Entertainment: 'Something Beautiful with Miley Cyrus': A Pre-Ironic Celebration of Sexuality and Stardom
- InsightTrendsWorld
- Jun 7
- 11 min read
Why it is the topic trending:
New Visual Album from a Major Pop Star: Miley Cyrus, a prominent figure in pop music, has released a visual album consisting of music videos for all 13 tracks from her latest album. This is a significant artistic endeavor that warrants attention.
Premiere at the Tribeca Festival: The premiere of "Something Beautiful" at a prestigious event like the Tribeca Festival elevates its status and attracts media coverage beyond just music outlets.
Pre-Ironic Exploration of Sexuality: The article highlights Cyrus's approach to showcasing her sexuality as being genuine and pre-ironic, contrasting with the often ironic or detached ways other contemporary pop stars present themselves. This makes her artistic expression stand out.
Homage to an Era of Bold Self-Expression: The visual album is presented as an homage to the 1980s, an era known for its bold and less cautious flaunting of sexuality in pop culture, suggesting a nostalgic element that may resonate with audiences.
Overview:
Miley Cyrus's Visual Album: Miley Cyrus has co-directed a 55-minute visual album, "Something Beautiful," featuring music videos for all 13 songs from her new album.
Premieres at Tribeca Festival: The visual album premiered at the Tribeca Festival.
Pre-Ironic Sexuality: Unlike many contemporary pop stars, Cyrus presents her sexuality genuinely and without irony.
Homage to the 1980s: The visual album is heavily influenced by and pays homage to the style and spirit of the 1980s.
Celebration of Self and Stardom: The videos showcase Cyrus's confidence, erotic presence, and journey as a pop star.
Detailed findings:
55-Minute Visual Album: "Something Beautiful" is a 55-minute visual album comprising music videos for all 13 tracks of Miley Cyrus's new album.
Co-Directed by Cyrus: Cyrus co-directed the visual album with Jacob Bixenman and Brendan Walter.
Pre-Ironic Approach to Sexuality: The review emphasizes that Cyrus's presentation of her sexuality is genuine and lacks the irony prevalent in many contemporary pop stars like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter.
"Sear the Power of Her Erotic Presence": The videos are described as Cyrus trying to intensely convey her erotic presence.
Homage to an Era of Less Cautious Sexuality: The visual album is seen as an homage to the 1980s, an era when flaunting sexuality in pop culture was more uninhibited.
Music is Hooky and "Pre-Ironic": Cyrus's music is described as catchy with a big-beat production style reminiscent of 1980s music, compared to Springsteen.
Attempt to Elevate Erotic Maximalism into Mythology: The videos aim to transform Cyrus's overt sexuality into a form of personal mythology.
"Easy Lover" Video: Features Cyrus in lingerie in a dressing room and then in ruffled chaps and a winged jacket on a Hollywood lot, seemingly acknowledging the artificiality of image-making.
"Golden Burning Sun" Video: Shows Cyrus riding a chopper in giant sunglasses against a stylized orange sky, with lyrics about a singular love.
'80s Nostalgia: The entire visual album has a strong 1980s nostalgic feel, likened to "Flashdance" meets Lita Ford, with windblown hair and specific musical references.
"Walk of Fame" Video: Opens with a rhythm reminiscent of Bronski Beat's "Smalltown Boy," showing Cyrus in a silver dress strutting on Hollywood Boulevard at night, working her physicality.
"Every Girl You've Ever Loved" Video: Seen as the climax, set in a warehouse loft with propeller fan lighting (evoking Adrian Lyne), featuring Cyrus and Naomi Campbell asserting feminine power.
Lack of Traditional Narrative: A journalist noted the absence of a clear narrative storyline like Beyoncé’s "Lemonade."
Narrative of Cyrus's Relationship with Sexuality and Stardom: Despite the lack of traditional narrative, the videos tell the story of Cyrus's connection to her sexuality and her journey as a star.
Resemblance to Faye Dunaway: Cyrus's adult pop star persona is compared to a "Faye Dunaway without the mystery."
Elevating Erotic Aura into Mystery: Through the videos, Cyrus seems to be trying to create a sense of mystery around her erotic persona.
Insular Feel: The visual album ultimately feels somewhat insular, focused on Cyrus herself.
"Give Me Love" Video: The final song, playing over the credits, feels like a fitting title for the entire work, suggesting a desire for love and acceptance from the audience who are both witnesses and a mirror for Cyrus's self-expression.
Key success factors of product (trend):
Miley Cyrus's Established Star Power and Brand: Cyrus has a significant and devoted fanbase who are interested in her artistic endeavors.
Nostalgic Appeal of the 1980s Aesthetic: The visual album taps into the current cultural trend of nostalgia for the 1980s.
Bold and Unapologetic Expression of Sexuality: Cyrus's confident and direct approach to her sexuality resonates with audiences who appreciate authenticity and female empowerment.
Visually Striking and Energetic Performances: The review highlights Cyrus's powerful physical presence and engaging performances in the videos.
