“Midnight Sky” Announces a New Era for Miley Cyrus
By Mallory Haynes
Miley Cyrus told us SHE IS COMING with the release of her EP last year; now, she is HERE, and she has completely blown us away with her long-awaited new single, “Midnight Sky.”
Since breaking free from the role of Disney sweetheart Hannah Montana, Miley’s music style has undergone drastic changes. The superstar has an impressive discography, ranging from the poppy party anthems of Bangerz, to the eclectic, guitar-driven sound of Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz, or going back to her roots with pop-country elements for Younger Now, and most recently, incorporating a trap-pop sound for She Is Coming. “Midnight Sky” is no different in the sense that it showcases Miley’s mutability as an artist by, yet again, introducing another genre to her repertoire. On the track, a funky bassline mixes with airy synths and Miley’s signature raspy vocals to deliver disco with a hint of rock’n’roll. Listening to this track feels like dancing under a mirrorball in a sweaty underground club while an ‘80s cover band plays in the background.
Aside from the undeniable catchiness of the song itself, the writing displayed is incredibly empowering, too. While listening to the chorus, repeating, “I was born to run/I don’t belong to anyone, oh no/Don’t need to be loved by you,” listeners can feel the eagerness Miley has to free herself from the described relationship and be on her own. Certain context clues can lead listeners to assume that this track is about Miley’s very public divorce from Liam Hemsworth and the freedom she now feels.
In addition to topics of liberation and self-love, Miley hints at her pansexuality in the track. Though the first chorus says, “See my lips on her mouth/Everybody’s talking now,” the second says, “See his hands on my waist/Thought you’d never be replaced.” Miley interchanging the pronouns of her love interests in the song is important, as it normalizes exploring one’s sexuality.
Yet another topic Miley explores with “Midnight Sky” is her ability to finally tell her own narrative. In the most recent episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Miley explains to host Alice Cooper that, after her breakup, the world seemed to villainize her for moving on too quickly. She describes the single as a way to reclaim herself and her priorities after the media attacked her character. The lyrics, “Fire in my lungs/Can’t bite the devil on my tongue,” explore this in-depth, depicting Miley giving a big ‘ole middle finger to the haters so that she can speak her truth and continue living as her most authentic self.
Make sure to keep up with Miley via her socials, listed below!