– 3 days ago
(From left) Lenka and Shaira Moro. Image: Instagram/@lenkamusic, Facebook/Shairaa Moro Music
The recent Instagram posts of Lenka were swarmed with comments by Filipino netizens, hours after Shaira Moro took down her viral song “Selos” from streaming platforms following a copyright issue with the Australian singer-songwriter.
Moro’s “Selos” was taken down from streaming platforms after Lenka took action against the song as it used the same melody as her 2008 song “Trouble is a Friend,” as pointed out by one @france.onz on Instagram.
This led to Moro’s agency AHS Productions confirming the move was “intentional” as it was securing a cover license for the song.
However, this led to Lenka’s Instagram account being swarmed by negative comments from Filipino netizens who said the singer-songwriter should be “grateful” to Moro for “allowing” her songs to be discovered.
Others hoped that Lenka would spare Moro as the former was “credited as the owner” of “Selos’s” “background music.”
One @justsssha alleged that “most of the people in the Philippines” wouldn’t know Lenka’s music if it wasn’t for Shaira who “used the melody,” while pointing out that she should instead be “thankful.”
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Another @tonzialedzurc said: “Ang kapal ng mukha mo alisin ang kanta ni shaira sa mga music platforms, wala naman syang ginagawang masama. Sisihin mo yung writers saka producers. Kawawa naman si Shaira, Ramadhan pa namn ngayon.”
(How dare you remove Shaira’s songs from music platforms? She didn’t do anything wrong. Blame the writers and producers. It’s such a shame for Shaira. It’s even Ramadan now.)
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Many Filipino netizens, however, also called out their fellow countrymen in the comments, saying that Lenka and Moro’s incident is proof of why it’s important to be mindful of copyright infringement in music.
“Funny how Filipinos here are defending unjust actions committed by Shaira. Minsan nakakahiya maging Pinoy dahil sa inyo (Sometimes, it’s embarrassing to be a Pinoy because of you all),” one @andrewsrmnt24 wrote.
“As a Filipino, I am so embarrassed by the comments of other Filipinos. All the love and support for Lenka! I’m proud to say that I knew her songs BEFORE Shaira,” another @crazynotcrazymeh said.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@lenkamusic
A day after AHS Productions’ announcement, Moro assured her fans on her Facebook account on Wednesday, March 20, that she’s very much okay despite the issue.
Lenka, on the other hand, has yet to issue a statement, as of press time.
