A 1970's song comes to our time?

So i was searching YouTube for good songs to listen to when i came across Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” and after watching the video i looked at comments saying she had copied this from another song made int he 1970’s by The Rubinoo’s. I decided to look up more information about this topic and also listen to the song by The Rubinoo’s “I Want to be Your Boyfriend.” I noticed sure that they actually did have a line or so that sounded quite similar to each others lyrics. Then i noticed that it also sounded similar to Tony Basil's "Mickey", about five words in Avril Lavigne's song and the Rubinoo's are the same and the songs are both based on the same topic. I think the songs are different in a way as one is about being a girlfriend and one being a boyfriend, but that is a common topic in life that is bound to be written and sung about. Avril stated that she had never heard of the song accusing her of copying, and as humans we only speak one language so its easy to have the same ideas. If all the words in the song were the same and just changing "boyfriend" to "girlfriend" I could see why it would be considered plagiarism. The rhythm and speed of both songs are different, and the only lyrics in the songs that are the same would be "Hey, Hey, You, You, I wanna be your boyfriend." and "Hey, Hey, You, You, I want to be your girlfriend." The topic is a very common and vague thing to talk about so your bound to have songs with similar lyrics as we all think alike in some way. I have heard in a lot of songs a common saying “wear my heart on my sleeve” and none of these songs have been accused for plagiarism as it is a common saying, and i believe saying you want to be your boyfriend or girlfriend is just another common thing to say. Everyone in some point of their lives has said “I want to be your girlfriend or boyfriend” its just something you use all the time in song or not.

The songwriters of “I Want to be Your Boyfriend” have stated Avril has plagiarised their lyrics which can truely affect the image her fans see of her. It can show how Avril doesnt take time to think of songs that her fans can relate to and want to hear, as she copied a song that has already been around for a while. Fans want to know that an artist they like is truely making her/his music from their hearts and passion not taking someone’s idea and singing about it. Songwriters did not want to work with Avril after this incident, although Avril believe that was just out of bitterness as she hadnt let them on her cd yet, which would soon effect career as she isnt making as many songs. Avril is sure of herself that she did not mean to copy or plagiarise this song in anyway as she loves to write music with great writers and musicians and wouldnt want to jepordize her career this way. The songs sure do have very similar lyrics but i truely believe Avril did not do this on purpose as the it is such a popular topic to sing about and wanting to be someones boyfriend or girlfriend is a common feeling and saying we use in everyday life.