Miley Cyrus has announced she will be creating a Metallica cover album, which has had a controversial reception from the metal band’s fan base…
Many people have taken to Twitter to air their distaste to the announcement, calling it a disappointment and many questioning: “who asked for this?”.
Metallica is one of the biggest names within the rock and roll industry, so of course, there was always going to be fans who disagreed with covers being made. If it isn’t broke, why fix it right?
This often boils down to people enjoying originals much more than covers, which is even more prominent with musicians on this scale. Cyrus is known as a pop star, so many people are going to be concerned about the integrity of the genre being upheld. However, she is no stranger to dabbling across musical brackets. Back in 2019, she covered the band’s classic Nothing Else Matters at Glastonbury as part of a rock-influenced set which was welcomed with many a fist pump.
When artists cover other musicians best hits, there is the possibility that it could go drastically wrong and do the original no justice. Its happened before and perhaps it is expected to happen here.
What I think will make this album exceptionally special and successful is that way in which Cyrus is able to take songs and make them her own, whilst honouring the original. Her contemporary voice and style is one that works so cohesively with rock, and she has even announced she is working on her own punky album simultaneously to the covers. On The Zach Sang Show, she relayed this conversation with her production team: “I said ‘Listen, I’m gonna try pop one more time and if I feel like I just can’t sleep at night with it, I’m gonna make a rock record.’ And they were like, ‘Well, then why are you waiting, you never wait, just do it, ’and so I was like, ‘You’re right.’ ”
Covers seem to be a Cyrus speciality as she has a full repertoire from Dolly Parton and Fleetwood Mac to Pink Floyd and Nirvana.
Since she transitioned from Hannah Montana star to the admired musician, she has always had the punky, bad girl attitude. Match this with the raspy husk of her vocals and you’ve got yourself a rock icon. So why wouldn’t she follow in the footsteps of her idols and become involved within the world of rock music?
Recently, she took part in the Save our Stages Fest in LA. This charity event raised money for independent music venues who were facing the financial restraints of the Covid-19 pandemic. As well as performing her own song, Midnight Sky, she took on punk renditions of The Cure and The Cranberries.
She took centre stage and, with her dusty blonde mullet ruffled, perfumed with great energy and attitude, giving the iconic songs a burst of life with her quintessential sound.
The Cranberries took to Twitter to applaud Cyrus for her performance: “We were delighted to hear of Miley Cyrus’ cover of Zombie at the Whisky a Go Go #SOSFEST in LA at the weekend, it’s one of the finest covers of the song that we’ve heard. We think Dolores would be very impressed!”.
If rock sensations such as The Cranberries like your covers, I think it’s safe to say that it’s a job well done.
Metallica fans may not value a pop star creating her own versions of the songs, but so many people will enjoy having a current artist breath some fresh air into songs from the ’80s and ’90s. Whilst the originals will always remain first-class, new isn’t always bad. Music really is an art of expression and appreciation, and that’s what covers portray. When an artist takes a song that isn’t their own and can respect it enough to replicate it with passion, then that is a beautiful thing to do.
With this album, Cyrus may be bringing rock and roll back into mainstream popularity with her current and contemporary style, showing the younger generations that rock is just as cool as rap.
By Courtney McLaven
Feature Image Credit: NME