Two members of the rock band The Fray are now credited as co-writers on The Chainsmokers’ No 1 smash, Closer.
When it was released this summer, Closer drew comparisons to The Fray’s 2005 hit, Over My Head (Cable Car). Now, the listing for Closer on the website for performance rights organisation ASCAP includes Fray lead singer Isaac Slade and guitarist Joe King.
A representative for The Fray confirmed that Slade and King are co-writers of Closer. Reps for ASCAP and The Chainsmokers wouldn’t comment.
The Chainsmokers include Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall. The EDM duo’s other hits are Don’t Let Me Down, Roses and Selfie.
Closer was also co-written by Taggart, Shaun Frank, Frederic Kennett and Halsey, who sings on the track. Over My Head peaked at No 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Last year Sam Smith gave Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne writing credit on his mega-hit Stay With Me after some said it sounded like Petty’s 1989 song, I Won’t Back Down. Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars did the same thing last year for their worldwide hit Uptown Funk — they extended credit to the five writers of Gap Band’s 1979 hit Oops Upside Your Head because of similarities.
Both Stay With Me and Uptown Funk won record of the year at the Grammy Awards in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Most famously last year, a jury awarded Marvin Gaye’s children $7.4 million (Dh27.1 million) after finding Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s Blurred Lines copied their father’s hit Got to Give It Up. A judge later cut the verdict to $5.3 million.
The Fray, who had hits with How to Save a Life and You Found Me, also includes Dave Welsh and Ben Wysocki. The Denver-based band will kick off a North American tour October 15 and will release the album, Through the Years: The Best of The Fray, on November 4.
