Miley Cyrus, ‘I Love Rock ‘N Roll’ / ‘Cherry Bomb’ / ‘Bad Reputation’ – Terrible Classic Rock Covers
Pop star Miley Cyrus got a lot of press this past week for her controversial performance at MTV's Video Music Awards. She used to be part of Disney's stable of TV teen stars, starring in the mega-popular 'Hannah Montana.' Oh, and she was spawned from the loins of the mullet-sporting singer of 'Achy Breaky Heart,' Billy Ray Cyrus.
Cyrus has been growing up (and experiencing occasional growing pains) in the public eye for a few years now. Even before she made a twerking spectacle of herself on live TV, she spent a good chunk of her career honing her karaoke talents on other artists' songs.
And because at some point, every female singer with even the slightest rock 'n' roll aspirations must pay her dues by covering Joan Jett's rock legacy, Cyrus saw fit to tackle not one, not two, but three Jett classics as part of a cred-building riot-grrrl medley during her 2010 tour.
Hear yourself groan as Cyrus' detached monotone transfers ‘I Love Rock 'N Roll’ to a catatonic state! Feel yourself wretch as she labors her way through the Runaways’ signature song ‘Cherry Bomb’ like she was auditioning for a role on ‘Glee’! And try not to flee in terror as she screeches through Jett’s fearsome ‘Bad Reputation’ – mercifully for just 60 teeth-gnashing seconds before bringing the entire ordeal to an end.
This is what Terrible Classic Rock Covers are truly made of. Evidently, Cyrus was just warming up her onstage shock tactics here, on her way to the provocative debacle at the VMAs, where at least she had the decency of butchering one of her own pop songs, as well as one by Robin Thicke, instead of three rock 'n' roll classics.
Listen to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts' 'I Love Rock 'N Roll'
Listen to the Runaways' 'Cherry Bomb'
Listen to Joan Jett's 'Bad Reputation'