Definitely Not a Nashville Party
So, okay, what's the appeal of Miley Cyrus? I know people who legitimately like her, aned that's fine, but...I just don't don't get it. I'll admit I haven't actually heard much of her music, but the radio has been inundated with "Party in the USA" as of late. Apparently it's her crossover into mainstream radio, yet it has some of the worst aspects of children's music (i.e., it's rather cloying and artificially happy). Also, the first time we heard the song, bethje commented that Miley sounds like R. Kelly's white Southern woman character from "Trapped in the Closet." Anyway, let's take a look at the lyrics:
I hopped off the plane at LAX
With my dream and my cardigan
I never actually knew what she was saying in this line, and assuming this is correct...I actually sort of like it. It's sort of a syllepsis, isn't it? Well, not exactly, but it's along the same lines.
Welcome to the land of fame and excess
Am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab
Here I am for the first time
Looked to my right and i see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy
Everybody seems so famous
EVERYBODY does? What part of Los Angeles are you in? Well, to be fair, she does say "seems." More importantly, however, "crazy" and "famous" don't even come close to rhyming. This song apparently had three writers, and not one of them could write simple verse?
My tummy's turnin' and i'm feelin' kind of homesick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio
And a Jay-Z song was on
and the the Jay-Z was on(2x)
You know, I think it would be difficult to find a more obnoxiously saccharine word than "tummy." But getting to more significant matters, Beth's uncle told us that someone asked Miley what her favorite Jay-Z song was, and she said she didn't listen to that kind of music. And while I'm a supporter of the idea that songs don't have to be autobiographical, this one sounds like it's supposed to be in other respects. How hard would it have been for the songwriters to ask Miley what artists she actually liked? I have no idea whether she likes Britney Spears, who's mentioned in the second pre-chorus, but I guess the two of them DO have a fair amount of common ground.
So I put my hands up
They're playin' my song
The butterflies fly away
Noddin' my head like yeah
Movin' my hips like yeah
I got my hands up
They're playin' my song
I know I'm gonna be ok
Yeah It's a party in the USA
Yeah It's a party in the USA
So this is where the title comes in, but what does it have to do with the rest of the song? How is the country she's in at all relevant to what she's talking about? Mind you, Billy Ray has played at Sean Hannity's Freedom Concerts, and probably knows the value of inserting irrelevant patriotism into songs.
Get to the club in my taxi cab
Everybody's looking at me now
Like "who's that chick that's rockin' kicks?
She gotta be from outta town."
So hard with my girls not around me
Awww, how cute! Miley Cyrus has an entourage!
It's definitely not a Nashville party
Cause all I see are stilettos
I guess I never got the memo
"MEMO: Wear stilettos to the party. Oh, but don't tell that Miley chick. She bugs me."
Yeah, it's another line that sounds like it's supposed to rhyme but doesn't. And does no one wear stilettos to parties in Nashville? Eh, they probably all go barefoot, am I right? Nah, I'm just messing with you, Tennessee. You're all right.
Okay, so there are much worse songs than this one, and I guess cheering up when hearing cool music is something we all identify with. But, well, how is this a hit? Was payola involved? I guess I'm just not down with what the kids listen to. Or the adults, for that matter.
I hopped off the plane at LAX
With my dream and my cardigan
I never actually knew what she was saying in this line, and assuming this is correct...I actually sort of like it. It's sort of a syllepsis, isn't it? Well, not exactly, but it's along the same lines.
Welcome to the land of fame and excess
Am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab
Here I am for the first time
Looked to my right and i see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy
Everybody seems so famous
EVERYBODY does? What part of Los Angeles are you in? Well, to be fair, she does say "seems." More importantly, however, "crazy" and "famous" don't even come close to rhyming. This song apparently had three writers, and not one of them could write simple verse?
My tummy's turnin' and i'm feelin' kind of homesick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio
And a Jay-Z song was on
and the the Jay-Z was on(2x)
You know, I think it would be difficult to find a more obnoxiously saccharine word than "tummy." But getting to more significant matters, Beth's uncle told us that someone asked Miley what her favorite Jay-Z song was, and she said she didn't listen to that kind of music. And while I'm a supporter of the idea that songs don't have to be autobiographical, this one sounds like it's supposed to be in other respects. How hard would it have been for the songwriters to ask Miley what artists she actually liked? I have no idea whether she likes Britney Spears, who's mentioned in the second pre-chorus, but I guess the two of them DO have a fair amount of common ground.
So I put my hands up
They're playin' my song
The butterflies fly away
Noddin' my head like yeah
Movin' my hips like yeah
I got my hands up
They're playin' my song
I know I'm gonna be ok
Yeah It's a party in the USA
Yeah It's a party in the USA
So this is where the title comes in, but what does it have to do with the rest of the song? How is the country she's in at all relevant to what she's talking about? Mind you, Billy Ray has played at Sean Hannity's Freedom Concerts, and probably knows the value of inserting irrelevant patriotism into songs.
Get to the club in my taxi cab
Everybody's looking at me now
Like "who's that chick that's rockin' kicks?
She gotta be from outta town."
So hard with my girls not around me
Awww, how cute! Miley Cyrus has an entourage!
It's definitely not a Nashville party
Cause all I see are stilettos
I guess I never got the memo
"MEMO: Wear stilettos to the party. Oh, but don't tell that Miley chick. She bugs me."
Yeah, it's another line that sounds like it's supposed to rhyme but doesn't. And does no one wear stilettos to parties in Nashville? Eh, they probably all go barefoot, am I right? Nah, I'm just messing with you, Tennessee. You're all right.
Okay, so there are much worse songs than this one, and I guess cheering up when hearing cool music is something we all identify with. But, well, how is this a hit? Was payola involved? I guess I'm just not down with what the kids listen to. Or the adults, for that matter.