{{short description|2010 song by Miley Cyrus}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{for|the waterfront promenade in Philadelphia|Liberty State Park}} {{good article}} {{Infobox song | name = Liberty Walk | cover = | alt = | type = | artist = Miley Cyrus | album = Can't Be Tamed | released = | format = | recorded = | studio = Robert Vosgien Mastering (Burbank, CA)<ref>{{cite web | title=Liberty Walk - track | url=https://credits.muso.ai/track/aeb4d918-7819-4c06-806a-6f128c9a93df }}</ref> | venue = | genre = Dance-pop | length = {{Duration|m=4|s=06}} | label = Hollywood | writer = {{flatlist| *Miley Cyrus *Antonina Armato *Tim James *Nicholas J. Scapa *John Read Fasse *Michael McGinnis }} | producer = Rock Mafia }} '''"Liberty Walk"''' is a song by American recording artist Miley Cyrus, from her third studio album ''Can't Be Tamed'' (2010). It was written by Cyrus, Antonina Armato, Tim James, Nicholas J. Scapa, John Read Fasse and Michael McGinnis, and produced by Armato, James and Paul Palmer under their stage-name Rock Mafia. Cyrus explained that the theme of female empowerment was a lyrical inspiration for the song. Musically, "Liberty Walk" is an uptempo dance-pop song which also contains rapped verses. Critical reception of the song was generally mixed, however, the majority of reviewers criticized the rapped verses and described the overall song as "dull". Despite not being released as a single, "Liberty Walk" peaked at number three on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and number 79 on the Canadian Hot 100 due to strong digital downloads.

==Background== thumb|150px|right|upright|Cyrus (pictured) explained that the theme of female empowerment was inspiration for "Liberty Walk". "Liberty Walk" was written by Cyrus, Nicholas J. Scapa, John Read Fasse, Michael McGinnis, Antonina Armato and Tim James.<ref name="Album notes">{{cite AV media notes |title=Can't Be Tamed|others=Miley Cyrus |date=2010|type=liner notes |publisher=Hollywood Records}}</ref> It was produced by the latter three under their stage name Rock Mafia.<ref name="Album notes"/> The song serves as the opening track of ''Can't Be Tamed'' (2010).<ref name="new york times">{{cite web|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/arts/music/30miley.html|title=Miley Cyrus Is Growing Up and Testing Identities|work=The New York Times|date=2010-06-29|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> In an interview with Sway Calloway for MTV News, Cyrus explained the lyrical inspiration of the song which is about female empowerment, saying: "It's just about freeing yourself from anything you think is holding you back. And I think that's really important, especially for girls, because so many people are told, 'No, you can't do something,' or, 'You need to be this because Mom and Dad say that, teachers say this.'"<ref name="interview"/> Upon the making of the song, Cyrus stated in the same interview that she tried to combine a serious topic with a lighter sound, explaining: "I wrote it for women that feel like they're stuck in abusive relationships, but it's a dance song".<ref name="interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1642200/miley-cyrus-cant-be-tamed-all-about-female-empowerment.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428234815/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1642200/miley-cyrus-cant-be-tamed-all-about-female-empowerment.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 28, 2011|title=Miley Cyrus Says Can't Be Tamed Is All About Female Empowerment|publisher=MTV News. Viacom|date=2010-06-24|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> She elaborated: "So you think that must be kind of a sad ballad, but it's a party song. ... It's about breaking free."<ref name="interview"/>

==Composition== "Liberty Walk" is an uptempo dance-pop song, with a length of four minutes and six seconds.<ref name="Sheet Music">{{cite journal|title=Miley Cyrus – Liberty Walk Sheet Music|website=Musicnotes.com|publisher=Sony/ATV Music Publishing}}</ref><ref name="iTunes">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/cant-be-tamed/1440809368|title=iTunes – Music – Can't Be Tamed by Miley Cyrus|date=June 18, 2010 |publisher=iTunes. Apple|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> According to the digital sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, it is written in the key of B minor and is set in common time.<ref name="Sheet Music"/> The beat moves at 120 beats per minute.<ref name="Sheet Music"/> Cyrus' vocal range in the song spans from the low note of Bb<sub>2</sub> to the high note of F#<sub>5</sub>.<ref name="Sheet Music"/> Heather Phares of Allmusic noted the use of "bold synths and beats".<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|last=Phares|first=Heather|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/cant-be-tamed-r1809537/review|title=Can't Be Tamed – Miley Cyrus |publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> She also said that the "rapped verses" that Cyrus delivers sound "edgier" than the singer's previous work.<ref name="allmusic"/> Cyrus opens the song by chanting "Don’t live a lie, this is your one life".<ref name="new york times"/> Punch Liwanag of Manila Bulletin described the song as "swanky dance" and characterised the synth sounds as "ear filling".<ref name="manila bulletin">{{cite web|last=Liwanag|first=Punch|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/269704/miley-cyrus-leaves-hannah-montana-behind|title=Miley Cyrus leaves Hannah Montana behind |publisher=Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation|date=2010-07-30|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> According to Jon Caramanica of ''The New York Times'', Cyrus applies four different vocal strategies in the song.<ref name="new york times"/>

