Convicted by the courts for having copied the song “Une fille de France” by Gianni Nazzaro, the singer will no longer receive any royalties from the listening of this title which propelled his career.
As reported by the site The Informed, Gilbert Montagné and its lyricist, Didier Barbelivien, were condemned por have plagiarized the title “A girl from France” by Gianni Nazzaroreleased in 1976, for his famous hit “On va s'aimer”. Consequently, neither Gilbert Montagné, who composed the Music, nor Didier Barbelivien, the author of the lyrics, will not receive future royalties from listening to this title which propelled their career, in 1984.
According to our colleagues, the case dates back to 2012. Gianni Nazzaro, French-speaking Italian singer, at the time still alive before dying in July 2021, decided to file a complaint with the transalpine courts for plagiarism against Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien for their title “We will love each other”. This proves them right but, for ten years, the two artists refused to recognize this dispute and to pay the royalties of the piece to Michel Cywie and Jean-Max Rivière, to whom we owe the creation.
The French are also supported by SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers), which explains that no court decision has been rendered in France.
“One day I was at my piano and inspiration came”
It was only following a decision by the French courts, forced to take up the case, which ruled on it on October 9 and rendered a judgment in favor of Gianni Nazzaro, that Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien surrendered obviously. Both artists were ordered to pay 30,000 euros in damages to the heirs of the Italian singer as a catch-up and henceforth waive their royalties on this song. For its part, Italian justice is demanding 1.67 million euros in compensation.
The case may still not be over, however, since those convicted still have the possibility of appealing to the Court of Cassation to have the judgment overturned if they provide sufficient evidence.
In 2015, at the music information website Charts in FranceGilbert Montagné gave his version of the birth of the hit. “One day, I was at my piano and inspiration came, without being able to explain why. This melody came to my hands. A few words quickly emerged”, he explained at the time.
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