao signed an agreement with the World Expo on use of the song, which included the claim it was an original work.
According to the official statement from the World Expo - opening on May 1 and running until October 31 - an investigation into the allegation of plagiarism is under way.
But music fans around the world are already making themselves heard on the issue after the Japanese song was widely uploaded from the internet for people to make comparisons.
It's been pointed out that similarities between the songs include melody and structure, and both start with a chorus rather than more usual openings.
Renowned composer Yan Yu Tian, after listening to both songs, was quoted as saying they are 97 percent alike.
The Hong Kong Performing Artists Guild was unavailable for comment.
On one online discussion forum, a netizen who defended China wrote: "Too bad that they didn't find out about the 'sound-alike' issue earlier, before all the investment ... Maybe they can update the arrangement of this song to a 2010 version."
But a person writing in Chinese said: "The one who composed the song Right Here Waiting For You In 2010 should be executed."
There were also angry high notes in Japanese.
"China is so corrupted," said one person. "Shame on China," said another.
Source: www.thestandard.com.hk