Summer is basically over. I've been working a lot to get ready for school; teaching, practicing, reading... Then I hear from all these people I see everyday about Miley Cyrus. I had no idea what was so bad but I knew to be expecting something bad when I got to seeing it. So I watched it this morning...
Warning: This is a soapbox.
So I don't get it. That is, what is all this shock for? The video for her song is pretty scandalous to begin with. Then Robin Thicke (who I think is great) performs a song largely famous because it features topless women running around a video set for 5 minutes. Then to top it all off, the surprise appearance from 2 Chainz has about 20 girls on stage "twerking" (we called it popping in my day) in booty tight red jeans.
So why all the hate on Miley?
Is it because she used to be sweet? Is it only cool in the music video you watch but when it's live it's suddenly not? Is it because she's a white girl and her "disgusting actions" are something to only be expected and accepted from young black girls in rap videos and MTV VMA performances? I'm not really sure what the answer to any of that is. But I have to wonder. I think everyone crying shock and disappointment ought to wonder. It is awfully disingenuous to be in shock about Miley Cyrus' performance if you've ever watched 5 minutes of MTV. The last Real World season I saw had a cast member offering a guy cast mate sexual favors on the 2nd episode. Besides this woman's or man's lack of tact or respect, MTV did little to make a viewers imagination work very hard. And that's because on some level, MTV has always been about what's new, what's edgy, what's salacious. MTV isn't PBS. Do you remember the show MTV show Undressed? How about Master P's Back That Thing Up? Come on, people! Nick Cannon has stuff to say, yet he's married to one of pop music's sex symbols... And she decided to get all sexed up long after her 20s. Just sayin. Brooklyn Decker is "too old for this sh*t" but she made her living posing seminude in magazines and on the covers of them.
I'm not saying that Cyrus' performance was some amazing piece of art. It wasn't. I'm not even saying it sounded good. Frankly, she's never been that great of a performer. But for Saturday Football tailgates and college parties, sure, she can bump through my speakers any day. For entertainment, she'll do. That's all it is. I just don't understand where this sudden and hard moral line has come from, both from celebrities and regular people alike. I mean, have you heard the words to Miley's song? It's about partying. What the hell else was a 20s something pop singer talking about when she said "we can love who we want to"?
Don't act brand new. You're not too old. You're not shocked. You're not even that confused. You're playing dumb.
The rules have to be the same for everyone. If it's really that bad, then good for you. Stop watching MTV. Otherwise, take your wishy washy morals somewhere else. Watch a music video at 4 in the morning. You'll wish that Miley Cyrus was the most "shocking" thing you saw.
Warning: This is a soapbox.
So I don't get it. That is, what is all this shock for? The video for her song is pretty scandalous to begin with. Then Robin Thicke (who I think is great) performs a song largely famous because it features topless women running around a video set for 5 minutes. Then to top it all off, the surprise appearance from 2 Chainz has about 20 girls on stage "twerking" (we called it popping in my day) in booty tight red jeans.
So why all the hate on Miley?
Is it because she used to be sweet? Is it only cool in the music video you watch but when it's live it's suddenly not? Is it because she's a white girl and her "disgusting actions" are something to only be expected and accepted from young black girls in rap videos and MTV VMA performances? I'm not really sure what the answer to any of that is. But I have to wonder. I think everyone crying shock and disappointment ought to wonder. It is awfully disingenuous to be in shock about Miley Cyrus' performance if you've ever watched 5 minutes of MTV. The last Real World season I saw had a cast member offering a guy cast mate sexual favors on the 2nd episode. Besides this woman's or man's lack of tact or respect, MTV did little to make a viewers imagination work very hard. And that's because on some level, MTV has always been about what's new, what's edgy, what's salacious. MTV isn't PBS. Do you remember the show MTV show Undressed? How about Master P's Back That Thing Up? Come on, people! Nick Cannon has stuff to say, yet he's married to one of pop music's sex symbols... And she decided to get all sexed up long after her 20s. Just sayin. Brooklyn Decker is "too old for this sh*t" but she made her living posing seminude in magazines and on the covers of them.
I'm not saying that Cyrus' performance was some amazing piece of art. It wasn't. I'm not even saying it sounded good. Frankly, she's never been that great of a performer. But for Saturday Football tailgates and college parties, sure, she can bump through my speakers any day. For entertainment, she'll do. That's all it is. I just don't understand where this sudden and hard moral line has come from, both from celebrities and regular people alike. I mean, have you heard the words to Miley's song? It's about partying. What the hell else was a 20s something pop singer talking about when she said "we can love who we want to"?
Don't act brand new. You're not too old. You're not shocked. You're not even that confused. You're playing dumb.
The rules have to be the same for everyone. If it's really that bad, then good for you. Stop watching MTV. Otherwise, take your wishy washy morals somewhere else. Watch a music video at 4 in the morning. You'll wish that Miley Cyrus was the most "shocking" thing you saw.
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