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"When I Look at You"
Song

"When I Look at You" is a power ballad performed by American recording artist and actress Miley Cyrus. The song was written by John Shanks and Hillary Lindsey and produced by Shanks. It was released on March 1, 2010 by Hollywood Records as the second single from Cyrus' first extended play, The Time of Our Lives (2009). A remix version titled "Te Miro a Ti", featuring Spanish singer David Bisbal was released later; in it, Cyrus sings her lines in English, while Bisbal's are mingled in both English and Spanish. "When I Look at You" was featured on the 2010 film The Last Song and its corresponding soundtrack, being used to promote the film. The song contains an instrumentation primarily based on piano, while its lyrics speak of a dream boy.

"When I Look at You" received average to mixed critical reception and was unable to duplicate the commercial success of Cyrus' previous single, "Party in the U.S.A." "When I Look at You" peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted within the top thirty on charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Adam Shankman. It features Cyrus playing a grand piano throughout several settings, including a beach and forest. Two other versions of the video were released: one replacing several scenes with clips from The Last Song and another featuring Bisbal. Cyrus performed the song in multiple venues, including on her first world tour, the Wonder World Tour (2009).

Background

"When I Look at You" was written by Hillary Lindsey and John Shanks.[1] It was used to promote the 2010 film The Last Song, in which Cyrus stars as Veronica "Ronnie" Miller, an angry, rebellious adolescent forced to spend a summer with her estranged father. The song is included on the film and its corresponding soundtrack. The song was initially to be included on Cyrus's next record; it was included in The Last Song because it fit the film's concept well.[2] According to Cyrus, when she sings "When I Look at You", she thinks of family and love. "It's kind of what this movie is all about", she said.[2] A remix version titled "Te Miro a Ti", featuring Spanish singer David Bisbal was released later; in it, Cyrus sings her lines in English, while Bisbal's are mingled in both English and Spanish.[3]

Composition

"When I Look at You" (2010)
A sample of Miley Cyrus's "When I Look at You". Taken from the latter half of the song, the sample contains an electric guitar solo and the beginning of the third chorus.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"When I Look at You" is pop song with a length of four minutes and eight seconds.[4] According to Katie Byrne of MTV News, the song is a power ballad.[5] The song is set in common time and has a moderately slow tempo of 150 beats per minute. It is written in the key of E major and Cyrus's vocals span two octaves, from G3 to E5.[6] The song begins with piano in its intro and then transitions to Cyrus singing in a hushed tone. She begins to belt towards the second verse and a electric guitar solo follows the second chorus.[5] It follows the chord progression E♭m–G–D–C–C.[6] Jocelyn Vena, also of MTV News, interpreted the lyrics of "When I Look at You" to be about Cyrus' dream boy.[7] According to Byrne, the last line — "You appear just like a dream to me" — is very fantasy-like.[5]

Reception

Critical reception

A female teenager with long brown hair and a black dress stretches her fist upward. Only the teen's back is visible, as she is facing a large screen behind her. On the screen is the silhouette of a male teen caressing the face of a shorter female teenager.
Cyrus performing "When I Look at You" during her first world tour, the 2009 Wonder World Tour. The screen behind her is premiering the trailer for the 2010 film The Last Song.

Reception from contemporary critics for the song has been average to mixed, with Variety magazine's Lael Lowenstein calling it an "almost inevitable hit single"[8] and Allmusic's Heather Phares noting that "When she lets her ... ballad-singing diva come to the fore, Cyrus really shines."[9] Phares added, "She is just as accomplished on the EP's ballads".[9] Bill Lamb of About.com disagreed and stated, "the two ballad songs, 'When I Look At You' and 'Obsessed,' feel like throwaways. Miley Cyrus did have a big hit with the highly inspirational 'The Climb,' but the ballads here flush out the distinctiveness in her voice and simply feel ordinary."[10] Michael Hann of the English newspaper The Guardian referred to "When I Look at You" as one of the "inferior ballads" on The Time of Our Lives.[11] The song won the 2010 Teen Choice Award for "Choice Music: Love Song".[12]

Chart performance

In the United States, on the week ending January 23, 2009, "When I Look at You" debuted at number eighty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100.[13] On the week ending April 17, 2010, "When I Look at You" ascended to its peak at number sixteen, from its previous position at number twenty-five, on the Billboard Hot 100.[14][15] The song peaked at number eighteen on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.[13] The song first appeared on the Canadian Hot 100 at number fifty-nine and peaked at number twenty-four.[13]

