The music video which initially created controversy is now one of the most viewed videos on the singers YouTube channel. The party anthem was written and produced by Mike Will Made It, P-Nasty and R. City, with additional lyrics from the singer and a sample from Doug E.
The tune signified the then Disney stars transition to a prominent figure in the music industry. Cyrus reinvented herself with the release of this track and music video as she was seen to be dancing and singing about topics that was unexpected from talent emerging from Disney Channel.
'We Can't Stop' topped out at No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time of release, it was blocked from No.1 by Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”. Cyrus and Thicke later performed a melody of their hits songs at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
At the time of release, critics struggled to wrap their heads around the music video and come to terms with the singers transition from a Disney star to a hip-hop adjacent provocateur. The music video blew up straight away, with it setting the record for most viewed video within the first 24 hours, then hitting another record for getting Vevo Certified status for 100 million views within the first month.
Diane Martel directed the music video and portrayed Cyrus in a way she had never been seen before. The singer was wearing golden grillz with revealing clothing whilst surrounded by her friends eating sandwiches made from dollar bills. The mix of imagery in the music video supports the songs refrain 'And we can't stop/ and we won't stop', the song and video served as a statement about free living and showed her fans and the public that she is not an innocent Disney star anymore. The music video certainly changed the way public perceived her, and successfully reinvented her persona.
Cyrus has previously hit the one billion views mark with her 2013 hit 'Wrecking Ball', 2009's 'Party In The USA', 2013's '23', and her 2023 hit 'Flowers'.
