It's time for #3 to fall.
How is this literally working out so perfectly for me now? The Climb is 100% out next.
Is my bestie correct?
Unfortunately, yes.
Well, it was gonna happen sooner or later. The Climb was written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe, and produced by John Shanks, and recorded by Miley for the Hannah Montana movie and its soundtrack. For the first time in a while, I actually have to tell you about other work by the writers. Jessi is a country singer and songwriter, who's also worked with Reba, Blake Shelton, and Trisha Yearwood and Jon Mabe has also written for country artists such as Little Big Town. The song was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on March 5, 2009, and became her most successful single to date, hitting the top 10 in five countries, with top 5 peaks in four of them, including a #4 peak on the US Hot 100, which was her highest at the time. it hit the top 20 in another 6 countries, including a peak of #11 in the U.K., tied with See You Again as her highest peak there at the time, and it went top 40 in another 5 countries. It also had success on several other side Billboard charts, including #1 peaks on Canada AC and US Adult Contemporary. It was certified 4 times platinum in the U.S. for sales of four million units, her first RIAA certification for a single, and was BRIT certified Platinum, her first platinum certification in the U.K. In short, it was the first real launch of Miley's superstardom, which would only continue later that year. It's use in the movie is as the "big performance song" and if you've ever seen any musical - especially Disney ones - you know what I mean about that. I don't wanna give too much away, so I won't talk about what leads her to singing the song, but it's pretty important in the movie. Because of all the success, I feel like it's transcended it's status as a "soundtrack song" and is just considered one of Miley's classics, and continues to be one of her most well-known songs. And I think another large part of that has to do with the fact it was never written with the movie in mind. According to Wikipedia - and the sources aren't really working for me just to warn you - Jessi came up with the melody while she was headed to work with Jon, and said "The lyrics kinda started to come, I think for both of us, being kinda underdogs in the business. My co-writer was a songplugger, just turned songwriter, and I'd had record deals and ups and downs in the music business. I think for both of us, we just came from a place of, you know, 'it's not a race'." Before being recorded by Miley, the song was rejected by several country artists, until Peter Chelsom - the director of the movie - heard some of Jessi's music and asked her to submit some songs for the film. She sent The Climb, and the director wanted it to be an integral part of the movie, but asked them to rework it a little, as it was originally written in third person and was more spiritual in nature. After they came up with a final draft, they sent it, and the filmmakers said "This is perfect for Miley, it’s gonna change her life, gonna change your life." Chelsom also stated that the song "turned up" the film's music level by tapping into Cyrus's newfound vocal range. And the rest is history. Now, I've always loved this song. I can't remember the first time I heard it - could've been while watching the movie, could've been on the radio, I don't know - but I do know that it always hits me like a freight train. I swear, I didn't know until today the story behind the song, but it's always been for me, about being an underdog and working on overcoming that. And songs like that have always held a huge spot in my heart. Every single listen is just as exhilarating and powerful for me as the first. From the opening piano notes, I'm ready to get up in my feels and sing every word. The production is just a perfect combination of country and pop-rock, and it comes together to create that epic power ballad feel of the whole song. My favorite musical moment is probably the electric guitar use from the second verse on, and especially that solo. What really makes the song for me though, is her voice. Emotional, powerful, stunning, immaculate, show-stopping and gorgeous. I don't understand how anyone, after hearing this, could claim Miley can't sing. I've read post-The Climb reviews where people did exactly that, and it still baffles me. She sounds crystal clear throughout every single second, and as much as I've never been to actually care about technical skill and range, I love that Miley shows off what she can do in that department here. I always say I love her voice, and that has to do more with her tone, and how she emotes more then anything, and every element of her voice is on full display here. And that just makes me love the song even more. And the lyrics...damn these lyrics. It's easy to write them off as typical inspirational fodder, but the message of feeling like you're going nowhere, you're not good for anything, it won't matter how hard you try, it's pointless, but then using those thoughts and those feelings to fuel your passion and determination to help you on your journey, knowing that it's gonna be a hard, long battle, but also knowing that's how memories are made and that you shouldn't focus on the destination but on the work the journey takes is wonderful to me. I'm sure I've mentioned before that I wanna be a writer - specifically an author/novelist. That's the career I want, and I've wanted it since I was a kid. And I know it's going to be a lot of work, and really hard, and I might not make it as one, and my writing may never amount to anything. And I know that it would be easier to give in to that knowledge and give up. Get a job working in an office or a store or something. Something that makes money easy. But I know that I don't want that. Sometimes I feel like giving up - on my worst days, I want to. Those days, I never even want to think about writing, or finishing whatever it is I've worked on. But then I'd be wasting my life, and ignoring the passion I have for doing what I love, and that's a sadder existence then constantly working hard on it and not succeeding. Songs like this remind me that no matter what, the journey is worth it. I always felt it would do well here, and I wasn't sure how the forum felt about Who Owns My Heart, so that - plus the overt queerness of the song - made me give it my 11. But this would basically be my second one. It's been extremely painful seeing people call for it. Thankfully, I was right, and it did do well. And the forum repented for it's placement in the last rate - #28 with a 7.22 average, absolute bullshit. Despite Hazey's best efforts, the song was only ever out of the top 3 with the first 5 voters, which included him. And it makes my heart happy to say that even if he had given this his 0, it still would've been #3. Y'all have made me so proud. When it comes to live performances, Miley gave many of the song throughout 2009 and 2010, on different talk shows and stuff. The song was the finale for her Wonder World Tour, and was included in her set-list for the Gypsy Heart Tour, as well as her Rock In Rio set, but after that wrapped up, she didn't perform it again for 6 years, until 2017, when she performed it on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and has pulled it our for a few special occasions since, most recently on May 15, 2020, for the
#Graduation 2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020. I'm really happy Miley has recently embraced the song and what it means to people again, and hope she will continue to perform it in the future. Critically, reception was mostly positive.
