We may as well pair it with that scene from Django Unchained and see if anyone notices the difference. Robbie Williams’s song “Forbidden Road,” which was written and recorded for his upcoming chimpanzee-protagonist (yup) biopic, Better Man, has been removed from the Oscars Best Original Song shortlist due to bearing far too close a resemblance to the 1973 Jim Croce standard “I Got a Name.” Rolling Stone reports that the song, which was previously one of 15 contenders for the award, was disqualified for incorporating “material from an existing song that was not written” for Better Man. (Your chances just became stronger, Diane Warren.) An Academy representative confirmed the tune was, indeed, “I Got a Name,” by Croce. “This is a decision that both honors our rules and protects the special nature of the Original Song and Score categories,” a letter addressing the matter reads. “Forbidden Road,” released last month, was co-written by Williams and two others. A statement at the time teased the song as a “heartfelt, acoustic-driven crescendo” and doesn’t credit Croce with an interpolation. Just kick back and listen for yourself:
Do those guitar chords sound a bit familiar? And the melody? And … yeah?
Somewhere in his mansion, Jimmy Page is sipping tea and having a laugh.
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