Visit the NPR Tiny Desk Page to see a 1/29/21 posted performance from Miley Cyrus.
I absolutely agree with NPR Writer, Ann Powers, that the proportions in this video take a moment to sink in. And I encourage listeners to listen all the way through, and let the vocals of a maturing, talented performer do just the same.
0 Comments
We got rock stars in the White house
And all our pop stars look like porn All my heroes hit the highway 'Cause they don't hang out here no more -Sheryl Crow "Steve McQueen" First Lady Melania Trump used a rock star attitude to fill her role as first lady and she set the precedent when she gave her election acceptance speech. Maybe the Jackie O shades, maybe the sultry stare behind it. Finally, I, who didn't follow the campaign in it's details, in the actual speeches beyond debates, finally got to meet the first lady. And in effect, the speech was highly criticized for too many similarities to First Lady Michelle Obama's speech from the previous presidential term. Language barrier or no, the public craved a more personal message from the First Lady, and so did I. I wanted her to come right out and talk to the public about how she felt being the second international woman in the position. But I think, because of so many political ironies, the First Lady was a little like a bug, pinned to a paper. The most heartfelt, emotionally charged part of her speech, it seemed to me, was when she marched onstage to "Age of Aquarius," and threw a peace sign out in front of her. If you ask me, she looked like she was trying to ward off a bunch of vampires the way her head bowed. I had been looking forward to the first lady's speech - all politics aside, and I think, just for the intensity of her situation, because she was the politics. Women's rights, immigrants' rights, blended families -- there was so much there to respect about her, to relate to -- and yet, so much of her character that wasn't mainstream party platform, a meet and greet with Melania would stray right off the podium. She was like a walking, political entity. And I imagined I could feel the emotion she was releasing with the gesture just from watching on screen. Have you ever been so full of emotion and your hand feels full of uncontainable energy and you shake for a moment and then feel a little better? I would have excited jitters like that from stage fright, but I'm not a star and a model, a public figure. Did the First Lady, like her husband, feel self-aware, stepping into a role from a non-traditional public background? Our previous presidents have been shop owners, teachers, military servicemen, actors. The previous four presidencies, however, were held by career politicians. Perhaps what tipped the scales in a closely-contended race was the public's desire for a change, and it wasn't for a new ground-breaking precedent - a female chief of state, but for a shift away from career political leaders. A different strategy for leadership. So the leading lady of the White House took the stage for me in a time of more conservative collective change, even though the nation's choice did break a fair few rules, she represented, to me, a blended modern conservatism, and it was exciting and interesting. But when she faced the auditorium, I was really wondering if she, an individual, actually felt full of like, attitude/ feeling towards the American public as a whole. Since this was maybe her first time addressing everyone - not just campaign supporters... you know, it's the whole, is a corporation a person debate and did she have something definitive to say to the entire American public, opponents included? After a grueling campaign that uncovered sensitive, straining issues to a marriage, I felt like the First Lady was defensive, too, amidst all the Russian election scandals and once she became First Lady, maybe under pressure to take stances on controversial issues just because of who she represented to the public. Instead of addressing issues, I think she kind of took the high road, let them speak for themselves, and used international pop culture symbols to immediately identify herself as part of a generation, as someone who remembers controversies of her generation and her approach was pretty succinct and marvelous. She diffused all the energy with a gesture, a peace sign, and whether for herself, for the public, or if it was all in my head, I just thought she said more than I could have asked. And when someone who comes from another culture, someone whose upbringing and experiences are unfamiliar to me, takes an important political office, I thought her gesture was a mix of funny, bitter and serious -- she was taking a political stance, I think, warding off accusers, and also poking fun at her immigrant status by saying "I come in peace," to the entire watching nation! And letting us know she likes disco. Now, months after the 2021 election, I'm wondering if all Donald Trump got across by calling Hilary Clinton a "nasty woman" was that he is a Janet Jackson fan? I'm decidedly a Millennial trying to pick apart the jargon of another generation, regretfully wondering if I got caught up in a generational language barrier, misconstrued the culture references, and missed out on the action. Let me know if I'm wasting my time! |
AuthorWe are Kieran and Michelle, two 32-year-old William & Mary grads living in Virginia. Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|