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My Birthday Gift to Miley Cyrus: Lessons on How to ROCK

Posted Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:00am PDT by Shawn Amos in GetBack

Miley Cyrus is on top of the world. She's celebrating her 16th birthday at Disneyland, she's got a(nother) hit album, and every girl wants to be her. Only one problem. SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO ROCK. Miley Cyrus represents everything that's wrong with current pop music. It's fabricated, phoned-in, self conscious, soulless, board room created product. It's style over substance and has no ability to generate feelings other than the urge to buy a matching Miley Cyrus lunchbox.

On Miley's new album she covers Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". Instead of taking a cue from Cyndi's '80s thrift shop soul, Miley turns the song into a hopped up, cut-and-paste exercise. Not one bent note. Not one hiccup. Not one strip of pink in the hair. The girl doesn't swing.

Miley could learn a thing or two from the great '80s rock chicks; artists who weren't tied to a teleprompter or afraid to let their mascara run. Miley needs a serious primer. So here are some singers I hope Miley has in her iPod while she's standing in line for Space Mountain. Consider it an early birthday gift. No thank you card is necessary.

 

CHRISSIE HYNDE

The grande dame of '80s rock chicks. She was sultry and cool. Plus, she written some of the best rock songs EVER! Chrissie Hynde is the blueprint for any teenage pop star wannabe looking to have some real cred.

 

PAT BENATAR

Probably the best singer of the bunch, Pat Benatar brought barroom grit to the big stage. Say what you will about her questionable fashion choices, Pat was purely authentic. No focus groups were polled in the making of her records.

 

TINA TURNER

Okay, a litle unfair since she started her career in the 1960s but Tina Turner's biggest success came in the '80s with her Private Dancer album. She's everything a female pop star should be: sexy, soulful and spontaneous.

 

CYNDI LAUPER

Her makeup, hair and general quirkiness overshadow the fact that Cyndi Lauper was one the most soulful chicks to come out of the '80. She could hang with Aretha Franklin and sing Marvin Gaye tunes (check her cover of "What's Going On"). Let's see Miley attempt that.

 

THE BANGLES

The Bangles are proof that short skirts and electric guitars go hand-in-hand. They are one of the great all-girl groups, backing up their looks with a serious pop-rock pedigree. Plus they had harmonies and guitar jangle for days.

 





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1111 Comments

21. BEEFBARN -
miley cyrus is hopeless

22. Edward J -
Disney got it right with they got miley.

23. Therese -
she is soooo mediocre. no talent at all.

24. Richard A -
Hmm... I wonder how soulful and original Hindes, Bentar and Lauper were WHEN THEY WERE 15 YEARS OLD!! Give the KID a break - she is still a CHILD. She should not be expected to behave or rock out like a grown up! And personally I think it is sick when young teenagers have to act and dress like sluts just to get acceptance from people like you.

Stay GOLD a little while longer, Miley!

25. Yahoo! Music User -
all of you are right about Miley Cyrus.

She is merely a brain-washing product of the Disney franchise and anything she says is her music is bubble-poppy noise. The girl is self absorbed and blatantly oblivious to the fact that her fans are 10 and younger.

26. Elizabeth K -
Another of Miley's problem is she has forgotten who put her where she is and she letting it all go to her head and thinks she all that I think she really sucks.

27. Krystal -
Miley Cyrus is so annoying, she has yet to write a decent song that doesnt seem lie it's meant for a 11 year old to listen to at the oldest. And the way she sings it more like shes screaming, it almost sounds like a man. Disney has much better artists signed with them and as soon as the Hannah Montana fad fades so will Miley's career.

28. Cheese -
She doesn't know how to do anything but sell herself. She needs more help then just this.

29. JR -
Give the girl a break, and stop hating. I know its hard to know that a 15 yr old has more skill than you, but she is a good role model for young girl. So stop hating an lave her be!

30. Steve S -
I would put Annie Lennox in there as well. What a vocal range.

31. tamarawhitewolf -
BLACK eyebrow pencil with dyed brown hair looks TOO HARSH!!!!!!! ... where is her stylist! LOL

32. Yahoo! Music User -
My god people wake up! She is only sixteen. Leave her be and dont try to make her grow up so quick. Kids make too many mistakes as it is. Add pressure and you get a disaster.

33. chadkroegers -
I do agree with comments about how "packaged" some pop music/acts have become. They are someone's commodity who's objective is to make $$$, and as much as possible. Miley is still quite young, perhaps she'll improve with age, not sure. And although I'm not a huge fan, Chrissie Hynde/Pretenders song "Middle of the Road" - definitely one of the best rock songs around. Cheers.

34. ChrisO -
she is trying to look good all around by staying out of trouble and keep her good girl image. take a look at avril lavigne. she has/had a bad girl look but i never heard of anything she has done bad. miley is trying to look like an angel and im sure its killing her trying to stay that way...i cant wait till i breaks.

35. Yahoo! Music User -
C'mon, people, it's not exactly breaking news that Miley's not exactly the best musician around. I mean, her voice isn't really that great. My best friend can sing better than her. But yeah, let's hope that she doesn't screw up her life like Britney.

36. Kyle -
She's only 16 for crying out loud. Lighten the heck up.

37. RickO -
Cut the kid some slack! She is a young, hard working kid, in a very tuff industry, with everyone looking at her while she is trying to grow-up. Give her time to grow.

38. Kayla C -
she jsut turning 16. she's still a kid in a way herself!! she'll get her own thing going outside of diseny when the time comes btu for now she makes ALOT of very young girls happy!! MINE INCLUDED!! my 4yr old and 8 yr old and my 9 yr old baby sister LOVE her! she's 16 she's not supposed to "ROCK" like the artists you all listed!!

39. Yahoo! Music User -
I'm really sorry, but this article is ridiculous. Really. The girl is 15 years old. She's good at what she does for her age, her peers, and her personal likes. Hopefully yes, she will mature as an artist, but I doubt VERY highly that at 15 the artists you mentioned were as "cool" and "edgy". And honestly, I saw her perform live on some show a few weeks back and was totally impressed by her stage presence. I don't know - you missed the mark on this one. And also managed to kind of look like a douche. She's a kid. Come on now.

40. Yahoo! Music User -
Shes a kid, let her be on I agree with the previous user.
She isnt a serious rockstarr she is a Pop star its supposed to be bubblegum. She hasnt had enough of a life for a soulful performance and it will all come in time. If not she will be like Debbie Gibson doing broadway calling herself something more serious and trying to forget her childhood past. Which is really kind of sad because Debbie Gibson was fun when I was a kid. I hope Miley doesnt grow up too fast and can be a silly teen for a little while longer.
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