Premiere at a Prestigious Festival: Showcasing the work at Tribeca lends it artistic credibility and broader media attention.
Key Takeaway: Miley Cyrus's visual album "Something Beautiful" is reviewed as a pre-ironic and energetic celebration of her sexuality and stardom, heavily influenced by the aesthetics of the 1980s. Premiering at the Tribeca Festival, the 55-minute collection of music videos showcases Cyrus's confident performances and aims to elevate her erotic persona into a form of personal mythology, ultimately seeking love and acceptance from her audience.
Main trend: The main trend is pop stars utilizing visual albums as a comprehensive and artistic way to present their music, often exploring themes of sexuality, identity, and personal narratives with strong visual aesthetics and a sense of theatricality.
Description of the trend (please name it): The trend is "The Visual Album as Pop Star Statement." This describes the increasing use of visual albums by pop musicians as a complete artistic statement that goes beyond traditional music videos. These extended visual projects often weave together the themes and narratives of an entire album through interconnected visuals, creating a richer and more immersive experience for the audience and allowing artists to explore their identity and artistic vision in a more profound way.
What is consumer motivation:
Immersive and Engaging Experience: Visual albums offer a more comprehensive and engaging way to experience an artist's music compared to individual music videos.
Deeper Connection with the Artist's Vision: The visuals can provide deeper insights into the themes, narratives, and emotions behind the music.
Appreciation for Visual Storytelling: Many music fans appreciate the artistry and storytelling that can be conveyed through a visual album format.
Desire for More Than Just Music: In a visually-saturated world, fans often seek a richer and more multi-sensory experience from their favorite artists.
Understanding the Artist's Full Creative Output: A visual album can be seen as a complete package representing the artist's creative vision for a particular body of work.
What is driving trend:
Technological Advancements: Easier access to video production and streaming platforms makes it more feasible for artists to create and distribute visual albums.
Artist Desire for Greater Creative Control: This format allows artists more control over the visual representation of their music.
Changing Consumption Habits: With the rise of streaming, audiences are more accustomed to consuming music and visual content together.
Marketing and Promotional Value: A visually compelling visual album can generate significant buzz and media attention.
What is motivation beyond the trend:
Legacy and Artistic Statement: Creating a visual album can be seen as a way for artists to make a more lasting and significant artistic statement.
Expanding Artistic Boundaries: This format allows musicians to experiment with visual elements and push the boundaries of traditional music videos.
Description of consumers article is referring to:
The article refers to fans of Miley Cyrus and individuals interested in pop music and visual culture, particularly those who follow the Tribeca Festival and are interested in innovative forms of artistic expression.
Summary of Consumer Description: Fans of Miley Cyrus who are interested in experiencing her new album in a visual format, as well as individuals who appreciate the intersection of music, visual arts, and celebrity culture, particularly those drawn to events like the Tribeca Festival that showcase innovative artistic projects.
Who are them: Fans of Miley Cyrus, individuals interested in pop music, those who appreciate visual art and music videos, and attendees or followers of the Tribeca Festival who seek out unique and boundary-pushing artistic content.
What kind of products they like: They enjoy pop music, are interested in music videos and visual storytelling, and appreciate the artistic expression of musicians beyond just their audio recordings.
What is their age?: Miley Cyrus has a broad fanbase, likely including Millennials and Gen Z prominently, given her recent musical style and social media presence. Attendees of the Tribeca Festival often span a range of ages interested in film and media.
What is their gender?: The appeal of pop music and visual albums is generally broad across genders.
What is their income?: Income levels of pop music fans and festival attendees can vary.
What is their lifestyle: They likely engage with popular culture, consume music and video content, and may attend music festivals or cultural events.
What are their category article is referring shopping preferences: They might purchase or stream Miley Cyrus's new album and may have attended the Tribeca Festival premiere or will seek out the visual album online.
Are they low, occasional or frequent category shoppers: Fans of a specific artist are likely to be frequent consumers of their music and related content. Attendance at festivals can be occasional.
What are their general shopping preferences-how they shop products, shopping motivations): They are motivated by their interest in the artist's creative output and a desire for engaging and immersive entertainment experiences.
Conclusions: Miley Cyrus's "Something Beautiful" is an example of the growing trend of pop stars using visual albums to make a comprehensive artistic statement, exploring themes of identity and sexuality through interconnected music videos. Its premiere at the Tribeca Festival highlights the increasing recognition of this format as a legitimate form of visual art.
Implications for brands:
Support Artists in Creating Visual Albums: Brands interested in associating with music and pop culture can support artists in producing these extended visual projects.
Utilize Visual Albums for Cross-Promotional Opportunities: The visual nature of these projects can offer unique opportunities for product placement and brand integration.
Implication for society:
Evolution of Music Consumption: Visual albums represent an evolution in how music is consumed and experienced by audiences.
Blurring of Lines Between Music and Visual Arts: This trend highlights the increasing overlap and collaboration between different artistic mediums.
