Cross-generational collaborations in pop usually feel like marketing stunts, but Miley Cyrus just delivered the rare exception. Her deluxe edition of Something Beautiful, released September 19, pairs her with Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood on “Secrets,” plus a 13-minute epic called “Lockdown” featuring Talking Heads’ David Byrne. These partnerships represent genuine artistic statements that showcase why Cyrus remains one of pop’s most unpredictable forces.
Family Healing Meets Fleetwood Mac Magic
“Secrets” transforms personal reconciliation into vintage-tinged pop perfection.
“Secrets” carries emotional weight beyond its stellar guest list. Cyrus describes the track as a “peace offering for someone I had lost for a time but always loved,” dedicating it to her father, Billy Ray Cyrus. Buckingham’s guitar work and Fleetwood’s rhythmic foundation create something that sounds both timeless and urgently contemporary. The accompanying music video, shot at Los Angeles’ historic Million Dollar Theatre, amplifies the song’s themes of forgiveness with visual storytelling that feels like classic Hollywood meeting modern vulnerability. When Cyrus thanks her collaborators for “bringing magic to the music,” the sentiment resonates through every intricate arrangement.
David Byrne Brings Art-Pop Ambition
The 13-minute “Lockdown” proves pop can still take genuine creative risks.
While most artists chase radio-friendly runtimes, Cyrus and Byrne crafted “Lockdown” as a sprawling 13-minute journey that recalls experimental songwriting at its finest. This isn’t self-indulgent jamming—it’s purposeful exploration of how pop structures can expand when freed from streaming platform algorithms.
Byrne’s history of meaningful collaborations with younger artists like Florence Welch and Olivia Rodrigo positioned him perfectly for this partnership, bringing his art-rock sensibilities to Cyrus’s evolving progressive pop sound.
Pop’s New Blueprint for Legacy Partnerships
These collaborations signal a mature approach to cross-generational musical dialogue.
Both tracks showcase how legacy artists and contemporary stars can create something genuinely new together. The deluxe edition also features Brittany Howard and Naomi Campbell, plus songwriting contributions from indie darlings like Alvvays and The War on Drugs, positioning Cyrus at the center of an artistic network that spans genres and generations. Coming fresh off her Grammy win with Beyoncé for “II Most Wanted,” these collaborations cement Cyrus as an artist who understands that the best partnerships happen when everyone brings their full creative selves to the table.
