Court decision alleges similarities with ‘Mulheres’, the composition by Toninho Geraes, popularized by Martinho da Vila
The Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro (TJ-RJ) ordered the immediate suspension of the performance, distribution and commercialization of the song Million Years agoby British singer Adelein Brazil. The decision, issued by the 6th Business Court of the Capital, responds to a lawsuit filed by the composer Toninho Geraesauthor of Womena song made famous by Martinho da Vila.
The judge Victor Agustin Cunha Jaccoud Diz Torres pointed out signs of “almost complete melodic consonance” between the two songs, reinforced by technical analysis and overlapping of melodies. According to the decision, Million Years ago It can only be used with the express authorization of Toninho Geraes, and any non-compliance will be penalized with a fine of R$50,000 per infraction.
The case began to gain prominence in 2020, when the son of the arranger Women, Rildo Horaheard Adele’s song at a party and identified similarities. From this, extrajudicial notifications were sent to the singer, the producer Greg Kurstin and to the record companies Sony Music and XL Recordings/Beggars Group, detailing that 87% of the composition presented sections identical or substantially similar to Women.
According to the records, Geraes claims that the introduction, chorus and ending of the song were directly inspired by his work, with 88 measures identified as reproductions or adaptations of the original melody. The song was released in 2015 as part of the album 25 by Adele, but the controversy only took legal form in February 2024, with the beginning of the legal process.
Geraes asks for compensation of R$1 million, in addition to corrected copyrights and interest on the amounts collected from the song. Adele’s representatives, including her record labels in Brazil, Sony Music and Universal, stated that they have no direct involvement in the case and denied any wrongdoing.
Geraes’ lawyer, Fredimio Biasotto Trottacelebrated the decision, classifying it as a “historic victory for Brazilian music”. The court decision is provisional and can still be appealed, but platforms such as Spotify, Deezer and YouTube have already been notified to withdraw Million Years ago of its catalogs in Brazil.
The case continues to be processed in court, and further developments are expected to occur in the coming weeks. To date, Adele and Greg Kurstin have not spoken publicly about the lawsuit.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
