Rafael Bittencourt is responsible for the technical analysis that highlights the similarities between “Million Years Ago” and “Mulheres”, by Toninho Geraes
The report reinforces accusations of plagiarism
Rafael Bittencourt, guitarist of the group Angra, has prepared a technical report to support the accusation that the song “Million Years Ago”, by Adele, is plagiarism of the samba “Mulheres”, by Toninho Geraes, made popular with Martinho’s voice from Vila. Commissioned by Geraes’ lawyer, Deborah Sztajnberg, the document details the melodic, rhythmic and harmonic similarities between the songs.
“There are too many coincidences for everything to be anything more than pure coincidence,” Bittencourt said in an interview with O Globo, explaining that the musical layers of both works can be performed together without compromising the harmony. He used a visual analogy to describe the similarity: “What are the chances that two people, all over the world, would draw basically the same train with different textures and colors?”
The court’s decision and Adele’s defense
In a preliminary ruling, Judge Victor Torres ordered a stay of performance of “Million Years Ago” in physical and digital media. According to the judge, the superposition of the recordings of the songs revealed “an almost complete melodic consonance”.
The defense of Adele and her Brazilian publisher, Universal Music Publishing, argued that the similarities arise from the use of a common harmonic progression, widely known since the Baroque period. Bittencourt countered, calling the argument a “desperate attempt” to justify an almost exact coincidence.
Impact on the case and possible consequences
Case manager Deborah Sztajnberg praised the report for its didactic approach and stressed that the document could have a “brutal impact” on the progress of the trial. The lawyer explained that the action requires the removal of “Million Years Ago” from all platforms, as well as banning Adele from performing it live. It also requests a minimum compensation of R$ 1 million and the proportional redistribution of royalties collected starting from 2015.
Sztajnberg also stressed that Bittencourt’s choice was based on criteria such as international recognition and solid technical training, as well as distancing himself from samba to avoid accusations of bias. According to her, the musician gave further credibility to the case, helping to demonstrate how musicians can unconsciously reproduce existing ideas.
The dispute attracts international attention
The lawyer will attend a copyright conference in Dubai this week, where he will detail the trial involving Adele and Toninho Geraes. She plans to address the impact of the injunction that banned “Million Years Ago” and which she says continues to be violated. The case is expected to strengthen the global debate on plagiarism and copyright in the music industry.
Source: Terra
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.
