Is Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up” a rip off of an Icelandic song called “Soknudur?”
You be the judge!
Josh Groban’s song, “You Raise Me Up,” has been pegged for a legal battle by an Icelandic singer who says the hit was ripped from his work.
The publishing company for Johann Helgason, just filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group, Warner Music and Spotify. According to the docs, Helgason says he wrote “Soknudur” in 1977 which is allegedly hugely popular at Icelandic funerals.
Helgason claims, Norwegian musician Rolf Loveland went to Iceland and was mesmerized by “Soknudur” and penned his song called “You Raise Me Up” which he dropped in 2001.
Fast forward to 2003 — when Groban released his massive hit — selling 6 million copies in the U.S. alone. Helgason doesn’t name Groban as a defendant in the lawsuit — but he calls the tune a blatant ripoff — to his credit, it does sound VERY similar.
Helgason is asking for unspecified damages and for “You Raise Me Up” to stop being played.