Caught Miley Cyrus’ latest single?

Malibu is an upbeat west coast jam.

The song opens with solo guitar.

The simplicity of this melodic line gives off a west coast vibe.

The verse lyrics open the song using anaphora ( a poetic device that uses repetition of an initial phrase – in this case, “I never”):

I never came to the beach or stood by the ocean
I never sat by the shore under the sun with my feet in the sand
But you brought me here and I’m happy that you did
‘Cause now I’m as free as birds catching the wind

I always thought I would sink, so I never swam
I never went boatin’, don’t get how they are floatin’
And sometimes I get so scared of what I can’t understand

The tempo kicks up.

Rhythm guitars join in as the chorus approaches.

The chorus is simpler than the verse, using perfect rhyme:

But here I am
Next to you
The sky is more blue
In Malibu
Next to you
In Malibu
Next to you

The bridge slows the song down with steady, sustained chords under the vocal line.

Is it supposed to be this hot all summer long?
I never would’ve believed you
If three years ago you told me
I’d be here writing this song

The instrumentation picks up again for the final chorus.

Miley’s voice is conversational. Her singing sounds like she’s comfortably speaking.

The song closes with a simile that turns confusion into clarity.

We are just like the waves that flow back and forth
Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning and you’re there to save me
And I wanna thank you with all of my heart
It’s a brand new start
A dream come true
In Malibu

The tension releases. The conflict resolves. Malibu is the real deal.

There’s so much electronic dance music out there these days that uses synthesised sounds.

Malibu brings the pop song back to intimate beauty.

Acoustic. Natural. Refreshing.

Malibu reminds writers, musicians, songwriters and artists that simple can be beautiful. A creative statement doesn’t have to be complicated.

Stream this single – Malibu is a gem of a west coast jam.