BELLAMY BROTHERS TO BRITNEY SPEARS
"IF I SAID YOU RIPPED OFF OUR SONG, WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME?"

Something about Britney Spears' new single, "Hold It Against Me," seems a bit all too familiar to David and Howard Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers. After giving the pop star's new single a listen, the Bellamy Brothers found themselves asking, "Didn't we already do that?"

“Back in 1979, I wrote a little song called ‘If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me,’” recalls David Bellamy. “That little song went #1 and has since become one of the defining songs of our career. If you listen to the lyrics of Britney Spears’ new single, ‘Hold It Against Me,’ you’ll find some major similarities.”

The brothers picked up on the news when their YouTube.com video for “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me” was up 270,000 views, virtually overnight. In addition, several visitors on the PerezHilton.com and EW.com discussion boards began crying foul, leaving comments like "Bellamy Brothers rip-off" and "the Bellamy Brothers used the same lyrical hook in 1979."

“Howard and I have no personal beef with Britney. She’s a talented gal. But professionally, well, in all honesty, we feel completely ripped off. Where's the originality?" says David Bellamy.

Howard Bellamy comments, "Hey Brit... If I said you ripped off our song, would you hold it against me? Thanks."

Spears’ latest single was leaked on the internet Monday and officially released Tuesday.

In 1979, the Bellamy Brothers' "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me," was named 'Record of the Year' by the United Kingdom.

Watch "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me," here.

Throughout their 30+ year career, the Bellamy Brothers have charted 14 #1 Hits on the US country and pop music charts. The brothers are still riding high. This week, their Anthology Volume 1, hit #1 on the Norwegian Music Charts and last fall, the brothers spent 7 weeks at #1 on the Swiss Music Charts with their Bellamy Brothers & Gola: The Greatest Hits Sessions. The album recently went double-platinum in Switzerland. This May, the Bellamy Brothers are celebrating 35 years since the release of their first #1 Hit, "Let Your Love Flow," and in conjunction, will release Bellamy Brothers: Greatest Hits Volume 1 this spring.

www.bellamybrothers.com