Plastic Hearts

Album: Plastic Hearts (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This raucous cut finds Miley Cyrus looking to make a connection without going too deep.

    Love me now, but not tomorrow
    Fill me up, but leave me hollow
    Pull me in, but don't you get too close
  • "Plastic Hearts" is the title track of Cyrus' seventh studio album, a record where she frequently touches on how it's hard for her to commit fully to a relationship. "Angels Like You," for instance, finds her apologizing to her romantic interest before walking out on them.
  • When asked during the first episode of Amazon Music Holiday Plays about the meaning behind "Plastic Heart," Miley said her homeless charity Happy Hippie inspired the song. The "Midnight Sky" singer explained she wrote the tune following the annual Christmas holiday party Happy Hippie throws for homeless youth in Los Angeles.

    "Right down the street from where we are right now, there is more homelessness than anywhere else in the country - this is kind of the nucleus of homelessness," she said. "So really knowing that I live in this extravagant world and so many homeless kids are on the street it just never really felt right and so this song was dedicated to that community that is so important to me."
  • Miley Cyrus wrote the song with Ryan Tedder, Ali Tamposi, Andrew Watt and Louis Bell. The same quintet also penned "Angels Like You."
  • The song's intro references The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil," with Stonesy percussion performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
  • The song's demo version, titled "California Dreamin'," was leaked online. It is also known as "Keep Me Up."
  • Miley Cyrus sung the song on the May 8, 2021 episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Elon Musk. She also teamed up with The Kid Laroi to perform his remix of "Without You."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.