Miley Vanilli
By LISA SOKOLOWSKI
cactusiv(at)gmail.com
It was the mid-’90s when Billy Ray Cyrus’ mullet and Achy Breaky Heart ruled the airwaves. It was the biggest crossover hit for Cyus — the only one I can remember, if you want to know the truth.
But he stayed in the entertainment business, probably playing fairs and hoe downs. He moved his family from Los Angeles to Franklin, Tennessee — also home of Paramore — and in 1992, had a daughter named Destiny Hope, better known as Miley because she was always smiling (yeah, smiley miley… no one said the mullet was the only reason Billy Ray could be a Jeff Foxworthy joke).
Anyway, fast forward a few years, and Billy Ray and 15-year-old Miley are in the spotlight staring as a (gasp) father and daughter, respectively I might add, in Disney’s Hannah Montana, a show where Miley plays Hannah Montana and Miley Stewart. Billy Ray only has one character, Miley’s dad (zing!).
The show is a huge success, and so Disney is cashing in. There were two soundtracks recorded, the second as a double disc, and the second disc was Miley’s debut.
So, after an album, you go on tour.
And this is where it gets interesting.
Miley’s performing in the Best of Both Worlds tour where she’s both herself and Hannah Montana — some of the time.
There’s a point in one song where Miley leaves the stage and a body double comes on. The double keeps her back to the crowd, and Miley’s vocals (which are obviously not live) are still going. Miley is changing at that point, and it’s nearly impossible for her to do both.
Give the girl credit.
But parents aren’t. They’re totally ripping her a new one for faking it for a minute. I mean, yes, they paid to see Miley and they’re getting someone else for about 120 seconds. But, once, I paid for Something Corporate and had to [[painfully]] sit through Days Away’s opening set. You didn’t see me attacking Andrew McMahon. But, I didn’t overpay either.
See, some tickets to this concert were going for over two grand. More than The Stones. And, seriously, Miley is no Mick.
I kind of understand the parents’ craze over this, but it’s turning into Mileygate. Not to mention that some “racy” pictures are coming out from a sleepover she had with one of her best friends. They’re both fully clothed [[at least one Disney star can keep her pants on — I’m looking at you Vanessa Hudgens), but they’re shown playing on the floor and sharing a twizzler.
Will this singing slip send her the way of Milli Vanilli? Will she be ripped apart like Ashlee Simpson on SNL? Or will it all just go away? It doesn’t matter, really, because Miley’s raking in $3.5 mill a year, according to Forbes. And she’s still three birthdays shy of being legal, so you know that means Billy Ray’s heart isn’t aching anymore.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:53 am
There’s a local radio station that is giving away the Hannah Montana tickets to any parent who will tattoo her face onto their person. Yeesh.
January 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
oh that’s awful. a station here was making you look for “hannah’s bananas.” i guess they hid tickets on bananas and gave out a clue. i know it shouldn’t, but it sounded kind of inappropriate to me every time they say, “find hannah’s bananas.”
January 28th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I think that there has been worst and for people to blow up on somthing so small is stupid she could be doing worst
April 15th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Wow, Billy Ray seems to have made a comeback. And I thought he was a 1 hit wonder. I miss the mullet though.