English alt rockers Coldplay have spoken out against accusations of plagiarism, saying that their new single, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, deliberately borrows from the original tune with permission.
While accusers have been pointing out the similarities between Every Teardrop and Mystic’s popular ’90s dance track Ritmo de la Noche, the band had actually borrowed the opening piano riff from an even earlier song – Peter Allen’s 1976 tune I Go to Rio – which was also borrowed for use in Ritmo.
In creating the new single, the band collaborated with the song’s original authors who are credited on Every Teardrop, explained a spokesperson for the band.
"Chris was inspired to write the song after watching the film ‘Biutiful’ by Alejandro Gonzalez," said the spokesperson.
"In the film, there is a nightclub scene – during which a track is playing in the background, based on’ I Go To Rio’ by Peter Allen and Adrienne Anderson. As a result, Allen and Anderson are also credited as writers on ‘Every Teardrop is a Waterfall’."