"Malibu" is a song by American singerMiley Cyrus. It was released on May 11, 2017, byRCA Records as thelead single from her sixth studio album,Younger Now. Its lyrics were written by Cyrus and its music and production was done by her andOren Yoel. The song first premiered onBeats 1 on May 11 and was then subsequently released for digital download and streaming that day. It was commercially successful, reaching the top 10 in the US, and number eleven in the UK. "Malibu" became Cyrus's ninth top-ten entry on theBillboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been certified sextuple-platinum in Australia, quadruple-platinum in Norway, triple platinum in Canada, double platinum in Spain and the United States, and platinum in multiple European territories, including the United Kingdom.
The song discusses Cyrus' relationship with her then-fiancé andThe Last Song co-star,Liam Hemsworth. Critics viewed "Malibu" as indicative of Cyrus' transition into becoming a more mellow artist, and more removed from her previously controversial image. An accompanying music video was released on the same day as the song. It features Cyrus in various all-white outfits as she is shown frolicking in various outdoor locations.
It can so easily be generalized into a love song. I had to really heal myself individually, and then this song – about finding a new love with an old love, maybe you're finding a new freedom – is also about individuality and the freedom in that. And realizing that certain doors lead you to one place you never imagined you would be, and if that can be through a person, that's really awesome.
Following the release of her fifth studio album,Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz, Cyrus resumed working on her upcoming sixth studio album.[3] Cyrus announced in October 2016 that she was re-engaged to actor and now ex-husbandLiam Hemsworth, with whom she starred in theNicholas Sparks film adaptation of the novel of the same name,The Last Song.[4] Cyrus wrote "Malibu" while taking anUber on her way to her job onThe Voice.[5]
"Malibu" was first announced in a May 2017 cover story forBillboard magazine, where Cyrus announced that the song, which would be the lead single from her upcoming sixth studio album, which was later announced to be titledYounger Now, and it would be released on May 11, 2017. In the same interview, she also addressed being sober for three weeks prior, and noting that this affected the song.[6][7][8] While its title references the city ofMalibu, California, the song mainly discusses her relationship with Hemsworth.[9] Cyrus described the song as being about "finding a new love with an old love", and about finding a "new freedom" in that.[2] The production of the song was handled byOren Yoel, with whom Cyrus worked on songs such as "Adore You".[10]
The cover artwork of "Malibu" was revealed on May 10, showing Cyrus lying on top of the grass back in her backyard, with herengagement ring on; it was taken by Hemsworth.[11][12] The song first premiered onBeats 1 on May 11, 2017, presented byZane Lowe.[13] It was then released for streaming on Apple Music and other streaming platforms.[14]
The song's lyrics differ from Cyrus's previous two albums, and provide introspection on her love life with Liam Hemsworth, whom she lived with in Malibu at the time of writing the song.[19]The New York Times said Cyrus sings about "past insecurities, current contentment and 'Hoping I just stay the same, and nothing will change/And it'll be us, just for a while.'"[20]
"Malibu" received mixed reviews from music critics.The New York Times'sJon Pareles described the song as "nice as can be", saying, "The only shock is that there's no shock."[20] Jon Blistein ofRolling Stone called "Malibu" a "stripped-down song ... [which] buoys Cyrus' simple vocals and lovestruck lyrics."[15]Forbes writer Hugh McIntyre says "'Malibu' is unexpected upon first listen", and notes Cyrus "has gone in anAmericana direction, opting for a guitar-based composition instead of the electronic sound her fans have become used to over the past few years."[21] Joey Nolfi ofEntertainment Weekly gave the song a positive review, describing it as "minimal, refreshing, and simple in tone", as well as "radio-friendly".[22]Time's Raisa Bruner called "Malibu" a "stripped-down" and "breezy" track, and noted that the track deviates from her previous work, which included "zany stage antics" and "conversation-sparking politics".[23]
