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Imagine going to the movies, crying because a cute alien went home, and then writing a hit song about it. Now, imagine getting sued for that same song! That is exactly what happened to Neil Diamond in 1982.
He loved the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial so much that he turned it into a musical masterpiece, but the movie studio wasn’t feeling the love.
Neil Diamond, along with famous songwriters Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, walked out of a cinema feeling inspired. They went straight to the studio and wrote “Heart light.” The song is all about a glowing heart and a friend from another planet.
Heartlight – Neil Diamond – HQ Video Music
It was a massive hit! People loved it! But there was one big problem: they never asked Steven Spielberg, the movie’s director, for permission.
Universal Studios claimed the song was “stealing” the vibe of their movie. So, instead of a “Thank You” note for being inspired by the movie, Neil got a lawsuit instead!
To make the problem go away, Neil and his team had to pay $25,000. In the world of private jets and mansions, that’s like paying for a very expensive pizza, but it remains one of the funniest “oops” moments in music history.
Steven Spielberg Sued Neil Diamond
Even with the legal drama, “Heartlight” became a classic. It reached #5 on the charts and stayed there for weeks.
Fun Fact: Neil later joked that he didn’t mind the trouble because the movie was just that good. He even kept performing it for decades! The song became so famous that many people remember it better than the movie scenes that inspired it.
