Midnight Sky

Album

Dreamland (Robert Miles)

Label

RCA Records

Genre

Disco

Composer(s)

Miley Cyrus;Ilsey Juber;Jon Bellion;Alexandra Tamposi;Andrew Wotman;Louis Bell

Entered Chart

Aug 29, 2020

Peak Date

Aug 29, 2020

Released

ugust 14, 2020

Recorded

July 2020

Catalog #

RCA

This disco-tinged bop showcases a new direction for Miley Cyrus. The constantly evolving artist took inspiration from her time COVID-19 quarantining to create the environment she wants to live in. She details her message of freedom and empowerment on this track: The midnight sky is the road I'm takin' Head high up in the clouds Cyrus explained on LA's Zach Sang Show: "This song is really just a reflection of everyone kind of having this personal kind of woke moment, I feel like a lot of us are waking up. And you know, the midnight sky, I think is kind of a road that feels like it could be nice to take with our head up in the clouds." Cyrus addresses some of her past relationships, including her split from Australian actor Liam Hemsworth. I don't need to be loved by you See my lips on her mouth, everybody's talkin' now, baby Ooh, you know it's true Seven months after the couple married in December 2018, Cyrus left fans shocked when she announced that they were calling it quits. The singer publicly acknowledged their split with a set of photos of her kissing reality star Kaitlynn Carter during a girls' holiday to Lake Como, Italy. You should know right now that I never stay put in one place Forever and ever, no more Speaking to Sirius XM's the Morning Mash-Up, Cyrus explained that for her, the song is very much about the stigma of the breakdown of relationships. Noting she was considered a failure by some because her marriage didn't last, the free-spirited songstress said: "I think we're kind of set up for devastation - in that, from the time we're little kids, we're taught to claim other humans as our best friends forever. And you just don't know who you're going to be sitting with here right now. You never know who you're going to evolve to be and who they're going to evolve to be. So I think that we, especially as women in relationships, a lot of the time we can get villainized when 'forever' doesn't happen." Despite the coronavirus pandemic shutting down clubs worldwide, 2020 found several artists adopting a disco sound. Cyrus follows acts like Dua Lipa and Doja Cat in releasing a nostalgic-sounding dance anthem. Cyrus wrote the song with: Ali Tamposi, Andrew Watt and Louis Bell. The pop wizards often work together; their previous collaborations include Camila Cabello's "Havana" and 5 Seconds of Summer's "Youngblood." Californian singer-songwriter Ilsey Juber, who previously co-penned Miley Cyrus' collaboration with Mark Ronson, "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart." Her other credits include Shawn Mendes' "Mercy" and Martin Garrix (feat Bebe Rexha)'s "In The Name Of Love." New York singer-rapper Jon Bellion, who is best known for his 2016 hit "All Time Low." His other credits include Maroon 5's "Memories." The self-directed, colorful, retro-styled video sees Cyrus crooning seductively in front of neon lights and a wall of mirrors. It epitomizes everything Miley: unapologetic, sexy, free-spirited and, confident. In creating the song and visual, Cyrus said she drew inspiration from strong female musical icons, like Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, and Debbie Harry. Miley Cyrus dropped a remix on November 6, 2020 during which Stevie Nicks riffs on her 1981 hit "Edge Of Seventeen." The mashup, titled "Edge Of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix)," seamlessly combines the music and lyrics of both songs. Discussing the collab, Cyrus explained how she sought approval from the Fleetwood Mac legend. "I sent her the song and I said, 'I have an alternate melody, if you don't want me to kind of like pay tribute to you and your greatness and how much you've inspired me,'" Miley recalled. "And she said, 'You can borrow from me anytime.'"

La-la, la-la, la

Yeah, it's been a long night and the mirror's tellin' me to go home (home)
But it's been a long time since I felt this good on my own
Uh, lotta years went by with my hands tied up in your ropes
Forever and ever, no more

The midnight sky is the road I'm takin'
Head high up in the clouds
Oh

I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone, oh no
I don't need to be loved by you (by you)
Fire in my lungs, can't bite the devil on my tongue, oh no
I don't need to be loved by you
See my lips on her mouth, everybody's talking now, baby
Ooh, you know it's true, yeah
That I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone, oh no
I don't need to be loved by you (loved by you)

La-la, la-la, la

She got her hair pulled back 'cause the sweat's drippin' off of her face (her face)
Said it ain't so bad if I wanna make a couple mistakes
You should know right now that I never stay put in one place
Forever and ever, no more (no more)

The midnight sky is the road I'm takin'
Head high up in the clouds
Oh

I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone, oh no
I don't need to be loved by you (by you)
Fire in my lungs, can't bite the devil on my tongue, oh no
I don't need to be loved by you
See my lips on her mouth, everybody's talking now, baby
Ooh, you know it's true, yeah
That I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone, oh no
I don't need to be loved by you (by you)

Oh
I don't hide blurry eyes like you
Like you

I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone, oh no
I don't need to be loved by you (by you)
Fire in my lungs, can't bite the devil on my tongue, you know
I don't need to be loved by you
See his hands on my waist, thought you'd never be replaced, baby
Ooh, you know it's true, yeah
That I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone, oh no
I don't need to be loved by you, yeah

La-la, la-la, la
La-la
You know it's true
You know it's true
(Loved by you)