Live review: Miley Cyrus' 'Wonder World' concert at Staples Center

The tween sensation sings and even raps with ease but offers very few glimpses of a real, more truly compelling Miley.

The last time Miley Cyrus toured North America, in 2007, she didn't make the trip alone. Her money-minting "Best of Both Worlds" road show featured sets by both Cyrus and her Disney Channel alter ego, Hannah Montana, and as is often the case in this town, reality didn't always come out on top.

At a Honda Center stop in Anaheim, Cyrus, then 14, struggled to express herself in a way that lived up to her on-screen persona; when the concert climaxed with a virtual duet between Cyrus and a video version of Hannah, one of the girls seemed more two-dimensional than the other.

Nearly two years later, Cyrus is out on her own on the "Wonder World" tour, which hit Staples Center on Tuesday before a show at Honda on Wednesday. She wasn't in competition with Hannah this time, but Cyrus still had to battle herself.

About halfway through the 90-minute set, after presenting a preview of her upcoming film, "The Last Song," Cyrus sang her tune "When I Look at You" while clips from the movie played on giant video screens positioned around the stage. Once again, make-believe Miley was more compelling than the real thing.

Her problem wasn't a lack of charisma. Cyrus stalked the stage at Staples with superstar authority, executing complicated dance sequences with an effortlessness that suggested this is simply what 16-year-old girls do with their pals.

During a cover of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," Cyrus rode a candy-apple Harley-Davidson over some audience members' heads, and she seemed so natural on the airborne bike that you wondered how long she's been in the business of flight.

Cyrus' trouble wasn't related to her material, either. Tuesday's show featured no shortage of crafty tween-rock gems, including "Fly on the Wall" and "7 Things," both up-tempo highlights from last year's "Breakout," as well as "See You Again," the first track from her first non-Hannah effort, "Meet Miley Cyrus."

She also performed the best cuts from her new Wal-Mart-exclusive mini-album, "The Time of Our Lives," which was released in conjunction with Cyrus' clothing line for the discount retailer. Her seven-piece band gave "Kicking and Screaming" a surprising hard-rock heft, while Cyrus managed a reasonable approximation of a rapper in "Party in the U.S.A."

In that song Cyrus changed a Jay-Z shout-out to a Michael Jackson one, her second reference to the King of Pop after a brief interpolation of "Thriller" into "Fly on the Wall."

Instead, Cyrus failed Tuesday -- as she did on her last outing -- to give her fans a deeper idea of who she is and what her music means. For all its eye-popping detail, the concert offered nothing that viewers of her TV show or buyers of her records don't already know about her.

Skeptics of computerized pop argue that this kind of music isn't built for meaning, but that's demonstrably untrue. Last week at the same venue, Pink spent two hours fleshing out her persona not by rejecting spectacle but by embracing it. Cyrus, on the other hand, seemed unable, or unwilling, to go beneath the skin.

--Mikael Wood

Photo credits: WireImage

Comments

[julie]

Don't be so harsh. She is still a child trying to find her way. That girl has many people pulling her in very different directions. I went to the staples and saw the show with my 17 year old daughter Michelle; she was in heaven. Her performance was what 17 year girls would love to be doing...having fun! We have followed Miley since she appeared on the Disney Channel. She has a heart for what she does and has been a good role model for our girls, my daughter included. One of the few they have in todays decline of morals and values. FYI...as my daughter pointed out this was a Miley Cyrus concert. She will not be Hannah Montana forever. By the way for us "old" girls the Joan Jett song rocked. Thank you Miley for an awesome birthday for Michelle.

[Michelle]

As a 16 year old whose only a few days older then Miley, attending her concert on Tuesday at the staples center, I found her show to be one of the best nights of my life. Miley Cyrus has always been one of my idols, I have adored her since she first came out about 4 years ago, so when my mother bought me tickets to see her show in the 6th row from centerstage, I could hardly contain myself I was so excited. I did not go to the show to find out more about her life, i could easily find that out through interviews or other articles, but i went to hear the music because i loved for so long and wanted to see my idol, and I believe she accomplished this very well. Some people say that the show was not appropriate for young girls because of her outfits, or opening band, but Miley is getting older, and is NOT Hannah Montana anymore. She wants to appear to a different audience and if you mothers can not accept that, then go see someone different for your child. Even my mother agrees with me that that was one of the best concerts she's ever attended.
Miley's show was awesome, and I hope to attend many more in the future, she will definitely remain one of my idols.

