Seal has criticised Sam Smith for copying Tom Petty’s ‘Won’t Back Down’ on his biggest single ‘Stay With Me’.
The gospel-inspired ballad was released in 2014 and became a hit all over the world.
Sam wrote the track with his frequent collaborator James Napier and William Phillips but the trio had to give the late Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne co-writer credits – a 12.5 per cent share of royalties – due to the song’s similarity to Petty’s 1989 single ‘I Won’t Back Down’.
Seal was asked by ShortList magazine to rate a handful of modern pop smashes from the current crop of British chart-toppers, including Smith, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Adele.
But the ‘Kiss from a Rose’ singer gave a huge thumbs down to Sam for borrowing from Petty’s track.
Seal said: "Well it wasn’t even his song, was it? He got a slap on the wrist for it. We all have influences, but there are certain rules you follow. Do I like it? I like Tom Petty’s song. That’s all I say."
The 54-year-old British music legend was also disparaging of One Direction member turned solo star Harry’s song ‘Sign of the Times’.
Giving his appraisal of the guitar track, he said: "It’s alright. There other songs on his album that I like more. There’s something uneventful about the chorus – it’s the same as the verse, isn’t it? I’m bored by it."
Seal singled out Ed for his praise, describing his single ‘Thinking Out Loud’ as "one of the greatest songs ever written".
Bigging up Ed for his track – which he wrote with regular songwriting partner Amy Wadge – he said: "As much as it pains me to say it, this is one of the greatest songs ever written. Yes, ever. I wish I’d written it. Every single part of it is instantly memorable. It is perfect."
Seal is due to release his 10th studio album ‘Standards’ on 10 November featuring covers of timeless tunes made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone.
He will be touring the new album and performing his greatest hits on the ‘Standards UK’ tour which starts in February 2018.
Seal ‘Standards UK’ tour:
February 2018:
SATURDAY 10 EDINBURGH USHER HALL
SUNDAY 11 GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL
TUESDAY 13 GATESHEAD THE SAGE
WEDNESDAY 14 MANCHESTER O2 APOLLO
SATURDAY 17 BRIGHTON DOME
SUNDAY 18 BRISTOL COLSTON HALL
MONDAY 19 NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CONCERT HALL
WEDNESDAY 21 BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL
THURSDAY 22 LONDON PALLADIUM