Beyonce remade a song called “Still In Love (Kissing You)”, but it’s being reported she never had permission to record the song and is being hit with a lawsuit:
According to a lawsuit filed yesterday in Manhattan Federal Court by music administators, Beyonce allegedly never obtained proper clearance to cover a song called “I’m Kissing You,” originally co-written by a singer named Des’ree — famous for her 1994 smash hit, “Gotta Be.” Des’ree’s version was used in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film “Romeo and Juliet,” Beyonce’s version can be found on the re-release of her album, “B’Day.”
In the lawsuit, Des’ree and her reps claim that Beyonce, along with her record company people, originally tried to work out a deal to use the song. When they weren’t satisfied with the proposed terms — which included not being able to change the title or make a music video for the song — Beyonce’ allegedly blew off copyright law completely, and recorded the song and video without permission. The song was eventually released on Beyonce’s album, “B’Day – Deluxe Edition” on April 3, 2007, with the title “Still in Love (Kissing You).”
Des’ree is suing to halt distribution of the song, video and album and seeking at least $150,000 in damages. READ MORE
Looks like Bee went hard on them and said she gonna do this song for her man. I’ve always like Des’ree though, she has a beautiful voice and I found it odd for Beyonce to remake the song anyway seeing how it was released and plenty people know about it. I’ll let you guys be the judge in this challenge: Who sung it better anyway?
Beyonce – Still In Love (Kissing You) – LISTEN/DOWNLOAD
Myra Panache
beyonce! *(im happy wih 2nd!)
i like bey no doubt!
Lol, Bill!!!
Both ladies sound beautiful, but I like Des’Ree’s version better.
Des’Ree, definately
Who the hell is Des’ree “A nobody”. Beyonce sang it way better. Beyonce has a great voice and she has control.
Both of them sound good but I have to give it to B on this one. B gets my vote.
Both Ladies sound good in their own special way! But things are always better the first tim around…no offense Bee!
Beyonce hands down…and even if she gets sued it wont even put a dent in her account lmao while smh~
HERE WE GO AGAIN…YOU KNOW YOU DONE MESSED UP, RIGHT!
Forget B. D knew the deal. B is over done. She got a voice but she don’t do her own shyt. She keep copyin others. I miss Alicia Keys. Totally original. B and her greedy fam needs to put it up before Neo gets to suing. B taking credit for shit dat ain’t hers! HORRIBLE
Is it just me…but I can only hear 25 sec. of Deseree’s version
i’m gonna have to go with Des’Ree on this one.
Beyonce’ killed this track…I prefer Bee!
Des’Ree version has passion…but Bey put her own twist to it.
*and being the “New bisness woman” Bey is…she should have thought twice about using the “likeness” of someone else’s song!
I love Beyonce’s voice on this sung. She sound way better!
Oooooooooh the B army will be out in full force once school lets out. LMAO
I’m a huge fan of Beyonce’s voice so 8 out of 10 times, I’m gonna ride with Beyonce.
They need to pay that woman her money tho. And for any stan coming to say she’s just looking for money, then why is she suing for so little? PAY UP B!
Even though you can only here 25 or so seconds of Des’Ree’s version, I am gonna say there is NO CONTEST…Des’Ree kills this song…she has a raw emotion in her voice that Beyonce just doesn’t have…I have been repeatedly playing her version for years…and to those who call her a NOBODY, get your facts straight…that sister has put in her grind and deserves respect…black folks will drag our own damn selves down I swear…
who is des’ree????? seriously
See, its things like this is what makes you dislike Beyonce. Can’t blame this one on her father! She’s forever fuckin stealin people’s shit, and claiming it as her own, trying to put her own spin to it. Des’ree knew what she was doing. She didn’t want a video made because anyone that’s not aware of the song would probably think Beyonce wrote the song, and that’s its her song, just like a lot of her other stuff she’s done. Beyonce and her reps are so dishonest, and they are going to crash and burn. You can’t keep doing things to people and think there are no consequences. Why she couldn’t simply comply with Des’ree’s wishes is beyond me, what she was asking for wasn’t ridiculous demands. There was no cause for what she did. Why she’s only being sued for $150,000 i dont know. But i would sue her ass for way more than that! Beyonce wont miss that $150,000 which is probably why they went ahead and did it.
I could only hear 10 seconds of the Desree version, but I remember the song well. Desree’s voice has more soul more feeling in it. When I hear her version, I feel like I’m in love.
Bee’s just sounds shallow and does nothing for me. She needs to pay Desree her money AND fire whoever she’s got working for her who allowed this to happen in the first place.
DESREE hands down…
bey did aight….but this is one of those songs that SHOULDNT have been touched….
sit down bey sit down…
What do u mean? Alicia Keys aint that damn original. She has covered at least 5 songs between her first 2 CDs alone. From Prince to Gladys Night….she copies as well! Beyonce’ made this track her own & HOT! Dont compare her…she is one of a kind…a rare talent!
DES’REE. IT HAS MORE SOUL.
LMAO@ Bill…..you are so silly! ;oP
I will be back in a minute with my comment after I am done listening.
@ #11 CJ who dosen’t redo a song? Be for real every artist has redone a song or sample a old song and there’s nothing wrong with that. Usually when that is done the artist makes it unto there on version.
Beyonce has some big balls
How you just going to record a song without the songwriters permission ?
Beyonce has cajones
That Gangster !!
Re: Alicia Keys being an original….Love her but who can forget that lame Prince remake from Songs in A Minor? My vote goes to Beyonce on this one although I was a Des’ree fan back in the day…..Where is she?
I THINK DES’REE HAS THIS ONE HANDS DOWN. I LOVE HER MUSIC AND KNEW HER VERSION OF THE SONG WHEN ROMEO AND JULIET CAME OUT, ITS MORE SINCERE THAN BEYONCE’S, MORE BELIEVABLE. I ALWAYS LOVE BEYONCE’S VOICE BUT ONCE AGAIN THIS ONE GOES TO DES’REE.
Beyonce never even claimed this to be her song. Buy the CD and read the credits. She does not take writing credits. She simply covered the song. DAMN!! people cover others songs all the time…People just love to put down this woman. Then when there are no black in the lime light we wanna complain and say where is our black talent. Well here it is, here she is! Her name is BEYONCE’ Acknowledge greatness
on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
18. IBDAMNED said:
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Even though you can only here 25 or so seconds of Des’Ree’s version, I am gonna say there is NO CONTEST…Des’Ree kills this song…she has a raw emotion in her voice that Beyonce just doesn’t have…I have been repeatedly playing her version for years…and to those who call her a NOBODY, get your facts straight…that sister has put in her grind and deserves respect…black folks will drag our own damn selves down I swear…
Question:
How are you guys judging the song, when you can only hear 10-20 seconds of the Des’ree version ???
I would try to figure out the answer, but I’ve already lost interest….
*hits self with the head*
Let the Beyonceism arise!Because before you know it will…
I have the Romeo&Juliet soundtrack and I like Des version.Of Course Beyonce’ did a good job.
Obviously Des’ree is someone if Beyonce’ obviously re-sung it…*ahem*
EXACTLY JSCENE!
This way they are being sued, yes, but they can easily pay up and they still got the song and video distributed like they wanted. Smart crooks. LMAO If the DVD is pulled, that’s ok because everyone who really wanted to buy it bought it the first week anyway and they will never be able to take the video off of every website that has it uploaded.
desree owned this song. some songs just shouldn’t be touched. Beyonce did what beyonce usually does on a song, nothing special. she should have got permission and gave the girl credit for writing the song. if your gonna steal a song B could have at least found a song not many people rememebered. LOL Idiot! if she wanted 2 use the song 2 tell jay z how she felt then she could have recorded that and gave him a copy! She didn’t have 2 put it on the album. i hope the girl gets her money.
Miss Knowles…and the video for this is soooo SEXY! I love that B Day video DVD
Im sure Desiree didnt write this song either but i cant hear enough of her but Beyonce’s version is really good!
HOLD UP, STOP THE PRESSES:
I am only able to hear 30 seconds of Des-ree’s version-just an intro.
You people better not be chiming in unless you heard the FULL VERSION of both songs. Otherwise, your comments are both null and void.
Who is Des’ree? I think I might be too young to know all that…
I like Des’ree’s version (I went and found the whole version of that song) since her voice has soul, and pain in it. While Beyonce still sounds like a robot.
Des’Ree version has more soul and passion to it (IMO)
Bee’s isnt bad…..it just so happens that is isnt as good as Des’Ree’s.
Seriously, I can see Bee’s ‘people’ in her ear like….”so what, do the song anyways, you can afford to”. Think about it….. if all Des’Ree is asking is $150,000 then Bee’s probably laughing her ass off like “Child please, I spend more than that on my 20lbs of hair, ballgowns and matte red lipstick!”
(And before all you crazy stans come flying out of the woodwork ready to attack me, please note that I am not a Bee-hater.)
Des’ree has my vote. Every song does not need to be over done. Des’ree version had alot of passion and love. Beyonce always has to scream and shout to get her songs across. **Sorry Beyonce Stans**
Yeah D’s version made me want to hear the original, there was only 25 seconds of it to hear so that was dissapointing.
Des’Ree, no doubt.
Another reason for everone to bash Beyonce’ that girl is amazing u have to admit! GO TEAM BEYONCE!!!
How can some of you say Beyonce is obviously better, or vice versa, when you did not even here Des’ree? Maybe you remember the song from her album or quickly downloaded it, but that is highly unlikely.
Don’t you know your credibility is at stake?
