This is totally an opinion piece, which means it's MY opinion. Feel free to disagree, but keep it respectable.
The media this week is ablaze with Miley Cyrus critiques, criticism, and other bashing due to her over-the-top performance at the VMA's. I haven't watched the VMA's in about 15 years, but I had to see what all the fuss was about. So, I went onto You Tube and watched the video. And, like 99% of the world, I was horrified and disgusted. Here it is, if you haven't had a chance to see it yet:
Yep, pretty disgusting. No doubt about it. I read some articles about it here and there, including one that talked about MTV bleeping out "molly" in the song, due to it's frank reference to drug use. I watched the video for Miley's song, "We Can't Stop" and then watched the VMA clip again. (The video for "We Can't Stop is highly reminiscent of Fiona Apple's "Criminal.")
Ok, so I was still disgusted, but for a different reason. One of the main critiques of Miley's performance was her "twerking." Frankly, I had to google what twerking was. I still wasn't sure from reading the description, so I had to google videos, which explained it pretty well.
This kind of dance move has been around for years. Hello, Rump Shaker anyone? But back to Miley. Why is everyone criticizing her twerking all over the place, when her back up dancers were doing EXACTLY the same thing? No one seems to mention the dozens of other women up there shaking their money makers in scarcely any clothing. Frankly, much of the performance was a hybrid of the "We Can't Stop" and "Give It 2 U" videos.
Directly. So, it's fine for a man to sing with mostly naked women twerking around him, but it's not alright for a woman to sing while twerking semi-dressed. Huh?
The VMA's has a long history of artist's pushing the envelope. Why is this so different? Madonna's "Like a Virgin?" Brittney's "Slave for You?" Lady Gaga's whatever performance. Lady Gaga ended up clothed in even less than Miley did by the end of the night, but no one (besides the Will Smith family) seemed to take offense.
Are people offended because Miley was once a Disney darling and now she's gone over the edge? Brittney, Christina (who can forget their kisses with Madonna or her video for "Dirrrrty"), Linsday Lohan, Amanda Bynes. Yep, all sweet and innocent still. Right.
People need to get over the face that Miley Cyrus is now a woman. A young woman, but she is no longer a child. She has a right to try to expand her market and her style. If nameless backup dancers can grind up on Robin Thicke, then why is it wrong for Miley to do so?
That being said, do I think she is in desperate need of some style guidance? Oh definitely. She is beautiful and has a good singing voice. I'd kill for her body. I think it's pretty obvious that she isn't a strong dancer, hence the gyrating. But she needs to wear pants when out in public. Her hair looked terrible. It looked terrible on Gwen Steffani 10 years ago as well. On stage, her outfit, though ugly, was no less revealing that anything Pink, Katy Perry, Rihanna, or Lady Gaga wears. However, that does not mean that it was flattering. It was not. Not at all.
Someone needs to sit her down and explain the difference between being sexy and simulating sex acts. She would be a whole lot more sexy if she stopped rubbing herself with a giant foam finger. And please, for the love of God, tell her to keep her tongue in her mouth. Unless you're at the doctor and they're trying to look at your tonsils, there is no excuse for your tongue to be out like that. I'm not saying needs to be prim and proper, but there's a fine line and Miley crossed it about a mile ago.
And to all the people who say that she's a bad role model. Yep, she is. So are lots of singers (Rihanna anyone?). Her songs are not necessarily appropriate for my children. Which means we don't listen to them while my kids are in the car. I change the station. Just like I do when "Whistle," "S&M," "Last Friday Night," or "Same Love" are on. My children are 6 & 9, and there are some things they do not need to be listening to. Frankly, even the history of the VMA's dictates that it is not a child-friendly show. I don't know why kids would be watching it to begin with. Plus, my kids are heading to bed when it even starts. I don't leave it to some random celebrity to be a role model for my children. I surround them with people in their every day lives who provide good examples of how to be a decent human being. My children have not and will not see the video, but if they did, then a discussion about what was inappropriate would follow.
And I think it is pretty clear that Miley should not be considered a role model, but desperately needs a few herself to help her figure things out.
At this point, I just feel sorry for her. Miley Cyrus has a lot going for her. I wish she could surround herself with people who would help her bring out the best, rather than just going for shock value to make more money. Tell her to cover up a little, and stop defacing her body. Make her look in a mirror before leaving the house. Tell her, help her see that drugs will destroy her, not make her better. And please, just please, keep your tongue in your mouth.
