12 Controversial Songs That Were Stolen

4. 'Surfin' U.S.A' - The Beach Boys

Where It Was Stolen From: Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry

Back in the old days, when black artists were routinely ripped off by powerful record labels, The Beach Boys put out a song whose only differences with Berry's recording were the words.

Literally everything else was ridiculously similar.

Berry didn't sue, instead he put pressure on Murry Wilson (Brian's father and manager of the band) to just hand over the copyright, which he did. Berry's song was subsequently covered by The Beatles, The Hollies and John Lennon.