14 DAY TRIAL // Miley Cyrus’ name is again on everyone’s lips after the release of her extremely racy video for “Wrecking Ball.” If you too are among those who said she went too far with it, her dad Billy Ray Cyrus has a few words for you.
This is literally the second time in only a few weeks that Billy Ray defends his daughter’s antics.
“I'm a song man. A musician singer songwriter who loves all styles of music. But again... I come from the old school where it starts with an artist and a song... colliding if you will... in a moment where the song, the singer, the producer, the band and the listener become one,” he says for Entertainment Tonight.
As he sees it, Miley being an artist, it would not have made any difference if she’d chosen another concept for her video.
“It wouldn't have mattered if Miley would have worn jeans and a flannel shirt... a Tux... or a nun's habit. The song's a smash... and her performance vocally on the tune reflects her roots and sheer God given talent,” Billy Ray says.
I feel compelled to stress that Miley isn’t an artist but a pop star who, for the time being, does what her manager, record label, and everyone else in charge of her tells her to do. Her input – musically, artistically if you will – is nonexistent at best.
Billy Ray must know that or else he wouldn’t be defending his daughter because, from where I stand, art (you know, the real kind) doesn’t need defensors because it thrives on debate and multiple perspectives.
And on a final note, I find the whole thing more infuriating than the actual video: Miley and her dad would score higher with audiences if they just admitted “heck yeah, she wanted to do it so she did it,” instead of pretending like the raunchiness served some higher, artistic purpose.