Miley Cyrus finds herself at the center of a legal storm, accused of allegedly borrowing heavily from one of Bruno Mars' chart-topping anthems. Tempo Music Investments, a stakeholder in the copyright of Mars' smash hit "When I Was Your Man," has slapped Cyrus with a lawsuit, alleging "striking similarities" between her viral hit "Flowers," as revealed in court documents procured by FOX Business.
The lawsuit paints a vivid picture, asserting, "Any avid listener of Bruno Mars' heartfelt ballad knows that Miley Cyrus' 'Flowers' did not blossom into its current success unaided." It further details how "Flowers" mirrors numerous facets of "When I Was Your Man," encompassing melodic contours, harmonic tapestries, lyrical nuances, down to the intricate chord progressions that weave both songs together.
"The parallels are undeniable, and the sheer number of similarities between these two recordings underscores the fact that 'Flowers' would not have flourished without the roots of 'When I Was Your Man,'" the lawsuit emphatically states.
Interestingly, Mars himself was not directly named as a plaintiff in this Monday, September 16, filing in the Los Angeles federal court. Instead, co-writers Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack were listed for their alleged unauthorized "appropriation" of the song, with Sony Music Publishing and Apple also dragged into the fray.
"When I Was Your Man," penned by Mars alongside Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, and Andrew Wyatt, has stood the test of time, with Tempo Music Investments claiming ownership of its copyright interests "sometime around 2020."
The lawsuit meticulously dissects the songs, pointing out that "the opening vocal refrain of 'Flowers' echoes the same chordal framework that initiates and concludes the verse of 'When I Was Your Man,' creating an eerie sense of familiarity."
Tempo Music Investments is seeking an injunction against Cyrus, 31, and the other defendants, demanding they cease all reproduction, distribution, and public performances of "Flowers." Furthermore, the music investment giant is pursuing damages, though the exact amount remains to be determined.
Representatives for Cyrus have remained tight-lipped on the matter, while Mars' camp has yet to respond to Fox News Digital's inquiries.
This legal tangle comes on the heels of Cyrus' triumphant moment at the 66th Grammy Awards in February 2024, where she bagged her maiden Grammy wins for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, performing "Flowers" live on stage. The song had already captured global attention, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and shattering records as the fastest to amass one billion streams on Spotify.
Meanwhile, Mars' "When I Was Your Man" held sway over the charts for over 16 weeks in 2013, ultimately peaking at number one. The song also garnered a Grammy nod for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2013 and won the "Most Performed Song" award at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards in 2014, further solidifying its legacy. With an impressive eleven platinum certifications, "When I Was Your Man" continues to resonate deeply with audiences worldwide.
