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Miley Cyrus Sued Over Alleged Bruno Mars Plagiarism in “Flowers”
Sep
Miley Cyrus is facing a plagiarism lawsuit over her hit song Flowers. The suit, filed by Tempo Music Investments, accuses Cyrus and her co-writers Michael Pollack and Gregory Hein (also known as Aldae) of copying “numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements” from Bruno Mars‘ 2012 ballad “When I Was Your Man.” Notably, Mars himself is not a plaintiff or defendant in the case, as the lawsuit stems from Tempo Music’s ownership of a copyright stake in Mars’ co-writer Philip Lawrence’s catalog.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles on Monday, alleges that Flowers would not exist without Mars’ track, citing specific similarities between the two songs. The lawsuit highlights that both songs share comparable themes, with Flowers centering on self-empowerment after a breakup and When I Was Your Man reflecting regret over lost love.
The chorus of Flowers includes lines such as, “I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand, talk to myself for hours, say things you don’t understand, I can take myself dancing, and I can hold my own hand.” These lyrics have drawn comparisons to Mars’ chorus: “I should’ve bought you flowers and held your hand, should’ve gave you all my hours when I had the chance, take you to every party ‘cause all you wanted to do was dance.”
Tempo Music’s lawsuit claims that the similarities go beyond lyrics, asserting that the opening vocal line of Flowers begins and ends on the same chords as the opening verse in When I Was Your Man. The plaintiffs are seeking to halt Cyrus from performing the song publicly and for the defendants to stop distributing the track, in addition to unspecified damages.
This is not the first time fans have noticed similarities between the two songs. Upon the release of Flowers in January 2023, many pointed out the parallels between the tracks. Despite this, Flowers became a massive success for Cyrus, earning her two Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, along with a celebrated performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Cyrus, Mars, and the other parties involved have yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit. However, the case could have significant implications for the music industry, as it continues to grapple with questions surrounding musical inspiration and copyright infringement.
In an interview with British Vogue in May 2023, Cyrus revealed that the original version of Flowers had a more melancholic tone, but she ultimately revised it to reflect a more empowering message. “The song is a little fake it till you make it,” she said. “Which I’m a big fan of.” Now, as Flowers faces legal scrutiny, the courts will determine whether the song’s success was built on borrowed elements.
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