Miley Cyrus Faces Lawsuit Over Claims Her Song ‘Flowers’ Copied Bruno Mars

Miley Cyrus is facing a lawsuit from a company that claims she borrowed elements from Bruno Mars’ 2013 hit “When I Was Your Man” for her song “Flowers.” The legal action was initiated in a Los Angeles court on Monday by Tempo Music Investments, which contends that Cyrus’ track, a significant comeback for her, includes numerous similarities to Mars’ work. Notably, “Flowers” was released on the birthday of her ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth.

The lawsuit asserts that fans of Mars’ song can easily recognize that “Flowers” did not achieve its considerable success solely through its own merits. It claims that Cyrus’ track replicates various melodic, harmonic, and lyrical components of “When I Was Your Man.” Tempo Music goes on to argue that Cyrus’ song features similar “melodic pitch design,” a comparable bass line, selective chorus bars, certain dramatic music elements, lyrical parallels, and specific chord progressions.

Tempo Music holds a share of the copyright for “When I Was Your Man” as they purchased the catalog of Philip Lawrence, one of the writers of the song. The similarities in lyrics between the two songs, released a decade apart, are striking. In Mars’ original song, he sings lines about regret, reflecting on lost opportunities to show affection, while Cyrus’ “Flowers” flip the narrative, emphasizing self-love and independence.

In “When I Was Your Man,” Mars expresses feelings of regret by singing, “I should’ve bought you flowers and held your hand, shoulda gave you all my hours when I had the chance; Take you to every party, ’cause all you wanted to do was dance, now my baby’s dancin’, but she’s dancin’ with another man.” In contrast, Cyrus empowers herself with lyrics like, “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, yeah, I can love me better than you can.”

The lawsuit also addresses the massive success of “Flowers,” which marked a significant resurgence in Cyrus’ career, similar to her breakout period during the “Bangerz” era in 2013. The song’s popularity led to Cyrus winning her first-ever Grammy Awards earlier this year, taking home honors for both record of the year and best pop solo performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

Meanwhile, Bruno Mars had also received accolades and recognition for his performance at the Grammys in the past, including a nomination for best pop solo performance for his compelling work on “When I Was Your Man.” In February, Cyrus showcased her powerful rendition of “Flowers” at the Grammy Awards, further cementing her return to the spotlight.

The outcome of this legal dispute remains uncertain, but it raises questions about the fine line between inspiration and imitation in the music industry. With both artists enjoying significant success, the resolution could have implications for the broader conversation about artistic influence and copyright. As the case proceeds, many will be watching closely to see how it unfolds and what it means for the future of both Cyrus and Mars.

Source: USA Today