Accused of plagiarism, Gilbert Montagné will no longer receive royalties for his song “On va s’aimer”

For Gilbert Montagné, the year does not end on a good note. As the holiday season approaches, the blind singer and composer, whose hits often punctuate wild evenings, will no longer receive royalties from his famous title “We are going to love each other”. And for good reason, Gilbert Montagné, who composed the music, and Didier Barbelivien, the author of the lyrics, were a little too inspired by an Italian song.

This Thursday, December 12, L’Informé revealed the conviction of the French singer in Italy, accused of having plagiarized the song “A girl from France” performed by Gianni Nazzaro. As a result, he and his lyricist will no longer receive a single cent in the future from this hit so appreciated by party-goers in France.

The irony for the 72-year-old singer is that he himself sued Flunch for plagiarism of this same song. In the 1990s, the French self-service restaurant brand took over the tube “We are going to love each other” for an advertisement, and transformed it into “We’re going to Fluncher”. In 2009, the interpreter of “Sunlights of the tropics” had won the legal battle and received 30,000 euros in damages.

Gilbert Montagné supported by SACEM

However, at the same time, Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien were accused of plagiarism by Gianni Nazzaro, the interpreter of“A girl from France”. The attack was confirmed by the courts in 2012. For more than ten years the singer and the lyricist refused to pay the rights to their music to Michel Cywie and Jean-Max Rivière, the two artists behind the birth of Italian song. The French are also supported by SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers), which explains that no court decision has been rendered in France.

But the Italians don’t stop there. They decided to take Gilbert Montagné, Didier Barbelivien, their publishing companies and SACEM to court to block the royalties. They are also asking for 1.67 million euros in copyright catch-up.

On October 9, 2024, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled on the case and rendered a judgment in favor of the Italians. They will be able to receive their royalties for the exploitation of the song in France and throughout the world. Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien must pay 30,000 euros in damages and renounce their royalties once and for all.