The "Bangerz" Singer Brings What You'd Expect and Some Things You Maybe Wouldn't for Her MTV Special
Last night, Miley Cyrus brought songs from her super successful album, Bangerz, to the unplugged stage. There was a lot of what you've come to expect from the pop diva. There was twerking, tongue, midgets and a horse, not to mention the Queen of Pop, but there were some things maybe you weren't expecting. There was savvy, some self deprecation and most importantly, some pretty great performances. I have to say, I have kind of a love/hate relationship with the Lady Cyrus, but with this special, she may have won me over. For more on Miley Unplugged, hit the jump.
From the start, Miley let the audience know that she really wanted to bring her hometown of Nashville to them. Apparently the way to do that, was for Miley to don a red and white checkered jumpsuit along with wig and cowboy hat, and parade a midget and a very tall African American woman around the stage. Oh, and there was a couple of people in a horse costume. I can't believe I almost forgot the horse costume. Now look, I haven't watched "Nashville" since last season, so maybe midgets and Amazonian black women are all the rage there. Have Rayna and Juliette added pretend horses to their stage show? Enlighten me, "Nashville" watching peeps! At this point, I'm sort of rolling my eyes and groaning and thinking about turning the station, but I don't. I think it's partially because I'm a fan of the wig Miley is wearing. She should grow her hair out and wear it like that. It'd be cute. I digress.
Miley continues to bring the country by performing hillbillyfied, banjo'ed up versions of her songs "4X4," "Do My Thang," "#GETITRIGHT," and "SMS (Bangerz)." This whole first act goes by in kind of a blur. It's so manic and so Miley, for better or worse. There is weird, sped up do-si-do'ing. Miley uses the midget for a prop. The midget is wearing a jumpsuit similar to Miley's but the midget's jumpsuit has like a built in cone bra. Miley is grinding on the horse. She ends up riding it at some point. I feel like I'm hallucinating. It's so much!
Luckily, I get a break. The next segment shows Miley actually unplugged and it's here where I think we really get a chance to see the real Miley. She plays some of the slower songs on the record. She starts off with "Adore You," which I'm always kind of blown away by every time I hear it. It's so good. Miley is so organic in this part of the show. It's like she's putting away this facade and we are seeing her. She's vulnerable and it's really cool. It really makes you appreciate how legitimately talented she is. I don't want it to end, but alas, after she sings "Rooting for My Baby" and "Drive" she returns to Manic Miley. She performs an amped up version of Dolly Parton's ballad, "Jolene." I'm not a fan. This sped up arrangement really robs the song of the pleading, yearning element. Miley ends this little segment of the show by performing her smash hit "Wrecking Ball." I do like the flashes of self deprecation she shows here. "So, I rode a wrecking ball naked," she cracks. "That happened."
The show ends with Miley performing a mash up of "Don't Tell Me" and "We Can't Stop" with a little help from the queen, Madonna. Madonna sounds great here and it's a nice palate cleanser from her janky Grammy performance with Macklemore on Sunday. It dives into creepy territory almost immediately though with Miley and Madonna playing grab ass with each other and bumping and grinding. It was sort of like watching your grandma get on stage at the strip club.
All in all though, this special was a winner. The tide is slowly turning and I may be turning into a Miley fan. Yikes.
What did you guys think? Did you watch? Did you want to? Are you a Miley fan? Let me know.
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