Used to Be Young explained

Used to Be Young
Cover:Miley Cyrus - Used to Be Young.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Miley Cyrus
Album:Endless Summer Vacation (digital reissue)
Written:2021
Genre:
Length:3:11
Label:Columbia
Producer:
Prev Title:Jaded
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:Wrecking Ball
Next Year:2023

"Used to Be Young" is a song by American singer Miley Cyrus. It was released as a single on August 25, 2023, through Columbia Records, after the broadcast of the ABC documentary concert special the day before, and appears on the digital reissue of Cyrus's eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation (2023). The song was written by Cyrus alongside Aldae and Michael Pollack, with the singer, Pollack, and Shawn Everett handling production.

"Used to Be Young" debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Cyrus' 12th top-ten song and the second one from Endless Summer Vacation, following "Flowers".

Background

Cyrus first teased the song and an upcoming release in her June 2023 cover story for British Vogue; she revealed its lyrics: "I know I used to be crazy / I know I used to be fun / You say I used to be wild / I say I used to be young".[2] On August 15, 2023, Cyrus posted a clip to her social media of a street covered in posters of her, captioned with song lyrics of her past eras along with the lyric "I say I used to be young".[3] These posters were spotted in various cities worldwide that day, including Brussels, Los Angeles, New York City, and Paris.[4] [5] [6] The words "Used to Be Young" also appeared on all of her music video thumbnails on YouTube.[7]

Cyrus announced the single along with the ABC documentary concert special, through a trailer on her social media on August 17.[8] [9] She revealed the song's cover art and release date—August 25, 2023, a day after the broadcast of the special, an updated and "reimagined" version of Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions) (2023).[10] A limited edition 7-inch vinyl of the song was made available to pre-order,[11] [12] along with its pre-save on streaming platforms.[13] In an accompanying statement, Cyrus said that "Used to Be Young" is dedicated to her "loyal fans" for "loving every version of [her]". She revealed that she chose to release the song on August 25, 2023, as it marked a decade since her controversial 2013 MTV VMAs performance, as well as the release of her single "Wrecking Ball" (2013) and its respective music video.[14] [15] The singer posted the entirety of the song's lyrics on August 22 to her social media. Cyrus revealed it was written in 2021 during the initial stages of development of her eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation (2023); she "[painted] a sonic picture of [her] perspective to share with [her fans]".[16] The song is written in the key of E major.

Commercial performance

"Used to Be Young" became Miley Cyrus's 12th top-ten song on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number eight with 25.9 million in airplay audience, 17.8 million streams and 19,000 downloads. It debuted at number 2 on the Digital Song Sales, number 9 on Streaming Songs and number 19 on Radio Songs. It also marked Cyrus's second song to appear in the top ten of the Hot 100 in 2023, following "Flowers".[17]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from YouTube.[18]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023-2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Croatia (HRT)[19] 8
Greece International (IFPI)[20] 69
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[21] 19
Israel (Media Forest)[22] 12
Latvia (EHR)[23] 33
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[24] 2
Lithuania (AGATA)[25] 33
Panama (Monitor Latino)[26] 16
Panama (PRODUCE)[27] 45
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[28] 7
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[29] 77
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[30] 105
Singapore (RIAS)[31] 29
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[32] 61

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
CIS (TopHit)[33] 63

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[34] 77
Israel (Galgalatz)[35] 17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[36] 94
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[37] 81
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[38] 32
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[39] 49

