“Good for you, you look happy and healthy” is being sung all over the globe. Holding the billboard top spot for six weeks in a row last May, Olivia Rodrigo’s hit song, “Good 4 u,” took the world by storm.

Despite how catchy the song is, many producers are questioning the originality of Rodrigo’s new hit. More specifically, Paramore is comparing the song to their recent hit “Misery Business.” These accusations have led Rodrigo to be required to pay almost two million dollars to Paramore for the credits.

“Everything is influenced by other things, there is no pure origin [of anything],” stated freshman Sol Zavala of Wall Township. Zavala, and many other fans, are claiming that the two songs are not interconnected and that Rodrigo did not actually copy “Misery Business” from Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams.

“I think Olivia has spoken very confidently about her outside influences, and in today’s modern world we all derive things from other people whether it be intentional or not,” Zavala said. Zavala believes that deriving or copying from other artists usually is not malicious, but is simply artists seeking inspiration from other music.

Senior Max Ayers of Asbury believes that by taking inspiration from past songs, one can still create an original piece of work in today’s world.

In fact, taking inspiration from other songs and using it in one’s work is a very common occurrence. Sampling is a process in which an artist takes recorded pieces from other artists, alters them in some way, and uses them in their own work. In today’s world, many songs still sample or derive inspiration from past works.

Junior Francesco Thorik-Saboia of Long Branch believes that original works are possible and even more prominent in today’s world. Thorik-Saboia feels that as technology is constantly changing and improving, new techniques for developing music are emerging.

“Music is more advanced than it’s ever been,” Thorik-Saboia said.