10 Years of Bangerz!

An album with a title that ironically describes exactly what this album entails; ‘BANGERZ’ is an unforgettable change of pace for a former child pop star. Disregarding the labels that Disney channel had placed over her identity for so many years, Miley Cyrus isn’t ashamed to be publicly disobedient, purposely challenging her perfectly curated image and in the meantime making her most memorable fourth studio album. 

The album is created on a spectrum of genres, alluding to her own artistic growth; ranging from a comfortable pop/country background to a stretch out into genres more out of her depth. Looking back ten years later, this album and era of Miley was a cause for controversy, the then 20 year old made sure to completely overlook any innocence that was drawn to her public persona. Or was it just that she was tired of being seen as a child? A 20 year old that had been in the public eye for most of her childhood and also throughout her adolescence, this era of “bad behaviour” was hardly anything that abominable, rather just a 20 year old woman fighting for her own autonomy. 

‘Bangerz’ opens with an exhibition of Miley’s unwavering talent, showcasing her unbeatable vocals that serves as a reminder that she’s still got it, ‘Adore you’ is a poetic dedication to her lover and a welcoming introduction to the internal workings of Miley Cyrus, not Hannah Montana. The second track on this album is probably the most famous song of Miley’s career at the time, peaking at #2 on the billboard top 100. We can’t Stop” is the lyrical manifestation of the cause for Miley’s public scrutiny, a song that is driven by Mileys disdain for her untouched public image. This also the album’s first introduction to her executive producer, MIKEWILLMADEIT, he proves to be a very prominent presence during this era as well as being an important collaborator for some of her best work. ‘We can’t stop’ is profound, she chooses to create clear distance from her disney image, letting people know that she can do whatever she wants, even when the decisions she makes are bad at least they are her own; “it’s our party we can do what we want”. 

Bringing in a collaboration with pop veteran Britney Spears, the following track is definitely a highlight. ‘SMS (Bangerz)’ is a demonstration of her discovered love for the club, a short burst of dance pop to commemorate her party girl era. Seemingly produced by Mike Will, this beat is well contained in the realm of mainstream pop but Miley makes sure to break this illusion with her own rendition of rap. The next single from the album is an anti-pop heartbreak anthem ‘Wrecking ball’. After the public break-up with ex Liam Hemsworth, Miley had to add context to her reinvention. Heartbreak is a leading cause for change, that’s exactly why this personal expression of her pain works well with understanding this new found fearlessness. ‘Wrecking ball’ depicts Mileys efforts to comprehend a love that no longer serves her. She knows that although she may love hard, that effort still may not be enough to keep the relationship alive, accepting defeat in love may sometimes be the most courageous action to be made; “All you ever did was wreck me”.

Another memorable moment from the album is #GET IT RIGHT’, a track written and produced by the accomplished Pharell. A beat that’s a classic Pharrell production of course contains a whistle and 4 count. This is a song that sonically sounds perfect for a disney channel star, however its thrown off lyrically as Miley sings about sex and orgasms. Not very PG. Miley chooses to finalise this album with a dark pop ballad, going back to her quintessential sound, ‘Someone else’ an emotionally charged outro. Miley is reclaiming her independence, embracing the internal changes she has to make outside of her relationship. 

This album is a form reinvention as well as a progressive outlook on who she’s choosing to become, ‘Bangerz’ is an insight into the first steps towards a reclamation of her own identity. Although it may be her fourth studio album, this is Miley’s first independent body of work and it’s genuinely an outstanding album, Miley takes advantage of the clout that she received through her child fame and manages to use this to benefit her career as a solo artist. ‘Bangerz’ may not have been well received by the public at first, but it’s definitely an album that was worth talking about. Ten years on, Miley has refined her sound and navigated the trajectory of her artistic growth quite successfully. ‘Bangerz’ is a highlight of her career, propelling her to a level of authenticity that was once constructed.