7 Things

Miley Cyrus released "7 Things" on June 18, 2008 as the lead single from her second studio album Breakout. The track marked a sharp departure from the polished teen-pop sound established during her time on Hannah Montana, embracing a grittier pop-punk and country-pop aesthetic instead. Written by Cyrus alongside Tim James and Antonina Armato, the song features production credits attributed solely to Armato. Its driving rhythm section and prominent guitar work signaled a rebellious new chapter in her career.

The lyrics list seven specific grievances against an ex-boyfriend before subverting expectations with a confession of lingering love. This narrative twist fueled intense media speculation that the song targeted her then-boyfriend Nick Jonas. Cyrus never explicitly confirmed or denied the rumors, allowing the tabloid narrative to dominate coverage. Commercially, the single reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first top-ten hit on that chart, and peaked at number 10 in Australia.

Brett Ratner directed the official music video, which premiered on YouTube on June 28, 2008. The visual features Cyrus performing in a warehouse setting intercut with footage of teenage fans lip-syncing the chorus. By early 2025, the video had accumulated over 370 million views. Critics noted the effective genre shift; Rolling Stone called it a surprisingly effective pop-punk kiss-off, while Entertainment Weekly gave it a B rating for being catchy but shallow. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single 2× Platinum. [edit]