Miley Cyrus and Pharrell Williams’ decade-old musical partnership has blossomed into the official release of their vibrant new single, “Doctor (Work It Out).” This track, conceived back in 2012 during Cyrus’ Bangerz era, had previously surfaced online in 2017 as a leak. Now, in its polished and perfected form, “Doctor (Work It Out)” marks the first formal collaboration between these two music powerhouses since 2014, much to the delight of fans worldwide.
Pharrell Williams, in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, explained the long-awaited release, stating, “We just knew it was early. We just knew we was on something that felt good to us, but… there’s a moment where you feel like you feel the stickiness in something, but you may feel that the environment is not ready for it.” This insightful comment highlights the pair’s belief in timing and allowing creative works to mature until the moment feels right for the world to receive them.
The release of “Doctor (Work It Out)” was accompanied by a visually stunning music video featuring Cyrus embodying glamour and confidence, reminiscent of her show-stopping Grammys performance of “Flowers.” The song itself is an infectious blend of pop and funk, with Cyrus singing in the chorus, “I could be your doctor/And I could be your nurse/I think I see the problem It’s only gonna get worse. A midnight medication/Just show me where it hurts/I need to rock you, baby/Before your body bursts.” The lyrics suggest a playful, yet urgent, remedy to a problem, delivered with Cyrus’ signature vocal flair.
Cyrus elaborated on the serendipitous timing of the release, sharing, “Around the Grammys, Pharrell and I were talking about putting the song out, and it just felt like it was so serendipitous, and there were so many alignments and so many moments that made me know that now was the perfect time.” She emphasized how revisiting past creations can bring new meaning in the present, adding, “And then sometimes things in our past make more sense in our present than they ever did then. And so this song, I think the nature, the celebration, the feeling, especially with the video, the joy, the dancing, the letting go, it’s what this song really always needed.”
For Cyrus, “Doctor (Work It Out)” perfectly encapsulates her current spirit and artistic direction. “It completely embodies my spirit and my essence at this exact moment. And this song is really just kind of fun, and it’s not too heavy or heady or deep, and that’s kind of right where I am and my nature at this moment. And so it just feels really reflective of where I’m at, and that’s really what my music always does.” This reinforces the idea that the song’s release is not just about music, but about aligning with her personal and artistic evolution.
Pharrell and Cyrus’s history extends back further than “Come Get It Bae” from Pharrell’s 2014 album GIRL. Cyrus recounted their initial meeting, “I’m sitting in the same kitchen looking at the kitchen table that I met Pharrell at. And this was probably when I was maybe 17 or 18,” explaining how Pharrell sought her out after her Hannah Montana era to discuss her future musical direction.
Pharrell recalled recognizing Cyrus’s desire for growth and evolution beyond her early image. “I’ll never forget just meeting her at a time where people had pegged her to be one thing particularly. She was Hannah Montana at the time, and she was growing up and really wanting to experience life no matter how far the precipice was, that was her.” He acknowledged the initial industry hesitations but recognized their unique creative connection. He further revealed, “We did a couple songs that went on her Bangerz album, but then this one was like, this was always fine wine to me. This was Petrus,” emphasizing the special quality he always perceived in “Doctor (Work It Out).”
The Bangerz album, a defining moment in 2010s pop music, already showcased the Cyrus-Pharrell synergy with tracks like “4×4,” “#GetItRight,” “Rooting for My Baby,” and “On My Own.” Pharrell recently offered a sneak peek of “Doctor (Work It Out)” in January at the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall-Winter 2024 Collection in Paris, where he serves as Men’s Creative Director, a role he took on after the passing of Virgil Abloh. This unexpected preview further built anticipation for the official release of “Doctor (Work It Out,” finally allowing fans to fully experience this long-awaited collaboration.
