Maggie May lawsuit

[snopes]

Comment: Someone recently told me that when Rod Stewart wrote the song
"Maggie May" about his ex-girlfriend, she sued him for defamation, as she
was mortified by the line which says the morning sun on her face really
shows her age. The judge, instead of awarding damages, told Rod to write
a nice song about his ex-wife instead, which resulted in the hit "You Wear
It Well".

I couldn't find any information about this story online, so I'm thinking
it's probably false... but you never know.

[Ramblin' Dave]

Even if there were anything to it, wouldn't his ex have to prove monetary damage from the song? Since her name wasn't really Maggie May (he borrowed the name from the Liverpool folk song), I don't see how that could be possible. And the second part of the story, about "You Wear it Well," is even more absurd, but that's beside the point.

[damian]

"Maggie May" was about the girl that took Rod's virginity 10 years earlier. If the girl in question believes that this song is about her, she needs to talk to Carly Simon.

[Dr. Dave]

If this were at all true, and a legal precedent were established, then Taylor Swift had better put aside a large savings account for settlements.

[Ramblin' Dave]

Originally Posted by damian

"Maggie May" was about the girl that took Rod's virginity 10 years earlier.

And the way he has talked about it, it doesn't sound like he even remembers her real name. Which makes me wonder if she even knew the song was about her.

[erwins]

In this country at least, saying (even in a hit song) an unkind thing that is a matter of opinion is certainly not actionable. And a judge could not order someone to write another song--though that sort of thing could be a settlement term between parties.

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dave

If this were at all true, and a legal precedent were established, then Taylor Swift had better put aside a large savings account for settlements.

Not really, all she needs is to write a nice counter-song and it all goes away.

She can make an album out of it, call it "To all the boys and men I've loved before" and make more money.

[moonfall]

Originally Posted by erwins

In this country at least, saying (even in a hit song) an unkind thing that is a matter of opinion is certainly not actionable. And a judge could not order someone to write another song--though that sort of thing could be a settlement term between parties.

I seem to remember a story about a singer releasing an intentionally awful album because part of the divorce settlement involved the ex-wife receiving all proceeds from album sales. I want to say it was Lionel Richie's album "Here, My Dear," but I may be confusing that with a different "intentionally bad album" story.

[Nick Theodorakis]

Originally Posted by moonfall

I seem to remember a story about a singer releasing an intentionally awful album because part of the divorce settlement involved the ex-wife receiving all proceeds from album sales. I want to say it was Lionel Richie's album "Here, My Dear," but I may be confusing that with a different "intentionally bad album" story.

Marvin Gaye, but not really:

http://www.snopes.com/music/hidden/heremydear.asp

Nick