:7 Things
{{Short description|2008 single by Miley Cyrus}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = 7 Things
| cover = Miley Cyrus - 7 Things.png
| alt = A three-quarter portrait of a female teen facing left. Her eyes look towards the viewer and her hand is placed on the top of her curly, dark brown hair.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Miley Cyrus
| album = Breakout
| released = {{Start date|2008|6|17}}
| studio =
- Studio Wishbone (Los Angeles, CA)Breakout liner notes [CD] Hollywood Records (2008).
- East Iris Studios (Nashville, TN)Breakout liner notes [CD] Hollywood Records (2008).
- Flowers Studio (Minneapolis, MN)Breakout liner notes [CD] Hollywood Records (2008).
| genre = Pop-punk{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/06/best-rock-songs-pop-stars/|title=The 20 Best Rock Songs By Pop Stars|website=Spin|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=September 18, 2022}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=33}}
| label = Hollywood
| writer = {{hlist|Miley Cyrus|Antonina Armato|Tim James}}
| producer = John Fields
| prev_title = Start All Over
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = Fly on the Wall
| next_year = 2008
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Hr0Wv5DJhuk|"7 Things"}}}}
}}
"7 Things" is a song by American singer Miley Cyrus. The song was co-written by Cyrus, Antonina Armato and Tim James, and produced by John Fields. It was released on June 17, 2008, by Hollywood Records as the lead single from Cyrus' second studio album Breakout (2008), with no ties to her character Hannah Montana from the Disney Channel comedy series of the same name. Also registered as "Seven Things I Hate About You", Cyrus developed the song during the Best of Both Worlds Tour while feeling numerous emotions for an ex-boyfriend, mainly anger. The song's release prompted allegations that it was about Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, which Cyrus neither confirmed nor denied. Musically, "7 Things" bears aspects of both country and pop punk, while the lyrics in the song's refrain list seven traits Cyrus hates about an ex-boyfriend.
"7 Things" received mixed to positive reviews from music critics and enjoyed worldwide commercial success, becoming a top ten hit on charts in Australia, Japan, Norway, and the United States. The single was certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), while its appearance on the Japan Hot 100 made "7 Things" Cyrus' first song to chart in an Asian country. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Brett Ratner and features Cyrus performing the song with a backup band as many teenage girls lip-sync along. The girls clutch a variety of props, such as love letters and snow globes, inspired by personal items Cyrus' ex had given her. The video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award at both the 2008 and 2009 award shows. Cyrus promoted the song through several venues including her world tours, the Wonder World Tour and the Gypsy Heart Tour. The song premiered before its official release as a single on May 13, 2008, at the Elvis Duran Show.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/miley-cyrus-debuts-her-new-single/|title=Miley Cyrus Debuts Her New Single|website=Peoplemag|accessdate=April 12, 2023}}
Background
"7 Things" is also under the legal title of "Seven Things I Hate About You", as registered by Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI).{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=9688182&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524134930/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=9688182&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2012 |publisher=BMI Foundation |work=Broadcast Music Incorporated |access-date=December 20, 2009 |title=7 Things }} Like most of the songs on Breakout, Cyrus conceived "7 Things" while traveling on the Best of Both Worlds Tour from October 2007 to January 2008.{{cite interview|url=http://ryan.kiisfm.com/cc-common/mediaplayer/player.html?redir=yes&mps=kiisfm.php&mid=http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/LOSANGELES-CA/KIIS-FM/MILEYCYRUS062508.mp3?CPROG=PCAST&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&MARKET=LOSANGELES-CA&NG_FORMAT=personality&NG_ID=RYAN1027IP&OR_NEWSFORMAT=&OWNER=&SERVER_NAME=ryan.kiisfm.com&SITE_ID=3108&STATION_ID=RYAN-IP&TRACK= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525212706/http://ryan.kiisfm.com/cc-common/mediaplayer/player.html?redir=yes&mps=kiisfm.php&mid=http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/LOSANGELES-CA/KIIS-FM/MILEYCYRUS062508.mp3%3FCPROG=PCAST&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&MARKET=LOSANGELES-CA&NG_FORMAT=personality&NG_ID=RYAN1027IP&OR_NEWSFORMAT=&OWNER=&SERVER_NAME=ryan.kiisfm.com&SITE_ID=3108&STATION_ID=RYAN-IP&TRACK= |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |title=On Air with Ryan Seacrest |access-date=December 20, 2009 |first=Miley |last=Cyrus |subject-link=Miley Cyrus |others=Ryan Seacrest }}
{{blockquote|"I was locked up in the bus the entire time. And it was, like, such a great time for me to have a minute for myself, which I never get. So it was awesome to get to do that and just kinda go through all the different stages of what's been going on the last couple of years. And I just thought it'd be fun to just kinda. I didn't even mean for it to be for, you know, the record or for anything. It was just like 'just start writing this'. I got into it and I played some of it for my sister and she was like, 'dude, that's awesome'. And it was just so much fun to have, like, a good, little therapy moment for me, just to be able to go through everything. It was awesome. It was so much fun to write."}}
