Earlier today we learned that Tom Petty was awarded songwriting credits and royalties from Sam Smith, alleging that the UK crooner’s massive hit “Stay With Me” borrowed heavily from Petty’s 1989 single “Won’t Back Down.”
There’s been a healthy debate this morning over the perceived similarities in the two songs, so we decided to do a quick overlay and see what the fuss is all about.
Listen to our mash-up below. Petty was slowed down, Smith was sped up.
Meanwhile, with Petty now cited with 12.5% songwriting and royalty credit on one of the biggest songs of 2014 — selling more than 4 million copies worldwide — we hope the two appear together at the Grammys next month. Smith, who is up for 6 total Grammys, including two for “Stay With Me,” is scheduled to perform live. Petty’s album with the Heartbreakers, Hypnotic Eye, is up for Best Rock Album.
The dispute over songwriting was allegedly handled last year behind closed doors, with a resolution reached in October, so maybe the two musicians are on good enough terms to perform their song together.
The Grammys go down February 8 in Los Angeles.
Featured photo by Chad Batka/The New York Times.