Is Elvis Costello suing Olivia Rodrigo over ‘Brutal’ riff claims?
Elvis Costello breaks silence on Olivia Rodrigo ‘Brutal’ riff row amid lawsuit talk
Elvis Costello has no plans to take legal action against Olivia Rodrigo over claims that her hit Brutal sounds similar to his 1978 classic Pump It Up, insisting he would rather laugh it off than head to court.
The 71-year-old singer told The Times that the comparisons were “too silly” to take seriously, adding that he had met Olivia and found her lovely.
He joked that it would be hypocritical to sue anyone over a riff, pointing out his own track was inspired by Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues, which itself borrowed from earlier styles.
Costello previously addressed the claims in 2021, writing online that this is how rock and roll works, with artists borrowing fragments from one another to create something new, and saying he had no issue with Rodrigo's song.
The 23-year-old songstress, has previously defended her songwriting, arguing that all artists are inspired by those who came before them and that criticism of her work often ignores the creative process.
She has said she writes from personal experience, while acknowledging that music is built on shared influences and common structures.
She also recently spoke about performing at Glastonbury, revealing she nearly suffered an anxiety attack before going on stage, but said the moment she stepped onto the Pyramid Stage she felt calm and connected, describing live performance as magical and hard to explain.
Her new album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love was released on Friday.
