In a suit filed in Manhattan federal court against Underwood, NBC and the NFL, Heidi Merrill, a country singer who found some success a few years ago with a song for the Nebraska Cornhuskers college football team, alleges that she and her team penned her version of “Game On” in 2016 and that it was featured in March 2017 during a broadcast of CBS’ “Inside College Basketball.”
Sam Israel, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said that in August 2017 the plaintiffs passed the song along to Underwood’s producer to pitch to Underwood.
Israel said that an assistant for Underwood’s producer told the plaintiffs that “we’re going to have to pass” on Merrill’s song. Read more at NY Post
I had a few listens. It seems maybe the line “Game On” is somewhat similar. But I guess that if Merrill’s team pitched this to Underwood then it’s a bit suspect. Listen for yourself:
Chorus:
Full Songs:
Heidi Merrill – “Game On” (2017)
Carrie Underwood – “Game On” (2018)
See also:
NFL on Fox Theme vs. Sleigh Ride
Other songs that made it to court
Truth be told, I don’t see this one. Apart from both choruses involving the shouting of “Game on!” which isn’t that similar, IMO. Eh, we’ll let the courts decide this one.