Amanda Petrusich ofThe New Yorker recognised the musical strength of the song, stating "Musically, 'Malibu' is a mix of Laurel Canyon and Nashville, equal parts bohemian and smarmy; it is as ifDolly Parton were finally called upon to sing a late-eraStevie Nicks track"; however, the review called Cyrus' performance of it "lifeless", writing that her disposal to the hip-hop culture she once embraced now feels "disingenuous, if not sinister".[24] Petrusich stated that "this is too bad, because Cyrus has a rich, husky voice, and, when she inhabits it with more gusto, like on her previous singles "The Climb" and "Wrecking Ball" it conveys both fragility and tremendous strength."[24]Pitchfork writer Jillian Mapes found the song "sedated", "wholly inoffensive", and "a shrug of a song", while saying that "[Malibu is] so breezy, it makesSheryl Crow seem edgy, orLady Gaga'sJoanne resemble a legit rock'n'roll reinvention."[25]Variety writer Chris Willman called it "sweet" and "deeply felt", praising Cyrus's "guilelessness" and Oren Yoel's production skills while also comparing her sound on the song to that ofSeals and Crofts, but adding that the track itself has "any number of clunker lines" andnon-sequiturs.[26]Spin's Andy Cush said that while it boasts "earnest lyrics, unfussy production with handclaps and clean electric guitars, [and] a mild twang to remind you of her status as the progeny of acountry star", he found the track to be "utterly inoffensive" and that Cyrus's persona in "Malibu" felt like "her most deliberately constructed persona yet", while likening her sound to that ofSheryl Crow andDon Henley.[16]
In the United States, with less than a day of tracking, "Malibu" debuted at number 64 on theBillboard Hot 100 with 29,000 downloads and 4 million streams.[27] In its first full week, the single soared to number 10 with 77,000 copies sold (106,000 total), 21.5 million streams, and logged 13.5 million in airplay audience. The feat makes "Malibu" Cyrus' ninth top 10 entry on the chart and her first since "Wrecking Ball" in 2013.[28] On theBillboardAdult Contemporary chart the song debuted at number 27 the week of July 15, 2017 with 103 spins and 0.167 million audience impressions across Americanadult contemporary radio stations.[29][30] "Malibu" has moved 1 million equivalent units in the United States as of September 2017.[31]
In United Kingdom, the single debuted at number eleven on theUK Singles Chart, becoming her fourth song to peak at this position.[32] In Oceania, "Malibu" peaked at number three on theARIA Charts in Australia and at number four on theOfficial New Zealand Music Chart.
The music video for "Malibu" was released on May 11, 2017, and was directed by Cyrus andDiane Martel. It features several shots of Cyrus on a beach with balloons, sitting in front of a waterfall,[33] inwildflower fields, and running with a dog, all while dressed in various white outfits. In the video, she also shows herengagement ring.[34] The video garnered over 50 million views within its first two weeks.[35] As of July 2024, it has over 530 million views.[36]
Cyrus performed the single on theToday Show on May 26, 2017.
Cyrus performed "Malibu" live for the first time atWango Tango on May 13, 2017, as a special guest performer.[37] A little over a week later, she gave her first televised performance of the track at the2017Billboard Music Awards on May 21.[38] She was introduced by both her father,Billy Ray Cyrus, and sister,Noah Cyrus, before performing the song. She wore a pair of white jean shorts, a white crop top, and a tan cowboy hat.[39] Cyrus began to choke up towards the end of the performance, becoming teary-eyed and thanking her fans.[40][41][42] A day later, she performed the song onThe Voice finale, in front of a forest-themed backdrop similar to in the song's music video.[43] She prefaced the performance by dedicating it toAriana Grande and the victims of theManchester Arena bombing, which had occurred 2 two days prior to her performance, saying, "I'd like to dedicate this song to my good friend Ariana Grande and to everyone who experienced that horrific attack yesterday. Our hearts are with you."[44] On May 26, Cyrus also performed the song on theToday show as part as their Citi Concert series.[45][46]
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