Miley Cyrus’ ‘Flowers’ Rules Weekend Music Streaming Charts As Breakup Songs Surge

Topline

Miley Cyrus’ new empowerment anthem “Flowers” dominated music streaming services and TikTok just days after the song was released on Friday, becoming the latest breakup song to hit the top of the charts this year, following SZA’s “Kill Bill” and Shakira’s “BZRP Music Sessions #53.”

Key Facts

Key Background

Lyrics from “Flowers” appear to riff on the 2012 song “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. Mars sings, “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.” On the chorus of “Flowers,” Cyrus sings, “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.” The song also appears to sample part of Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 hit “I Will Survive.” Fans have speculated that “Flowers” is about Cyrus’ ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. The song was released on his birthday, and sleuths have speculated the use of the Mars song and other easter eggs in the music video point toward Hemsworth and the couple’s relationship. “Flowers” is the first single from Cyrus’ upcoming album, Endless Summer Vacation,” is due out March 10.

Tangent

“Flowers” isn’t the only breakup tune to go viral this weekend. On Wednesday, Shakira released “BZRP Music Sessions #53,” which was the No. 1 song on Spotify on Saturday. It’s rumored to be about her former longtime partner, soccer star Gerard Piqué. On the chorus she sings in Spanish, “A she wolf like me isn’t for guys like you/ I was out of your league that’s why you’re/ With someone just like you,” according to an English translation from Genius. SZA’s song “Kill Bill,” on which she sings “I might kill my ex,” has been one of the top songs on the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks since it was released last month, ranking at No. 3 last week.

Further Reading

Miley Cyrus fans think her new single, ‘Flowers,’ takes a dig at her ex Liam Hemsworth. Here’s every detail and Easter egg from the song you may have missed. (Insider)

Shakira’s Breakup Song Goes Incredibly Hard (The Cut)