The Last Song (soundtrack)

Variety's Anthony D'Alessandro notes that the use of soundtracks as "launch pads" for new Disney artists is a common practice.^[1] The song "New Morning" was written by Casey McPherson, frontman of the Alpha Rev band which signed with Disney's Hollywood Records in August 2008. Allstar Weekend, former contestants of the Radio Disney's The Next Big Thing, were signed by Hollywood the following year, and they contributed music for "A Different Side of Me". At the launch of his album Cradlesong on June 30, 2009, Rob Thomas told the New York Daily News, "My buddy Adam Shankman, who just directed Miley's movie, called me on the phone the other day and was like, 'You have to write a song for this movie.'... I would definitely write a song for her [Cyrus]."^[2] However, he could not contribute music to the film due to schedule conflicts.^[3][4]

Besides starring as Veronica Miller, Cyrus also contributed two songs for the film: "When I Look at You" was written by Hillary Lindsey and John Shanks and originally included in Cyrus' extended play The Time of Our Lives (2009).^[5][6] A power ballad number, the song was released as a single from the album on February 16, 2010.^[7] The soundtrack was released on March 23, 2010, eight days ahead of the film's theatrical release.^[8] Though not featured on soundtrack, Snow Patrol's "Shut Your Eyes" (2008) and Feist's "I Feel It All" also appear in the film.

The album's lead single "When I Look at You" peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number 24 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week ending April 17, 2010.^[9] Another single "I Hope You Find It" debuted at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart for the week ending April 10, and subsequently peaked at number 5 the following week.^[10] In September 2013, the song eventually received significant media attention for being covered by Cher for her 25th studio album Closer to the Truth (2013);^[11][12] her cover version was separately released as a single.^[13]

The album debuted at number 172 on the Billboard 200 chart on the week ending April 10, 2010;^[14][15] it peaked to number 104 the following week.^[16][17]