Used To Be Young
I am by no means a Miley Cyrus aficionado but you won’t be surprised to know that I have a few opinions. I adore her new song, “I Used To Be Young.” Have you heard it? Here it is.
To me it’s impressive that Miley is already feeling nostalgic at 30. But everything is relative right? If you have an awful but non life-threatening pain it doesn’t mean you don’t get to complain about it simply because somebody else hurts more. Your pain still matters. Besides, she is 10 years older than she was 10 years ago. 10 years is a fair amount of time to note your missteps. THIS is an interesting subject to me — time moving on and you moving with it.
IMO it beats topics about dancing or touching bodies or the anticipation of being “Single Soon” — a super hooky empowerment rave (written by close to 10 writers) for young women who are planning on leaving before they (probably) get left. 😳
“We Can’t Stop” was a good decade ago. So was “Hands in the Air” — the most over-used call to action concept (yawn) in post aught pop-music. “Party in the USA” goes back to when she was 17. It’s apparent THOSE ‘parties’ have something to do with the immaturity she’s singing about in “Used To Be Young.” Not to say a mature girl can’t still party. It’s just that there’s more to life to write about.
Circa 2006 When Miley was ‘younger’ A&R Jon Lind sent her to my house write. She was moving on from songs about caterpillars and ice cream but wasn’t quite twerking or on the poll yet.
My daughter Layla, a Hannah Montana enthusiast, was 9 at the time. I hadn’t told her Miley was coming because she’d be devastated if she canceled. (Artists have been known to cancel.) But she did show up. And when Layla came home from school she was beside herself. She sat up against the wall with her arms around her folded legs, eyes a-glaze. She wouldn’t leave the room.
Miley recorded the songs we wrote. But she’s past the point in her career of having a label suggest to her what those songs should be. Besides there just isn’t that kind of A&Ring anymore anyway. They don’t have that power. That said, when they did, some of them knew what they were doing. They solicited and found songs for artists that stood on their own/ without production. Many of those songs are now evergreens. Replayed and re-covered over and over again. (“I Will Always Love You”)
There are quite a few lines in “Young” that can only have been written by intuitive songwriters. (In this case, Gregory Aldae Hein and Michael Pollack)
You tell me time has done changed me
That's fine, I've had a good runI know I used to be crazy
That's 'causе I Used To Be Young
(altho, the “done” was likely Miley’s contribution)
It’s easy to imagine her telling her story and the 2 of them listening — THAT my friends is all part of the songwriting game. Do you have interesting experiences and points of view? Do you dare to share them? Find a few good people to help you bake that cake. Let’s face it, if you need a whole committee…😳😳
The production is tender, intimate, understated. It lets the song be the star. Co-Producing with Miley and Michael Pollack is Shawn Everett whose work shines outside the mainstream. Miley must have been a fan. I noticed he doesn’t have writer’s credit on the song. Kudos to him for not demanding it because most “third party producers” would in today’s songwriting ecosystem. And they’d get it.
I love Miley’s low range. Her dirty gravelly tone. I love that she doesn’t have to incorporate melisma-for-days to prove she’s a diva. I love that she’s an artist who’s comfortable with mistakes, vulnerability and growth. Selfishly, I hope she keeps on growing.
I think if my friend Jon Lind were with us today he would have bowed to “Used To Be Young” whether he chose it or not. He knew a good one.
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No twerking in this video. Just singin’>>>>>
I was invited to perform at Writer’s Block in LA Oct 17th. Here are the deets. Click on graphic for tickets. It’s been a while. I hope you can come. ❤️
Writer’s Block was founded as a small community gathering in Los Angeles (2017). It has have since grown to host songwriter showcases at prominent venues across the United States! Having featured thousands of artists/songwriters, focusing heavily on the quality of song & strength of voice, Writer’s Block has gained the watchful eye of major labels, publishers, managers, agents, & music lovers worldwide
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