Glee has had some controversy in its time, but while before it was the show upsetting the right wingers with its opinions on sexuality; it’s now the world of music that is calling for the show’s head after the show has shamelessly stolen a track for use on the show without crediting the original singer in any way.
Glee has become known over the years for its inventive covers and incredibly perky attitude. While the second was still in attendance, maybe that originality isn’t quite what it was cracked up to be. This comes off the back of the last episode aired in America featuring a cover of Sir Mixalot’s 1980’s famous rap song Baby Got Back was actually not as much inspired by a cover already done, but simply that performance itself used.
Performed by singer Jonathan Coulton for his 2006 album Thing A Week One, this new version of the rap track was completely different to any other arrangement seen before or since, making it a banjo backed folk track. Now, over six years later, the same banjo based arrangement raises its head on Glee.
Was Coulton contacted about the use of his version? No. Was he credited at all? No. Was anything changed? Just the vocal. They didn’t even bother re-playing the new arrangement, simply lifting it wholesale. Even down to the inclusion of a quacking duck in the song.
The worst thing of all though is that not only are they using his arrangement uncredited and without asking, but were also selling ‘their’ version of the song without a mention of Coulton’s name or a penny going in to his pocket.
The only reason this has come to light it because he was alerted to it by a member of the massive online following the artist has gotten due to his work on the extremely popular videogame series Portal. Obviously, he wasn’t best pleased.
When he contacted Fox about the incident though, their response has been staggering; with the broadcaster simply saying that Coulton should be grateful for the exposure. Despite the fact they don’t credit him at all.
Coulton’s public dealings with Fox has highlighted an issue that has suddenly become bigger, with singer Greg Laswell also having claimed back in 2011 that the show used his arrangement of Girls Just Want To Have Fun without credit and DJ Earworm now saying that the Glee cover of I Believe I Can Fly was more than just a little inspired by his.
A quick listen to each of the examples gives massive credence to all of the claims and makes you wonder quite how many online artists the show has taken advantage of. How many thousands of dollars are in some small way owed to the singers who’ve had the creative vision to start with?
Fox’s utter disregard for these small artists is truly something to cry murder about. This is a massive broadcaster, one that has the power to make a musician if they involve them in their TV shows and simply a small credit could make a career.
For a show all about embracing creativity and making everyone feel equal, this is a massive piece of hypocrisy and something that Ryan Murphy and his creative team really need to come clean about.
Tagged in TV Glee Ryan Murphy