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Why Miley Cyrus' song 'Flowers' is a response to Bruno Mars' 'When I Was Your Man' 10 years later
17 September 2024, 11:20 | Updated: 17 September 2024, 12:07
Miley Cyrus' song 'Flowers' has a clear resemblance to a ballad released a decade ago.
Miley Cyrus' track 'Flowers' topped charts around the world, and the song's chorus is strikingly similar both musically and lyrically to 'When I Was Your Man' by Bruno Mars, released in 2013.
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Officially, Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter's song 'Flowers' hasn't credited 'When I Was Your Man''s songwriters (yet), but once you hear it, you can't not think of Bruno's love song.
Miley Cyrus sings Flowers in the shower
Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man (Official Music Video)
The lyrics to Bruno's 'When I Was Your Man' chorus goes:
I should have bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should have 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 dancing
But she's dancing with another man
The lyrics to Miley's 'Flowers' chorus goes:
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
Miley Cyrus - Flowers (Official Video)
Fans theorised about the message behind the song, especially as it was released on her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth’s birthday.
The couple split after eight months of marriage in 2019, and Miley has previously spoken negatively about their relationship.
It has been stated by fans and various publications that Liam once dedicated 'When I Was Your Man' to Miley, and that the song is a direct reference to their relationship.
The song's lyrics also include “built a home and watched it burn”, which may reference their home in Malibu which burnt down in late 2018.
There's also been a few mashups of the song:
Flowers x When I Was Your Man - Miley Cyrus ft. Bruno Mars (Mashup)
Whatever the influence, 'Flowers' proved to be one of 2023's biggest pop smashes.
