Actually on Fire:
Miley Cyrus Does Style, Substance and More for her Plastic Hearts
By Abigail J. Villarroel
Throughout the 2010s, Miley Cyrus was an artist in constant evolution. She unshackled herself from her Disney origins to dive into electronic pop, and later the controversial waters of appropriation with “Bangerz”. In time, she made a sudden shift into an experimental rock with The Flaming Lips, eventually landing on a fairly inoffensive country moment.
She has been a young adult in exploration, in search for herself through all this time, and the release of “Plastic Hearts” I believe marks a crown jewel in her career, and a satisfying climax to years of adventure.
We also have the adrenaline-fueled love songs, like Break The Ice, Ooh Ooh Baby, Perfect Lover, songs that break from reality, where she becomes a femme fatale of sorts (a theme further explored in 2011’s Femme Fatale LP). Placing herself in scenarios where her own desire is at the forefront, and her passions can run wild with a suitor of her fancying. The pace of these is brisk, bursting verses, think of the bridge on Ooh Ooh Baby (“Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby”) beleaguering the point but making it like a hypnotizing fever high, for herself and the audience alike.
On Plastic Hearts, The Album
The album is a concise collection of 12 songs in the glam-rock genre, with plenty of pop edges for the casual ear. The first single “Midnight Sky” made waves with its 80s synths, and Miley’s newfound rasp in her vocal delivery. She joined forces with pop alpha, Dua Lipa, for the next single “Prisoner”, also a certified banger. The ballads: “Angels Like You” “High” and “Never Be Me” are standouts in their own right, especially at a time where rock ballads are out of style. Miley performs them masterfully with raw vulnerability and elevates the album with her versatility.
Live Live Live, Across the Board –
Plastic Hearts has received a good old fashioned album rollout (as traditional as it can be during a pandemic) The songs are being performed everywhere, any chance she gets, any show/stadium/backyard that’ll have Miley Cyrus, she’s there.
Some standout performances have been dhr iHeart Radio Performance in 2020, as well as a recent NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert; her essence, stripped down, killed every song in the set. Also, her performance of “Midnight Sky” for the 2020 MTV VMAs, swinging from a disco ball at the climax of the song as a nod to her “Wrecking Ball” phenomenon. It was made to built anticipation in fans and that it did.
Uncovering Miley, Covering Everyone –
Miley’s instinct singing cover songs has always been great, and throughout this era she has sought to sing us her influences every chance she gets as well. Starting with Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” and her own “Edge of Midnight Remix” which interpolates verses with “Edge of Seventeen” with Stevie Nicks herself. In her Backyard Sessions Miley’s choices get bolder performing a country rock rendition of Britney Spears’ “Gimme More”, and in Tiny Desk opting for a calm cult-classic with “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star. Even The Beatles’ “Help!” got a cover, with all the twang and passion that Miley brings into song.
Inspiration, References, Source Material
Of course, her veneration to legendary artists have drawn plenty of comparisons to many of them, most notably Blondie’s frontwoman Debbie Harry, whose commanding style dominated the late 70s. Stevie Nicks and Joan Jett, as frontwomen of Rock N Roll have also been noted as huge influences (the latter also featured on the song “Bad Karma”).
And of course “Like A Prayer” Madonna as well as The Beatles, Mick Jagger and Billy Idol (also featured on PH in “Night Crawling”). To be a fan of Miley Cyrus in 2021 is to be getting an ongoing lesson in some of the best elements of rock and pop history, and I live for that.
The Looks, The Fashion
But I couldn’t possibly end this without talking about Miley’s fashion choices throughout this era. I am following @stylishcyrus_ for real specifics, but stylist Bradley Kenneth has been helping Miley serve amazing looks. In lace up leather by Michael Schmidt for her New Years Eve performance in NYC, and in a skin-tight Mugler jumpsuit by Cadwallader for her iHeart Radio set. Also supporting up and coming designers like Sohee Park with her Peony Gown for the Graham Norton Show, and CONG TRI's fierce black dress for her Fallon Tonight performance.
There is nothing more exciting than watching Miley, a woman in full knowledge of her power, reaching a peak, hitting every mark confidently, marrying style, presenting substance, and then bringing it back to pop with such commanding ease. For anyone waiting for a time to jump in the bandwagon, Plastic Hearts is it.