The song also made moderate success in Australia and New Zealand. The song entered the Australian Singles Chart at number fifty and, after three weeks of ascending the chart, reached its peak at number nineteen.[16] In New Zealand, "When I Look at You" debuted and peaked at number twenty-seven.[17] The song debuted at number seventy-nine on the UK Singles Chart.[18] On the week ending April 1, 2010, it debuted and peaked at number forty-five on the Irish Singles Chart.[19] In mainland Europe, "When I Look at You" peaked at number twenty-three on the Belgian Tip Singles Chart (Wallonia)[20] and number forty-nine on the Swiss Singles Chart.[21]

Music video

Cyrus sitting beside Australian actor Liam Hemsworth while playing a black grand piano in the music video for "When I Look at You".

The music video for "When I Look at You" was directed by Adam Shankman, producer of The Last Song. The video was filmed on August 16, 2009 in several outdoor settings in Savannah, Georgia.[22] "The premise of the video for 'When I Look at You' is to put together the relationships between Miley, the piano, and music, her relationship with Liam, her relationship to the song", Shankman commented, in regards to the video's concept.[2] He believed Cyrus and Hemsworth had "great chemistry" while filming The Last Song and brought it into the set of the video.[2] The video opens by showing a black grand piano alone on a pier, which transitions to a close-up of Cyrus with her wavy hair styled loose. She is shown playing the in a long white dress. Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, who portrays Will Blakelee in The Last Song, appears next to the piano, Cyrus not being present. Throughout the rest of the video, Cyrus sings and plays the piano in a forest, the beach, and a mansion's front yard. Cut-scenes feature Cyrus and Hemsworth interacting romantically, at one point kissing in a wheat field. The video ends by, again, showing the piano alone in the pier. Two alternate versions of the music video were later released: one replaces the cut-scenes of Cyrus and Hemsworth with clips from The Last Song,[23] and another for the song's remix featuring Bisbal.[3] The latter version replaces cut-scenes with shots of Bisbal signing in a forest and beach; his scenes were directed by Marc Roussel.[3]

The video was officially premiered on February 21, 2010 on ABC Family,[2] but was previously leaked to the Internet on September 11, 2009.[22] Jocelyn Vena of MTV News congratulated Shankman for capturing romance in the video. She further commented, "Cyrus is definitely growing up, something she's wanted to prove to the world for a while now. And although there's nothing particularly jarring in the clip, the vibe shows that Cyrus is most certainly ready to leave Hannah Montana behind."[7] Jefferson Reid of E! review the version where clips from the film are used, and said the clips made production values high, "but also helping to keep things easy on the eyes".[24]

Live performances

Cyrus performing "When I Look at You" during the Wonder World Tour.

Cyrus performed "When I Look at You" at the 2009 Wonder World Tour, her first world tour. She performed the song at each venue during the tour, wearing a black dress with tail that extended below her knees. The performances began with large video screens surrounding the stage displaying The Last Song's trailer; the trailer premiered the on September 14 concert in Portland, Oregon, at the Rose Garden Arena, the Wonder World Tour's opening night.[25] Cyrus then emerged from the bottom of the stage while playing a white grand piano, sitting on a bench.[25] Midway through the song, Cyrus stood up and continued performing while the video screens were brought down to Cyrus' height.[25] Cyrus described the performance as a "sneak preview" of The Last Song, adding that her excitement about the life imitating art scenario she experienced while filming The Last Song led her to show the movie on tour.[26] Melinda M. Thompson of The Oregonian believed that by playing the piano at the opening night's performance of "When I Look at You", Cyrus "showcased her many talents and proved she really just beginning to grasp her star power."[25] Mikael Wood of The Los Angeles Times said attended the September 22 concert in Los Angeles, California at the Staples Center and commented, "Once again, make-believe Miley was more compelling than the real thing."[27]

File:Miley Cyrus and David Bisbal.JPG
Miley Cyrus and David Bisbal performing live on the 3rd day of Rock in Rio Madrid at El Campillo

Upon its release as a single, Cyrus performed "When I Look at You" on the ninth season of singing competition American Idol on March 24, 2010, the same week she mentored the contestants on the show. Dressed in a long, white satin dress, she began by sitting in a bench to play the piano and later standing up to sing; the set was decorated with trees and twinkling outdoor lighting.[5] Katie Byrne of MTV News commented, "Cyrus seemed to take her own advice by connecting with the audience and making eye contact during the dramatic performance."[5] Monica Herrera of Billboard said Cyrus, after mentoring the contestants, she "showed them how it's really done".[28] Cyrus later performed the song on MSN Movies.[29] Her first televised performance of the song outside the United States was at the Rock in Rio concert in Lisbon, Portugal on May 29, 2010.[30] Cyrus performed "When I Look at You" at the Rock in Rio concert in Madrid, Spain on June 4, 2010.[31]