==Critical reception== "Liberty Walk" has received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Heather Phares of Allmusic commended the upbeat lyrics as being radio Disney-friendly.<ref name="allmusic"/> Similarly, Leah Greenblatt of ''Entertainment Weekly'' described the song as a "thumping album opener".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/06/16/cant-be-tamed/|title=Can't Be Tamed Review|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Warner|date=2010-06-16|access-date=2012-02-18|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201230304/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20394478,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A reviewer from Sputnik Music noted that "'Liberty Walk' showcases classic Miley spunk a la 'Hoedown Throwdown'".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/37488/Miley-Cyrus-Cant-Be-Tamed/|title=Miley Cyrus – Can't Be Tamed (staff review) |website=Sputnik Music|date=2010-06-21|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> However some reviewers were critical of the song. Michelle Griffin of ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' concluded that "Liberty Walk" would "make Glee's Mr Shue blush".<ref>{{cite web|last=Griffin|first=Michelle|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/miley-cyrus-cant-be-tamed-20100624-z2gb.html|title=Miley Cyrus: Can't Be Tamed Album Review|publisher=Fairfax Media|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2010-06-25|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> Glenn Gamboa of Newsday labeled it as a "loopy Jason DeRulo rip-off", and stated that "where Cyrus raps, she's hard to take seriously."<ref>{{cite web|last=Gumboa|first=Glenn|url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/miley-cyrus-can-t-be-tamed-loses-focus-c42504|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012103034/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/miley-cyrus-can-t-be-tamed-loses-focus-1.2034848|url-status=live|archive-date=October 12, 2012|title=Miley Cyrus' 'Can't Be Tamed' loses focus|publisher=Newsday. Cablevision|date=2010-06-18|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> Donald Gibson of ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' was also unfavorable of the song, who called it a "monotonous opener".<ref>{{cite web|last=Gibson|first=Donald|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-Miley-Cyrus-Can-t-Be-Tamed-891213.php|title=Music Review: Miley Cyrus – Can't Be Tamed|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=2011-04-26|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> Evan Sawdey of ''PopMatters'' noted that in "Liberty Walk", Cyrus' "search for a new identity renders her as anonymous and generic-sounding as ever."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sawdey|first=Evan|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/128152-miley-cyrus-cant-be-tamed|title=Miley Cyrus: Can't Be Tamed |magazine=PopMatters|date=2010-07-16|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref>

==Live performances and promotional video== Cyrus has performed the "Liberty Walk" at the House of Blues Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/528983/liberty-walk-live.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625134217/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/528983/liberty-walk-live.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2010|title=Liberty Walk (Live)|publisher=MTV. Viacom|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> She also performed the song during a concert in Melbourne, Australia. According to Julia Foskey of ''The Hot Hits Live from LA'', Cyrus wore "raunchy leather hotpants and sequined bra".<ref>{{cite web|last=Foskey|first=Julia|url=http://www.thehothits.com/news/24313/review---miley-cyrus-live-in-concert,-melbourne,-australia|title=Review – Miley Cyrus Live In Concert, Melbourne, Australia|work=The Hot Hits Live from LA|date=2011-06-24|access-date=2012-01-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626230106/http://www.thehothits.com/news/24313/review---miley-cyrus-live-in-concert,-melbourne,-australia|archive-date=2011-06-26}}</ref> She opened her concert with "Liberty Walk" at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia. In this performance, the singer wore "thigh-high boots, leather shorts, killer heels and a black bustier".<ref>{{cite web|last=Sennett|first=Sean|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/miley-cyrus-concert-smells-like-teen-spirit-of-a-kind/story-e6frg8n6-1226080209432|title=Miley Cyrus concert smells like teen spirit, of a kind |work=The Australian|date=2011-06-23|access-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> The song has also been performed during Gypsy Heart Tour.

On November 23, 2011, Cyrus released a video which featured a remixed version of "Liberty Walk" by Rock Mafia.<ref name="e online">{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Ken|url=http://au.eonline.com/news/occupy_this_miley_cyrus_takes_liberty/276842|title=Occupy This: Miley Cyrus Takes a "Liberty Walk" in New Video|publisher=E! Online|date=2011-11-23|access-date=2012-02-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123044735/http://au.eonline.com/news/occupy_this_miley_cyrus_takes_liberty/276842|archive-date=2013-01-23}}</ref> It features news footage of the Occupy movement that spread from Wall Street to other areas of the world.<ref name="e online"/> The video begins with a message saying "This is dedicated to the thousands of people who are standing up for what they believe in".<ref name="e online"/> Later in the video, scenes of sign-waving protesters and pepper-spraying police are shown.<ref name="e online"/>

==Credits and personnel== *Songwriting, vocals&nbsp;– Miley Cyrus, Antonina Armato, Tim James, Nicholas J. Scapa, John Read Fasse, Michael McGinnis *Production&nbsp;– Rock Mafia *Engineering&nbsp;– Steve Hammons, Adam Comstock *Editing&nbsp;– Rock Mafia, Nigel Lundemo *Mixing&nbsp;– Paul Palmer, Rock Mafia

Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Can't Be Tamed''.<ref name="Album notes"/>

==Charts== Due to strong digital downloads, "Liberty Walk" peaked at number three on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.<ref name="bubbling under hot 100">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/singles/3121192 |title=Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles 2010-07-10 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=2011-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008065724/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/singles/3121192 |archive-date=2012-10-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The song also reached number 79 on the Canadian Hot 100.<ref name="cansinglemc">{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=miley cyrus|chart=Billboard Canadian Hot 100}} |title=Miley Cyrus Album & Song Chart History: "Canadian Hot 100" |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=2010-01-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/628q51XQN?url=http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/Rihanna/chart-history/658897?f=793&g=Singles |archive-date=2011-10-02 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- !scope="col"| Chart (2010) !scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Hot 100<ref name="cansinglemc"/> |79 |- ! scope="row"| U.S. ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles<ref name="bubbling under hot 100"/> | 3 |- |}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{Miley Cyrus}} {{Miley Cyrus songs}}

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Category:2010 songs Category:American dance-pop songs Category:Miley Cyrus songs Category:Songs about freedom Category:Songs written by Miley Cyrus Category:Songs written by Antonina Armato Category:Song recordings produced by Rock Mafia Category:Songs written by Tim James (musician)