Cyrus says "7 Things" was inspired by an ex-boyfriend. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Cyrus said that she was "going through [...] nine-hundred different emotions while trying to write the song" and that her use of the word "hate" demonstrated how furious she was. When Seacrest asked if she was worried the song's subject would hear it and be upset, Cyrus responded that while she was slightly worried, "I want him to be upset. That was my point." She showed her draft to co-songwriters and producers Tim James and Antonina Armato, who suggested adding it to Breakout. Originally, "7 Things" was more "soft and nice" but Cyrus says she "went nuts" during the recording process and gave the song a harder sound.{{cite web|url=http://soundcheck.walmart.com/miley-cyrus |title=Walmart Soundcheck: Interview - Part 2 |work=Walmart Soundcheck |publisher=Wal-Mart |access-date=December 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206110635/http://soundcheck.walmart.com/miley-cyrus |archive-date= 6 December 2009 |url-status=dead }} Cyrus had initially chosen "Fly on the Wall" as the lead single from Breakout, but replaced it with "7 Things" because she felt it was a "better introduction" to the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599176/20081112/cyrus__miley.jhtml|title=Miley Cyrus Spoofs Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Video -- Swapping Zombies For Paparazzi|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|first=Jcelyn|last=Vena|date=November 13, 2008|access-date=December 20, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100109231246/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599176/20081112/cyrus__miley.jhtml| archive-date= 9 January 2010 | url-status= dead}}
=Nick Jonas allegations=
File:Nicholas Jerry Jonas.jpg of the Jonas Brothers.]]
Allegations that "7 Things" was about Nick Jonas, lead singer of the Jonas Brothers, arose soon after the song's premiere on the May 13, 2008, broadcast of the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.accesshollywood.com/archives/2008/05/miley-cyrus-debuts-new-single.html |title=Miley Cyrus Debuts New Single |date=May 13, 2008 |work=Access Hollywood |publisher=NBC Universal Television Distribution |access-date=December 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214153438/http://blogs.accesshollywood.com/archives/2008/05/miley-cyrus-debuts-new-single.html |archive-date=14 December 2009 |url-status=dead }} Cyrus and Jonas had dated for a year and a half before breaking up in late 2007.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/miley-nick-jonas-and-i-were-in-love/ |title=Miley: Nick Jonas and I 'Were In Love' |work=People |access-date=December 20, 2009 |first=Liz |last=McNeil |date=August 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117075612/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20217447%2C00.html |archive-date=17 January 2010 |url-status=live }} Cyrus claimed, "Nick and I loved each other" and that after the breakup she "bawled for a month straight" while trying to rebel "against everything Nick wanted [her] to be".
Henry Freeland of Paste described "7 Things" as "the list of reasons she hates an ex-boyfriend (who just might be lead Jonas Brother, Nick)" and her "concern [...] that all of this hatred only leads them to love Maybe-Nick [...] all the more".{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/ctrl-v/2009/03/on-miley-cyrus-7-things-10-things-i-hate-about-you.html|work=Paste |access-date=December 21, 2009|date=March 11, 2009|title=Miley Cyrus' "7 Things" vs. 10 Things I Hate About You|first=Henry|last=Freeland| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100124045706/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/ctrl-v/2009/03/on-miley-cyrus-7-things-10-things-i-hate-about-you.html| archive-date= 24 January 2010 | url-status= live}} Blogger Molly Lambert, quoted in The New York Times said, "[Cyrus] had recently broken up with her first serious boyfriend — a fellow Disney celebrity, Nick Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers, who was also her arena-concert tour mate during their secret two-year affair. In the video for '7 Things' she wears Nick's diabetes dog tags while singing about how his vanity and insecurity undermined their relationship."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/magazine/23Favorites-t.html?_r=2&pagewanted=3|title=Crushed|first=Molly|last=Lambert|work=The New York Times|date=November 23, 2008|access-date=December 23, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150618124628/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/magazine/23Favorites-t.html?_r=2&pagewanted=3| archive-date=June 18, 2015| url-status= live}} Jessica Herndon of People similarly points out the necklace and the fact that Jonas, "who split with Cyrus in late 2008 after two-and a half years of dating – has Type 1 diabetes and is a spokesperson for awareness of the disease."{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20222798,00.html|title=Miley's '7 Things' Is About Nick Jonas, Says Director|first=Jessica|last=Herndon|date=September 2, 2009|access-date=December 23, 2009|work=People|archive-date=December 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203231944/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20222798,00.html|url-status=dead}} When asked if the allegations were true, Cyrus said,
