French disco singer Amanda Lear has publicly accused American pop star Miley Cyrus of copying elements of her 1970s song “The Sphinx” in Cyrus’ new track “Redlights.”
Lear, a former model and singer who became known internationally for her association with surrealist artist Salvador Dalí and her relationship with Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones, raised the allegation on social media on Sunday.
Cyrus released her 10th studio album, “Bass Persuades,” last Friday. The 10-track dance-pop record includes “Redlights,” a slower song whose melody and vocal style Lear says bear similarities to her 1978 track “The Sphinx.”
“Thank you, Miley, for copying my song ‘The Sphinx’! I’m flattered!” Lear wrote on social media, adding the hashtags “ripoff” and “copycat.”
Lear later clarified that she was not personally threatening Cyrus with legal action.
Speaking to AFP on Monday, the singer said her record label, Universal, and the publishers of “The Sphinx” were seeking formal acknowledgment of what they consider plagiarism.
“I’ve never been litigious, but my record label, Universal, and the publishers of the track, for which I wrote the lyrics, want acknowledgment of the plagiarism,” Lear said.
She stressed that her social media post was intended to draw attention to the alleged similarities rather than announce a lawsuit.
“I simply pointed out the situation by thanking Miley Cyrus and adding that I was flattered. I never threatened a lawsuit or retaliation,” she added.
The dispute centres on the similarities between “Redlights” and Lear’s “The Sphinx,” a song originally released in 1978. Lear’s track is characterised by a slower tempo and her distinctive deep, gravelly vocal delivery, while Cyrus’ new recording has been described as part of the dance-pop direction of her latest album.
At this stage, Lear’s comments amount to an allegation of plagiarism, while any determination of whether the songs infringe copyright would depend on a detailed comparison of the musical and lyrical elements involved, as well as the response of the artists, publishers and relevant rights holders.
Lear has enjoyed a long career spanning music, modelling and entertainment. She has released more than 20 albums and became a prominent figure in European disco during the 1970s and 1980s.
Her career has also been closely associated with some of the most recognisable figures in art and popular culture. Before becoming a successful recording artist, Lear worked as a model and was famously connected to Salvador Dalí, who regarded her as a muse.
The latest controversy puts one of Lear’s earlier recordings back in the spotlight as attention turns to whether Cyrus or the teams behind “Redlights” will respond to the allegation and whether the song’s publishers will pursue formal recognition or other action.
For now, Lear says she is seeking acknowledgment rather than confrontation, insisting that her public comments were intended to highlight the similarities between the two recordings rather than threaten the American pop star with litigation.
