Pop Miley vs Rock Miley: Which One Do You Prefer?

Miley Cyrus has released her first single of the year, Flowers. It’s wildly different from her previous rock inspired album ‘Plastic Hearts’ which gained the attention of rock fans worldwide. 

The track has been met with enormous positive criticism from reviewers and fans alike. Miley Cyrus has been relatively quiet since her last album, ‘Plastic Hearts,’ which was released in 2020, which saw the singer taking a surprising turn into rock. 'Plastic Hearts' featured some incredible legends such as Billy Idol and Joan Jett. Miley had clearly done her rock and roll research and her voice seemed perfect for the role. For example, on ‘Bad Karma’ she took inspiration from featured artist Joan Jett with growling vocals and alluring guitar riffs that takes the listener back to a time when rock was popular. However, it seems as though Miley has taken a step back from headbanging and into what she knows again, making ‘Plastic Hearts’ just a phase in her career. Whilst she is well-versed in creating a decent pop song, many fans of rock were intrigued by her journey into the genre. She had the potential to join the long list of rock idols, pinning down the style and the personality quite well.

Aside from her rock chick era, ‘Flowers’ shows that she has softened her musical approach this time around, keeping a relatively subdued tone throughout. Miley keeps her vocals on the low with no big belting moments that were sort of to be expected. Instead, she has returned to a hint of her country roots mixed with her recognisable raspy style. The track is disco-esque yet chill, a step down from perhaps her bigger songs that gained her a name in pop, like ‘We Can’t Stop.’ It does have a fairly funky beat that incites a slight head bop or shoulder groove. The song is a testament to Miley’s self-love, independence and experiencing life outside of a relationship. This contrasts her previous work, such as ‘I Miss You So Much’ which focuses more on the upset and desperation she felt during a break up. It is evident that Miley Cyrus has gone through some personal transformation and ‘Flowers’ is an example of that, setting a tone for the rest of the new album that’s due to come out in March.