Jamaican artist Flourgon has sued Miley Cyrus and Sony Music for the singer's 2013 song, "We Can't Stop"
NEW YORK — Jamaican artist Flourgon has sued Miley Cyrus and Sony Music for the singer’s 2013 song, « We Can’t Stop, » claiming that the pop star lifted from his 1988 song, « We Run Things. »
The musician filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in New York City, claiming that Cyrus’ megahit borrows a line from Flourgon’s song.
On her song, Cyrus sings: « We run things, things don’t run we. » Flourgon’s song includes virtually the same line, « We run things, things no run we. »
Flourgon’s real name is Michael May. The lawsuit, which seeks $300 million in damages, also names RCA Records, which is a Sony label, and Mike WiLL Made-It, who produced and co-wrote « We Can’t Stop. »
TheWrap reports that the suit also argues that Cyrus’ song is « largely rooted in Caribbean musical influence » and includes « a theme of defiant audaciousness in the realm of self-discovery and self-governance. The entire theme of ‘We Can’t Stop’ would be hollow in sound and impact, and would fail to achieve … success without the unique thrust of authenticity and the substantially similar theme of/provided by Plaintiff May’s original, protected content. »
Cyrus’ song became an international multiplatinum hit, giving her an official pop star breakthrough. The song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
A representative for the defendants didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment.
