Miley Cyrus' '7 Things': Is it time to take her seriously?

The news: ABC premiered Miley Cyrus' latest video,"7 Things," on Saturday night. The clip is from "Breakout," the teen star's forthcoming album, due in stores July 22.

Why this is being discussed: With the song, and the album, Miley seems to be positioning herself to gently transition out of the teen star world. To wit, she's supposedly had a greater hand in writing the album, and blockbuster Hollywood director Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour") was drafted to direct the video for "7 Things." Ratner was last seen in the music video world working for Mariah Carey, having directed her "Touch My Body." That song is certainly one of the biggest singles of 2007, and while the Ratner touch hasn't always proven to be golden ("After the Sunset"?), it brings some added attention and anticipation to the clip.

Does it work? Not really. The Jonas Brothers are off acting like silver screen spies in multiple locations and costumes in their latest video, while in "7 Things," Miley landed an action-packed director, and only gets to jump up and down and lip-sync in an all-white soundstage. You want special effects and good production values? Miley makes funny faces and stomps around. Introducing the video, Miley tells us that this is one of the rare occasions in which she's wearing sparkles. Smashing. Don't blow-out the whole budget on a sequin tank dress.

And for someone Forbes says is worth $25 million, it would have been nice if the lip-syncing matched the music and the whole shoot didn't look as if it were filmed with one camera on a tripod in a single-bulb basement. But showing off Miley's universal appeal is the plan here, as an assortment of young women and their teddy bears are brought in to join in the half-hearted recklessness.

Said Miley in the intro, it's "a bunch of chicks that come together and hate their boyfriends, or ex-boyfriends." But it's not nearly as catty or fun as that should be. To be fair, Miley certainly comes out of it unscathed, but it can be argued that Miley's homespun YouTube dance battles are made with more craft and attention to detail, and definitely more zaniness.

Judge for yourself. 

Never mind the video, will people finally talk about Miley for her music? That doesn't seem like it's going to happen for a while. Even the music industry's trade magazine (and my former employer), Billboard, opens up its Miley feature by discussing the Vanity Fair scandal. "Let's get it out of the way," the magazine writes. But please, let's move on, as here we are, two months since Mileygate broke, and Miley and team are still answering the same tired questions with slight variations to their media-coached answers.

And even in regard to "7 Things," the rumor is the song is about Nick Jonas, which should continue to provide the tabloids with fodder through September. Was that Nick's face covered-up in the photo Miley holds up? Is she wearing his diabetic dog tag? The nerve!

But maybe the personal dramas will end up highlighted because the music isn't all that good. Naw, it's actually pretty decent, and Miley/Hannah Montana songs such as "See You Again," "Nobody's Perfect" and "East Northumberland High" are better than most teen pop fare, and solid pop songs in their own right. That's just a few examples, but much of last year's "Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus" is full of exuberant pop ditties that avoid cliches by celebrating one's insecurities.

As for "7 Things," it's a catchy-enough song that shows off some of Miley's strengths and weaknesses. Miley is the rare teen star who might actually benefit from a real rock 'n' roll band behind her rather than a bunch of hired professionals. Her voice, with its slight rasp, sounds better when backed by guitars, and whenever she amps it up, her backing crew never seems quite able to match her spontaneity and excitement.

In "7 Things," the song tries maybe a bit too hard to please all constituents, going from cheesy acoustic strummer to full-on mall punk. It's the latter that better suits Miley, giving her a mouthful of a chorus that out-paces the guitars and lets her run wild. Ultimately, the song wraps its snotty chorus with a pretty bow on top (the seventh thing Miley hates about you? You make her love you).

The song's turn toward the friendlier side of things in the final verse comes off as a last-minute concession, as high school break-ups are far messier. It would have been a more dramatic turn for Miley if the song played-up its frustration and anger, but the winning, full-on chorus -- and Miley's exuberance -- are enough to make it a success.

Photo courtesy Fox/Getty Images

Comments

[francesca]

i thought it was awesome, like the video was what the song really means, unlike jb that their vid was nothing what the song was about

[SIV]

WHAT IN THE WORLD KIND OF ARTICLE WAS THAT , YOU BASHED HER ALL THE WAY IN THE BEGINNING AND THAN ADMITTED THE SINGLE WILL BE A GREAT HIT ?

[John]

Very interesting read.

I actually think that the song is catchy and it's already a #10 hit after 2 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

[John]

Very interesting read.

I actually think that the song is catchy and it's already a #10 hit after 2 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

[stefanie]

ok it didnt match because o bad quality of that video on youtube but i thought it was more amture than the jonas video is abgreat song and also the director of this video is well recognized.. is pefect is what girls really do just go crazy and sing i think it was a nice video and also love the fact that the dog tag and the oictures givs it aways very smothie the fact that this song is about nick.. for me is showing a more mature miley cyrus which is good becuase now she can reach a more grown up audiences and not only little disney kids.. this is miley not hannah montana and is like the suna nd the moon which is great

[Israel Joseph]

the Music Video , Itself
Is the Main Song On Miley Cyrus's New Album... Breakout
It Has A Catchy Up-Beating Sound To the Name ! Miley Cyrus , Loves Her Fans...
Alot Of People ''Stand Up To Her'' And I Think This New Album ''Will Make The Big Cut'' For Her ''Loud'' Rock & Roll (Music) And How Will the Parents ''Ever Sleep'' I Like the New Song : Don't Walk Away, With It's Country / Tenesse - Accent ! Pop and Rock , She's Brings Us, New Things, And in The Future , Miley Will Forget ''Hannah Montana'' - Love , Israel

[Todd Martens]

Hi Siv,

I certainly wasn't bashing her. For a hyped video, and one that debuted on network TV, it was a bit of a disappointment. That being said, I definitely like the song, and think Miley is a terrific performer.

