A Brazilian judge has ordered the withdrawal from all streaming platforms of ‘Million Years Ago’, a 2015 song by Adele, for alleged plagiarism of the 1995 samba classic, ‘Mulheres’, written by Toninho Geraes and performed by Martinho da Vila. The lawsuit threatens Sony and Universal with a fine of $8,000 “per act of non-compliance.”
The preliminary court order, filed by Judge Victor Torres, orders that they “immediately and globally cease the use, reproduction, editing, distribution or marketing of the song ‘Million Years Ago’ through any means, physical or digital medium, streaming or exchange platform.
Toninho Geraes’ lawyer, Fredimio Trotta, reasons that ‘Mulheres’ is a “classic of Brazilian music that has been copied endlessly to compose international hits.” Geraes is claiming royalties, $160,000 in moral damages, and a songwriting credit on Adele’s song.
‘Million Years Ago’, included on Adele’s third album, ’25’, has been the subject of controversy in the past. In 2015, the similarity of ‘Million Years Ago’ with a Turkish song from 1985, ‘Acilara Tutunmak’ by Ahmet Kaya, therefore prior to ‘Mulheres’, generated debate on the internet. At the time, the Turkish music critic Naim Dilmener stated that he found it unlikely that Adele had intended to copy the aforementioned Turkish song: “It’s a melody that is easy for you to think of,” he said.
