Hoedown Throwdown

"Hoedown Throwdown" was created for the 2009 musical film Hannah Montana: The Movie, in which Cyrus stars as a famous pop star sent to reconnect with her Southern roots and family. The film's director, Peter Chelsom, felt the movie needed a big dance-number, similar to the "Macarena" (1995) or the "Funky Chicken" (1950s).{{cite web|url=http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2009/hanna_montana/notes.pdf |title=Hannah Montana The Movie Production Notes |work=Walt Disney Pictures |publisher=VisualHollywood.com |access-date=October 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723045415/http://www.visualhollywood.com/movies_2009/hanna_montana/notes.pdf |archive-date=July 23, 2011 }}{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=276454020&uo=4 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121106145413/http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=276454020&uo=4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |title=Hannah Montana The Movie – Video Podcast |work=iTunes Store |publisher=Apple Inc |access-date=October 16, 2009 }} Chelsom knew he wanted a song in which Cyrus' character, Miley Stewart, called dance steps that captured Cyrus' "real silliness physically" and her "great abandon". In addition, Chelsom wanted the song to represent the two worlds of Stewart, the main theme of the film, by "combin[ing] Miley Stewart's L.A. hip-hop/pop style with her country roots". Because the song is an instructional dance song, it became an ongoing collaboration between Chelsom, choreographer Jamal Sims, Cyrus, and the song's songwriters, Adam Anders and Nikki Hasman. According to Chelsom, the collaborators referred to the song by the working title "The Project" "for the longest time" before naming it the "Hoedown Throwdown". The song was also nick-named "Miley's Macarena".{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/307319372?i=307319693&ign-mpt=uo%3D4|title=Radio Disney Exclusive: Hoedown Throwdown – Single|work=iTunes Store|publisher=Apple, Inc|date=March 10, 2009|access-date=October 16, 2009}}

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"Hoedown Throwdown" merges from a hybrid of country and hip hop.{{cite web|url=http://kidsmusic.about.com/od/musicreviews/fr/hmmovie.htm |title=Miley Cyrus – Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack |work=About.com |first=Warren |last=Truitt |access-date=October 16, 2009 |publisher=The New York Times Company |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412120939/http://kidsmusic.about.com/od/musicreviews/fr/hmmovie.htm |archive-date=April 12, 2014 }} It is set in common time with a moderate tempo of 104 beats per minute. "Hoedown Throwdown" is written in the key of E♭ major. Cyrus' vocals span two octaves, from B♭₃ to F₅.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0073849|title=Digital sheet music – Miley Cyrus – Hoedown Throwdown|access-date=October 19, 2009|work=Musicnotes|date=9 April 2009 |publisher=Alfred Publishing|archive-date=October 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029101702/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0073849|url-status=live}} The song begins with an intro in which Cyrus repeats "Boom Boom clap, boom di-clap di-clap" four times. This line is reused in the song's outro. AllMusic described the song as a tribute to "down-home family times".{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1479519|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|publisher=Macrovision Corporation|access-date=October 16, 2009|title=Hannah Montana: The Movie [Soundtrack] - Review|first=Heather|last=Phares}} Cyrus stated "Hoedown Throwdown" was one of those on the film's soundtrack that "is all about" her Nashville roots and "the reason why [she is who she is]."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1607867/20090326/cyrus__miley.jhtml|title=Miley Cyrus To Perform At Academy Of Country Music Awards|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|access-date=October 9, 2009|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|date=March 26, 2009|archive-date=January 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111195231/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1607867/20090326/cyrus__miley.jhtml|url-status=dead}}

