Forty-five years after joining Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks continues to prove herself as one of the most influential artists of all time. Nicks, alongside Miley Cyrus, released a mash-up version of Cyrus’s “Midnight Sky” with Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen,” called “Edge of Midnight.
Cyrus released “Midnight Sky” in August, as a single from her album “Plastic Hearts,” which is slated to be released on Nov. 27. Cyrus drew inspiration for the song from Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen,” which released with her debut solo album “Bella Donna” in 1981.
From the moment the song starts, the inspiration is as clear as day. “Midnight Sky” starts with a guitar riff, an iconic moment in Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen,” immediately followed by solo vocals. Further inspiration can be heard through Cyrus’s more raspy tones, along with her longer lines that are reminiscent of Nicks’ iconic “Edge of Seventeen” lyrics of, “just like the white winged dove.”
When asked, Cyrus said, “Edge of Seventeen” directly inspired her, even going to get Nicks’ blessing before the release. Talking with Billboard, Cyrus said she told Nicks she, “kind of wanted to pay tribute to you and your greatness and how much you’ve inspired me,” with Nicks saying, “You can borrow from me anytime.”
Together on “Edge of Midnight,” Nicks and Cyrus knock it out of the park, bringing in elements of classic rock, classic Nicks and blending it with more modern tones and pop music. Cyrus’s ability to switch genres from her old pop songs like “Wrecking Ball” to classic rock like Fleetwood Mac enabled the duo to perfectly incorporate elements of both songs.
The opening guitar riff combines both songs, with Cyrus’s vocals shining over the main riff from “Edge of Seventeen.” Nicks proves she hasn’t lost her touch, keeping up with Cyrus’s energy and adding her own.
For most of the song, the duo keeps to their own lyrics, with Cyrus mainly crossing over to the lyrics of “Edge of Seventeen” with little cross-back from Nicks onto “Midnight Sky.” However, when both are singing the lyrics from “Edge of Seventeen,” the combination of tones makes it sound like the iconic vocals of Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie in “Tusk” and “Don’t Stop”
The differentiation of lyrics also works nicely, with Cyrus’s “Midnight Sky” not dominating over “Edge of Seventeen,” which usually happens with remixes of older songs into newer ones. Although the songs’ topics and stories don’t blend, the lyrics and sounds work well, complementing each other while keeping in their own lane.
Cyrus has a history of pairing with older iconic artists, such as her godmother Dolly Parton. Working with Nicks is another grand slam for both Cyrus and fans. Any fan of Nicks or Fleetwood Mac would love this song, along with any fan of classic rock with female vocals. For younger fans, this isn’t the same Cyrus that made “Party in the USA” or even “Wrecking Ball” but is incredible in her own right.
Fans of “Midnight Sky” or “Edge of Midnight” should also listen to Cyrus’s cover of “Heart of Glass” by Blondie, as it’s a similar blend of old and new, with a bit of Cyrus’s own spice.
Image from Miley Cyrus via YouTube
