Amanda Lear has accused Miley Cyrus of copying her 1978 song “The Sphinx” on “REDLIGHTS,” a track from Cyrus’ new album Bass Persuades. Lear addressed the alleged similarity on Instagram shortly after the album’s September 18 release, thanking Cyrus sarcastically for “copying” her song.
“Thank You Miley for copying my song The Sphinx, I am flattered…” Lear wrote, accompanying the post with the artwork for Bass Persuades and hashtags including #ripoff and #copycat. The French singer, songwriter, model, actress and painter later explained that fans were the first to point out similarities between Lear’s song and the sixth track on Cyrus’ 10th studio album.
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“The Sphinx,” released on Lear’s 1978 album Never Trust a Pretty Face, was co-written with producer Anthony Monn. The slower disco ballad uses the mythical sphinx as a metaphor for a woman who remains difficult to understand, with Lear previously describing it as her favorite song she had written.
According to Lear, the resemblance goes beyond the general sound of the two recordings. She has said that “REDLIGHTS” and “The Sphinx” share similarities in melody and rhythm, although Cyrus’ track moves at a faster pace and features different lyrics.
Miley Cyrus has not publicly responded to Lear’s comments. The accusation arrives during a major release week for the singer, whose Bass Persuades is projected to open with approximately 46,000 U.S. units, according to early estimates from Nora Music, potentially putting the album inside the Billboard 200’s Top 10.
Bass Persuades is Miley’s 10th studio album and her first project released through Atlantic Records following her departure from Columbia. The 10-track set is also the first album promoted under the mononym MILEY, moving through dance-pop, romantic pop and atmospheric production while drawing from her relationship with fiancé Maxx Morando and themes of self-love.
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