[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom, then twenty-four year old Miley Cyrus seems well on the way to becoming quite a wise woman.
Her new album ‘Younger Now’ sees the star lean into her Nashville roots and her seemingly unconcerned attitude to radio airplay has resulted in a beautifully simplistic and genuine product.
With hit single ‘Malibu’ we see Miley ditch her old hammer-licking ways from her fourth album ‘Bangerz’ as she now twirls happily by the ocean wearing white, likely symbolic of this new hopeful and balanced stage in the young starlet’s life.
The song itself is a love letter to fiance Liam Hemsworth and was hugely successful making it her ninth entry into the top ten on the US Billboard hot 100.
Miley also dueted with Godmother Dolly Parton on this album to bring us ‘Rainbowland’ in which she expresses her wish for an idealistic world in which ‘we’re free to be exactly who we are.’ Cyrus admitted that she was saddened by Clinton’s loss and hurt by the strong political divide of her nation.
In ‘Inspired’ she begins with her hopes for the environment and reaches out to her fans to enact ‘change’ in the world.
Keeping with the element of change, Cyrus’ ‘Younger Now’ tells a story of someone who has grown considerably and is reflecting on life with an attitude of acceptance and peace , reflected in the lyrics “Change is a thing you can count on”.
Here we are meeting a more mature Miley who is embracing this new era and knows that ‘No one stays the same.’
Both ‘Bad Mood’ and ‘Thinkin’ are quite obsessive and dark love songs where she describes in detail feelings of doubt and mistrust. These are sounds from the mind of someone who over thinks quite a bit which can be relatable for many people – young and old.
She expresses the opposite frame of mind in ‘Week Without You’ where she grabs her ‘old blue jeans’ instead of that ‘silly dress’ – this is a totally feel good song for any lady.
In ‘Love Someone’ she admits ‘nothing’s really worth it unless you’re having fun’. This is a really soulful track that contains undertones of a passionate and angry Cyrus.
‘Miss You So Much’ and ‘I Would Die For You’ are both extremely pure and honest tracks in which she talks about her hard times and overwhelming love for (perhaps) her fiance Liam.
Finally, ‘She’s Not Him’ is worded like an apology letter. Miley refers to a lover and addresses her conflict with her pansexuality.
It’s a very moving piece containing an overwhelming sense of melancholy and thankfulness as this person ‘gave (her) things you can’t buy back with money’ and changed her life.
Overall this album is a reflection of someone who is still growing, changing and evolving. Miley reminds us that we should always embrace change as it’s inevitable.
When asked about the album she said it mirrored her journey saying ”Anytime I say I’m being myself, I’m always being myself” and as we’ve seen,
‘No one stays the same’.
Mari Foody