II Most Wanted explained

II Most Wanted
Type:single
Artist:Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus
Cover:Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus - II Most Wanted.png
Alt:A blurry, black-and-white cover showing Miley Cyrus and Beyoncé's profiles; the latter is wearing a cowboy hat; the words "II MOST WANTED" are placed between them
Border:yes
Album:Cowboy Carter
Recorded:2021
Genre:
  • Country
Length:3:28
Label:
Producer:
Chronology:Beyoncé
Prev Title:16 Carriages
Prev Year:2024

"II Most Wanted" is a song by American singers Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus. It was released on April 26, 2024,[1] through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records as the third single from Beyoncé's eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, and interpolates "Landslide" (1975) by Fleetwood Mac.

A country and pop rock track, Beyoncé and Cyrus wrote "II Most Wanted" with Ryan Tedder and Michael Pollack. The track is produced by Shawn Everett, Jonathan Rado and Pollack. The song received acclaim from music critics, naming it one of the best tracks on the album.

Commercially "II Most Wanted" became Beyoncé's 23rd and Cyrus' 13th top-ten song on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also debuted at number two on the Hot Country Songs, scoring Beyoncé's third and Cyrus' second top-ten on the chart.

Background

Beyoncé and Cyrus previously collaborated on "Just Stand Up!" (2008) as part of the charity supergroup Artists Stand Up to Cancer.[2] "II Most Wanted" was initially written by Cyrus around 2020. The song was used after Beyoncé reached out to her about the collaboration.[3]

On March 28, 2024, Beyoncé revealed the song and the collaboration as part of her studio album Cowboy Carter.[4] Upon release, Cyrus took to Twitter to express her admiration for Beyoncé that only deepened in the process of creating the song alongside each other.[5]

Composition

The title "II Most Wanted" is a reference to their status in the music industry. The "twangy, down-tempo duet"[6] sees the two singers "blend their distinctive voices"[7] while trading lines and harmonizing.[8] It features "simplistic vocal runs" by Cyrus and more "boisterous rifts" by Beyoncé, accompanied by an instrumental blend of "back porch country" and "pop rock" in the vein of Fleetwood Mac.[5] Additional production, acoustic guitar, and keyboards were provided by Jonathan Rado of Foxygen, while the electric guitar was played by Adam Granduciel of the War on Drugs.[9]

Although Beyoncé confirmed that all the tracks on Cowboy Carter were inspired by films, "II Most Wanted" also draws reference from a friendship or "a more romantic love".[10] Meeting their significant other changed their lives in a profound way so they are committed "to being there for them". The lyrical content was also linked to the theme of a "ride or die" partnership, reminiscent of films like Buck and the Preacher (1972), Thelma & Louise (1991) and Bonnie and Clyde (1967).[11] A prominent motif within the track is the use of "cowboy imagery".[12]

Critical reception

The song received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with many critics praising the complementarity of their voices. Rolling Stones Brittany Spanos deemed "II Most Wanted" as the best collaboration on Cowboy Carter and a "career highlight" for both singers. She likened Carter's and Cyrus' personas to Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid, respectively, and praised how their voices "melt[ed] into each other instead of fighting for the spotlight."[13] Rolling Stone ranked the song 46th among the "The 70 Greatest Beyoncé Songs".[14]

Kyle Denis of Billboard ranked "II Most Wanted" as the third best track on the album, praising their "smoky tones" that "pair beautifully". Denis viewed the collaboration as both artists being at the "peak of their powers" that makes every stylistic choice "a home run". They evoke "a sense of emotional gravitas" that makes the song appear "a lot more high-stakes".[15]

Mary Siroky of Consequence defined the song as "one of the more straightforward tracks on the album", describing it "a bit mournful and nostalgic, acknowledging the ever-flowing passage of time and our inability to stop it".[16]

Accolades

Organization! scope="col"
YearCategoryResult
People's Choice Country Awards2024The Crossover Song of 2024[17]

Commercial performance

The song debuted at number ten on the Billboard Global 200, scoring Beyoncé's third top-ten on the chart, after "Break My Soul" (2022) and "Texas Hold 'Em" (2024), and Cyrus' third after "Flowers" and "Used to Be Young" (2023).[18]

In the United States, "II Most Wanted" debuted at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, scoring Beyoncé's 23rd and Cyrus' 13th top-ten on the chart.[19] The song also became Cowboy Carter's third top-ten, charting simultaneously with "Texas Hold 'Em" and "Jolene".[20] The three songs also occupied the top three positions on the Hot Country Songs, with "II Most Wanted" at second, making Beyoncé the first female artist to achieve it.[21]

"II Most Wanted" debuted at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart on 5 April 2024, one of three songs from Cowboy Carter to chart in the top ten that week. The simultaneous top-ten debut of Beyoncé's cover of "Jolene" brought Beyoncé's tally of UK top ten singles to 24 and Cyrus' to 9.[22]

