Hungarian folk singer sues Beyonce

Singer Beyonce. Photo / Getty Images

Beyonce is facing legal action from a Hungarian folk singer over allegations her vocals were illegally sampled on the superstar's Grammy-nominated Drunk In Love hit.

Monika Miczura Juhasz, known professionally as Mitsou, has lodged papers in a New York court, claiming audio of her performing a traditional Roma folk song she learned from her grandmother, called Bajba, Bajba Pelem, back in 1995 was taken and "digitally manipulated without her permission" and used during the production of Drunk In Love, which features the hitmaker's husband, Jay Z.

The court documents state, "In the video, Mitsou's solo vocal introduction follows 57 seconds of a cinematic, intimate scene of beach at night.

Listen to Bajba, Bajba Pelem:

"Following Mitsou's stirring featured solo vocal introduction, Mitsou's voice continues to sing as Beyonce begins to sing."

The folk singer goes on to allege her vocals can also be heard during Jay Z's verse.

The papers continue, "All together, Mitsou's vocals are featured for over one and half minutes of the five and one half minute song (sic)...

"Mitsou has never signed any documents that would permit anyone to use her voice for advertising or trade purposes."

Watch the music video for Drunk In Love:

Beyonce, Jay Z and producer Timbaland have all been named as defendants in the suit.

The plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages and demanding the track be banned from the airwaves unless her vocals are removed from the song.

The original recording of Bajba, Bajba Pelem was released as Gypsy Life on the Road by Mitsou's group Ando Drom in 1997.

Drunk In Love recently earned Beyonce two of her six nominations for the 2015 Grammy Awards, for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.

- WENN