Wish they all could be California girls? Only if they've properly cleared the publishing rights. Which Katy Perry apparently did not.
Following a report that the Beach Boys' record company label is out to get a chunk of royalties from the bubbly summer anthem, one of the Boys exclusively tells E! News that the band feels nothing but good vibrations toward the girl-kissing songbird.
Take it away, Mike Love...
"The Beach Boys are definitely not suing Katy Perry, in fact we are flattered that her fantastically successful song is bringing to mind to millions of people our 1965 recording of the Beach Boys' 'California Girls,' " says Love, who cowrote the classic with Brian Wilson.
"We think her song is great and wish her all the success in the world."
It's safe to say the music publisher that controls the rights to the song doesn't feel exactly the same way.
A spokesman for Rondor Music tells E! News that while the company doesn't intend on launching any litigation against Perry, it hopes that the creative team behind her hit do the right thing and give credit (and, it follows, royalties) where it's due.
"In regard to the various rumors circulating, we would like to make it clear that there is no lawsuit against the writers or publishers of 'California Gurls.' We have established diminutive claims. It is up to the six writers and various publishers of 'California Gurls' to decide whether they honor the claim or not."
But the music publisher didn't stop there and continued giving a real tsk-tsk to Perry & Co.
"Using the words or melody in a new song taken from an original work is not appropriate under any circumstances, particularly one as well-known and iconic as 'California Girls.' Rondor Music…is committed to protecting the rights of its artists and songwriters, and with the support of the writers, that is exactly what we are doing."
Even if they're doing it without the cooperation of the artists they're protecting.