Idina Menzel And Disney Sued For Allegedly Stealing ‘Let It Go’

Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell singing “Frozen” Image by Getty Images

By Jenny Singer December 1, 2017

‘Tis the season of cheery beverages, twinkly lights, and female power anthems about transcending social constructs. “Let It Go,” is the painfully catchy ballad that promoted snow-based self-acceptance when it debuted in the movie “Frozen” in 2013. Now that the temperature is dipping, “Let It Go” is once again gracing our airwaves and, perhaps, our nightmares. But this winter, in addition to “Frozen” merchandise and a “Frozen” Pixar short and a “Frozen” Broadway-bound musical, fans are getting a “Frozen” lawsuit.

According to Digital Spy, Spanish artist Jaime Ciero has brought a lawsuit against “Let It Go” singer Idina Menzel (that’s Elsa to her fans,) singer Demi Lovato (who covered the song for radio,) and Disney. Cicero claims that “Let It Go” is a rip-off of his 2008 song “Volar.” Cicero cites the cord structure, hook, melody, note combinations, and lyrics (so — the whole song, basically).

Listen to Ciero’s song below. Do you think it sounds like it was stolen by “Let It Go”?

In case you need a reminder, and you don’t have anyone born in the 2000s around:

Our verdict: Nope. It’s a nice song, though. We would watch an Idina Menzel-Jaime Ciero collaboration in a heartbeat, especially if it was another seasonal female empowerment song.

Let us know what you think in the comments!

Jenny Singer is a writer for the Forward. You can reach her at Singer@forward.com or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

Jenny Singer is a freelance writer with pieces in Vox, the Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, Teen Vogue, and more. She was previously a staff writer at Glamour and the Forward, and she’s currently getting an MFA in nonfiction writing at the University of Iowa.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO