Sara - plagiarism settlement

dontlookdown · #1 05-14-2003, 12:29 PM

This might be common knowlege amongst us Ledgies but if not, I thought I would bring it up again to see if anyone can shed some light.

In 1980 (I think) Stevie was sued by a seemingly disturbed woman who claimed that she had actually written the lyrics to Sara. Stevie proved that she had a copywrite to the song before the woman claimed she wrote her "version".

This was reported in Rolling Stone along with major newspapers and radio stations around the country.

Eventually they settled out of court which always leads one to believe that the judge had a hard time siding with either party.

Anyway - I'm bringing this dreadful story up again because I'm wondering if part of the settlement prohibits Stevie from performing the song live anymore.
My theory wouldn't hold up because I remember Stevie doing Sara on the Tusk tour as well as on the short Bella Donna tour and on The Wild Heart tour.

Any ideas - anyone? anyone?
The song holds up just fine live and Lindsey's guitar work is beautiful on stage on Sara.
We need to find out why Sara won't turn up in concert anymore.
For a while she told the press it was her favorite song to do live.

blinker12 · #2 05-14-2003, 01:21 PM

I doubt the settlement would have included not performing the song live anymore. In fact, I think she performed it as late as 1986, for the first few concerts of her "Rock a Little" tour before dropping it from the set list.
However, I think you may be on to something in that the lawsuit probably added to whatever emotional baggage she already seems to have with this song. I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't like to sing it because it brings back bad memories of the lawsuit (in addition to the abortion and her ill-fated affair with Mick).

gypsysara · #3 05-14-2003, 01:44 PM

What Blinker said! LOL!

Also she's said numerous times she doesnt like the sound of the live version. WHY I dont know cause I have several amazing stellar live versions of my fav song ~ Sara.

go6car · #4 05-14-2003, 04:10 PM

Actually what that did do was prevent fans from giving her anything they wrote for her. I watched many people try to give her cards, poems, etc., as she was walking to her hotel room in Atlantic City many years ago. As she was walking, she tried to sweetly explain that she wasn't allowed to accept anything anyone had written for her because of potential legal issues. Sad, but true.

I have seen some people tie cards around flowers and stuffed animals that are passed up on stage to her, but I wonder if she ever gets to see them at all, before they are donated to charity. From what I've been told, she does see the other gifts (non-flowers & stuffies) that get handed to her like jewlery, and such.
I was also told that there were some sickos that wrote her some pretty weird stuff a while back, so that probably also ruined it for the sincere fans who just wanted to give her a letter or poem. (sigh).

Mad4stevie · #5 05-15-2003, 08:32 PM

A settlement? I don't think Stevie "settled" any lawsuits about this song, meaning paid money to the woman who brought the suit. I think the judge threw it out of court (dismissed the lawsuit).

Stevie was SO angry about this woman that I can't imagine her paying anything but her lawyers.

I know that Stevie had original demo tapes and journals with her lyrics, which were authenticated, as well as testimony from others who were there in the beginning stages of the song.

I don't think she performs it live anymore because she has said it is "difficult" to perform on stage.

wetcamelfood · #6 05-15-2003, 08:41 PM

Yeah, that's right, I think Stevie managed to dig up a demo of it that predated the date the woman had claimed that she had written her song or whatever it was so I think that was apparently the thing that ended the case as far as the judge presiding on the case was concerned from what I understand anyways if that's of any help.

John