{{blockquote|"[W]ith '7 Things,' I think a lot of people do, you know, think it's about Nick Jonas, and if they think it is, that's fine, or whoever they think it's about. But mostly that song is about who, um, they want it to be to. Like mostly, it's if a girl hates her current, or ex-boyfriend—for me it's an ex-boyfriend—so I think, you know, like, Nick is someone that was really important in my life, but I don't hate him. It's a good song and it's fun."}}
Jonas responded to the allegations with, "I think it's funny. Honestly, I'm not insecure, my friends are cool—so it can't be about me!"{{cite web|url=http://popstaronline.com/blog/entry/miley__nick_world_exclusive/ |title=Miley on Nick, Nick on Miley |work=Popstar! Magazine |publisher=Leisure Publishing |date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=December 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819041125/http://www.popstaronline.com/blog/entry/miley__nick_world_exclusive/ |archive-date=August 19, 2010 }} According to Tiger Beat magazine, when Cyrus' best friend Mandy Jiroux was asked if "7 Things" was about Jonas; she responded, "yes".{{cite web |url=http://www.bopandtigerbeat.com/jonas-brothers/mileys-message-to-nick/ |title=Miley's message to Nick? |date=July 29, 2008 |work=Tiger Beat |publisher=Laufer Media |access-date=December 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102133510/http://www.bopandtigerbeat.com/jonas-brothers/mileys-message-to-nick/ |archive-date=2 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}
Composition
{{listen
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|filename=Miley-Cyrus-7-Things.ogg
|title=Miley Cyrus - "7 Things" (2008)
|description=The uptempo refrains of Miley Cyrus' "7 Things" are pop rock influenced.
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"7 Things" is a pop song with a length of three minutes and 33 seconds.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1397847|pure_url=yes}}|work=Allmusic|publisher=Macrovision Corporation|access-date=October 8, 2009|title=Breakout > Overview|first=Heather|last=Phares}} According to Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine, the song's verses are tinged with country while its refrains bear pop punk aspects. The song is set in common time and has moderate rock tempo of 108 beats per minute. It is written in the key of E major while Cyrus' vocals span two octaves, ranging from C#3 to C#5.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0066929|title=Digital sheet music - Miley Cyrus - 7 Things|access-date=December 21, 2009|work=Musicnotes|date=14 July 2008|publisher=Alfred Publishing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501125603/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0066929|archive-date=May 1, 2009}} [https://google.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.musicnotes.com%2Fsheetmusic%2Fmtd.asp%3Fppn%3DMN0066929&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a Alt URL] Fraser McAlpine of the BBC called the song "a three-tempo patchwork quilt".{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2008/10/miley_cyrus_7_things.shtml |title=Miley Cyrus Counts Up To Four.. |last1=McAlpine |first1=Fraser |date=October 30, 2008 |work=BBC Online |publisher= BBC |access-date=December 22, 2009}} In the song's introduction, the band begins to strum acoustic guitars{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/extendedplay/2008/06/miley-cyrus-7-t.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 21, 2009|first=Todd|last=Martens|title=Miley Cyrus' '7 Things': Is it time to take her seriously?|date=June 29, 2008}} at a moderate tempo while Cyrus chants "sha". The tempo continues as Cyrus begins the first verse in the song's fourth bar. At each chorus, "7 Things" speeds up dramatically and Cyrus' vocals become aggressive and forceful; Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly described the transition as "from sensitive breakup song in the strummy verses to punky-pop kiss-off in the double-time choruses." McAlpine noted the stress Cyrus places on vowels in the song: "'yerw' instead of 'you', 'erw' instead of 'oh', and so on...".
The song's lyrics are written in second person, a message from the singer to her ex-boyfriend detailing the hurt he caused her while they were dating. The refrain is a list of the seven traits the singer "hates" most about her ex, with the seventh item being her frustration that despite his flaws, he makes her love him. Ben Ratliff of The New York Times noted that the list actually "runs to 8 to 11 things, depending on how you parse it". Henry Freedland of Paste magazine compared it to a similar list featured as a poem in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. In one verse, Cyrus asks for a sincere apology and states, "If you text it, I'll delete it", which Molly Lambert of The New York Times said "perfectly captur[es] our confusing age of technologically mediated courtship." The song concludes with a variation of the refrain, in which Cyrus names the seven things she likes the most about her ex, again concluding with "you make me love you".
