Lady Gaga is being accused of stealing “Shallow” by an unknown songwriter who is threatening her with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, according to Page Six. But Gaga is slamming the claims, calling the lawsuit “shameful and wrong.”
Songwriter Steve Ronsen has accused Gaga of copying the hook of the A Star Is Born duet from his song “Almost.” Page Six reported that the songwriter is looking for “millions and millions” in a settlement over the three-note progression, which he claims he originally wrote.
In a statement, Ronsen’s attorney Mark D. Shirian said that he and his client attempted to “amicably resolve” this matter by providing “an official report from a renowned and respected musicologist and professor who determined that there are significant tempo, melodic, rhythmic and harmonic similarities between the two ‘hooks’ of the songs at issue. Lady Gaga’s team has yet to provide my office with an opposing musicologist report, which we have requested multiple times.”
However, Gaga’s attorney Orin Snyder claims Ronsen and his lawyer “are trying to make easy money off the back of a successful artist. It is shameful and wrong,” according to Page Six. Snyder states that the “Shallow” hook has been used in musical pieces “dating back centuries” and can also be heard in popular songs such as Kansas’ “Dust In The Wind” from 1978.
“I applaud Lady Gaga for having the courage and integrity to stand up on behalf of successful artists who find themselves on the receiving end of such [claims],” Snyder continued in his statement. “Should Mr. Shirian proceed with this case, Lady Gaga will fight it vigorously and will prevail.”