AIR SUPPLY - LOST IN LOVE: What was up with people ripping off this song's chord changes & cadence???

Or was Air Supply not even the first to use it?

In 1999 (?), Andreas Dorau's "Der Letzte Popsong" was based on this cadence and its changes, but it sounded like it sampled some Disco era strings as the basis. This alludes to something earlier than 1980s Lost in Love.

Der Letzte Popsong can be heard at the end of this:

Of course, the biggest hit to use it after Air Supply was George Micheal's Last Christmas in 1984:

I just realized to day that Sylvia's 1982 Country-crossover hit "Nobody" uses it in the verses:

So does it predate Air Supply? And why did so many people rip this particular pastiche off?

For reference (and lols), Air Supply - Lost In Love

I love this song. I'll try to think of other similar songs in chord changes or cadence.

George Micheal's Last Christmas

Wham, whatever.

i was looking for a thread for lost people and i found this
love this song!