Pharrell Williams backs Miley Cyrus’ new song
There is no stopping Miley Cyrus. Fresh from her twin wins of Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her song Flowers at the 2024 Grammy Awards, she is back with the makings of another biggie. This is Doctor (Work It Out) which is infectious, stylish and danceable and it has Miley’s vocals bopping at her pop-rock best.
Check out the video on YouTube and you will see Miley as a “midnight medication,” singing “I will be your doctor, I will be your nurse,” in a performance that is a reminder of Tina Turner’s during her glory days in the ‘80s. Remember What’s Love Got to Do with It and Private Dancer? Come to think of it, it is not only Miley’s great singing that echoes Turner, it is also her trademark shimmy dancing with those long, toned legs.
Take note too that the video makes no use of settings or props and a minimum of effects. It is just Miley against a blank wall and she looks sensational. I cannot think of any pop star today who will dare to do something like that. But Miley did and she looks beautiful and confident and happy. Disney’s Hannah Montana has matured into a gorgeous woman. She is the artist to keep tabs on this year.
By the way, if you watched that (Doctor, Work It Out) video, you must have noticed that the credits say Pharrell Williams and Miley Cyrus but you did not hear Pharrell at all in the song. He probably played bass aside from manning the console and could have chosen to join Miley in a verse or two but Pharrell just chose to co-write and produce the song. The reason he takes priority billing is because he is too big a star who cannot stay behind the scenes. They previously worked together for her album Bangerz.
Pharrell is a rapper, singer, arranger and a most influential producer. He is a three-time Grammy winner as Producer of the Year and was part of the production team The Neptunes and was lead singer of the N.E.R.D.S. Among his notable works are I’m a Slave for You for Britney Spears, Blurred Lines for Robin Thicke, Hollaback Girl for Gwen Stefani, Sing for Ed Sheeran and Happy, the Despicable Me theme, for himself. He is also into fashion and is responsible for those edgy outfits and accessories from the luxury label Louis Vuitton.
Back to Miley. She added another trophy to her collection last March 2. Miley’s Flowers was named Best International Song at the Brit Awards. SZA won the Best International Artist Award while Best International Group was Boygenius. Incidentally, Taylor Swift was nominated for Best International Artist. Obviously, she did not win.
By the way, the 2024 Brits became my introduction to a most exciting artist who calls herself Raye. She is so new that she was named Best New Artist. She is so talented that she also won the following:
Artist of the Year; Songwriter of the Year; Best R&B Act; Album of the Year, for My 21st Century Blues; and Song of the Year, for Escapism.
Although My 21st Century Blues is Raye’s first album, she is not really new to the business. She is a songwriter who has composed for stars like Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding, Rihanna, John Legend and Little Mix. No wonder her debut album is one great production with solid songwriting throughout, and fantastic vocals. Check out Escapism and I am sure you, too, will think SZA has serious competition in this girl.
The other winners of this year’s Brits are:
•British Group of the Year: Jungle
•Pop Act of the Year: Dua Lipa
•Dance Act of the Year: Calvin Harris
•Rock and Alternative Act of the Year: Bring Me the Horizon
•Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap Act of the Year: Casisdead
•Rising Star: The Last Dinner Party
•British Producer of the Year: Chase Casisdead
And then, there is the Global Icon Award which went to Kylie Monogue.