Track listing

  • U.S. / AUS CD Single
  1. "When I Look at You" (Album Version) – 4:08
  • AUS / EU 2-Track CD Single / Digital Single
  1. "When I Look at You" (Radio Edit) – 3:43
  2. "Party in the U.S.A." (Cahill Club Remix) – 5:45

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[16] 19
Austrian Singles Chart[32] 57
Belgian Tip Singles Chart (Wallonia)[20] 23
Canadian Hot 100[13] 24
Irish Singles Chart[19] 45
New Zealand Singles Chart[17] 27
Swiss Singles Chart[21] 49
UK Singles Chart[18] 79
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] 16
U.S. Adult Contemporary[13] 18
U.S. Adult Pop Songs[13] 38

References

  1. ^ a b The Time of Our Lives liner notes [CD] Hollywood Records (2009).
  2. ^ a b c d e "Exclusive First Look: "The Making of Miley Cyrus" "When I Look at You"". ABC Family. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved May 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ a b c "Miley Cyrus & David Bisbal - "When I Look at You"". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved May 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  4. ^ "allmusic {{{The Time of Our Lives [Walmart Exclusive] > Overview}}}". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e Byrne, Katie (March 24, 2010). "Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato And Joe Jonas Take Over 'American Idol'". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved May 8, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Digital sheet music - Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Publishing. Retrieved May 10, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  7. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (February 25, 2010). "Miley Cyrus And Liam Hemsworth Get Romantic In 'When I Look At You' Video". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved May 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  8. ^ Lowenstein, Leal (October 2, 2009). "Concert Review: Miley Cyrus". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Phares, Heather. "allmusic {{{The Time of Our Lives [Walmart Exclusive] > Review}}}". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  10. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Miley Cyrus - The Time of Our Lives". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  11. ^ Hann, Michael (November 20, 2009). "Miley Cyrus: The Time of Our Lives". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  12. ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2010 Music". Teen Choice Awards. News Corporation. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "When I Look at You - Miley Cyrus". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  14. ^ Trust, Gary (April 8, 2010). "Chart Beat Thursday: Robin Williams, BNL, Maxwell". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  15. ^ "Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You - Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You (Song)". Australian-charts.com. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 23, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  17. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You (Song)". Charts.org.nz. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved April 23, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  18. ^ a b "Chart Stats - Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You". Chartstats.com. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  19. ^ a b "Discography Miley Cyrus". Irish-charts.com. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  20. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You (Chanson)". Ultratop.be/fr (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved May 6, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  21. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You (Song)". Hitparade.ch. Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved June 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ a b "Savannah, 'The Last Song' featured in Miley Cyrus music video". Savannah Morning News. Morris Communications. September 12, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  23. ^ "When I Look at You music video". Disney.com. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved May 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  24. ^ Reid, Jefferson (February 20, 2010). "New Vid, Last Song: Miley Cyrus, "When I Look at You"". E!. Comcast. Retrieved May 9, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  25. ^ a b c d Thompsen, Melinda M. (September 15, 2009). "Review: Miley Cyrus Rocks the Rose Garden as She Kicks off Tour in Portland". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  26. ^ Montgomery, James (September 17, 2009). "Miley Cyrus On Her Film 'Last Song': 'Art Really Does Imitate Life'". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved January 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  27. ^ Wood, Mikael (September 23, 2009). "Live review: Miley Cyrus' 'Wonder World' concert at Staples Center". The Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  28. ^ Herrera, Monica (March 26, 2010). "Videos of the Week: Gaga's 'Telephone' Bashed, Usher Seeks 'Lil Freak,' Miley Mentors 'Idol'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  29. ^ "'When I Look at You' by Miley Cyrus". MSN. Microsoft. March 29, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  30. ^ "My oh Miley! Disney star struts around on stage in a VERY racy costume". Daily Mail. Daily Mail and General Trust. May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  31. ^ Llewellyn, Howell (February 5, 2010). "Miley Cyrus To Play Rock In Rio Madrid". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  32. ^ "Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You (Song)". Austriancharts.at (in Dutch). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)

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