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[23] 16
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100)[24] 60
Denmark (Tracklisten)[25] 27
France (SNEP)[26] 63
Greece International (IFPI)[27] 48
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[28] 27
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[29] 15
Lithuania (AGATA)[30] 58
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 17
Norway (VG-lista)[32] 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[33] 24

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
CanadaApril 20, 2024Contemporary hit radioColumbia[34]
VariousApril 26, 2024[35]

Notes and References

  1. C6NgrtruMfn . parkwood . II MOST WANTED single out now . . April 26, 2024.
  2. Web site: Miley Cyrus and Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter collaboration: About 'II Most Wanted'. Richardson. Randi. Today. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  3. Miley Cyrus Finally Gets Her "Flowers". Hawgood. Alex. W. June 3, 2024. June 3, 2024.
  4. Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter to Feature Collaborations With Miley Cyrus, Post Malone & More. Lamarre. Carl. Billboard. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  5. Miley Cyrus Celebrates Beyoncé After Cowboy Carter Collab: 'You're My Everything and More'. Blistein. Jon. Rolling Stone. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  6. Web site: Beyoncé Gets Custody of Miley Cyrus (and Blue Jeans the Horse?). Guy. Zoe. Vulture. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  7. Web site: Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus duet on Cowboy Carter track: What to know about "II Most Wanted". McClay. Caché. USA Today. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  8. Web site: Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus' "II Most Wanted" Lyrics Are a Love Letter to Their Long-Term Partners. Bailey. Alyssa. Elle. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  9. Web site: Deville . Chris . March 29, 2024 . The War On Drugs, Nickel Creek, Raye, & More Contributed To Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter . March 29, 2024 . Stereogum.
  10. Web site: The Meaning Behind Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus's Gorgeous New Duet "II Most Wanted". Bonner. Mehera. Cosmopolitan. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  11. Web site: Beyoncé And Miley Cyrus' "II Most Wanted" Duet Channels Thelma & Louise On Cowboy Carter. Corinne. Amber. Vibe. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  12. Web site: Listen to Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus' tender new collaboration "II Most Wanted". Rigotti. Alex. NME. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  13. Spanos . Brittany . March 30, 2024 . Beyonce Finds a New Freedom and Redefines Country Music on Cowboy Carter . March 31, 2024 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  14. April 1, 2024 . The 70 Greatest Beyoncé Songs . April 8, 2024 . Rolling Stone.
  15. Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter: All 27 Tracks Ranked. Denis. Kyle. Billboard. March 29, 2024. March 29, 2024.
  16. Web site: Siroky . Mary . March 29, 2024 . Beyoncé's 'II MOST WANTED' with Miley Cyrus is Song of the Week . April 8, 2024 . Consequence.
  17. Grein . Paul . August 14, 2024 . Zach Bryan, Beyoncé & More Lead 2024 People's Choice Country Awards Nominations: Full List . August 14, 2024 . Billboard.
  18. Trust . Gary . April 8, 2024 . Benson Boone's 'Beautiful Things' Leads Global Charts, Beyoncé, Artemas & ILLIT Hit Top 10 . April 9, 2024 . Billboard.
  19. Trust . Gary . April 8, 2024 . Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar Hold Atop Hot 100, Beyoncé Boasts Three in Top 10 . April 9, 2024 . Billboard.
  20. Web site: McIntyre . Hugh . April 8, 2024 . Beyoncé Scores A Trio Of Top 10 Hits On The Hot 100 And Almost Returns To No. 1 . April 9, 2024 . Forbes.
  21. Asker . Jim . April 8, 2024 . With 'Cowboy Carter,' Beyoncé Becomes First Black Woman to Lead Top Country Albums Chart . April 9, 2024 . Billboard.
  22. Web site: Griffiths . George . Beyoncé becomes first black artist ever to take country album to Number 1 in the UK . Official Charts Company . 5 April 2024.
  23. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 8, 2024. April 5, 2024.
  24. Beyonce Chart History (Brasil Hot 100). Billboard. April 13, 2024.
  25. Web site: Track Top-40 Uge 14, 2024. Hitlisten. April 10, 2024.
  26. Web site: Top Singles for the week of April 5 . 2024-04-08 . SNEP . fr-FR.
  27. Web site: Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 14/2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306102612/https://ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html . March 6, 2024 . April 10, 2024 . ifpi.gr . live .
  28. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög. The Music – Songs - Week 14. is. Plötutíðindi. April 7, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240407193600/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/. April 7, 2024.
  29. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of April 10, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. April 10, 2024.
  30. Web site: 2024 14-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. April 5, 2024. April 5, 2024.
  31. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. April 8, 2024. April 5, 2024.
  32. Web site: Singel 2024 uke 14. VG-lista. April 6, 2024.
  33. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 14. Sverigetopplistan. April 5, 2024.
  34. Web site: Hozier, Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus, The Beaches Have This Week's Hot New Radio Tracks in Canada. April 9, 2024 . Billboard Canada.
  35. Web site: Cyrus . Miley . Beyoncé . Beyoncé . Miley Cyrus . II MOST WANTED . . May 2, 2024.