Disclosure - I received free tickets to this event.
I could hear the sobs from where I was sitting (in the loos at the O2). It was an hour into a Miley Cyrus concert and I needed a "nature break"; my cohort NixdMinx and I had treated ourselves to some much needed glasses of wine. If you are not familiar with Cyrus, she is better known by her Disney manufactured alter ego, Hannah Montana: a squeaky clean teen girl who is secretly a pop star in the hit television series and movie. She is so popular that her 10-date "Wonder World" concerts in the UK sold-out in ten minutes.
The sobs sounded like they were coming from a little girl about my daughter's age, perhaps six or seven. Her mother was trying to console her.
"Let's go back in and watch her now." The sobs turned to sniffs.
"You'll still be able to see her on television." With that the sobs took on a life of their own.
What was all the crying about? Hannah Montana. She wasn't there. In her place was a racy 17-going-on-30-year-old that rode a Harley, wore leather shorts and grabbed her groin. I had read all the reviews and prepped my girls: We were going to see Miley Cyrus NOT Hannah Montana. But it's hard to separate the two (Mummy, Miley IS Hannah) and it looked like much of the preteen audience was not prepared for a grown-up Miley. Many sat in their seats with wide eyes, thinking their Disney Channel idol had gone loopy.
It happens to everyone. They grow up. Their innocence slowly disappears with the baby fat and they become adults that want to make their own way in the world. Why would we NOT think this would happen with Miley? With only one more year on her contract filming Hannah Montana, Disney has been working with her to help break into an older audience (why not just stay with her fans as they grow?)
The Last Song, staring Cyrus and to be released this Spring, is a Touchtone Pictures (Disney brand) film that is perfect for Cyrus' transition. Written by Nicholas Sparks (best known for his novel/film The Notebook), it's about a teenage girl that spends the summer with her estranged father in an effort to get to know him better. I've been told the film is NOT FOR KIDS, ie. it deals with some adult themes (you can read about the plot here). Watch the trailer, it looks good.
Back to Miley and the O2 ... she did take mercy on the young audience and sang four songs from last summer's blockbuster movie and television series (including the Hoedown Throwdown and The Climb). One of my daughter's favourite parts was when she was in a big fluffy white wedding dress and flew around the stage. Oh, and the bit when she appeared on stage in an ice cube. Water seemed to be a theme. Perhaps a symbol of rebirth?
I'm sad because Hannah Montana holds a special place in my heart-- not to mention the hearts of MILLIONS of pre-teen girls. My six-year-old is her NUMBER ONE FAN. The appeal? Every mum little girl secretly wants to be a pop star. I spend hours with my daughters dancing to the Hoedown Throwdown. It's fun! Hannah Montana doesn't swear. She does the dishes. There's no violence.
My six-year-old summed it up. As she snuggled in my lap with the O2 lights blazing and the girls screaming she said she is still Hannah Montana's Number One Fan and that seeing the grown-up Miley "was better than nothing".
Disney, I sure hope you have something up your sleeve to fill this gap.
Photo credit: nixdminx
