I do like Robbie Willimas but have always loved listening to my old Francious Hardy records and everytime Robbie's new single comes on the radio I think it is going to be "Voila" by Francious Hardy.

The introduction is absolutely identical. Is this a breach of copyright? I don't know anything about the laws regarding composing.

Please listen to both songs and tell me if you agree.

I can definitely hear the similarities, especially at the start.

...and here was little ole me thinking Robbie's new song was the best he'd done since "Escapology"

The album credits for "You Know Me" by Robbie Williams have Francoise Hardy listed as one of the co-writers for the track.

So yep, seems he's quite open about the fact this track is "based on"/"inspired by" (or whatever the most appropriate term would be) Voila by Francoise Hardy.

He's probably learnt his lesson after he stole lyrics before:

http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-tr...4618733-1.html

Plus there is the whole Angels fiasco...

Interesting that in that other case he had already credited the original songwriter (as he has for this song) but was still sued because they hadn't reached an agreement on how the royalties would be split.

So maybe he could still get in to trouble again!

You would hope that he had learnt his lesson though.

I didn't realise that, thanks. I'm glad he didn't just pinch it.
I do actually like Robbie's new song as well even though it confuses me everytime I hear it when I keep expecting to hear Franciose' opening line singing "Voila...."

Williams' music has never had an ounce of originality anyway so I doubt it matters now.

Actually me saying he was "quite open" about it probably wasn't accurate - he might credit Franciose Hardy on the album as he kinda has to for legal reasons, but I don't suppose he's openly volunteering the fact that so much of this track was basically written by someone else.

Well if you want to go down that route then who is these days?

Even Lady GaGa (who the media adore) has taken a little bit from Bowie, Madonna and Mercury and put them in the mix to create her own music.

No one is original anymore.

I have probably heard the song you mentioned in the OP, because I knew I'd heard the opening of You Know Me somewhere...Just didn't know where.

I do too..

Let me entertain you = Pinball Wizard by the Who. The start is identical.

i'd never noticed that before, but it's true - they do sound alike.