The dance for "Hoedown Throwdown" is heavily influenced by line dancing and merges some hip-hop.{{Cite press release|url=http://disneychannelmedianet.com/DNR/2009/doc/HannahHoedown.doc|publisher=Disney Channel|access-date=October 17, 2009|title=Miley Cyrus Brings Hip Hop to the Hoedown, Teaching Dance Moves from Hannah Montana: The Movie, Friday, February 20 on Disney Channel|archive-date=January 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108040900/http://disneychannelmedianet.com/DNR/2009/doc/HannahHoedown.doc|url-status=live}} A video starring Cyrus and Hannah Montana: The Movie{{'}}s choreographer Jamal Simms entitled "How to Do the Hoedown Throwdown", premiered on Disney Channel on February 20, 2009. The video features Cyrus and Simms, accompanied by several back-up dancers, in a pink room and sporting workout attire. Throughout the evening, Cyrus and Simms executed and explained each dance move. At the end of the night, Cyrus and Simms put together all of the dance steps at once into a competition entitled "Hoedown Throwdown Showdown". Cyrus explained the dance required "semi-coordinat[ion]".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/#/news/miley-cyrus-1003953851.story|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|title=Miley Cyrus|access-date=October 17, 2009|date=March 20, 2009|first=Ann|last=Donahue|archive-date=July 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710030942/http://www.billboard.com/#/news/miley-cyrus-1003953851.story|url-status=live}} Ann Donahue of Billboard said that she discovered "exactly how Cyrus' legion of preteen female fans is learning the dance: YouTube onscreen, phone to ear, someone on phone offering encouragement amid occasional peals of laughter." She also drew similarities to Billy Ray Cyrus' choreography for "Achy Breaky Heart". Reported by MTV News, the "Hoedown Throwdown," caused a sizable younger audience "jumping on the country bandwagon". In an interview with Just Jared, Cyrus said {{quote|"I have all these different kids at events who say, 'Oh yeah, I know the "Hoedown Throwdown" now,' and that's really cool that they're getting to dance to it. In the theaters, I think if they danced to it, it would be kind of cool."}}

File:HoedownThrowdownPerformance.jpg.]]

The song received mixed reviews. Warren Truitt from About.com described the song as Cyrus' "only misstep" in the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack because of its "weird" merge of country and hip-hop "that sound[ed] like Disney's trying a liiittle {{sic}} bit too hard to cover all genres". Heather Phares of Allmusic stated the song was the exception to Cyrus' usual husky and natural songs. Phares added that "Hoedown Throwdown" was "goofy" and "feels more like a parody of down-home fun than a tribute to it". The Baltimore Sun reviewer Chris Kahltenblach wrote that the song is "catchy as the law allows".{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.hannah10apr10,0,1456909.story|title='Hannah Montana' movie's got squeal appeal|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=October 21, 2009|date=April 10, 2009|first=Chris|last=Kahltenblach|publisher=Tribune Company}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe praised the "Hoedown Throwdown" was "an epic line dance".{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/04/10/hannah_is_still_keeping_a_secret/|title=The screen is bigger, but 'Hannah' is still keeping a secret|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=October 21, 2009|date=April 10, 2009|first=Wesley|last=Morris|archive-date=April 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423025238/http://boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/04/10/hannah_is_still_keeping_a_secret/|url-status=live}} Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly described the song as "deep-fried [...] sort of goofy Hee {{sic}} Haw".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20266411,00.html|title=Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Warner, Inc|first=Leah|last=Greenblatt|access-date=October 16, 2009|date=March 18, 2009|archive-date=April 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427074940/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20266411,00.html|url-status=dead}} However, Owen Gleiberman, also of Entertainment Weekly, called Cyrus a "professional charmer" and found that "it's hard to resist when she leads a hip-hop hoedown".{{cite news|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20271762,00.html|work=Entertainment Weekly?|access-date=October 21, 2009|publisher=Time Warner, Inc|first=Owen|last=Gleiberman|title=Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)|date=April 15, 2009|archive-date=January 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106163621/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20271762,00.html|url-status=dead}} The Hollywood Reporter reviewer Michael Rechtshaffen wrote that the song was a "misguided attempt at marrying Hannah's contemporary pop/hip-hop sound with the Grand Ole Opry" and that it was "squirm-inducing".{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/film-review-hannah-montana-the-movie-1003959904.story |access-date=October 21, 2009 |first=Michael |last=Rechtshaffen |work=The Hollywood Reporter |title=Hannah Montana: The Movie – Film Review |publisher=Reed Business Information |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411085501/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/film-review-hannah-montana-the-movie-1003959904.story |archive-date=April 11, 2009 }} Meanwhile, Mary McNamara, writing for the Los Angeles Times, called the "Hoedown Throwdown" one of the few "flashes of inspiration" in Hannah Montana: The Movie{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-hannah10-2009apr10,0,995728.story|title='Hannah Montana' takes Miley Cyrus on a (safe) voyage of discovery|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 21, 2009|date=April 11, 2009|first=Mary|last=McNamara|publisher=Tribune Company|archive-date=April 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412103430/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-hannah10-2009apr10,0,995728.story|url-status=live}} and Variety magazine's Lael Lowenstein referred to it as a "pleasing, rousing, toe-tapping, line-dancing hoedown."{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940025.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|first=Lael|last=Lowenstein|access-date=October 21, 2009|publisher=Reed Business Information|work=Variety|date=April 7, 2009|title=Hannah Montana: The Movie Review|archive-date=May 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504235251/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940025.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|url-status=live}} The song was included on the short list for Best Original Song at the 82nd Academy Awards.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5a83a539b5b67442326fd65b32cf3abd|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100331200102/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5a83a539b5b67442326fd65b32cf3abd|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2010|title=Academy unveils original song candidates|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Trade Entertainment|date=December 16, 2009|author= Kilday, Gregg|access-date=December 19, 2009}}

