PHOTO COURTESY OF MTV.COM
After all the uproar surrounding “We Can’t Stop” and her far-from-stunning performance at the VMAs, it’s rather shocking to hear Miley Cyrus’ latest album, Bangerz, begin with a slow, heartfelt song titled, “Adore You.”
The hit “Wrecking Ball” shows sides of Miley that we haven’t seen before. People all over the world have talked of how relatable the song is, and it even set the world record for being the fastest video to reach 100 million views on YouTube.
Curiously, Cyrus had absolutely nothing to do with writing “Wrecking Ball.” In fact, most of the songs on the record were co-written by five or more people. The lead single, “We Can’t Stop,” which released on June 3, 2013, was actually written for Rihanna. Before Rihanna could hear the song, she heard “Pour It Up” and decided to record that single instead. Would listeners have been as shocked as they were to see the former Disney star sing it as we would Rihanna?
Cyrus describes this album as “dirty South hip-hop.” Cyrus, or rather will.i.am, Marquel Middlebrooks, Britney Spears, Ricky Walters and others, worked together to blend upbeat pop, soft rock, R&B and hip-hop.
All in all, it sounds like Cyrus is still trying harder than is necessary to break out of her Hannah Montana shell. She even spoke about Hannah Montana in her recent opening monologue on Saturday Night Live.
“There’s a few subjects we’re not going to get into tonight. I’m not going to do ‘Hannah Montana,’ but I can give you an update on what she’s been up to — she’s been murdered.”
It’s undeniable that Cyrus has a phenomenal voice, but instead of proving herself with her talent, she continues to use social media to gain attention. The result is that Cyrus is tough to see as an “artist” and easier to see as a “pop-star” who is sure to fade away in time.
