BLACKPINK's Jennie released her new track, Like Jennie, on March 7, coinciding with the debut of her first full-length solo studio album, Ruby. Like Jennie marks the fifth pre-released track from the 15-song album.
The track's infectious chorus, with "Jennie" repeatedly ringing in the background, makes it instantly memorable. Lyrically, it delivers a bold clapback to her critics, declaring: "They don't really like Jennie, 'cause they could never be Jennie."
Controversy around Like Jennie began even before its release, with accusations of plagiarism surfacing when only a snippet of the track was available. Many speculated that it resembled the theme song from Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (RARKPK), composed by Pritam Chakraborty.
Following the full release of Like Jennie and its music video, comparisons intensified. Several listeners pointed out the striking similarity between Jennie's new song and the theme music introducing Alia Bhatt's character, Rani.?
Interestingly, Pritam — the composer of?RARKPK?— has himself faced multiple plagiarism accusations in the past. This sparked a wave of online reactions, with Indian fans humorously pointing out the irony.
One user quipped, "The funniest part about this Jennie/Alia debate is that, for once, someone stole from Pritam — not the other way around."?
Another wrote, "Jennie?copying Pritam was not something i had expected to happen this year."
A comment read, "Jennie copying Rani's theme song by Pritam and calling it her original is a new low for K-pop."
Someone else simply said, "Bro, Jennie literally copied Pritam."?
On Instagram too, the videos of the two kept side by side are seen fans react on how the songs are literal copy paste?and more.?
So far, neither Jennie nor her team has addressed the allegations. However, fans have noted the similarities, highlighting the shared thumping beats and rhythmic flow between both songs.??
Meanwhile, Pritam responded to the recent brouhaha and said that in music, it was not uncommon to have minor similarities. "Rani and Jennie are names that rhyme, so a similar flow in one phrase doesn’t make it a copy. Similarities are bound to happen—whether through rhymes, phrasing, or even within the same genre," he said to?Indiatimes.
Wishing Jennie luck with her new venture, the singer-composer reiterated that it's crucial to see the bigger picture instead of focusing on details. "In today’s interconnected world, where artists share the same platforms, no one is deliberately trying to copy someone else's work. Creating a song takes immense effort, and if an artist truly resonates with an idea, they can simply collaborate," he went on to add.
Ruby marks Jennie's first full-length solo project outside of BLACKPINK, released on March 7. The album features exciting collaborations, including a reunion with Dua Lipa on Handlebars. It also boasts tracks with Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, FKJ, and Kali Uchis.
While Extra L with Doechii dropped earlier, the album also includes Damn Right, a collaboration with Childish Gambino and Kali Uchis, further showcasing Jennie's artistic range.
For more news and updates from the world of?OTT, and?celebrities?from?Bollywood?and?Hollywood, keep reading?Indiatimes Entertainment.