EXO Lay's 'Lit' MV Allegedly Plagiarized by Filipino Singer

A Filipino singer has come under scrutiny and was accused of allegedly plagiarizing EXO Lay's song "Lit" and its music video.

Keep on reading to know more.

EXO Lay's 'Lit' Allegedly Plagiarized by Filipino Singer FELIP

Recently on May 31, Filipino singer FELIP, who also promotes as a member of Filipino boy band SB19 under the name Ken, has recently come under heavy scrutiny by EXO's fandom, EXO-L, after fans found that the singer has allegedly plagiarized Lay's 2020 release, "Lit," and its music video.

According to fans, FELIP's latest single "Bulan," released on May 28, draw several similarities to Lay's "Lit," such as the song's beats and rhythm, visuals, and frames.

One user on Tiktok also made a video highlighting the two songs' similarities in the musical style and beats, which has since then garnered over 30,000 views.

@bambaekluvr I am a Filo and this needs to be addressed. There is indeed a resemblance. It would be fine if the producers said that their ideas were inspired/derived from that of Lay's. But they didn't and that is the issue. I hope their management could explain this. #fyp ♬ original sound - exopods

While on Twitter, another user shared a side-by-side comparison of the two music videos, which showed several similar visuals and backgrounds, such as a dragon, a desert, the color grade, and more.

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After FELIP's music video and song drew attention among EXO-Ls, fans have begun criticizing the song's production team for the plagiarism, and began calling for "Respect Zhang Yixing" on Twitter.

Following the backlash, FELIP and his team have issued a statement on the same day to address accusations of plagiarism.

FELIP Addresses Plagiarism Accusations on Lay's 'Lit'

Over on FELIP's Twitter account, he shared a lengthy statement, which reveals that his creative process for "Bulan" takes inspiration from a lot of artists, one of which is Lay, and that they referenced "Lit."

However, he denies having committed any plagiarism, and details the differences between "Bulan" and "Lit."

"While there may seem to be some similarities between the sound of 'Lit' and 'Bulan,' a closer examination of the chord progressions, instrumentation, samples used, and even syllabication will prove the claim otherwise," FELIP said in his statement.

He added, "Moreover, the melody and the ethnic chants in 'Bulan' were based on indigenous Filipino ritual music, made modern with the addition of rock and hip-hop elements."

Regarding the other visuals in the music video, he cites the Filipino game "Bulan-bulan," the Filipino mythological creature "Bakunawa," and the Filipino mythological goddess Haliya, among others.

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He says, "Apart from the lyrics, the music video for 'Bulan' was made to be a metaphor for real-world issues, while staying true to common knowledge of what transpired among the characters in most versions of the ancient lores."

FELIP continued, "'Bulan' was heavily and responsibly researched that details in the MV had its cultural basis, executed with some variations so as to not offend any cultures/indigenous populations."

Despite his explanation, fans are still not satisfied and criticized the singer for failing to properly credit Lay.

What are your thoughts on the issue?

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Written by Robyn Joan