Miley Cyrus has designed an amusement park that is solely meant for college girls. The park boasts of a 25-foot slide resembling a tongue, a big hot dog featuring a saddle for riding, and fuzzy creatures colored in pink, purple, and turquoise. Even though the concert held at the Xcel Energy Center was completely sold out, it wasn’t as risqué as Cyrus’ reputation may have led people to expect. Instead, she put on an energetic and vibrant two-hour show that was relatively mild compared to what most people anticipated.
The bold princess of 21 years old made a conscious decision to refrain from twerking like she did at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, which catapulted her from being a Disney darling (remember her as Hannah Montana?) to a household name. However, during her recent performance, she managed to raise some eyebrows. She used a series of expletives, indulged in some provocative crotch-grabbing, performed on a massive bed with five men and three women, and wore an outfit decorated with marijuana leaves. Nevertheless, the primary goal was to shock and surprise the audience rather than anything else. The entire concert had a carefree and fun atmosphere.
Taking a cue from her godmother Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus has transformed into a Hollywood seductress. Although she talks about empowering women and advocating freedom, her concerts are primarily geared towards providing mindless entertainment. A recent performance by the star attracted a predominantly young female audience of around 14,000 people. Despite her skills in entertaining, Miley struggled with pacing and chose to only perform her three most popular songs during the encore. Additionally, her limited catalog of songs mainly consists of tracks from her 2013 album “Bangerz.”
Miley Cyrus put together a diverse team of dancers for her performance, including some who were athletic and others who were quirky. Among them were a 6-foot-7 woman and a 4-foot woman who looked like Katy Perry. They all wore eye-catching outfits, like a large puppet as a rapper, two women playing the four heads of Mount Rushmore, and furry animal costumes. Miley changed her outfit about a dozen times, including a shimmery and sequined Catwoman suit that Cher would approve of. She also added creative set pieces, like a kiss-cam that focused on fans during “Adore You” and showcased American icons during “Party in the U.S.A.” To make her entrance, Miley slid down a tongue slide from a huge version of her own face and exited by riding a giant hot dog while wearing a mustard-colored fur jacket.
In a refreshing departure from other famous musicians, Miley Cyrus demonstrated her impressive singing abilities without relying on lip-syncing or complicated choreography. The pop star took the stage with heartfelt ballads like “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop,” showcasing her vocal prowess. She also impressed with a soulful rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and a unique take on OutKast’s “Hey Ya” during a semi-acoustic performance on a satellite stage. Miley’s lower register was particularly suited for the melancholic tones of Lana Del Ray’s “Summertime Sadness.” Overall, Miley proved herself to be a talented singer and performer in her own right.
Even though Miley Cyrus is recognized for her fearless performances, they don’t quite measure up to the daring and mesmerizing shows put on by Pink. Taylor Swift’s drive and theatrical proficiency, Beyoncé’s emotional depth, and Madonna’s captivating storylines also outshine Miley’s live performances. Nevertheless, Miley still manages to offer a distinctive and thrilling experience for her devoted fans, such as taking them on a wild and unpredictable ride through her own personal Disneyland, even without the presence of Hannah Montana.