[Erik Gerber]

I thought that Miley's new music video was amazing. I would have watched it when it was during "The Haunted Mansion," but I had to work. I was kinda sad. But, her video showed alot of emotion about how hurt she was with whoever she used to date, whether it was Nick Jonas or someone else. The song itself is really good. I already preordered her CD. So, I can't wait. Plus, she looked really beautiful in my eyes. In all, it is a fun video to watch.

[bam!]

She said she wanted a simple video because she wanted it to be more about the emotional aspect of it and to be about what you go through in a break up and I thought it was well executed. If you would of had a busy video you would have lost the message of the song which is what I think happened to the Jonas Brothers in their new video. While their video was more action packed and whatever it really didn't have anything to do with the song and just covered up and distracted you from the bad lyrics unlike Miley which did the opposite and had you focus on the message and highlighted the lyrics which I think is what real music should be and is why I think she'll develop into in extraordinary musician and artist more so than she already is today.

[Kelly]

I actually think it is about Nick. I know everyone has said that, but I've seen the original picture and that is in fact Nick.

[tom]

There are no audio sync problems. Some youtube versions have a sync problem due to the conversion process used. The video aired on Sat did not. You do not have to spend a lot of money to make an effective video. The simplicity of this video effectively focuses on the message of the song. Most videos distract from that. I think it was right on target.

[Tim]

What, are all of you people smoking crack? This is a piece of garbage song from a no talent kid of a no talent celebrity. What is wrong with you people that you would actually think this is good? Maybe you should try a little more thinking for yourself and a little less of letting Disney think for you.

[coolkrissie1]

i think that ppl should forget about that dumb picture that is so last month for one,and for two,i think that this videos shows that she can be serious! All teen popstars have that time in theyre life were they might say the wrong thing or take the wrong picture. I mean seriously tell me what teen star does not have some secret that got out or a bad photo? come ppl all of us have SOMETHING to hide I know I do. And we should stop worrying about what other ppl are doing,and start worrying about what were doing! As you can tell by this video she is getting sick of EVERYTHING she does is getting out! OK ppl get out of other ppls lives and get into your own!!!!!

[coolkrissie1]

i think that ppl should forget about that dumb picture that is so last month for one,and for two,i think that this videos shows that she can be serious! All teen popstars have that time in theyre life were they might say the wrong thing or take the wrong picture. I mean seriously tell me what teen star does not have some secret that got out or a bad photo? come ppl all of us have SOMETHING to hide I know I do. And we should stop worrying about what other ppl are doing,and start worrying about what were doing! As you can tell by this video she is getting sick of EVERYTHING she does is getting out! OK ppl get out of other ppls lives and get into your own!!!!!

[Heather]

I thought that was a very good read. It was very interesting. Does anybody know if that is actually Nick's face covered up in the picture? And I don't know about the dog tag, because Miley does have hypoglycemia, so I think that that is what it is for. I thought the music video was okay, but it could have been a lot better. I imagined it to be almost like an actual play by play of what was going on in her song.

[roxy]

you know what miley cyrus is a great singer. so many people look up to her. she just wants to help people who are going through a breakup. shes going through a breakup too and wants to sing about it. i would too. she is amazing.

[roxy]

look at britney spears spears and jamie lynn spears. is she that bad?she is great and isnt a bad girl!

[k]

I don't know... are there really junior high relationships serious enough to have a bunch of 13-year-old girls crying?

The song, the video... I don't know, it's all things we've heard before. I don't know what what I was expecting, she's only 15, but she brings absolutely nothing new to the musical world. People will eat up just about anything, I guess.

[cry]

i think she should get over nick by now i mean she liked him alot but its not like they were getting married.... And dont get me wrong i like her but come on

[Joe Bua]

Not for nothin', but isn't she really nasally?

I've only heard this song and heard her talk, but it's kind of annoying.

Of course, I can avoid her for now, I don't have children, but soon she'll be omnipresent, like (fill in name of overexposed celeb).

[ISABEL]

i love the song in my opinion the video is showing the way girls are in reality...the song is great and so is miley...just let her live her dream people...if you dont like her stop watching...but keep your eyes close because she is everywhere!!!

[MD]

Miley this, Miley that.

My bigger concern is that some of the girls look about 10--12 at best. Girls that age shouldn't be stressing out about boys, broken hearts, or I love you's.

I'm going to sound like I'm ancient (granted I'm only 23,) but what happened to Barbies, school, and playing on the playground. I don't think I even considered boys until I was in Junior High. (Even then, they had cooties, right?)

I know Miley's demo is tween girls, but shouldn't she err on the side of caution when talking about romance and relationships? Don't we have enough issues with over sexualizing America's youth? Look at the 17 pregnant teen girls pact...

Maybe I'm off my rocker, but she could have had the same video, same concept, but used an older demo for the "heart broken" girls. Younger girls only validates the idea of younger dating ages and prohibits little girls from being just that-- little girls.

[Mileyfan]

its a good song and im glad shes sending this message out to Nick what he did to Miley sounds bad broke her heart but soon i bet she will find someone else and be happy ^_^

[Joseph]

you talk about her new song but never mention who wrote it. Sad

[Marqelle]

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME THE ORIGINAL OF THE PICTURE SHE HOLDS US DURRING THE VIDEO!? I WILL GIVE THEM SOME OTHER RARES>>>OR ANYTHING YOU WANT!