Miley Cyrus: A Colossal Disappointment
June 8, 2010
Over the past couple weeks, THG has been harsher than usual when it comes to Miley Cyrus. We’ve referred to her scantily-clad European performances as pathetic and desperate.
To their credit, Miley fans have stuck up for their gal. They’ve argued that she isn’t acting any differently than past artists who have wanted to reach an older audience by shedding their clothing or grinding with girls.
So, why has THG singled out Cyrus in such a manner? Simply put: because she’s wasted an opportunity to be a different kind of role model to young women around the world.
The second we met Britney Spears as a professional singer, she was wearing a Catholic schoolgirl’s outfit and singing about sex. She made it clear from day one that she was a provocative artist, one whose lack of true singing ability meant she’d be relying on raunchy acts to remain relevant.
It’s similar for Lady GaGa. She’s openly admitted that she was a floundering artist until she came up with a unique name and look.
But Miley is different. Thanks to Hannah Montana, she already has an established fan base of millions. Unlike Britney and GaGa, there’s no need for Cyrus to shock and scintillate in order to make headlines and sell albums.
That’s what makes this transformation so disappointing. This is a Nashville resident that says she hates pop music. She had an opportunity to sing the kind of songs she actually likes, taking her extremely loyal followers along for the ride. They’ll follow her anywhere, so why not take them down an original, creative path, as opposed to this lame, redundant schtick?
In Billboard, Miley says she’s “grown up a lot,” but wouldn’t that have been the grown-up thing to do? To have branched out and actually been her own woman, tackling the kind of singles she claims to believe in?
Instead, Miley Cyrus has become just another generic, booty-shaking, scantily-clad, same-sex kissing act.
Miley’s fans defend her by saying to “leave her alone” because she’s “only 17.” But do these people even listen to the artist herself?
Cyrus has gone to great lengths to talk about her maturity and how profound her music is. She even refers to it as art.
Putting aside how incredibly pompous she often sounds when she makes these statements, Miley clearly has a message when giving interviews and (especially) when wearing certain outfits: I’m not only 17!
It’s obvious that Miley would be more offended than anyone when compared to an average teenager. She sees herself as A LOT more than that.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have a little sister and I was hoping to see Miley as a lot more than that, too. My sister grew up worshiping Hannah Montana. Her room is still adorned with Miley posters.
So, what exactly am I supposed to tell her when she asks why Cyrus “got to first base” with another dancer last week? Should I sit my sister down and explain it was all just a marketing ploy, and, see, Miley didn’t actually kiss the girl because that technicality gave her the chance to jump online and thumb her nose at those that dared to accuse her of such an act?
It’s depressing that I need to even consider this question. When making her career transformation, Miley had a choice: Be like Taylor Swift or be like Britney. She chose the latter and that’s where my disappointment stems from.
I have a feeling many Miley defenders may even join me in the near future. After all, look where Britney is now. If that’s Miley in a few years, I’ll try my hardest not to say “I told you so.”
