Nothin' To Lose

Album: Custom Built (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This single from the former Poison frontman features Miley Cyrus. The hook-up with the tween music queen came as a result of her covering Poison's 1988 hit "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." Michaels told Billboard magazine: "When we were in the studio, I said, 'Do you want to hear some of my new tracks?' She said 'I'd love to,' and I played her Nothing to Lose and she fell in love with it and said she'd love to sing on the song. I was like, 'That'd be killer!'"
  • Michaels admitted to Billboard that he was impressed with Cyrus' Stevie Nicks-esque vocals: "One of her heroes is Stevie Nicks," he said. "I produced and recorded Stevie before, so I said, 'OK, let's take that approach. (Nicks) is kind of freestyle; you've just gotta go at it and sing what you want.' She did, and she ended up having a great time doing it."
  • The song caused some controversy with Cyrus singing, "slowly get undressed," which sounds bad when you consider that Cyrus was 17 and Michaels 46 when they recorded it. The rocker defended the lyric in an interview with US Magazine: "The part where it says she slowly gets undressed, Miley says, 'Yeah she does.' It has no reference to her and I. It's not even a duet... As God is my witness, there is nothing I have to be defensive about," he said. "I'm a good Dad. I just thought it was a beautiful song. " (Michaels originally recorded the song on his own).
  • Cyrus brushed off criticism of the song's racy content to MTV News: "I've always been super into his music," she said. "He was the first concert that I ever went to, and it's great when you can find people you can jive with and get along with."
  • Michaels discussed the recording of Custom Built with Billboard magazine: "I did a lot of recording while traveling. The title represents what the music is about; I'm covering a wide range of music, from rock to country."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.