Critical reception
File:7 Things - Wonder World Tour.jpg]]
"7 Things" received mixed reviews from critics. Fraser McAlpine of the BBC called the song "smashing", complimenting Cyrus' "punker attitude all wrapped up in an immaculate gloss". Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times wrote that while he wished the song had played up Cyrus' frustration rather than concluding with the kind final verse, "the winning, full-on chorus -- and Miley's exuberance -- are enough to make it a success." Ben Ratliff of The New York Times said "7 Things" "lists with talky insecurity what she hates about a guy" and calls "the seven things she likes [...] a shameless Disney ending".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/arts/music/21choi.html|title="Breakout" (Hollywood)|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 21, 2009|first=Ben|last=Ratliff|date=July 21, 2009}} Heather Phares of Allmusic contended, "7 Things" is a twangy, clever piece of love-hate pop that feels descended from Shania Twain's flirty mix of rock and country" and marked it as one of the best tracks on Breakout.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1397847|pure_url=yes}}|title=Breakout > Review|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=November 14, 2009}} Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly called it one of Breakout
Mordechai Shinefield of The Village Voice described the song as "hooky and catchy enough", but warned that "it's only a step away from warmed-over emo platitudes".{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-07-23/music/miley-cyrus-teen-siren/ |title=Miley Cyrus, Teen Siren |last1=Shinefield |first1=Mordechai |date=July 22, 2008 |work=The Village Voice |access-date=December 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213133724/http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-07-23/music/miley-cyrus-teen-siren |archive-date=December 13, 2009 }} Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe claimed "[Avril] Lavigne's brand of pop-punk snarl creeps into '7 Things'."{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/07/22/with_her_new_cd_miley_cyrus_breaks_out____a_little/|title=With her new CD, Miley Cyrus breaks out -- a little|date=July 22, 2009|first=Sarah|last=Rodman|access-date=December 5, 2009|work=The Boston Globe}} Robert Christgau labeled "7 Things" and "Breakout" the best songs on Breakout.{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=6013&name=Miley+Cyrus|title=Breakout|work=RobertChristgau.com|publisher=Robert Christgau|access-date=December 6, 2009|first=Robert|last=Christgau}} Chris Richards of The Washington Post claimed the album's "overproduction is apparent on the chorus of the album's first single, "7 Things," an avalanche of guitars and rushed syllables."{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/21/AR2008072102492.html |title=A Disney Star's 'Breakout', Minus the Blast |last1=Richards |first1=Chris |date=July 22, 2008 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 22, 2009}} Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called the single "rather annoying" and not "a worthy follow-up to 'See You Again'",{{cite web|url=https://slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1436 |title=Miley Cyrus - Breakout |date=July 20, 2009 |first=Sal |last=Cinquemani |work=Slant Magazine |access-date=December 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710005010/http://slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1436 |archive-date=July 10, 2009 }} while Bill Lamb of About.com said the "winning performance" demonstrated that "Miley Cyrus does not intend to simply be a TV-generated phenomenon in the pop music world. She is a compelling pop artist in her own right."{{cite web |url=http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/mileycyrus7th.htm |title=Miley Cyrus - "7 Things" |last1=Lamb |first1=Bill |work=About.com |publisher=The New York Times Company |access-date=December 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214192210/http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/mileycyrus7th.htm |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
{{clear}}
Chart performance
On the week ending June 21, 2008, "7 Things" debuted at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/song/36150|title=Miley Cyrus - 7 Things - Music Charts|publisher=aCharts.us|access-date=December 20, 2009}} The song ascended to number seventy the week ending July 5, 2008, before jumping to number 10 in its third week due to sales of 130,000 digital downloads.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044966/katy-perry-scores-1000th-no-1-hit-of-rock-era|title=Katy Perry Scores 1,000th No. 1 Hit Of Rock Era|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 20, 2009}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044968/chart-beat-katy-perry-kathy-griffin-miley-cyrus |title=Chart Beat: Katy Perry, Kathy Griffin, Miley Cyrus |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218094050/http://www.billboard.com/ |archive-date=18 December 2009 |url-status=live }} "7 Things" moved up to number nine on the week ending July 26, 2008, surpassing "See You Again" and becoming Cyrus' best charting effort on the Hot 100.{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044761/katy-perry-starts-fourth-week-atop-hot-100|title=Katy Perry Starts Fourth Week Atop Hot 100|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|date=July 17, 2008|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 20, 2009}}{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=miley cyrus|chart=all}} |title=7 Things - Miley Cyrus |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218094050/http://www.billboard.com/ |archive-date=18 December 2009 |url-status=dead }} The single managed to spend fifteen weeks on the Hot 100, and was ranked at number 92 in the Year-End in 2008. "7 Things" also peaked at number 14 on the now-canceled Pop 100 chart.