The media this week is ablaze with Miley Cyrus critiques, criticism, and other bashing due to her over-the-top performance at the VMA's. I haven't watched the VMA's in about 15 years, but I had to see what all the fuss was about. So, I went onto You Tube and watched the video. And, like 99% of the world, I was horrified and disgusted. Here it is, if you haven't had a chance to see it yet:
Yep, pretty disgusting. No doubt about it. I read some articles about it here and there, including one that talked about MTV bleeping out "molly" in the song, due to it's frank reference to drug use. I watched the video for Miley's song, "We Can't Stop" and then watched the VMA clip again. (The video for "We Can't Stop is highly reminiscent of Fiona Apple's "Criminal.")
Ok, so I was still disgusted, but for a different reason. One of the main critiques of Miley's performance was her "twerking." Frankly, I had to google what twerking was. I still wasn't sure from reading the description, so I had to google videos, which explained it pretty well.
This kind of dance move has been around for years. Hello, Rump Shaker anyone? But back to Miley. Why is everyone criticizing her twerking all over the place, when her back up dancers were doing EXACTLY the same thing? No one seems to mention the dozens of other women up there shaking their money makers in scarcely any clothing. Frankly, much of the performance was a hybrid of the "We Can't Stop" and "Give It 2 U" videos.
Directly. So, it's fine for a man to sing with mostly naked women twerking around him, but it's not alright for a woman to sing while twerking semi-dressed. Huh?
The VMA's has a long history of artist's pushing the envelope. Why is this so different? Madonna's "Like a Virgin?" Brittney's "Slave for You?" Lady Gaga's whatever performance. Lady Gaga ended up clothed in even less than Miley did by the end of the night, but no one (besides the Will Smith family) seemed to take offense.
Are people offended because Miley was once a Disney darling and now she's gone over the edge? Brittney, Christina (who can forget their kisses with Madonna or her video for "Dirrrrty"), Linsday Lohan, Amanda Bynes. Yep, all sweet and innocent still. Right.
People need to get over the face that Miley Cyrus is now a woman. A young woman, but she is no longer a child. She has a right to try to expand her market and her style. If nameless backup dancers can grind up on Robin Thicke, then why is it wrong for Miley to do so?
That being said, do I think she is in desperate need of some style guidance? Oh definitely. She is beautiful and has a good singing voice. I'd kill for her body. I think it's pretty obvious that she isn't a strong dancer, hence the gyrating. But she needs to wear pants when out in public. Her hair looked terrible. It looked terrible on Gwen Steffani 10 years ago as well. On stage, her outfit, though ugly, was no less revealing that anything Pink, Katy Perry, Rihanna, or Lady Gaga wears. However, that does not mean that it was flattering. It was not. Not at all.
Someone needs to sit her down and explain the difference between being sexy and simulating sex acts. She would be a whole lot more sexy if she stopped rubbing herself with a giant foam finger. And please, for the love of God, tell her to keep her tongue in her mouth. Unless you're at the doctor and they're trying to look at your tonsils, there is no excuse for your tongue to be out like that. I'm not saying needs to be prim and proper, but there's a fine line and Miley crossed it about a mile ago.
And to all the people who say that she's a bad role model. Yep, she is. So are lots of singers (Rihanna anyone?). Her songs are not necessarily appropriate for my children. Which means we don't listen to them while my kids are in the car. I change the station. Just like I do when "Whistle," "S&M," "Last Friday Night," or "Same Love" are on. My children are 6 & 9, and there are some things they do not need to be listening to. Frankly, even the history of the VMA's dictates that it is not a child-friendly show. I don't know why kids would be watching it to begin with. Plus, my kids are heading to bed when it even starts. I don't leave it to some random celebrity to be a role model for my children. I surround them with people in their every day lives who provide good examples of how to be a decent human being. My children have not and will not see the video, but if they did, then a discussion about what was inappropriate would follow.
And I think it is pretty clear that Miley should not be considered a role model, but desperately needs a few herself to help her figure things out.
At this point, I just feel sorry for her. Miley Cyrus has a lot going for her. I wish she could surround herself with people who would help her bring out the best, rather than just going for shock value to make more money. Tell her to cover up a little, and stop defacing her body. Make her look in a mirror before leaving the house. Tell her, help her see that drugs will destroy her, not make her better. And please, just please, keep your tongue in your mouth.
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