[Rick]

This review is uninformed. If you paid attention, you would realize that this is a transitional time. She is at heart a rocker and will be moving on to more meaningful, edgier music, but she is trying to still play somewhat to her long-time audience. Other reviewers bemoan the fact that she has changed; suggesting that she should remain the Disney pop star. But by combining old favorites with new songs like Kick and Scream, she's giving something for all of her fans. Most of her fans love the spectacle she creates in concert. Few are looking for the "real Miley" in concert.

She is an extraordinarily talented actress/comedienne and performer. Her talent will take her far beyond Hillary Duff, Pink, Brittney, etc.

[Maria]

i think she did amazing. I'm sixteen. I do listen to other music than disney and Taylor Swift, but Miley, herself, is sixteen. If I was sixteen I would put on the show she did too. It was amazing, fun and kept the whole crowd dancing and singing along the entire time.

[Emily]

omgg ok so i went to the concert at the staples center and it was amazing. there was nothing bad to say about it! i think it was the most amazing thing. i am more in love with her than i ever was.

[jage]

Disney artists on Disney label with a TV show on Disney channel being played on Disney radio with merch being sold in Disney stores. Anybody else find this odd?

[D. Smith]

My family went to see Miley and we had a great time! She put on a good show and our kids loved it. She is only 16 years old, how much do you expect her to reveal? She's still a kid and her "job" is to entertain not reveal herself to be psychoanalyzed. It's a concert not The Dr. Phil Show.

[pretti_me]

Miley is a kind of person who inspires emotions to people. It's is either you love her or you hate her. Nothing in between. If you don't believe me. I suggest you read the comments...

[Keri]

You haters are all nuts. Do you not realize this girl is only 16 yrs old? My daughter and I were at last year's "Best of Both Worlds" concert as well as this recent one at Staples. She has definitely improved. Her husky voice was beautiful, clear, and she rocked the house. She has depth, but people only see what they want. I don't think 20,000 fans paid for her to give us her theories about the world or her personal life--we paid her to entertain us and that she did.

[Bruce]

The real problem here is that we have a critic who thinks Pink is the end all and be all and hasn't got a clue about Cyrus. Cyrus is GREAT and VERY talented,connects with her audience and anybody who has paid any attention to Cyrus's behavior towards her fans knows she is more thqan willing to sign autographs and talk to them.
Cyrus IS a superstar,like it or not.
For all the "faux" critics posting here who BTW I think are lying about attending her concert,don't waste our time with your shallow jealousy.

[John]

I believe one of the reasons Miley was cast for Hannah Montana is that she is a good fit with Disney. She has an open and honest heart, and lots of goodwill and love towards others. If you count up the charitable events she attends, her assorted charitable activities, and the large donations to charitable causes: well, she puts most of Hollywood to shame. She has the goal of no pre-maritial sex because it's a largely destructive behavior, but of course she does not put down, and actually gives emotional support to those who get pregnant without marriage.
I could go on and on about her character. But my point is that Miley herself does not inspire strong negative emotions in others. Some don't like her lifestyle because it makes their foul-mouthed, drug and alchohol laced, destructive sex-a-holic, lives look bad. That is, Miley, simply by doing her own thing and loving people, is an affront to all kinds of subgroups, or more precisely, they think she is. Are you lazy? That doesn't mean you have to hate Miley. Do you feel unsuccessful, hating on Miley is easier than doing something about it. Is your idea of birth control a wrong address and phone number , heaven forbid Miley makes you feel uncomfortable. If you are angry enough to hate Miley, then you need to change your life somehow.

[Allie(:]

I went to her concert and i really enjoyed it! I was able to dance and sing along with her! I can say that she is maturing.but let her. Don't judge her because she is truly like all of us, but people rely more on her. Give her a break!

