Annika’s new song draws comparisons with a 2005 Carrie Underwood hit

Annika Wedderkopp’s new single, “Hvis Jeg Er Uden Dig,” has prompted comparisons with Carrie Underwood’s 2005 hit “Before He Cheats.” Several TikTok users have pointed out the resemblance, DR reports.

Soundvenue music journalist Kjartan Stolberg says the songs share melodic features at the end of the verse and beginning of the chorus. In Annika’s song, the line “Men jeg står herude på en åben vej” is sung to a melody he says resembles the opening of Underwood’s chorus.

Annika released the single on Friday and performed it live that evening at P3 Guld, a music awards event. Stolberg said the similarity became clear to him after he saw TikTok users discussing it. He noted that the songs differ substantially in their instrumentation, and said it is their vocal melodies that connect them.

Stolberg also described the new track as more rock-oriented than Annika’s earlier songs and said he considered it one of her best. He said he could not rule out inspiration from Underwood but did not think the resemblance raised a legal concern, as it involved a relatively limited section of the song.

Morten Rosenmeier, a professor of copyright law at the University of Copenhagen, declined to comment specifically on Annika’s song. He said similarities between songs often come from the use of common musical elements, and that copyright protection depends on whether a work contains something original or creative, such as in its melody, voices or chords.

“Everyone builds on their predecessors, and everyone is inspired by others,” Rosenmeier said.

Annika, 21, won the P3 Talent award in 2024 and the main P3 Prize in 2026. Her new single was produced by her boyfriend, Anton Westerlin, and Marius Iversen. DR said it contacted Universal Music Denmark for comment from Annika and Westerlin, but had not received a response.