A Sizzling Country-Pop Crossover Blazes New Trails
On March 29th, the music world was set ablaze by the arrival of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter. The genre-melding masterpiece fuses pop, country, Americana, and more into an audacious artistic statement.
Among its many highlights is the rousing II Most Wanted, a duet with none other than Miley Cyrus. As Beyoncé revealed, “Each song is its own version of a reimagined Western film.”
The song was written by Beyoncé, Cyrus, Michael Pollack, and Ryan Tedder, and produced by Beyoncé, Shawn Everett, Pollack, and Cyrus.
A Shot Across the Bow: Chart Success and Star Power
II Most Wanted debuted at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time Beyoncé and Cyrus have shared chart real estate. This dynamite duo isn’t just about name recognition, though.
The song is a masterful blend of Cyrus’s pop sensibilities and Beyoncé’s soulful delivery, creating a sound that’s both fresh and familiar.
Aural Adventurousness: Musical Nuances of II Most Wanted
II Most Wanted isn’t just about the lyrics; it’s a sonic journey as well. The song opens with a simple guitar riff, evoking the imagery of an open road.
The lyrics play like a new American gunslinger myth. Bey and Miley portray lovestruck outlaws, forever bound by an intense passion.
Their vocals swap back and forth, they sing together in unison, then split up into lush harmonies. “Know we’re jumpin’ the gun, but we’re both still young,” they harmonize intensely.
With reckless abandon, they vow, “I’ll be your shotgun rider ’til the day I die.”
As Cyrus gushed, “I’ve loved Beyoncé since long before I had the opportunity to meet & work with her. My admiration runs so much deeper now that I’ve created alongside her.”
The song leans heavily on country music influences, particularly in the use of acoustic guitars and the twangy guitar solo that ripples through the bridge.
However, these elements are woven together with modern pop production techniques, creating a sound that feels both classic and contemporary.
Musical Similarities
Musically, II Most Wanted draws comparisons to Fleetwood Mac’s iconic 1975 ballad Landslide with its memorable chord progression.
However, the production incorporates distinctly country and folk elements, with strummed acoustic guitars and rustling percussion that evoke the image of a lonesome prairie trail.
Boot Scootin’ to the Beat: A Look at the Creative Process
II Most Wanted wasn’t born in a Nashville honky-tonk but rather emerged from Beyoncé’s unique creative process.
As she revealed in a press release, Cowboy Carter is a concept album inspired by classic Western films. II Most Wanted, like every track, draws influence from a specific movie.
While the exact film remains under wraps, the lyrics certainly evoke a sense of adventure and reckless abandon.
She took inspiration from films like Five Fingers For Marseilles, Urban Cowboy, The Hateful Eight, Space Cowboys, The Harder They Fall and Killers of the Flower Moon, often having the films playing on a screen during the recording process.
This cinematic influence is further cemented by Beyoncé’s admission that certain percussion elements were inspired by the bluegrass soundtrack of “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Under the Milky Way: Decoding the Lyrics
The lyrics of II Most Wanted are a celebration of unbridled love and commitment, and the opening verse wastes no time establishing the passionate intensity of the relationship.
“Know we’re jumping the gun, but we’re both still young,” they confess, hinting at a whirlwind romance.
The pre-chorus ups the ante with the metaphor, “pedal so heavy like the two most wanted,” cementing their outlaw personas.
This law-breaking imagery further reinforces the connection to the Western theme.
Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus trade verses, detailing the intense attraction and infatuation that come with a new romance.
There’s a sense of reckless abandon with the now-iconic line, “I’ll be your shotgun rider ’til the day I die,” which is a declaration of unwavering commitment, painted against the backdrop of a highway journey (“Smoke out the window flyin’ down the 405”).
Potential Meanings
While the title II Most Wanted is a playful nod to Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus’ superstar status, the lyrics don’t appear to directly reference either artist’s real-life relationships.
Beyoncé has been married to Jay-Z since 2008, while Miley Cyrus has been linked to singer Maxx Morando since 2021.
However, Beyoncé revealed that each song on Cowboy Carter is inspired by a Western film, so II Most Wanted could be a fictional reimagining of an on-screen romance or even a metaphor for an intense friendship à la Thelma & Louise.
The Road Ahead: What Does II Most Wanted Mean?
The beauty of II Most Wanted lies in its ambiguity. While the lyrics can be interpreted as a romantic love song, they can also be read as a celebration of deep friendship.
The Western film influences add a layer of fantasy, allowing listeners to project their own meanings onto the song.
The Future Is Collaboration
With II Most Wanted, Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus have proven that unexpected collaborations can yield spectacular results.
As the lines between genres continue to blur, we can expect more dynamic pairings that push the boundaries of popular music.
In the words of Beyoncé herself, “My process is that I typically have to experiment. I enjoy being open to have the freedom to get all aspects of things I love out, and so I worked on many songs.”
This fearless spirit of experimentation has once again paid off in spades.
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Beyonce and Miley Cyrus II Most Wanted Lyrics
Verse 1: Miley Cyrus & Beyoncé
Know we’re jumping the gun, but we’re both still young
One day, we won’t be
Didn’t know what I want ’til I saw your face
Say goodbye to the old me
Pre-Chorus: Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus
Came out of nowhere, didn’t give no warnin’
Pedal so heavy like the two most wanted
And I don’t know what you’re doin’ tonight
But I
Chorus: Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I die
Smoke out the window flyin’
Down the 405
I’ll be your backseat baby, drivin’ you crazy
Anytime you like
Woah, I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I, ’til the day I die
Verse 2: Miley Cyrus & Beyoncé
Making waves in the wind with my empty hand
My other hand on you
Been a while since I haven’t tried to pull away
But it’s time for something new
Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus
Came out of nowhere, didn’t give no warnin’
Pedal so heavy like the two most wanted
And I don’t know what you’re doin’ tonight
But I
Chorus: Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I die
Smoke out the window flyin’
Down the 405
Yeah, I’ll be your backseat baby, drivin’ you crazy
Anytime you like, woah
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I, ’til the day I die
Post-Chorus: Beyoncé, Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus
(‘Til the day I, ’til the day I, ’til the day I die)
‘Til the day I die
(‘Til the day I, ’til the day I, ’til the day I die)
Bridge: Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus
I know we’re jumpin’ the gun and we’re both still young
But one day, we won’t be
I’ll go wherever you take me, seems kinda crazy
Ooh, oh
Chorus: Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I die
We’re gettin’ high ’til we don’t realize
Time is passin’ by
Yeah, I’ll be your backseat baby, I’m drivin’ you crazy
Anytime you like, oh, oh
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I, ’til the day I die
Post-Chorus: Beyoncé, Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus
(‘Til the day I, ’til the day I, ’til the day I die)
‘Til the day I die
(‘Til the day I, ’til the day I, ’til the day I die)
Mm, oh