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label
VariousAugust 25, 2023Columbia[40]
October 13, 20237-inch vinyl[41]
ItalyNovember 3, 2023Radio airplaySony[42]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Benítez-Eves . Tina . August 26, 2023 . The Meaning Behind the Lyrics of "Used to Be Young" by Miley Cyrus . November 26, 2023 . American Songwriter.
  2. "I Realise Now How Harshly I Was Judged": Miley Cyrus On Finding Her Peace – And Making The Album Of The Summer. Hattersley. Giles. British Vogue. May 18, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  3. Is Miley Cyrus Teasing New Music With 'Used to Be Young' Posters?. Bowenbank. Starr. Billboard. August 15, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  4. Miley Cyrus teases 'Used to Be Young': Here's what you need to know. Trujillo. Jovita. ¡Hola!. August 15, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  5. News: Miley Cyrus sparks fan theories after cryptically teasing new song 'Used To Be Young'. Wratten. Marcus. PinkNews. August 15, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  6. Web site: Miley Cyrus Teases New Single "Used To Be Young". Li. Joyce. Hypebeast. August 16, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  7. Web site: Miley Cyrus Teases 'Used to Be Young' Music Release. Major. Michael. BroadwayWorld. August 15, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  8. Petski . Denise . August 17, 2023 . Miley Cyrus To Release New Song "Used To Be Young" With ABC Special . . August 17, 2023.
  9. Web site: When Is Miley Cyrus Releasing 'Used To Be Young' & What Are The Lyrics?. Capital FM. August 17, 2023. August 17, 2023.
  10. Denis . Kyle . August 17, 2023 . Miley Cyrus Announces New Single 'Used to Be Young': 'This Song Is Dedicated to My Loyal Fans' . Billboard . August 17, 2023.
  11. News: Jones . Abby . August 17, 2023 . Miley Cyrus Announces New Single "Used to Be Young" . . August 17, 2023.
  12. Garcia . Thania . August 17, 2023 . Miley Cyrus Confirms New Song 'Used to Be Young' Will Be Released With 'Uniquely Intimate' ABC Special . . August 17, 2023.
  13. Web site: Skinner . Tom . August 17, 2023 . Miley Cyrus announces new single 'Used To Be Young': "This song is dedicated to my loyal fans" . August 17, 2023 . NME.
  14. Web site: Breihan . Tom . August 25, 2023 . Miley Cyrus – "Used To Be Young" . August 26, 2023 . Stereogum.
  15. Web site: Crosbie . Eve . August 25, 2023 . Miley Cyrus has released an emotional new single titled 'Used to Be Young.' Here's every detail and Easter egg from the song you may have missed. . August 26, 2023 . Insider.
  16. Aftos . Rania . August 22, 2023 . Miley Cyrus Unveils Heartfelt 'Used to Be Young' Lyrics, Says She Wrote It When She Felt 'Misunderstood' . Billboard . August 25, 2023.
  17. Trust . Gary . September 5, 2023 . Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves' 'I Remember Everything' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 . September 10, 2023 . Billboard .
  18. Web site: Credits / Used To Be Young/ Miley Cyrus . August 24, 2023 . YouTube . August 31, 2023.
  19. Web site: ARC 100 - date: 18. September 2023.. HRT. 23 September 2023. en.
  20. Web site: Official IFPI Charts — Digital Singles Chart (International) — Εβδομάδα: 36/2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906064202/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html . September 6, 2023 . September 13, 2023 . . el.
  21. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög. The Music – Songs. is. Plötutíðindi. January 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240113111917/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/. January 13, 2024.
  22. Web site: Media Forest charts. https://web.archive.org/web/20231011191817/https://mediaforest-group.com/weekly_charts.html#!#menu2. 11 October 2023. Media Forest. 11 October 2023.
  23. Web site: EHR TOP 40 - 2022.09.01. European Hit Radio. September 5, 2023. September 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230905114417/https://www.ehrhiti.lv/topi/ehr-top-40. live.
  24. Web site: The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Miley Cyrus . The Official Lebanese Top 20. 17 November 2023. 21 November 2023.
  25. Web site: 2023 35-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. September 1, 2023. September 1, 2023.
  26. Web site: Top 20 Panamá General - Del 11 al 17 de Septiembre, 2023. Monitor Latino. September 19, 2023.
  27. Web site: TOP 50 INTERNACIONAL BMAT-PRODUCE DEL 16 A EL 23 DE NOVIEMBRE 2023. Sociedad Panameña de Productores Fonográficos. November 29, 2023. es. November 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231129121201/https://producepanama.org/top-50/. live.
  28. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay. OLiS. pl. December 4, 2023. Select week 25.11.2023–01.12.2023..
  29. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie. OLiS. pl. September 7, 2023. Select week 25.08.2023–31.08.2023..
  30. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart. TopHit. October 23, 2023. 23 October 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20231023103030/https://tophit.com/tracks/179941.
  31. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 35 (25 - 31 Aug 2023). RIAS. September 7, 2023. September 7, 2023. https://archive.today/20230907145253/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/.
  32. Miley Cyrus Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100). Billboard. February 16, 2024.
  33. Web site: Top Radio Hits Global Monthly Chart October 2023. TopHit. November 4, 2023.
  34. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2023. Ultratop. nl. January 7, 2024.
  35. Web site: 2023 המצעד הבינלאומי השנתי. 2023 Annual International Chart. Galgalatz. December 28, 2023. May 21, 2024. hebrew.
  36. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2023. Dutch Top 40. nl. January 1, 2024. December 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231231221518/https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2023.
  37. Web site: Podsumowanie roczne – OLiA. OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. pl. March 28, 2024.
  38. Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 22, 2023.
  39. Adult Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 22, 2023.
  40. Web site: Cyrus . Miley . August 25, 2023 . Used To Be Young . August 25, 2023 . Apple Music (US).
  41. Web site: Used to Be Young 7" Black Vinyl . August 17, 2023 . Miley Cyrus Official Online Store.
  42. Micaletto. Ylenia. October 27, 2023. Miley Cyrus - Used To Be Young (Radio Date: 03-11-2023). EarOne. it. October 27, 2023.