The Climb (song)
"The Climb" is a song recorded by American singer Miley Cyrus, for the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie. The song was written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe, and produced by John Shanks. It was released on March 5, 2009, as the lead single from the film's soundtrack by Walt Disney Records, and is also included as a bonus track on the international release of The Time of Our Lives.[2] The song is a power ballad with lyrics that describe life as a difficult but rewarding journey. It is styled as a country pop ballad, and was Cyrus' first solo song to be released to country radio. The instrumentation includes piano, guitar, and violins.
This article is about the Miley Cyrus song. For other songs with similar names, see Climbing (disambiguation) § Music."The Climb"
The song was nominated for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards; however, the song was withdrawn from consideration by Walt Disney Records because it had not been written specifically for a film as the category's eligibility rules required. The song became a top-ten single on charts in Australia, Canada, Norway, and the United States. In the United States, it peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the eighth-best selling digital single of 2009. Five months after its release, the single was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The song's accompanying music video was directed by Matthew Rolston, and depicts scenes of Cyrus climbing a mountain or singing, intercut with clips of Hannah Montana: The Movie. Cyrus promoted the song with several live performances. Cyrus performed the song as the closing number of her Wonder World Tour. The song was also performed during her Gypsy Heart Tour. "The Climb" has been covered by several artists and was the most popular choice of song among auditioners for the ninth season of the American singing contest, American Idol, with Hollie Cavanagh performing it in the top six of the eleventh season. Simon Cowell, creator of the British television talent show The X Factor, chose "The Climb" to be the debut single of the winner of the competition's sixth series. Winner Joe McElderry's cover, released on December 14, 2009, by Syco Music, was produced by Quiz & Larossi and topped the Irish Singles Chart and the UK Singles Chart.
Before its official release, the song was premiered at Kids Inaugural: "We Are the Future" event on January 19, 2009.[3]
Composition[edit]
"The Climb" is a country pop power ballad that incorporates soft rock and pop rock styles[13][14] and lasts 3 minutes and 55 seconds.[15] However, at two minutes and forty-five seconds, a "sudden, spiky burst of violins" enters the song, and the song switches to full power.[16] Todd Martens, co-editor of the Los Angeles Times music column, says Cyrus uses "a raspy voice [that] brings a bit of country grit" to the song.[16] "The Climb" is set in common time at a moderate tempo of 80 beats per minute.[17] The song is sung in the key of E major, and Cyrus' vocal range spans one and a half octaves from the low note of E3 to the high note of C♯5.[17] The song uses a standard-issue ballad arrangement[16] with the chord progression, E5–Asus2–F♯7sus.[17]
According to music reviewer Fraser McAlpine of the BBC, the song's lyrics assert that life should be viewed as "a journey which is difficult but rewarding".[18] Both Martens and McAlpine took special interest in the line "It's always gonna be an uphill battle/Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose". Martens interpreted the line as an acknowledgment by the singer of her own mistakes in life,[16] while McAlpine wrote, "In this song which is about plugging away at things, the writers have slipped in [...] that the occasional setback isn't the end of the world."[18] Others have suggested that Cyrus is also borrowing from Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus, highlighting the absurdity of life.[19][20]
Cover versions[edit]
"The Climb" has been covered several times. At auditions for the ninth season of the television singing competition American Idol, "The Climb" was the most popular choice of song amongst contestants.[125]