Typically when a singer releases a new album, they generate a whole bunch of headlines. For Miley Cyrus, the headlines have barely been about her upcoming album, Can’t Be Tamed.
First there was that whole Miley kissed a girl thing (no word on whether she liked it) while performing on Britain’s Got Talent (does anyone else wonder why a talent show has guest performers?).
Then there was the video for the Can’t be Tamed single — pole dancing, writhing backup dancers, etc., etc.
Then there was the whole Perez Hilton thing from last week, where the blogger posted a photo of Miley getting out of a car in a short dress, apparently without any underwear on (remind you of anyone?). Hilton later recanted, posting a photo that showed Miley was wearing some kind of underwear.
Miley brushes off all the criticism, telling Reuters:
I’m just at a certain place where I’ve changed a lot as a person. I’ve grown up a lot, which everyone does.
Yes, Miley, everyone does grow up. But few have to do it in the spotlight, trying to navigate the murky waters from adorable child star to well-adjusted adult. Miley Cyrus faces a bit more of a struggle in her quest, though.
Why is Miley Cyrus seemingly under more scrutiny than the child stars before her? All you have to do is listen to her speak, and you see she’s still more of a girl, less of a woman.
Here’s Miley on David Letterman this year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTtpOX7hbcg
Contrast that with Britney Spears at the same age:
Or Christina Aguleria just a few years older:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t403rPqkHIE
Basically, it all comes down to semantics. Britney and Christina were allowed to grow up and become sexual beings much easier than Miley is because Britney and Christina always presented themselves as adults — or at least older than their years. (Yes, Britney got a lot of press about whether she was being sexualized too young, but she was the first, so the press is to be expected).
Miley, however, still talks like the teenager she is — she talks super fast, with lots of “uhs” and “likes” sandwiched inbetween. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. After all, she is a 17-year-old girl, she should be allowed to talk like one.
It’s not her southern accent either, Britney was from the south, too and still managed to come across as polished and presentable. Miley on the other hand, sounds bored in her interviews, not at all polished or presentable at times (just look at her reaction to the smoking baby clip with Letterman, she squeals: “That’s not real!” That’s not very grown up).
If Miley really wants to grow up and shed her Hannah Montana image, then she needs to truly grow up and get a new image — and that doesn’t mean she just needs to be more sexualized. Miley needs to present herself like the adult she wants to be in every way: In interviews, online (especially her blog), at awards shows (the MMVAs anyone?) and in her music.
Until she does, she will still be everyone’s little girl.
And every adult step she tries to take will be criticized.
I couldn’t force myself to sit through more than half of any of those vids, but I didn’t think Miley came off younger or less mature than the others. Brit came off much ditzier, and Christina totally blew off a question until Rosie had asked it 4 times. Neither one of them seemed any more or less polished than Miley.
Why Miley Cyrus can’t just grow up
Typically when a singer releases a new album, they generate a whole bunch of headlines. For Miley Cyrus, the headlines have barely been about her upcoming album, Can’t Be Tamed.
First there was that whole Miley kissed a girl thing (no word on whether she liked it) while performing on Britain’s Got Talent (does anyone else wonder why a talent show has guest performers?).
Then there was the video for the Can’t be Tamed single — pole dancing, writhing backup dancers, etc., etc.
Then there was the whole Perez Hilton thing from last week, where the blogger posted a photo of Miley getting out of a car in a short dress, apparently without any underwear on (remind you of anyone?). Hilton later recanted, posting a photo that showed Miley was wearing some kind of underwear.
Miley brushes off all the criticism, telling Reuters:
Yes, Miley, everyone does grow up. But few have to do it in the spotlight, trying to navigate the murky waters from adorable child star to well-adjusted adult. Miley Cyrus faces a bit more of a struggle in her quest, though.
Why is Miley Cyrus seemingly under more scrutiny than the child stars before her? All you have to do is listen to her speak, and you see she’s still more of a girl, less of a woman.
Here’s Miley on David Letterman this year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTtpOX7hbcg
Contrast that with Britney Spears at the same age:
Or Christina Aguleria just a few years older:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t403rPqkHIE
Basically, it all comes down to semantics. Britney and Christina were allowed to grow up and become sexual beings much easier than Miley is because Britney and Christina always presented themselves as adults — or at least older than their years. (Yes, Britney got a lot of press about whether she was being sexualized too young, but she was the first, so the press is to be expected).
Miley, however, still talks like the teenager she is — she talks super fast, with lots of “uhs” and “likes” sandwiched inbetween. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. After all, she is a 17-year-old girl, she should be allowed to talk like one.
It’s not her southern accent either, Britney was from the south, too and still managed to come across as polished and presentable. Miley on the other hand, sounds bored in her interviews, not at all polished or presentable at times (just look at her reaction to the smoking baby clip with Letterman, she squeals: “That’s not real!” That’s not very grown up).
If Miley really wants to grow up and shed her Hannah Montana image, then she needs to truly grow up and get a new image — and that doesn’t mean she just needs to be more sexualized. Miley needs to present herself like the adult she wants to be in every way: In interviews, online (especially her blog), at awards shows (the MMVAs anyone?) and in her music.
Until she does, she will still be everyone’s little girl.
And every adult step she tries to take will be criticized.