"A star is an image, not a real person, that is constructed (as any other aspect of fiction is) out of a range of materials (eg advertising, magazines etc as well as films [music])."
Born in 1992, Miley Cyrus grew up to be one of the most famous and influential people in the world. With a country singing father, Billy Ray Cyrus, it was always inevitable for her to be in the public's eye. However, in 2006, after being cast in Disney Channel's 'Hannah Montana', Miley quickly became a teen sensation. In the series, Miley played a young girl called Miley Stewart, a school girl with a secret double life as a teen pop star, named Hannah Montana. The show lasted for 4 years, including 98 episodes. Both the show and Miley's success were largely down to each other and the former's success would not have been possible without the latter's and vise versa.Cyrus eventually became the first artist to have deals in television, film, consumer products, and music within The Walt Disney Company.
Her debut album, in 2008, away from her Hannah Montana persona was 'Breakout', by 'Hollywood Records' - founded in 1989 and is one of the major Disney Music Group labels. The album title was influenced by it being Cyrus' first record not affiliated with the Hannah Montana franchise. Her contract with Disney was still in place and, as agreed, she did 3 Hannah Montana soundtracks, including the films.This album featured the song '7 Things' about then boyfriend Joe Jonas and 'Breakout', a song about breaking out of the 'boring' routine of school, homework, chores. All of this album was written by her but the creative control ended there. She had minimal choice over her image as a young star.
This video sees several young girls in the same shots as Miley, suggesting she is singing about is relatable to thousands of teenagers, which was her MASS audience. (She already has 14 million followers on Twitter... I may or may not be included in this extortionate amount...) To appeal to this audience, the Hannah Montana albums were, obviously, full of cheesy, relatable songs to young girls about school and boys and falling in love.
Her second album 'Can't Be Tamed', released in 2010, again by Hollywood Records. Again, the album showed that Miley's Disney past was slowly but surely becoming just that; a thing of the past. On this album, she was one of the three composers in the writing of the record, who were Angie Aparo and Antonina Armato.The 'Can't Be Tamed' video saw Miley Cyrus dressed as a large bird, in a cage, prancing about in front of an audience, something she has never been afraid of doing. It was supposedly written about being trapped and people observing her. The song, according to her, bears a theme of "breaking out and feeling free".
And here it is:
Her third album, 'Bangerz' (Yes, with an actual 'z' where the 's' should be, she's cool, leave her be) has not been released yet. It graces the music industry on 7th October this year. However, with all of the media coverage Miley Cyrus has been getting recently, it will be no surprise when it's number 1. (I'm calling it now, watch this space!) Last year, she left Hollywood Records and signed a contract with RCA Records,the second-oldest recording company in US history.
With her personal life ALWAYS in magazines, it is no wonder why Miley has gone off the ol' beaten track. It appears that her recent split with her acting fiance, Liam Hemsowrth (Thor's brother) led to her to write the heartfelt song 'Wrecking Ball' and do the whole naked thing to represent her sadness (See previous post for more details).
Last year, she shocked pretty much everyone when she cut off her long, lucious locks in attempt to REALLY get away from the whole Disney shibang. Miley said herself that she "never felt more [herself] in [her] whole life". So there you go, is that not enough proof that as a child, she was made to do what agents/record companies/televsision companies wanted her to do? If you ask me, good on her for finally taking that step into doing whatever the hell she likes.
She recently tweeted the following after THAT performance at the VMAs:
'"Mile, if twerkin woulda been invented... And I had a foam finger... I woulda done the same thang you did." - DAD'
Her video for 'We Can't Stop' is unable for embedding, apparently so the link is here
So. Miley Cyrus' image has DEFINITELY transformed:
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I think that the main reason Miley decided to take control of her own image was just because she was getting older. Having millions of screaming little girls at your feet must take its toll and the constant pressure of doing what's 'right' as a 'role model' is unfair for anyone, especially for someone as young as 20. I think it just got to the point where she was like "F*$& it!!". I would have also done the same.. To a certain extent.. Maybe not the whole tongue thing she has going on...
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