Beyoncé appears to be poised to take over the country music world, as she currently has the number one country song in America with her hit “Texas Hold ‘Em.” That all may be coming crashing down, however, as Beyoncé is now being accused of copying this tune from a popular children cartoon’s theme song.
‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ Compared To ‘Franklin’ Song
The Mirror reported that Beyoncé, 42, is being called out for “Texas Hold ‘Em’s” similarity to the theme song for the Canadian animated preschool educational children’s television series titled “Franklin,” which is based on the “Franklin the Turtle” series of books. The children’s show ran across North America from 1997-2004.
“‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ beat is a sample from the cartoon Franklin,” one social media user commented, with another adding, “Every time I hear ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ I remember ‘Hey it’s Franklin’.”
“I just heard on the radio a comparison of Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ’Em’ song and the theme song from the Franklin the Turtle cartoon?” a third user commented. “Her/her producers owe the turtle like $25mil for ripping them off. I’m a fan of hers, but wow. This was blatant.”
Check out the similarities for yourself in the video below.
Related: Flashback: Country Legend Alan Jackson Walked Out When Beyonce Took the Stage at the CMAs
‘Franklin’ Singer And Writer Speaks Out
Bruce Cockburn, the singer and writer of the “Franklin” theme song, has since broken his silence to give his thoughts on its similarities to “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
“I think Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ is a good record,” he told TMZ. “Unfortunately, I can’t claim to have had any part in writing it.”
“The rhythmic feel is similar to my theme song for the ‘Franklin’ TV series, but to my ears, that’s where the similarity stops,” Cockburn added. “‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ is her song, and I wish her success with it!”
Related: Monica Lewinsky Calls On Beyonce To Remove Lyric About Her Affair With Bill Clinton From Song
Beyoncé Makes History
This comes after Beyoncé made history as the first-ever Black female artist to top the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart thanks to “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which also reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart. People Magazine reported that she and Taylor Swift are the only solo female artists who have debuted at No. 1 on the chart, with the latter earning this spot with “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” and “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” in 2021.
Beyoncé shocked the world by dropping “Texas Hold ‘Em” and her other country music song “16 Carriages” during the Super Bowl, revealing that her next album that comes out March 29 will be a country album titled “Renaissance II.”
After some questioned the Houston, Texas-native Beyoncé’s connections to country, her mother Tina Knowles spoke out to defend her family’s links to “cowboy culture.”
“We always understood that it was not just about it belonging to white culture only,” Knowles said, according to The Guardian. “When people ask why is Beyoncé wearing cowboy hats? It’s really funny, I actually laugh because it’s been there since she was a kid, we went to rodeos every year and my whole family dressed in western fashion.”
It remains to be seen whether or not the “Franklin” comparisons will do anything to damper the popularity of Beyoncé’s song “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Though the “Franklin” singer Cockburn is being a good sport about this for now, we wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being compensated by Beyoncé’s team at some point in the near future.
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