Miley Cyrus is no stranger to reinventing herself. From the pop and R&B sounds of the Bangerz album through to the psychedelic pop of Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz, Miley returned to her country routes with 2017’s Younger Now. As she gears up for release of her next album She is Miley Cyrus, the American singer has changed direction once again.
The new single ‘Midnight Sky’ arrives with a thumping disco bassline and a deep Miley vocal, as she sing: “Yeah, it’s been a long night and the mirror’s telling me to go home, but it’s been a long time since I felt this good on my own”. Miley proclaims her independence “that I was born to run, I don’t belong to anyone” above a pounding retro beat.
Musically, 2020 has had its share of nostalgia and ‘Midnight Sky’ has more than a passing resemblance to the style of Dua Lipa’s brilliantly retro Future Nostalgia album. The key difference is that despite the glossy eighties sound this also channels powerful vocals that have never heard Miley sounding so raw. The accompanying self-directed video may be all mirrorballs, 80s inspired clothing and kitsch props, but Miley’s vocals are more akin to Stevie Nicks than disco diva. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, this would be a dancefloor filler, but the biggest statement comes from Miley’s raspy vocals. The song is an uplifting disco anthem of female empowerment that doesn’t smack of cliché. As Miley sings “I don’t need to be loved by you” who are we to doubt her?
Words by Andrew Butcher
Check out Andrew’s blog here.
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