Experts Explain How to Decipher — And Then Prove — Whether a Song Borrows By Accident or on Purpose

Among the highest compliments a musician can receive is praise that their latest single sounds… super familiar. Sometimes, that’s a testament to crafting a hook so undeniable it feels like it’s always been in your ears. But other times, you’re not wrong — it was in your head all along. Think of Olivia Rodrigo’s second single, “Deja Vu.”
That top 5 Hot 100 hit sounded so much like her hero Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” that Swift,