[Joe]

Hey im 31 so let me tell you my thoguhts,
i went to potland opening night show and dude it Rocked, kids let judge all old people like these reviewer i went to it not for a kid suister but for msyelf as i am a fan of hers. and i enjoyed it terribly!!! i was bummed she did "these four walls"(in my oppinon the worst miley song...) and not "time of our lives" the title track to the EP. but thats minor details. she was loud as hell and my ears were popping i swear i had just left a bon jovi concert of 88 era. it was that good.

and what??? Rap? you call party in the usa RAP??? you obviously know nothing about music so have no business writing such reviews.

again kids not all adults are tasteless morons.

[Joe]

Stellag , Screw you her music means alot and just because shes a teen doesnt mean she doesnt matter.

if you dont like her dont listen to her, nobody is forcing you.

but stop trying to preach that your way is the only way. you prick.

this tour was ment to be a older teens romp-fest about having fun and looking cool.

id say she Succeeded because that place lit up liek a christmas tree everyone left coudl hardly sing anymore they sang so much.

if anyone FAILED its YOU

[Gina]

Beware of this concert if you are taking young children, she performs in a very punk rock sort of way, along with her brother(Metro Station) removing his shirt during our performance.Alot of screaming instead of singing and alot of head bobbing, Hopefully in the future the music business or individual artist could come of with some sort of rating for concerts. I have taken all of my children to a concert of there choice when they were 7 years old and this concert was the only that was exteremly dissapointing .. This concert could have been a little better if metro station and there punk music was replaced with someone a little bit more suitable for the aged audience.

[dani]

give the kid a break!!!! thats it, shes a KID leave her alone. she did nothing to you guys, she gives u music and entertainment and what do u do, throw it in her face. u guys should be ashamed of your selves. everyone makes mistakes and hers are no different except that the media is up her ass about it 24-7. you guys are news reporters not the gossip police. you guys are breaking little kids hearts because they read this and thats a story of its own. im 15 and know that what you guys are doing is wrong. thats disapointing for a 15 year old to know that and you guys just keep on doing it. grow up.

[mfan]

Gina, do you think your kids are emotionally damaged now? No, they are getting kudos at school for being lucky enough to go to Miley's show.

[Mike]

I think Miley's uniqueness is starting to fade. She is starting to be like everyone her age or maybe even a little older who performs in front of an audience. She needs to find her nitch and stick with it; this (I feel) is what keeps Dolly Parton and the like in the business for years and still doing very well. If Miley continues to go the way she is today , then her star will fade and she will be just like everyone else whose music is here today and gone later today. I am a big fan of her, not just for her TV show or her music, but also for the person that she is and this is why I am going to see her show next month here in Indy. I am pulling for her to be herself and to let herself come out thru her music; on stage especially; she will be much more successful if she does that. Mike

[dolly prona]

is it true she had sex with nick jonas?
but also i love you hannah montana!

[Karen]

I agree that Miley doesn't have much talent and isn't what the world would call "beautiful", but the girl appears to have a very sweet heart and out of all the role models out there for my daughter, I'm glad Miley is at the top of the list. She is 16, not 12 and you can't expect her to stay 12 either. Like someone said, I may have to wear earplugs when my daughter goes to the show in Charlotte, but it will be worth it to see the excitement on her face.

[Vivienne]

I wish corporate publications like the LA Times and Rolling Stone would stop stating that "I love rock n roll" is a Joan Jett song that Miley Cyrus and other artists like Britney Spears are covering. It's an Arrows song. The Arrows wrote it and recorded the original version in 1975 in England. Joan Jett's version of "I love rock n roll" only reached a peak position of #4 in the British charts because everyone in England already knew the song from The Arrows. In the States, where the Arrows version wasn't released, Jett got to # 1.
I Love Rock N Roll - An Arrows song.
Journalistic integrity please, LA Times.
Thanks,
Viv

[aubrey]

tell selena that a fan wants to play a basketball game againist her

[aubrey]

tell selna play a game againist me