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Could You Tell if Your Favourite Song Was Made with AI? The Viral ‘Papaoutai’ Cover Controversy Suggests Not

A viral Afro‑soul cover of Stromae’s 2013 hit *Papaoutai* has racked up nearly 80 million Spotify streams, yet it was created using generative AI. The track’s authorship is attributed to a Swedish musician, an unverified collaborator, and an indie label, none of whom have commented on the controversy. A Deezer‑Ipsos survey found 97% of listeners cannot distinguish AI‑generated music from human‑made tracks, highlighting the opacity of current platform labeling. Legal opinion in France deems the AI remix permissible, but ethical and royalty questions remain unresolved.