Due to digital sales, the song debuted at number sixty-eight in the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending March 21, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/song/42383|title=Miley Cyrus – Hoedown Throwdown – Music Charts|publisher=aCharts.us|access-date=October 17, 2009|archive-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022195110/http://acharts.us/song/42383|url-status=live}} The song then found new peaks at number forty-six and twenty-eight on the chart, respectively.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268919/hannah-montana-boosts-six-songs-on-hot-100|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=October 17, 2009|date=April 11, 2009|title='Hannah Montana' Boosts Six Songs On Hot 100|first=Ayala|last=Ben-Yehuda|location=Pietroluong, Silvio|archive-date=May 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509130305/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268919/hannah-montana-boosts-six-songs-on-hot-100|url-status=live}} For the week ending May 2, 2009, "Hoedown Throwdown" peaked at number eighteen on the Billboard Hot 100 due to digital downloads that placed it at number eight on Hot Digital Songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/#/song/movie-soundtrack/hoedown-throwdown/12922531|title=Hoedown Throwdown|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|access-date=October 17, 2009|archive-date=July 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710030942/http://www.billboard.com/#/song/movie-soundtrack/hoedown-throwdown/12922531|url-status=live}} The song also peaked at number twenty-nine in the canceled Pop 100 chart.{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p823418|pure_url=yes}}|title=Miley Cyrus > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles|work=Allmusic|publisher=Macrovision Corporation|access-date=October 17, 2009}} As of July 2013, it has sold 1,300,000 copies in the United States.{{cite news |url= https://www.billboard.com/pro/ask-billboard-any-news-on-britney-spears-new-album/ |title= Ask Billboard: Any News On Britney Spears' New Album? |author=Gary Trust |work= Ask Billboard |publisher=Billboard |date=July 7, 2013 }} In Canada, the song peaked at number fifteen. In the Australian Singles Chart, the song debuted at number forty and peaked at number twenty after three weeks of finding new peaks.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=Hoedown+Throwdown&cat=s|title=Miley Cyrus – Hoedown Throwdown (Song)|publisher=Australian-charts.com|access-date=October 17, 2009|archive-date=December 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217083835/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley%20Cyrus&titel=Hoedown%20Throwdown&cat=s|url-status=live}} "Hoedown Throwdown" was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for the sales of over 35,000 digital downloads.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accr.htm|title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles|access-date=November 14, 2009|work=ARIA.com.au|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|archive-date=April 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426011929/http://aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accr.htm|url-status=live}} "Hoedown Throwdown" debuted and peaked at number forty in the New Zealand Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=Hoedown+Throwdown&cat=s|title=Miley Cyrus – Hoedown Throwdown (Song)|publisher=charts.nz|access-date=October 17, 2009|archive-date=May 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519205703/http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=Hoedown+Throwdown&cat=s|url-status=live}}

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number sixty-two for the week ending March 18, 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/What%20About%20Now|access-date=October 17, 2009|work=Official Charts Company|title=The Official Charts Company – Miley Cyrus – Hoedown Throwdown|archive-date=May 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531072433/http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/WHAT%20ABOUT%20NOW/|url-status=live}} It peaked at number eighteen for the week ending May 16, 2009. The song reached its highest international peak in Ireland. It entered the Irish Singles Chart on the week ending May 7, 2009, both debuting and peaking at number ten.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=The Irish Charts – Hoedown Throwdown |work=Irish Singles Chart |publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association |access-date=October 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=June 2, 2009 }} In mainland Europe, "Hoedown Throwdown" peaked at number fifty in the European Hot 100 and at number seventeen in the Norwegian Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=Hoedown+Throwdown&cat=s|title=Miley Cyrus – Hoedown Throwdown (Song)|publisher=Norwegiancharts.com|access-date=October 17, 2009|archive-date=November 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111205202/http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Miley+Cyrus&titel=Hoedown+Throwdown&cat=s|url-status=live}} The song also reached charts in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

File:HoedownThrowdownmusicvideo.JPG.]]

