When I Look at You

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For other uses, see When I Look at You (disambiguation).

"When I Look at You"
Single by Miley Cyrus
from the EP The Time of Our Lives
ReleasedFebruary 15, 2010 (2010-02-15)
Recorded2009
Length4:10
LabelHollywood
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Shanks
Miley Cyrus singles chronology
"Party in the U.S.A."
(2009) 		"When I Look at You"
(2010) 		"Nothing to Lose"
(2010)
Music video
"When I Look at You" on
YouTube

"When I Look at You" is a song recorded by American singer Miley Cyrus. The song was written by Hillary Lindsey and John Shanks, and produced by Shanks. It was released on February 15, 2010 by Hollywood Records as the second and final single from Cyrus' first EP, The Time of Our Lives (2009). The song was featured in the 2010 film The Last Song (starring Cyrus) and its corresponding soundtrack, being used to promote the film. The track 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, "

Wonder World Tour
(2009).

In 2020, the song unexpectedly gained popularity again due to being featured in a video challenge on the popular video sharing app TikTok.[1] It skyrocketed up the charts on Spotify and Apple Music, even managing to become one of Cyrus' top-ten most popular songs on Spotify.

Background

"When I Look at You" was written by Hillary Lindsey and John Shanks.[2] It was used to promote the 2010 coming-of-age romantic drama film The Last Song based on Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same name, in which Cyrus stars as Veronica "Ronnie" Miller, an angry, rebellious seventeen-year-old forced to spend a summer with her estranged father, Steve (Greg Kinnear). The song was first included on Cyrus's 2009 extended play The Time of Our Lives and then on the film and its corresponding soundtrack. The song was initially to be included on Cyrus's 2010 album Can't Be Tamed; however, it was decided to include it on The Time of Our Lives as well as The Last Song because it fit the film's concept well.[3] 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.[3] 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 English and Spanish.[4]

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 a length of four minutes and ten seconds.

beats per minute. It is written in the key of G-flat major and Cyrus's vocals span two octaves, from G3 to E5.[7] 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 an electric guitar solo follows the second chorus, showing the influence of country music on the song.[6] It follows the chord progression E♭m–G♭–D♭–C♭–C♭.[7] Jocelyn Vena, also of MTV News, interpreted the lyrics of "When I Look at You" to be about Cyrus' dream boy.[8]
According to Byrne, the last line — "You appear just like a dream to me" — is very fantasy-like.[6]

Critical reception

Reception from contemporary critics for the song has been average to mixed, with

Choice Music: Love Song".[12]

Chart performance

In the United States, on the week ending January 30, 2010, "When I Look at You" debuted at number 88 on the

certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[18]

The song also made moderate success in Australia and New Zealand. The song entered the

Swiss Singles Chart.[24]

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.[25] "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.[3] He believed Cyrus and Hemsworth had "great chemistry" while filming The Last Song and brought it into the set of the video.[3] 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 piano 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,[26] and another for the song's remix featuring Bisbal.[4] The latter version replaces cut-scenes with shots of Bisbal signing in a forest and beach; his scenes were directed by Marc Roussel.[4]

The video was officially premiered on February 21, 2010 on

ABC Family,[3] but was previously leaked to the Internet on September 11, 2009.[25] 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."[8] Jefferson Reid of E! reviewed 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".[27]

Live performances

Wonder World Tour
.

Cyrus performed "When I Look at You" at the 2009

Staples Center and commented, "Once again, make-believe Miley was more compelling than the real thing."[30]

Upon its release as a single, Cyrus performed "When I Look at You" on the

Madrid, Spain on June 4, 2010.[33]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "When I Look at You"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[41] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[42] Gold 150,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[43] Platinum 60,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[46] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

"When I Look at You" release history
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States February 15, 2010
Hollywood [47]
February 16, 2010 Contemporary hit radio [48]

References

  1. ^ "TikTok Is Reviving This Classic Miley Cyrus Love Song". PAPER. August 18, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  2. ^ The Time of Our Lives liner notes [CD] Hollywood Records (2009).
  3. ^
    ABC Family. The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original
    on March 10, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  4. ^
    Viacom
    . Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Phares, Heather. "The Time of Our Lives [Walmart Exclusive] > Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^
    Alfred Publishing
    . January 20, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. Reed Business Information
    . Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  10. About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original
    on March 7, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  11. ^ Hann, Michael (November 20, 2009). "Miley Cyrus: The Time of Our Lives". The Guardian. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  12. News Corporation. Archived from the original
    on October 19, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  13. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  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 Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  18. ^ "When I Look At You". RIAA.com. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  22. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – When I Look at You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  23. ^ "Miley Cyrus - When I Look at You (Chanson)". Ultratop.be/fr (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  24. ^ a b "Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  25. ^ a b "Savannah, 'The Last Song' featured in Miley Cyrus music video". Savannah Morning News. Morris Communications. September 12, 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  26. ^ "When I Look at You music video". Disney.com. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  27. ^ Reid, Jefferson (February 20, 2010). "New Vid, Last Song: Miley Cyrus, "When I Look at You"". E!. Comcast. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  28. ^ 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 9, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2010. Alt URL
  29. ^ Montgomery, James (September 17, 2009). "Miley Cyrus On Her Film 'Last Song': 'Art Really Does Imitate Life'". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  30. Tribune Company
    . Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ "'When I Look at You' by Miley Cyrus". MSN. Microsoft. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  33. ^ Llewellyn, Howell (February 5, 2010). "Miley Cyrus To Play Rock In Rio Madrid". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  34. ^ "Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  35. Ultratip
    . Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  36. ^ "Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  37. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 36, 2020" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  38. ^ "Miley Cyrus Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  39. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  40. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  41. ^ "Danish single certifications – Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  42. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Miley Cyrus; 'When I Look at You')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  43. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  44. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  45. ^ "British single certifications – Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  46. ^ "American single certifications – Miley Cyrus – When I Look At You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  47. ^ "Hot-Modern-Adult Contemporary Popular Songs, Alternative Rock, AC Music, Radio News, ..." All Access. February 15, 2010. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  48. ^ "Top 40 Mainstream Music Radio News, Pop Music, Top Songs, Charts, Stations | ..." All Access. February 15, 2010. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2022.

External links

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