Is Miley Cyrus punk rock?

We all know Miley Cyrus. A former Disney star who has found her way in and out of love, big stages, controversy, and acting gigs. Now, I’ve been thinking a lot about Cyrus the past few weeks because of her covers of “Zombie” and “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” . Personally, I think she absolutely killed both of them. So, this thought has been bouncing around in my head for the past week. Is Miley Cyrus punk?

Well, let’s take a look! Maybe I will convince you.

Also, if you like this one, check out why The Jonas Brothers are emo too!

I’m going to start this debate with a few of my own personal reasons, and then going to more of the concrete stuff.

1. She grew up surrounded by various types of music, including pop-punk.

Cyrus’s father is Billy Ray Cyrus, a country musician. Her godmother is Dolly Parton. There are definitely a lot of country influence and her early music was country.

Some of us emo kids though, will know a little band called Metro Station.

Cyrus’s brother Trace was the guitarist of Metro Station in the early 2000s. He has been a part of the band since they started and reunited with them in 2010. He was also a member of a band called Ashland HIGH.

Considering their siblings, there has to be some overlap with their music tastes. Either sharing it or listening to it together, she definitely knows some of the early pop-punk hits and other emo classics. This influence, I would argue, is finally starting to come through in some of her most recent work.

2. Hannah Montana, the show and the character.

This one might be a bit out there, but just stick with me for a sec.

I’m not telling you that Hannah Montana is an emo artist. That’s exploration for a different day.

However, Hannah Montana theoretically was a rock star, right? I mean, the show told the life story of the artist and Cyrus manages living a double-life as a teenager. Sure, Hannah is a fictional character, but the foundation it created in Cyrus’s career and stage presence is not a coincidence. It helped to get her to the spot she is in now, and once she was old enough to do her own thing, she did.

But, I would argue that you never forget your roots. The character is a part of her life forever and arguably the thing she is most widely known for. For that reason, I am calling Hannah Montana a rockstar, and a foundational moment in her music career.

3. Her Album Breakout

Breakout was released in 2008. It was the first album she put out that was not affiliated in any way with Hannah Montana. Breakout has all of the makings of a pop-punk album; and let me tell you why.

“7 Things” was one of the singles off of the record. The guitar is very melodic but on the chorus it speeds up and gets more bouncy. The drums are loud and in your face a bit on the chorus, and the vocals and lyrics remind me of Avril Lavigne’s style.

The album was very well received. It hit the top of the Billboard 200 charts, and was certified platinum.

4. Now for the more solid stuff. She’s recording a Metallica cover album.

In an interview Cyrus did with Rick Owens, she said she is working on a Metallica cover album. She said that originally she was uninspired, but the project has made her feel “totally enlightened”.

5. She said Iggy Pop inspires her stage presence.

Iggy Pop is considered “the grandfather of punk”. He was the lead singer in The Stooges who date back to the 60s. In the same interview with Owens, she said that he inspires how she acts on stage.

Lots of people would argue that her stage presence is a bit out there. We all remember the VMA performance where she grinded on Robin Thicke. She calls it her recklessness, and says that she has a very good relationship with it. Her album Bangerz helped her discover it.

Regardless of what you think, I think it’s safe to say that even if she wasn’t punk, she’s definitely heading in that direction. Those two covers released in the past week are bangers, and you should check them out if you have not already.

And let me know what you think, I’d love to hear your opinion.

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