Why some LGBTQ+ couples are showcasing their love with Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus' 'II Most Wanted'
Beyoncé's eighth studio album, "Cowboy Carter," released on March 29, has become a sensation. Among its tracks, one love song has notably resonated with the LGBTQ+ community.
Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus teamed up for "II Most Wanted," the third single from "Cowboy Carter." The duet debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Many interpret the sweet ballad as a tribute to friendship, like the one depicted in the 1991 crime drama "Thelma & Louise," starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon. Lyrics such as, "I’ll be your shotgun rider/ ‘Til the day I die/ Smoke out the window flyin’/ Down the 405," seem to channel the road revenge flick.
But some same-sex couples have embraced it with another perspective — as a song about romantic love.
Couples have taken to TikTok to showcase their relationship as the chorus of "II Most Wanted" plays in the background.
On April 26, newlyweds Haley and Alisha Benson shared a video of their first dance, captioning it, "Thank you for the perfect song, @Beyoncé and @Miley Cyrus."
But the "Cowboy Carter" song was not their original selection.
Alisha Benson tells TODAY.com that as she and her then-fianceé were packing for the wedding, they listened to "Cowboy Carter."
"('II Most Wanted') came on, and we both stopped what we were doing — packing for our wedding — and sat down to listen to it," Alisha Benson says.
The couple switched their first dance song one week before the April wedding.
"It feels like it's talking about a couple who's a little bit rebellious. They're going against mainstream society, where it's the two of them against the world," Alisha Benson says. "I think for us and for a lot of same-sex couples, that is really relatable."
For Haley Benson, one lyric in particular struck a chord.
"There was one part that said, 'Didn't know what I want 'til I saw your face/ Said goodbye to the old me,'" Haley Benson says.
"And I remember, throughout our relationship, slowly realizing, 'Wow, I really love this person, and I don't want to live my life without her," she adds.
Broadway star Ben Platt and his fiancé, actor Noah Galvin, have put a romantic twist on the song, too. The couple performed together during Platt's residency at the Palace Theatre, which ended June 15.
At the May 31 show, Platt and Galvin sang a cover of “II Most Wanted.” May 31 also marked the release of Platt’s third studio album, “Honeymind,” which the actor and singer-songwriter has said was inspired by Galvin.
"There would be no album without this person," Platt said as Galvin joined him onstage.
During their duet, the couple held hands, swayed together and concluded the performance with a kiss as the audience applauded.
“The most special guest of all for the album release show at the Palace. I love you, @noahegalvin. And we love you, @mileycyrus and @beyonce. So much that we stayed in your key,” Platt captioned an Instagram post about the performance.
All about ‘II Most Wanted’
"II Most Wanted" was written by Cyrus more than two years ago, she told W Magazine during an interview published June 3.
She called working with Beyoncé "a dream come true."
"My mom would always go, 'I love that song so much,'" Cyrus said. "So, when Beyoncé reached out to me about music, I thought of it right away because it really encompasses our relationship.
"I told her, 'We don’t have to get -country; we are country. We’ve been country. You know, between you being from Texas and me being from Tennessee, so much of us is going to be in this song,'" she added.
On March 29, Cyrus celebrated the duet's release on Instagram, expressing her appreciation for Beyoncé.
"I've loved Beyoncé since long before I had the opportunity to meet (and) work with her," Cyrus captioned the post. "My admiration runs so much deeper now that I've created alongside her. Thank you, Beyoncé. You're everything (and) more. Love you."
Read the lyrics to ‘II Most Wanted’
Know we’re jumping the gun, but we’re both still young
One day, we won’t be
Didn’t know what I want ‘til I saw your face
Say goodbye to the old me
Came out of nowhere, didn’t give no warnin’
Pedal so heavy like the two most wanted
And I don’t know what you’re doin’ tonight
But I
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I die
Smoke out the window flyin’
Down the 405
I’ll be your backseat baby, drivin’ you crazy
Anytime you like
Woah, I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I, ‘til the day I die
Making waves in the wind with my empty hand
My other hand on you
Been a while since I haven’t tried to pull away
But it’s time for something new
Came out of nowhere, didn’t give no warnin’
Pedal so heavy like the two most wanted
And I don’t know what you’re doin’ tonight
But I
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I die
Smoke out the window flyin’
Down the 405
Yeah, I’ll be your backseat baby, drivin’ you crazy
Anytime you like, woah
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I, ‘til the day I die
(‘Til the day I, ‘til the day I, ‘til the day I die)
‘Til the day I die
(‘Til the day I, ‘til the day I, ‘til the day I die)
I know we’re jumpin’ the gun and we’re both still young
But one day, we won’t be
I’ll go wherever you take me, seems kinda crazy
Ooh, oh
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I die
We’re gettin’ high ‘til we don’t realize
Time is passin’ by
Yeah, I’ll be your backseat baby, I’m drivin’ you crazy
Anytime you like, oh, oh
I’ll be your shotgun rider
‘Til the day I, ‘til the day I die
(‘Til the day I, ‘til the day I, ‘til the day I die)
‘Til the day I die
(‘Til the day I, ‘til the day I, ‘til the day I die)
Mm, oh
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
