Interpolation is a common practice in popular music, where a songwriter or producer will take portions of a melody from one song and re-record it to use in another. The word "interpolation" comes from the Latin word "interpola," which means "to insert."
When interpolating, the artist or label typically owns the rights to the piece of music they are taking—meaning they can legally sample it—but they may be reluctant to license the sample for use in another project. This might be because they're worried about how their fans will react to hearing their original work used in another context, or because they want to keep the original song intact with no changes. It's also possible that licensing fees could be too high for an artist's budget.
Popular Songs that were Interpolated
| Olivia Newton John | Physical | Dua Lipa | Physical |
| Kodak Black | No Flockin' | Cardi B | Bodak Yellow |
| Jane Taylor | Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star | Nicki Minaj | Starships |
| Harry Belafonte | Day-O | Jason Derulo | Don't Wanna Go Home |
| Christina Aguilera | Genie in A Bottle | Camilla Cabello | Crying In The Club |
| Merilee Rush and the Turnabouts | Angel of the Morning | Shaggy | Angel |
| Paramore | Misery Business | Olivia Rodrigo | good 4 u |
| Mariah Carey | Fantasy | Latto | Big Energy |
| Rodgers and Hammerstein | My Favorite Things | Ariana Grande | 7 Rings |