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p827976|pure_url=yes}}|title=Hannah Montana > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles|work=Allmusic|publisher=Macrovision Corporation|access-date=December 20, 2009}} In Canada, the song debuted at number 40 on the week ending July 5, 2008, and peaked at number 13 on the week ending July 26, 2008. As of March 2023, "7 Things" has sold 2,000,000 units in the United States and was certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|title=Gold & Platinum|website=RIAA|accessdate=May 7, 2023}}
"7 Things" was also a success in Australia and New Zealand. The song made its debut on the Australian Singles Chart at number 38 on August 17, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=7+Things&cat=s|title=Miley-Cyrus - 7 Things (Song)|work=Australian-charts.com|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=December 20, 2009}} After five weeks, "7 Things" reached its peak on the chart at number ten. The song has been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipping over 35,000 copies.{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2008Singles.htm|title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Singles|access-date=December 20, 2009|work=ARIA.com.au|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091112025856/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2008Singles.htm| archive-date= 12 November 2009 | url-status= live}} "7 Things" debuted at number 27 on the New Zealand Singles Chart on August 17, 2008, and, after eight weeks on the chart, reached number 24.{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=7+Things&cat=s|title=Miley-Cyrus - 7 Things (Song)|work=charts.nz|publisher=Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|access-date=December 20, 2009}} "7 Things" also became Cyrus' first song to chart in an Asian country: On the week ending September 27, 2008, "7 Things" debuted at number 81 on the Japan Hot 100; it reached number nine on the week ending October 17, 2008, and reached its peak at number eight on the week ending October 24, 2008.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/#/charts/japan-hot-100?chartDate=2008-10-17 |title=Japan Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218094050/http://www.billboard.com/ |archive-date=18 December 2009 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/#/charts/japan-hot-100?chartDate=2008-10-24 |title=Japan Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218094050/http://www.billboard.com/ |archive-date=18 December 2009 |url-status=live }}
In the UK Singles Chart, "7 Things" made its entry at number 87 on September 13, 2008, and reached its peak at number 25 on December 13, 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Farewell%20To%20The%20Fairground|title=The Official Charts Company - Miley Cyrus - 7 Things|work=Official Charts Company|access-date=December 20, 2009}} In mainland Europe, the song peaked at number 44 on Eurochart Hot 100 Singles and at number 14 in Austria.{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=7+Things&cat=s|title=Miley Cyrus - 7 Things (Song)|work=Austriancharts.at|publisher=Ö3 Austria Top 40|access-date=December 20, 2009|language=de}} "7 Things" debuted and peaked at number eight on the Norwegian Singles Chart on August 19, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=7+Things&cat=s|title=Miley Cyrus - 7 Things (Song)|work=Norwegiancharts.com|publisher=VG-lista|access-date=December 20, 2009}} The song experienced similar commercial outcomes throughout the rest of Europe; it charted within the top 40 of charts in Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Germany, and Switzerland.
Music video
File:Miley Cyrus 7 Things music video.jpg in the "7 Things" music video.]]
Cyrus invited Brett Ratner, director of the "7 Things" music video, to her home to tell him how much the song meant to her and what it was about.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1593775/20080828/cyrus__miley.jhtml|title=Miley Cyrus' '7 Things' Is About Nick Jonas, Director Brett Ratner Seemingly Reveals|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=December 21, 2009|date=August 29, 2008|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100107082654/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1593775/20080828/cyrus__miley.jhtml| archive-date= 7 January 2010 | url-status= dead}} After proposing numerous ideas to each other, they decided to make the video "simple with a white backdrop". Cyrus said that neither she nor Ratner wanted the video to be "all about [her]" because the song's message was universal; "almost every girl in America could say they hate their ex or current boyfriend," claimed Cyrus. As a result, the video features numerous adolescent girls including actresses Nicola Peltz, Liana Liberato, Hunter King, and Maiara Walsh.{{cite magazine |year=2008 |title=Video Vixen! |magazine=Life Story |pages=33–34}} During the planning session, Cyrus showed Ratner a collection of personal items her ex had given her, such as photographs and his dirty socks, which she had stowed away beneath her bed. They decided to include some of these items as props in the music video. For example, the necklace Cyrus wears in the video was her ex-boyfriend's medical identification tag, which he received because of his diabetes mellitus.