I’ll say Bey because her song has more raw emotion. But, if you haven’t seen Romeo & Juliet w/ Leo Dicaprio, Desree performs the song in the movie and she shows a lot of emotion in the perfomance. It’s close. But, I will agree, Bey has made a lot of mistakes when it comes to claiming to have written music. She also claimed she wrote “wishing on a star” the song she performed in some commercial. I think she just says what she’s told to say and it bites her in the ass sometimes.
I like both versions as well. That scene where Des’ree sang the song in Romeo and Juliet was one of my favorites. And though the video that Beyonce did for it is very intimate, I don’t love it and think she should have done more. I think both women have beautiful voices. Beyonce has a knack for making a song her own, even if it is a remake. Looks like this time, the judge will have the last word on this one. I’m sure Sony has some kind of loop hole to justify her recording this. If not, it certainly was irresponsible of them to allow for the release of it.
38. compton_chick23 said:compton_chick23
Who is Des’ree? I think I might be too young to know all that…
I like Des’ree’s version (I went and found the whole version of that song) since her voice has soul, and pain in it. While Beyonce still sounds like a robot.
I don’t know if you remember but she had this song “Gotta Be” that went like “you gotta be strong you gotta be tough you got to be wiser…” it still my favorite song till this day.
*thinking aloud to self*…..Oh boy, looks like this will be another 200+ post because ‘you know who’ is involved.
LOL
I’m only allowed to hear 30 Sec. of the song also, so whats up with that, until i can hear her version fully then i shall decide…
the rate at which the post is picking up numbers compared to the rate at which people began commenting on the Oprah/Don Imus post is honestly disgusting.Guess some of y’all are more interested in the trivial things in life (aka a fixation with Beyonce Gisele Knowles). Watch how this will have the most number of comments. pathetic
Wow! Either Beyonce’s been airbrushed to the hilt or that’s an old photo of her!
A dirt road and the open corn fields! Just the way grandma nem use to do it!
on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
37. theboyabouttown said:
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HOLD UP, STOP THE PRESSES:
I am only able to hear 30 seconds of Des-ree’s version-just an intro.
You people better not be chiming in unless you heard the FULL VERSION of both songs. Otherwise, your comments are both null and void.
44. theboyabouttown said:
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How can some of you say Beyonce is obviously better, or vice versa, when you did not even here Des’ree? Maybe you remember the song from her album or quickly downloaded it, but that is highly unlikely.
Don’t you know your credibility is at stake?
Bill Said:
You are right sir..
* What is most amazing is that “boyabouttown” is one of Beyonce’s Biggest Fan’s on ConcreteLoop !!!
THANK YOU for your HONESTY and your INTERGRITY SIR !!!!
#30 Did you not read? Nobody said anything about Beyonce saying she wrote the song. SHE DIDN’T HAVE PERMISSION TO USE THE SONG. Its not that hard to understand. People need to stop acting like Beyonce is God or something. She shouldn’t have used the song if she didnt have permission. If she has so much talent she should have wrote her on song, BY HERSELF!
@Lashonda
I think you need to register cause somebody is using yo name.
Beyonce stay stealing somebody $hit huh. Girl, when are you going to write your own? I only heard a lil of Desree version so I don’t know who sung it better. Too lazy to go and find her version on the internet. It ain’t that serious for me though. I can say $150,000 is pocket change to Bey.
That is a rather unfair comparison, seeing as there is only a snippet of the Des’ree version. No. 12 it is not just you, I think it’s just soemthing with teh download.
I remember I used to watch that movie repeatedly, and I loved that song. I like both Des’ree and Beyonce’s version, except towards the end, where Beyonce gets sort of sloppy. So Des’ree wins out based on refinement.
I really hope this is an exaggerated rumor. I understand why Des’ree did not want the name changed, however, why was she tripping on allowing Beyonce’ to do a video for it? At the same time, I completetly disagree with the way Beyonce’ went about it. She bogarded another artist, b/c Des’ree is not working with the money or power she has in the industry. Strictly on GP, it speaks volumes about Beyonce’s character…B knew that she could do the song justice, but an artist refused to allow her the freedom to copy her work. It seems like dignity and true class, would have motivated her to shake that off and go do something of her own that was even better.
Just a thought…
link is only 30 seconds
I downloaded Des’ree’s full version and I’m going to give it to Des’ree. Beyonce does such a good job on her version, but there is always something about an original Des’ree’s is the one I prefer.
DON’T TURN THIS INTO A BASHING OF A GOOD SINGER TO MAKE ANOTHER LOOK BETTER OR A STAN CONVENTION!
Can some one tell me how to put my pic on the Avitar?
This lawsuit thing sounds interesting. I’m curious to see how it turns out but I seriously Doubt that Bey will stop selling her album for this.
TOTALLY agree with JSCENE:
and its also obvious that its not about gaining money with Desree, its just about prinicpality…
I just looked on the credits of Beyonce’s re-released album and saw that her name is listed FIRST under writers of this song….