Electronic music heavyweight Calvin Harris is pushing back hard against accusations that he copied elements of his latest track “Blessings” from Chicane’s 1996 trance classic “Offshore.” In a fiery video response posted on Instagram, Harris dismantled the claims point-by-point, calling them “genuinely wrong” and even suggesting Chicane may have borrowed from another artist himself.
The Accusation: ‘Almost Identical’
The controversy began when British trance producer Chicane—real name Nick Bracegirdle—posted a video to Instagram labeled “copyright alert.” Sitting at his studio desk, Chicane played segments of both “Blessings” and “Offshore,” arguing that the two songs were nearly indistinguishable.
“I think you’ll find it really hard to decipher when one comes in and one goes, that is because they’re almost identical, which is a bit of a problem,” he told viewers. “I am defending my copyright and my intellectual sort of property here guys, I’d like to know what your comments are.”
Chicane’s clip quickly drew attention across social media, with fans chiming in on both sides. Among those weighing in was fellow electronic music legend Tiësto, who commented, “Offshore is an iconic masterpiece.”
Harris Responds With Receipts
Calvin Harris wasn’t having it.
In a nearly three-minute video posted on May 18 with the caption, “Response to the people who have enjoyed calling me a plagiarist over the last couple of days, cheers Nick Chicane all the best to you pal,” Harris fired back—using both humor and music theory.
The video features a screen recording of Harris’ digital audio workstation (DAW), showing him isolating parts of “Blessings” and comparing them to Chicane’s track. He plays the chords side-by-side and says, “It’s a different chord.” Then, laughing, he adds, “That’s what happens when you don’t loop up a tiny little section of track, you stupid bastard.”
Despite the strong language, Harris insists he’s not just defending his reputation out of pride: “It’s just not the same,” he says. “And I’m not just saying that—obviously I’m going to say it’s not—but it’s genuinely not the same.”
Turning the Tables
Harris doesn’t stop there. In an unexpected twist, he then plays “Love On a Real Train,” a 1983 song by German electronic pioneers Tangerine Dream. Harris argues that “Offshore” bears more resemblance to that track than his own song does to Chicane’s.
“You’re coming at me like I don’t know anything about music mate,” Harris says. “You’re f—ing joking. I live and breathe this s–t mate.”
Industry Reaction: Split Opinions
The electronic music community has been divided over the dispute. While some listeners have pointed out surface-level similarities in mood and instrumentation, others have echoed Harris’ assessment that the chord progressions and melodic structures are distinct.
Though Chicane has not issued a formal legal complaint as of this writing, his post has reignited ongoing conversations in the music industry about what constitutes inspiration versus infringement—especially in genres like trance and house where similar chord loops and synth textures are common.
A representative for Chicane did not respond to Billboard’s request for comment.
Not Harris’ First Public Feud
This isn’t the first time Calvin Harris has clashed publicly over his music. Earlier this year, he addressed backlash over his Ultra Music Festival 2024 set with a cryptic message on social media: “And you wonder why I never…”—implying his frustrations with public scrutiny in the EDM world.
While this latest accusation has stirred up debate, Harris’ confident and detailed response suggests he’s not losing sleep over it. If anything, the controversy has brought more attention to “Blessings,” which continues to perform well on streaming platforms.
Final Notes
Whether this musical standoff leads to further legal action remains to be seen. For now, though, Calvin Harris has made it clear: he’s standing by his work—and he’s not afraid to call out critics with both data and a sharp tongue.
