Dance music legend CeCe Peniston claims that singer and rapper Lizzo used “about 40 seconds” of her hit song “Finally” for Lizzo’s latest hit “Juice.”
Lizzo, whose star has been rising in the past few years, released her album Cuz I Love You on Atlantic Records with the song in question being one of its standout hits, its message of self-love and body positivity winning over millions of fans.
Peniston’s “Finally” came out in 1991, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Top 100 and going on to becoming one of the most seminal dance music songs in history. One of the most discernible parts is a riff Cece does which some say Lizzo replicates.
Here is a side-by-side video comparison of the two tracks along with another post from CeCe on the subject:
“For everybody who thought I was exaggerating on my claims of #copyrightinfringement please go check out the article I’m the the #3rd person who has said something @lizzobeeating #cecepeniston #lizzo #music #yaayumsong #finally #mysong just for the record and so you understand … anytime anybody uses a song over 7 seconds thats using a “portion” of their copyright, Lizzo not only takes over that, she’s used several times adding up to about 40 seconds, its my lyric it’s written down as well, it’s the signature to the opening in my song #finally and all commercials are using it from the “Adlib “ section because they know it’s catchy sooo “#notjustanadlib it’s a check!!!! “
CeCe Peniston made her allegations on the heels of another plagiarism claim: Lizzo’s 2017 hit song “Truth Hurts” has a pair of songwriters saying she took parts from an earlier track they had all worked on together called “Healthy.” Yet another songstress has also made claims that the main verbiage of “Truth Hurts” was originally written by her.
Grammy winner and House producer Maurice Joshua observes that “everyone nowadays is trying to copyright phrases, you’re still gonna have to get paid for that no matter what. Lizzo didn’t just come up with that ad lib hook, she had to have heard that form CeCe’s record. That line, that adlib run is CeCe’s.”
R&B singer India Arie commented in CeCe’s post, “I thought she interpolated it intentionally and paid you for it. I hate that ANY one would not automatically KNOW this IS a signature of yours. Clearly. But as musicians I guess we hear it more clearly.”
Photo: Andy Witchger [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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It sounds like Lizzo was inspired by the song Cece (Finally), and not to copy the vocals & music, they have trixed a bit . Unfortunately, that’s what happens in the music business. You “borrow” a little here and there. i hope that the artists/ labels /music business gives creed to the original artist ect.