Miley Cyrus’ End of the World: A Mix of Stevie Nicks, Black Widow and Tequila Shots

First off, yes…this track is as fun as the headline suggests. Slamming tequila shots with Stevie Nicks and Black Widow from the Marvel movies? Yes please. However, Miley Cyrus has been hit and miss for me in the past 10 years or so. I found Flowers a bit paint by numbers pop, but Malibu and Mother’s Daughter really worked for me. Let’s see where her latest single lands for me.

Musically, the track is glittery pop from start to finish with slight dashes of disco and a little 80s adult contemporary. This may seem like a disgusting grab bag of disparate genres that will never work, but it’s a good groove. It is pop enough to play well for a modern audience, but not as bland and soulless as I found Flowers. There are a gaggle of producers and engineers on this record including Miley Cyrus herself and Shawn Everett…which is interesting. Everett did work with War on Drugs and the Alabama Shakes. This may account for the more interesting choices in the track, such as the music dropping out entirely for a late hook and the music generally having more heart.

However, what really makes this track is Cyrus’ vocal and the themes within the track. The track is essentially about living it up because we don’t know how long we have on this Earth…so slam tequila shots and hook-up. This is well-worn pop fodder, which in a vacuum is neither original or interesting. However, it is the vocal that brings it all together and elevates this track above your run of the mill pop. I think Miley will appreciate this sentence…she is harnessing her inner Stevie Nicks with both skill and power. This is a vocal of someone who has lived and seen some shit. Before now, I feel that Cyrus has been putting on an act to stay on brand; however, End of the World has the genuine rough and ready Miley Cyrus. You feel like the entire time in the studio she is putting back Jack and Cokes, while burning down Marlboro Reds…hard pack of course…I love this vocal because it is late 70s rock with just a hint of country twang.

Even though musically this track is pure pop, Cyrus’ vocal is far from that and conjures images of rock queens like Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett and Grace Slick. I love it. The glittery disco backing will ensure it gets a great run on the charts and acts as a good foil for her vocal. But for me, this track is all about the vocal and I can listen to it for hours. If this version of Miley Cyrus is what we are getting on her records moving forward, count me in.

Listen to End of the World