Miley and the White Stipes

Before my Miley phase began, I'd probably have to say that my favorite artist was the White Stripes. Unfortunately, their last two albums haven't been all that great, but their first four were awesome. I think I have a theory behind my admiration for both artists and their commercial success:

In case you haven't noticed, rock and roll is pretty much dead. Forty years ago the Beatles and Stones did pretty much everything there is to do, and most rock and roll since then has consisted of concious or unconcious rip-offs of those two groups. Don't get me wrong: there have been a lot of really great bands over the last twenty years. Still, all of the really great ones: the Smiths, Radiohead, etc. have been odd-balls.

Yet, for the big moments of our lives - sad and happy - we want something a little more than witty lyrics or sonic innovation. We want pounding guitar and soulful singing. That's why we see regular old rock and roll - basically just send ups of the Beatles and Stones - keep coming back.

Unfortunately, after all the damage done to regular rock and roll over the years, it is hard to get up and play a song like "Sympathy for the Devil" or "Wouldn't It Be Nice" with a straight face. We're being pulled in two different directions: we want good, classic rock but we're embarrased as hell at what rock's become. So, how does the enterprising artist get around this problem? He or she dresses up as someone else, plays with different identities, and generally does anything he can to distract you long long enough for good, classic rock and roll to sneak up and kick you in the ass.

The White Stipes executed such a plan beatifully when they first came out. They pertended to be brother and sister when in fact they used to be married. They dressed up in silly outfits. As we all know, Miley and her handlers have provided us with just as complicated a mythology. We're so worried about Hannah/ her hick father/ her place in the culture that we let out guards down long enough to let her music get to us. If Miley were just any old 15-year-old singning rock songs, I'm sure I'd still love her. But the whole package taken together is what makes Miley such a great artist.

Miley and Feminism

"The more attention a woman gets, the more stigma is attached to her. There are plenty of famous men with few detractors; there are virtually no famous women without tons of them." - Harvard sex blogger Lena Chen

There will always be Miley-haters, people. That's just how the world works. I don't know why the world is so hostile to females, but it sucks.

Back in undergrad, I took some continental philosophy courses in which we discussed the great feminist thinkers. I was never openly hostile to them, but I guess I just found it hard to see what they were saying at the time. However, as I watch the international press crowd around Miley waiting to pounce, their ideas are really starting to resonate with me.

It is just bizarre that we feel the need to tear down any girl who asserts herself the least little bit. I guess it must be some psycho-sexual thing.

Disney: Still pissing off Marxists after all these years

For those of you not up on your history, Walt Disney Company has been annoying the American left since the early days. Walt himself played a big part in the Hollywood blacklisting affair in the 40s and 50s, and he pissed off the labor unions when he accused his striking animators of being communists. Also, as you may have noticed, Disney films are pretty heavy on pro-America, pro-capitalist values. Thankfully, the media giant that is modern Disney is keeping up Walt's good work. It seems that Disney has more or less picked the nation's largest (and the left's most hated) retailer to help continue Miley/Hannah's world domination. For those of you who never visit towns with Wal-Marts, you'd be amazed just how much Hannah/Miley crap is plastered all over the place. Also, Miley's awesome concert CD is only available at the Wal-Mart for the time being. Disney/Miley/Wal-Mart together forever. It doesn't get much better than this for pissing off the blue staters, folks.

Miley in the Village Voice

I ain't linking to the Village Voice because I want to keep this blog more or less PG-13 unless I'm insulting someone who doesn't like Miley. But everyone should know that America's coolest newspaper (before any of us were born) has been throwing her name around quite a bit lately. A music critic wrote a short online piece about the 3-D movie. It was more or less dismissive, but he did take the time to compare her to Interpol (???). I guess its a good thing that some in the hip media are taking the time to at least start thinking seriously about her work. In Musto's latest column, we learn that Miley doesn't sell magazines. (I guess you can't argue with that. She doesn't really do anything all that interesting day-to-day.) Finally, I have to give my thanks to the paper for slamming Miley-hating cum dumpster (not that there's anything wrong with that) Perez Hilton in their review of Jared Lito's piece of crap on John Lennon's murder. I don't have the exact quote, but the review points out the similarities between Mark David Chapman's rise and Hilton's. (Ya know, whiny fat dudes who think eveyone in Hollywood is "phony.")

Obama's tax increases and Miley's chances of making a billion dollars

In the last few days, I've seen a couple of news sites throw around the idea of Miley making a billion dollars before age 18. I really don't see that happening. I don't know what her contract with Disney looks like, but I doubt she'll be making a huge amount off the Hannah Montana movie and the planned third season of the show. Her shows can pull in about $500,000 a night, and that ought to make her a hell of a lot of money. Still, a billion by 18 or even 21 seems like a long shot.

However, we as a nation really should keep in place an economic structure that could allow Miley to make a billion dollars. If anyone can prove me wrong, it's her. If Miley is forced to pay a 90% marginal rate or some crap like that under Obama, she'll never get there. Hey guys, I'm not at all excited about watching John McCain (continue to) decompose before my very eyes for the next four years, but I really think he's the only one we can trust to keep Miley's earnings safe. Just think: If Miley makes a billion dollars, she'll pretty much have enough money to executive produce her own movies and release and market her own albums, meaning that no one will be able to ever take her away from us.

"Tween" is a stupid, made-up word

I'd like to take a second to address the myth that Miley only appeals to so-called "tweens." First, "tween" is a made-up word, and as we all know, when the media goes through the trouble of making up a word, they are going to use it. I'm going to have to call the media on their bullshit here. I'm no child development expert, but in my experience the loss of childhood innocence tends to happen quickly. (Classic literature is full of such transformations.) There really isn't much room for the hazy middle zone called tweenhood that we're all being told exists.

Anyhow, Miley's songs appeal to both the innocent and experienced of the world. At the moment it sure seems that most of Miley's fans are younger teenage girls, but other key demographics are in love with her as well. I'll bet that more teenagers+twenty-somethings are into Miley than are into the Arcade Fire or whatever, but the music and popular press is too lazy to actually investigate such things.

I know Miley is going to transcend all of this in very short order, but I cannot help but be frustrated by the way the media insists on sticking her in one particular box.

A Good Reason to Like Miley: Smart People Like Her

My fellow Ivy Leagers are starting to realize just how special Miley is. For example, at http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521380, you can read about Rivers Cuomo's love for Miley-as-Hannah's song Nobody's Perfect. Weezer has produced some great pop rock over the years, so I think Rivers knows what the Hell he's talking about. In case you didn't know, Rivers attended Harvard on and off from 1998-2006. He also gave a shout-out to Miley in an interview with Miley-hating pitchforkmedia by the way.

The Yale Daily News gave Miley's 3-D concert movie a good review. You can check that out here: http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/23564.

This is from the Cornell Daily Sun:
http://cornellsun.com/node/28860. It says some bad things about Miley's You Tube pieces and her alleged new bff Mandy, but it is generally positive. Cyrus/Jiroux '08 indeed.

First Post

This is a blog dedicated to understanding and appreciating rock singer Miley Cyrus. I want to help everyone see just how important Miley is and why they should like her. Unfortunately, many people either do not give Miley the respect she deserves or have not yet given her a chance. Many of my posts will address the attacks of Miley detractors head-on, as I think vigorous debate is important. Some of the topics I plan to explore are: Miley and the philosophy of art, Miley and politics, and Miley's place in pop culture.

Thanx a bunch, Stephen