The song's music video, directed by Peter Chelsom, is an excerpt from Hannah Montana: The Movie which premiered on February 16, 2009 on Disney Channel.{{cite web|url=http://disney.go.com/videos/#/videos/musicvideos/&content=221621|title=Hoedown Throwdown – Music Video|access-date=October 16, 2009|work=Disney.com|publisher=The Walt Disney Company|archive-date=August 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822112016/http://disney.go.com/videos/#/videos/musicvideos/&content=221621|url-status=live}}

The video begins with a black background and blue printed letters that spell "boom". Other words appear, ultimately spelling the phrase "boom, clap, boom dee clap". A quick montage of Hannah Montana and Miley Stewart are played. It then skips to the video's main setting. Cyrus is at a crowded barn, wearing a plaid blouse, jean skirt, and boots, on top of a stage. Blue printed letters that spell the lyrics then make an appearance, as Cyrus attempts to teach the crowd the dance. After the crowd learns the dance routine, scenes of Mitchel Musso, Moises Arias, Vanessa Williams, Tyra Banks, Jason Earles, and Emily Osment doing the "Hoedown Throwdown" are played. When Cyrus' scene reappears she is off the stage and performing with the rest of the crowd. In the conclusion, Cyrus finishes singing onstage and the audience applauds.

Cyrus never sang "Hoedown Throwdown" live during televised events, but often performed the dance with the track on playback. On April 3, 2009, Cyrus performed "Hoedown Throwdown" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/The+Tonight+Show+with+Jay+Leno/Miley+Cyruss%3B+Tom+Lennon/episode/1266024/summary.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209120214/http://www.tv.com/The+Tonight+Show+with+Jay+Leno/Miley+Cyruss;+Tom+Lennon/episode/1266024/summary.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 9, 2012|title=Miley Cyrus; Tom Lennon|date=April 3, 2009|publisher=TV.com|access-date=October 17, 2009}} Cyrus performed the dance on Good Morning America on April 8, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20270636,00.html|work=People|publisher=Time Warner, Inc|access-date=October 17, 2009|date=April 8, 2009|first=Evan|last=Agostini|title=Star Tracks: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 – 'Morning Glory': Miley Cyrus|archive-date=January 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108163923/http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20270636,00.html|url-status=dead}} On April 10, 2009, Cyrus danced to the track with some of the movie's castmates on The Tyra Banks Show.{{cite web|url=http://tyrashow.warnerbros.com/2009/04/miley_cyrus_hannah_montana_movie.php|title=Miley Cyrus|date=April 9, 2009|work=The Tyra Banks Show|publisher=CBS Television Distribution|access-date=October 17, 2009|archive-date=April 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422015011/http://tyrashow.warnerbros.com/2009/04/miley_cyrus_hannah_montana_movie.php|url-status=live}} Preceded by a performance of "Let's Get Crazy" as herself and succeeded by "These Four Walls", Cyrus performed "Hoedown Throwdown" as part of her set list in her first worldwide concert tour, the Wonder World Tour. For the performances Cyrus dressed in a short white tutu-like dress and performed the dance with her background dancers.{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Melinda M.|title=Review: Miley Cyrus Rocks the Rose Garden as She Kicks off Tour in Portland|work=The Oregonian|publisher=Advance Publications|date=September 15, 2009|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2009/09/review_miley_cyrus_rocks_the_r.html|access-date=September 27, 2009|archive-date=January 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109104457/http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2009/09/review_miley_cyrus_rocks_the_r.html|url-status=live}} Mid-way through the song, will.i.am appeared on the screens to congratulate Cyrus and continued speaking as she left the stage. When he finished, the dancers performed to a remix of "Boom Boom Pow" by The Black Eyed Peas.

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2009|certyear=2024|access-date=February 6, 2024|refname=ARIA-cert}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Hoedown Throwdown|award=Silver|relyear=2009|certyear=2021|id=17170-51-1|access-date=April 16, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Hoedown Throwdown|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2008|certyear=2023|access-date=March 10, 2023}}

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{{reflist|2}}

• {{YouTube|UlK5pZ4K3yA|"Hannah Montana {{!}} Hoedown Throwdown - Music Video - Disney Channel Italia"}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091129014649/http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/hannah-montana-the-movie.html The official website of Hannah Montana: The Movie]
• {{WikiHow|Do-the-Hoedown-Throwdown|Do the Hoedown Throwdown}}

{{Miley Cyrus songs}}

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Category:2009 singles

Category:Miley Cyrus songs

Category:Songs written by Adam Anders

Category:Walt Disney Records singles

Category:2009 songs

Category:American hip-hop songs

Category:American country music songs

Category:Songs about dancing

Category:Country rap songs