The video was shot on May 30, 2008, in Los Angeles, California. Unexpectedly, several girls began crying during the shoot; Cyrus attributed this to the emotions in the song. Ratner was impressed with Cyrus' instinct and ability to address emotional issues while making them "fun at the same time". Ratner compared her to Madonna, saying, "she can be hanging out and laughing, and then you put the camera on her and it's like, 'Holy shit!'" The effervescence made editing more difficult for the director. He said, "It was the hardest video I've ever edited because every moment was great. Every moment that she was on camera, she was amazing. She's got an incredible quality about her. She gets the camera, and that's what it takes to make a great music video." Cyrus commented that she felt the video was "more honest than [the] song" and that she was "singing out to [...] that special person".
The video commences with a close-up shots of Cyrus' face as she counts in the backup band behind her. For a moment, she is replaced by a different girl holding a small stuffed monkey. Cyrus then reappears, holding onto her necklace and wearing a multicolored sequin sundress designed by Sass & Bide,{{cite web|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/perth-confidential/miley-cyrus-wants-sass-and-bide-harlequin-frock-for-new-video/story-e6frg30l-1111117199292|title=Miley Cyrus wants sass and bide Harlequin frock for new video|date=August 14, 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=March 12, 2010}} black Chuck Taylor All-Stars, and leg warmers. Her wavy hair styled loose and in front of her shoulders. As Cyrus continues to sing, she is replaced by more girls holding different items, including teddy bears, stuffed animals, snow globes, and love letters. As the song approaches its chorus, Cyrus and the girls start dancing and jumping. Cyrus continues singing as she holds a white rose and a girl deletes a text message from her boyfriend. At one point, Cyrus holds a photograph of her and an ex-boyfriend with black curly hair, his face obscured by a doodle on a piece of notebook paper. At the end of the video, Cyrus blows the camera a kiss, mouths "I love you," and turns away.
=Video reception=
The video premiered on June 28, 2008, on ABC.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/disney-announces-lineup-12365/|title=Disney Announces Lineup for Summer Music Madness|work=TV Guide|date=June 13, 2008|access-date=December 21, 2009|archive-date=June 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618151144/http://www.tvguide.com/news/disney-announces-lineup-12365/|url-status=bot: unknown}} It was the most watched music-related video on YouTube{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1039613&c=1|title=US online video up nearly 14%|first=Eamonn|last=Forde|date=January 13, 2010|work=Music Week|publisher=United Business Media|access-date=March 12, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100318012840/http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1039613&c=1| archive-date= 18 March 2010 | url-status= live}} until it was surpassed by Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" music video in Spring 2010.{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/technology/most+popular+YouTube+videos+time/2774643/story.html |title=Top-5 most popular YouTube videos of all-time |date=April 7, 2010 |work=Vancouver Sun |access-date=April 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409064153/http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/most%2Bpopular%2BYouTube%2Bvideos%2Btime/2774643/story.html |archive-date=9 April 2010 |url-status=dead }} Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times was disappointed with the video's special effects and production values, adding that it looked "as if it were filmed with one camera on a tripod in a single-bulb basement". However, he complimented how they "show[ed] off Miley's universal appeal". Henry Freeland of Paste magazine said, "Cyrus wiggles to and fro, mugging for the camera like her face is fighting gravity and barely winning." A Pop Cultured review from MTV described the video as PG and "Disney approved".{{cite web|url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2008/06/30/new-video-miley-cyrus-7-things/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902001529/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2008/06/30/new-video-miley-cyrus-7-things/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 2, 2008|title=New Video: Miely Cyrus - 7 Things|work=MTV|publisher=Viacom|access-date=December 21, 2009|date=June 30, 2009|author=Pop Cultured}} The review continued that it was mildly angry, comparing Cyrus to "a watered-down version of Avril Lavigne's kid sister, and Lindsay Lohan's pseudo-rebellious character in Freaky Friday — minus the eyeliner". Leigh Holmwood of The Guardian commented, "Miley's new music vid, reminds me, creepily enough, of early Britney."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/pda/2008/jul/04/guardianviralvideochart70|title=Guardian Viral Video Chart|work=The Guardian|access-date=December 21, 2009|date=July 4, 2008|author=Holmwood, Leigh}} Molly Lambert of The New York Times described Cyrus as the video's "charismatic center" and writes, "When she flashes Nick's dog tags and a picture of the two of them together, she seems so vindictive and so embarrassingly vulnerable, just like . . . a 15-year-old suffering her first serious heartbreak, basically." The video received a nomination for MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to Tokio Hotel's music video for "Ready, Set, Go!".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2008/|work=2008 MTV Video Music Awards|publisher=MTV Video Music Awards|access-date=December 21, 2009|title=2008 MTV Video Music Awards - Winners| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091214094318/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2008/| archive-date= 14 December 2009 | url-status= dead}} At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, the video received a nomination for MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing, but lost to Beyoncé Knowles' music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009/winners.jhtml|work=2009 MTV Video Music Awards|publisher=MTV Video Music Awards|access-date=December 21, 2009|title=2009 MTV Video Music Awards l Winners| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100108012936/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009/winners.jhtml| archive-date= 8 January 2010 | url-status= dead}}
Live performances
File:Miley Cyrus in Chile.jpg]]
Cyrus first live performance of "7 Things" took place on May 17, 2008, at the 2008 Zootopia, an annual summer concert put on by radio station Z100.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/14367/76670?method=method.fetch.album&title=To+The+Sea&artist=Jack+Johnson&page=1&pagesize=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908011944/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/14367/76670?method=method.fetch.album&title=To+The+Sea&artist=Jack+Johnson&page=1&pagesize=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2012|title=Jonas Brothers, New Kids on the Block, Miley Cyrus Earn Fans' Shrieks at Zootopia|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Erica|last=Futterman|date=May 19, 2008|access-date=September 27, 2009}} Later that summer, she promoted the song at outdoor concerts hosted by Good Morning America{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/SummerConcert/Story?id=5404016&page=1|title=Miley Ready to 'Breakout' After VF 'Mistake'|first=Olivia|last=Sterns|date=July 22, 2008|access-date=September 27, 2009|work=ABC News| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091027041640/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/SummerConcert/story?id=5404016&page=1| archive-date= 27 October 2009 | url-status= live}} and The Today Show{{cite web|url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/video_279699|title=Miley Cyrus Performs '7 Things' on 'Today Show' (July 25, 2008)|work=Access Hollywood|publisher=NBC Universal Television Distribution|date=July 25, 2008|access-date=June 17, 2010}} and while hosting the 2008 Teen Choice Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592066/20080804/cyrus__miley.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524135006/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592066/20080804/cyrus__miley.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 24, 2012|first=Chris|last=Harris|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|access-date=December 22, 2009|date=August 4, 2009|title=Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Chris Brown, 'Gossip Girl' Win Big At Teen Choice Awards}} Cyrus began promotion for "7 Things" in Europe in fall 2008, performing the track on the United Kingdom breakfast TV show GMTV, the French television show Le Grand Journal and the British singing competition The X Factor among other venues.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7756442.stm|work=BBC Online|publisher=BBC|access-date=December 22, 2009|title=Britney will 'womanize' X Factor |date=November 29, 2009}} She performed the song twice on FNMTV; once on August 1, 2008,{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/soundboard/2008/08/fntmv-miley-cyr.html|title=FNMTV: Miley Cyrus performs; video debuts from Hawthorne Heights, All Time Low, David Banner|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 1, 2008|access-date=September 27, 2009|first=Margaret|last=Wappler}} and again while co-hosting New Year's Eve of 2008 with Pete Wentz.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601653/20081219/cyrus__miley.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220155440/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601653/20081219/cyrus__miley.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 20, 2008|title=Miley Cyrus Will Help 'FNMTV' Ring Out 2008 -- From A Fan's Bedroom!|date=September 27, 2009|publisher=Viacom|work=MTV News}}
Cyrus performed "7 Things" along with several other songs on April 24, 2009, in a London Apple Store. These performances were recorded and sold exclusively by the United Kingdom iTunes Store as a live extended play titled iTunes Live from London.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=316595910&id=316595900&s=143444&uo=4 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121104232154/https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=316595910&id=316595900&s=143444&uo=4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |title=iTunes: Live from London |work=iTunes Store United Kingdom |publisher=Apple Inc |access-date=November 7, 2009 }} On June 7, 2009, Cyrus performed the song at twentieth annual A Time for Heroes Celebrity Carnival, an outdoor carnival supporting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.{{cite web|url=http://www.instyle.com/instyle/parties/party/0,,20283773_20631203,00.html |title=Miley Cyrus - A Time for Heroes Celebrity Carnival |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=December 5, 2009 |work=InStyle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612023324/http://www.instyle.com/instyle/parties/party/0%2C%2C20283773_20631203%2C00.html |archive-date=June 12, 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.seventeen.com/fun-stuff/17-buzz/miley-performs-at-aids-benefit |title=Miley Rocks Out at the AIDS Benefit in LA! |work=Seventeen |access-date=December 22, 2009 |date=June 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214175022/http://www.seventeen.com/fun-stuff/17-buzz/miley-performs-at-aids-benefit |archive-date=February 14, 2010 }} "7 Things" was also included in the set list of Cyrus' first world tour, the Wonder World Tour; Cyrus performed the song in a black leather ensemble paired with a silver rosary while overhead video screens projected a conflagration.{{cite web
|last=Thompsen|first=Melinda M.|title=Review: Miley Cyrus Rocks the Rose Garden as She Kicks off Tour in Portland|work=The Oregonian|date=September 15, 2009|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2009/09/review_miley_cyrus_rocks_the_r.html|access-date=December 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109104457/http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2009/09/review_miley_cyrus_rocks_the_r.html|archive-date=January 9, 2010}} [http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2009/09/review_miley_cyrus_rocks_the_r.html Alt URL] Melinda M. Thompsen of The Oregonian said Cyrus' performance of "7 Things" the September 14 concert in Portland, Oregon at the Rose Garden Arena "showed what a powerhouse she can be using her voice and influence to get her message out". The song's performance in the September 22 concert in Los Angeles, California at the Staples Center was referred to as "aggressive athleticism" by Lael Loewenstein of Variety and as a "tween-rock gem" and "up-tempo highlight" by Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times.{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117941205.html?categoryid=34&cs=1|title=Concert Review: Miley Cyrus|date=September 23, 2009|access-date=December 22, 2009|first=Lael|last=Loewenstein|work=Variety}}{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/09/live-review-miley-cyrus-wonder-world-concert-at-staples-center.html|title=Live review: Miley Cyrus' 'Wonder World' concert at Staples Center|date=September 23, 2009|access-date=December 22, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Mikael|last=Wood}} She later performed the song at the Rock in Rio concerts in Lisbon, Portugal and Madrid, Spain 7 Things has sold more than 1,500,000 million copies in the United States.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959485/miley-cyrus-to-play-rock-in-rio-madrid|title=Miley Cyrus To Play Rock In Rio Madrid|first=Howell|last=Llewellyn|date=February 5, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 8, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100619110933/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959485/miley-cyrus-to-play-rock-in-rio-madrid| archive-date= 19 June 2010 | url-status= live}}
Cyrus performed the song during the Gypsy Heart Tour.
In 2021, Cyrus began performing "7 Things", at music festivals, for the first time since 2011's Gypsy Heart Tour, reintroducing the song during her Lollapalooza set.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/miley-cyrus-lollapalooza-setlist-review-1204941|title=Miley Cyrus Gives Lollapalooza the Wild Party It Craves on Night One|first=Corcoran|last=Nina|date=July 30, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 27, 2021}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "7 Things" !Chart (2008) !Peak |
{{single chart|Australia|10|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Austria|14|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Flanders|22|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|access-date=April 26, 2021|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Wallonia|22|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Canada|13|artist=Miley Cyrus|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|38|artist=Miley Cyrus|access-date=January 14, 2022|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|44|artist=Miley Cyrus|access-date=January 14, 2022|rowheader=true}} |
scope="row"| France (SNEP) Download Charts{{cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=si&year=2008&date=20081108|title=Top Singles Download (November 8, 2008)|publisher=SNEP|access-date=November 8, 2008}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 32 |
---|
{{single chart|Germany|17|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|songid=477596|access-date=February 18, 2019|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Ireland2|26|artist=Miley Cyrus|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
scope="row"|Italy (FIMI){{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/history.kl#/history|title=Miley Cyrus – 7 Things|work=fimi.it|publisher=fimi|access-date=September 13, 2022|language=it}}
| style="text-align:center;"|29 |
{{single chart|Billboardjapanhot100|8|artist=Miley Cyrus|access-date=May 14, 2020|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Dutch100|80|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|New Zealand|24|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Norway|8|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Scotland|15|date=20081122|access-date=April 26, 2021|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Switzerland|35|artist=Miley Cyrus|song=7 Things|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|25|artist=Miley Cyrus|artistid=5138|access-date=April 26, 2021|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|9|artist=Miley Cyrus|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|19|artist=Miley Cyrus|access-date=November 16, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
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=Year-end charts=
{{Col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "7 Things"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2008|certyear=2024|access-date=February 6, 2024|refname=ARIA-cert}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=7 Things|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2008|certyear=2016|certmonth=2|access-date=December 21, 2024|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=7 Things|award=Silver|relyear=2008|certyear=2019|id=16084-51-1|access-date=January 3, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=7 Things|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2008|certyear=2023|access-date=March 10, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "7 Things" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
scope="row"| Australia
| August 25, 2008 | rowspan="3"| CD single | EMI |
---|
scope="row"| Germany
| September 12, 2008 |
scope="row"| United Kingdom
| November 8, 2008 | Polydor |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr0Wv5DJhuk&feature=channel "7 Things"] music video on YouTube (posted by Hollywood Records)
{{Miley Cyrus songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Brett Ratner
Category:Songs written by Antonina Armato
Category:Songs written by Tim James (musician)
Category:Hollywood Records singles
Category:Songs written by Miley Cyrus
Category:Song recordings produced by John Fields (record producer)