Considering recent copyright infringement-related cases against singers like Robin Thicke and Sam Smith, Miguel opted to give Smashing Pumpkins main man Billy Corgan a songwriting credit on his new Wildheart LP after realizing that the set's "Leaves" had a passing resemblance to the Pumpkins' old hit, "1979."
Miguel revealed in a recent interview that while "Leaves" is "kind of reminiscent of '1979,'" he didn't consciously lift the melody from the Smashing Pumpkins song, which appeared on 1995's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. But when all was said and done, the finished track felt a bit too familiar for the R&B artist to ignore.
"I was a fan of them growing up, but I never bought their albums or saw them live," Miguel told Australia's News.com.au, adding of the similarities, "It's weird how some things just sink in. Towards the end of the song when the drum programming kicks in it's even more reminiscent; you realize it in a more straight-on way."
Following the realization, Miguel and his team got in touch with Corgan to explain the situation. Bringing to mind the "1979" lyric "No apologies ever need be made," Corgan gave Miguel his full support. And with credit given to the Smashing Pumpkins leader, it's not like the original tune has been, ahem, "forgotten and absorbed."
"It's cool they were cool about everything," Miguel further explained. "It's all about respect. We're all standing on the shoulders of giants at this point."
You can compare and contrast the two tracks down below.
You can also read Exclaim!'s new Miguel cover story here.
Miguel revealed in a recent interview that while "Leaves" is "kind of reminiscent of '1979,'" he didn't consciously lift the melody from the Smashing Pumpkins song, which appeared on 1995's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. But when all was said and done, the finished track felt a bit too familiar for the R&B artist to ignore.
"I was a fan of them growing up, but I never bought their albums or saw them live," Miguel told Australia's News.com.au, adding of the similarities, "It's weird how some things just sink in. Towards the end of the song when the drum programming kicks in it's even more reminiscent; you realize it in a more straight-on way."
Following the realization, Miguel and his team got in touch with Corgan to explain the situation. Bringing to mind the "1979" lyric "No apologies ever need be made," Corgan gave Miguel his full support. And with credit given to the Smashing Pumpkins leader, it's not like the original tune has been, ahem, "forgotten and absorbed."
"It's cool they were cool about everything," Miguel further explained. "It's all about respect. We're all standing on the shoulders of giants at this point."
You can compare and contrast the two tracks down below.
You can also read Exclaim!'s new Miguel cover story here.