BBC complimented her voice, saying "Miley acquits herself well vocally — there are moments where her voice sounds a tad strained, but it's good to hear her on a track that's a little more subdued and with less frantic production than the uptempo, sassy pop songs we're used to." In their review for Party In The U.S.A.,
Billboard called it "one of the year's strongest ballads",
The Boston Globe said it's a "pretty liberation anthem" and
The Los Angeles Times said it's "buried in cheese" and described it as "pre-Valentine's Day gooeyness" but also said that "The Climb' is the rare Miley ballad that's on par with some of her more spunky teen pop."
AllMusic describe the song as "natural,...down to earth and grown-up" and compared it to Shania's music,
The New York Times said it's an "appealing new single [that] is just the sort of demure, inspirational country-rock that could easily be mistaken for self-reckoning", and while reviewing The Time Of Our Lives (where the song was track 8 on the international edition),
The Guardian said it's the "rather superior ballad" compared to the others on the EP.
Now, as usual, on to the people who matter. Let's get the haters out of the way first.
@DJHazey (4.5) is tasteless:
I remember having to put this and Skyscraper in my Disney Queens rate and knowing I'd be pressed and distressed when they outlasted my favorite bops. I'm just not here for this at all. It didn't help that it was always on the radio at work. At least it's a bit less irritating than Skyscraper and I usually give that a 4, so you're welcome. Both of them are classics! And I have to laugh at you thinking you're doing me a favor dddd. And
@iheartpoptarts (5) just says:
An ~inspirational~ song.
Ddd I feel like I'm a kid covering his ears and singing "La la la" loudly to ignore the hurtful things said about this song. Thankfully, the worst of it is over. But a couple of you didn't exactly rain praise on it either.
@Maki (8.25) uses a dreaded acronym:
I've always found this song a bit overrated... don't know really why, but I kind of think it could've been even better. Maybe a bit too MOR? Nonetheless, her vocals are on point and the instrumentation is rather lovely, so it remains a great song. No. it isn't. It's not Middle Of The Road. Or overrated. It was actually underrated last time around. But the rest of your comment is on point so good job. And
@pop3blow2 (8.6) makes me wanna yell at him:
Her vocal on the opening verse here is one of her most pure & beautiful. I do feel that it all gets a bit ‘wail-y’ & ham-fisted towards the end, but the quieter moments here are wonderful. Wail-y?
Ham-fisted? Nu uh honey, I don't think so, try again. It's
emotional. And
powerful. The rest of this gets an A though. Now, it's time for the people who
get it.
@savilizabeths (10) could be considered a traitor to her 10s, cause she's been calling for it, but I'll let it slide:
Look, it’s The Climb. What else can I say? It’s been played to death but it still has that place in my heart that it claimed all those years ago. Plus, the lyrics are quite pretty and she actually delivers it with sincerity and emotion. It still works for me, so well done to this song. Everything about this is correct (except the played to death dddd.) The paragraph above will prove
@Entropy (10) correct:
I feel like this song was the moment where Miley really become a superstar? Right before Party in the USA. Such a gem of a song. It’s like early Miley/Hannah’s mission statement was to create music that made me feel I could take on the world. Honestly, it probably was. Queen. The song grew on
@phily693 (10) in what I think is an unexpected way:
I really wasn’t a huge fan of this when it first came out but hearing it on all those reality shows all the time narrating terrible sob stories, it really grew on me. As I’ve gotten older I really appreciate the lyrics and sentiment. The middle 8 and into the final chorus with those ad-libs is absolutely fantastic. I don't think that's how it would happen for anyone else, but I'm really happy you saw the light. And yes. it is. And
@Sprockrooster (10) stans the song and his boyfriend: A fucking classic. So glad my boyfriend 11'ed this, so I feel less bad for not doing so. If we'd both given it our 11s, it'd still be #3. I guess there was no stopping that top two.
Speaking of
@Sprocky's BF (11) though, he says:
My favourite song ever, behind Coldplay's Fix You!!! Good for you! I don't know Coldplay, but since you 11'd this, I'm gonna say you have taste. Noted balladphobe
@Ana Raquel (11) proves she's a well-rounded person with her score, and says:
This 11 is for 12 year-old me who cried like a baby in the cinema when I watched the movie. This is a whole ass mood. And can we take a minute to appreciate the fact that this queen gave a ballad her 11? Y'all know the song has to be amazing for that to happen. And I love finding out users are closer in age to me then I think on here, so high five! Our final comment will go to
@M24 (11), who - like
@Ana Raquel - just lost two 11s in a row, but he said more, so I like the styling of it better, if you can understand what I mean:
I've used this song so many times over the years. Is it too much of a hyperbole to say I wouldn't have graduated from college without this song? Probably. But it's my go-to song when I feel bad for not reaching my goals. I checked and it was done wrong in the last rate. So I'm giving it my 11 because what the hell. Wow, this is a whole ass mood too. Damn. Y'all are the best.
Enjoy the beautiful music video:
(Seriously, this is one of my favorite Miley videos. it's just perfect.)
Live at the O2 on the Wonder World Tour:
Live on the Gypsy Heart Tour:
Live at Rock In Rio:
Live on The Tonight Show: