Miley Cyrus has become a cultural icon right before our eyes. Her controversial performances and videos have caused drama and lots of Vevo views. Her new adult image started with the launch of her smash single “We Can’t Stop’’ and continued with her infamous 2013 Video Music Award’s performance. However, the moment that completely changed her career was the release of her 4th studio album, Bangerz. Bangerz was released October 8th 2013 and reached #1 on Billboard’s Top 200. The album featured singles “We Can’t Stop”, “Wrecking Ball”, and “Adore You”. The album was a departure from her previous pop sound and experimented with hip- hop sounds and also earned rave reviews (even earning an A grade from Entertainment Weekly). She toured with the album on her highly suggestive, “Bangerz Tour”. The album would be later compared to such coming of age albums as Christina Aguilera’s Stripped and Britney Spear’s In The Zone.  The album became such a stepping stone for Miley’s career and image all together.
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To say an album changed your life is an understatement. However, Bangerz truly changed mine. When the album came out a year ago, I was just coming out to my family. I was lost, emotional, and didn’t know how to accept myself. I didn’t know who to turn to, until I bought the Bangerz album October 8th 2013. From the first listen, I was captivated. The album spoke to me like no other album has in my life. Miley sang and wrought about first love, pain of losing someone, acceptance, and just having a good time. From the loving “Adore You” to the revengeful “FU” to the club anthem “SMS (Bangerz)”, the album was a pop masterpiece. Her passion was so alive in this album. Miley was a twenty year old woman figuring out right from wrong, learning to love for the first time, and at times, swinging from a wrecking ball. Bangerz was genuine. It was real and this is what made it have the success it had. The album is like going through a spiritual journey. It completely changed my life. I started to accept myself for who I was. I started to experiment with my style, and most importantly, I started becoming my own person. I was finally free, and I have Bangerz to thank for that. Miley Cyrus is a hero to me. She understood me when no one else did. She is helping a whole generation of teens and young adults through this crazy thing called life. She is what pop music needs; a rebellious soul who isn’t afraid to push the envelope and be their own person. Bangerz may be forgotten ten years from now or even five years from now, but it saved my life and I will always be grateful for that. Miley Cyrus, please never change.
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