Miley Cyrus is facing a lawsuit over her song “Flowers,” which is alleged to sound too similar to Bruno Mars’ track “When I Was Your Man.” Tempo Music Investments, which owns a copyright share of Mars’ song, filed the paperwork in a Los Angeles court claiming that many have recognized the striking similarities between the two songs. The lawsuit alleges that “Flowers” duplicates numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements of Mars’ track, and brings a claim for copyright infringement against Cyrus and the defendants listed in the filing.
The lawsuit specifically mentions “Flowers” songwriters Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack, but Mars himself is not named as a plaintiff. Tempo Music Investments highlighted the similarities in the opening vocal lines of the two songs, noting that the chorus of “Flowers” begins and ends on the same chords as the opening vocal line in the verse of “When I Was Your Man.” The company has requested that Cyrus and the defendants cease reproducing, distributing, or publicly performing “Flowers,” and is seeking monetary damages to be determined at a trial.
Mars released “When I Was Your Man” in 2013, while Cyrus’ song “Flowers” came out a decade later and quickly became a hit. Fans have been speculating about the song’s references, particularly those related to Cyrus’ ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth. Miley’s sister Brandi Cyrus commented on the various narratives fans have created around the song, including references to Mars. She noted the creativity of fans on platforms like TikTok and how they build and share different interpretations.
Brandi also mentioned the connection between Mars’ lyrics in “When I Was Your Man” and the chorus of Miley’s song, pointing out similarities in themes and imagery. Mars’ lyrics talk about buying flowers and holding hands, while Miley’s chorus emphasizes self-love and empowerment. Fans have created narratives linking the two songs together, suggesting that Miley’s track is a response to Mars’ song or that there are hidden references between them.
Despite the lawsuit and the controversy surrounding the similarities between the two songs, neither Miley Cyrus nor Bruno Mars has publicly commented on the issue. The legal battle over copyright infringement continues, with Tempo Music Investments seeking to protect their interests in Mars’ song and alleging that Cyrus’ “Flowers” would not exist without it. The outcome of the lawsuit and any potential impact on the music industry remain to be seen as the case progresses through the legal system.