Implications for consumers:
Richer and More Immersive Musical Experiences: Visual albums offer a more complete and engaging way to connect with an artist's music.
More Content and Deeper Insights from Favorite Artists: Fans gain a deeper understanding of the artist's vision and creative process.
Implication for Future:
Continued Popularity of Visual Albums: This format is likely to remain a significant way for pop stars to express their artistry.
Further Innovation in Visual Album Formats: Artists may continue to experiment with new technologies and storytelling techniques within this medium.
Consumer Trend (name, detailed description):The Immersive Music Experience Seeker: This trend describes music consumers who are increasingly seeking out more immersive and multi-sensory ways to experience music beyond just audio recordings, with visual albums and interactive digital content becoming increasingly popular.
Consumer Sub Trend (name, detailed description):The Fandom Deep Dive: This sub-trend highlights fans' desire to engage with their favorite artists on a deeper level, seeking out content that provides insights into their creative process, personal narratives, and artistic vision, often fulfilled by visual albums.
Big Social Trend (name, detailed description):The Convergence of Media: The increasing merging of different forms of media, such as music and video, to create richer and more engaging entertainment experiences.
Worldwide Social Trend (name, detailed description):Global Appreciation for Music and Visual Arts: The enjoyment of both music and visual arts transcends cultural boundaries, making visual albums a globally relevant form of artistic expression.
Social Drive (name, detailed description):The Desire for Deeper Connection and Understanding of Artists: Fans are driven by a desire to connect with their favorite artists on a more profound level and gain insights into their creative worlds.
Learnings for brands to use in 2025:
Recognize the Value of Visual Storytelling in Music: Support artists who are creating compelling visual content alongside their music.
Explore Opportunities for Brand Integration in Visual Albums: This format can offer unique and creative placement possibilities.
Strategy Recommendations for brands to follow in 2025:
Partner with Musicians to Fund or Promote Visual Albums: Support the creation and distribution of these projects.
Create Interactive Experiences Around Visual Albums: Develop online or physical installations that complement the visual and musical content.
Final sentence (key concept) describing main trend from article (which is a summary of all trends specified), and what brands & companies should do in 2025 to benefit from trend and how to do it. In 2025, the trend of "The Visual Album as Pop Star Statement" highlights the growing importance of comprehensive visual presentations of music, urging brands to recognize the immersive potential of this format and explore opportunities to support artists in creating and distributing these richer, multi-sensory experiences for their fans.
Final Note:
Core Trend: The Visual Album as Pop Star Statement: Pop stars using visual albums as comprehensive artistic expressions of their music.
Core Strategy: Recognize and Support Visual Storytelling in Music: Brands should understand the value of visual albums and explore opportunities for involvement.
Core Industry Trend: Convergence of Music and Visual Media: The increasing merging of audio and visual elements in music consumption.
Core Consumer Motivation: Desire for Immersive and Deeper Connection with Artists: Fans seek richer, multi-sensory experiences and insights into their favorite musicians' visions.
Final Conclusion: Miley Cyrus's "Something Beautiful" visual album underscores the continuing evolution of music consumption and artistic expression. By presenting her entire album through a cohesive visual narrative, Cyrus offers her fans a deeper and more immersive experience. As this trend continues, visual albums are likely to remain a significant way for artists to connect with their audiences on a profound level, and for brands to find creative new avenues for engagement.
Core Trend Detailed: description. The core trend, The Visual Album as Pop Star Statement, signifies a deliberate move by pop musicians to elevate the presentation of their musical works beyond simple audio recordings or standalone music videos. A visual album serves as an extended and interconnected piece of visual art that accompanies a full-length music album, often weaving together the themes, narratives, and emotions of the songs into a cohesive cinematic experience. This format allows artists to exercise greater creative control over the visual representation of their music, experimenting with different storytelling techniques, aesthetic styles, and artistic mediums. It transforms the act of listening to an album into a more immersive and multi-sensory journey for the audience, offering deeper insights into the artist's creative vision, personal experiences, and overall artistic identity. The visual album becomes not just a collection of songs but a complete and unified artistic statement that enhances and enriches the listener's engagement with the music.
Key Characteristics of the Core trend:
Full Album Accompaniment: Visuals are created for every track on the album, forming a complete package.
Interconnected Themes and Narratives: The videos often share thematic links or contribute to an overarching narrative that ties the album together.
Artistic and Cinematic Approach: The visuals often prioritize artistic expression and cinematic quality over traditional music video formats.
Deeper Exploration of Artist Identity: Visual albums provide a platform for artists to explore their personal stories, beliefs, and artistic visions in a more profound way.
Immersive and Multi-Sensory Experience: The combination of audio and visual elements creates a richer and more engaging experience for the audience.
Market and Cultural Signals Supporting the Trend:
Miley Cyrus's "Something Beautiful": This visual album, premiering at Tribeca, exemplifies the trend.
Beyoncé's "Lemonade" and Other Prominent Visual Albums: Successful visual albums from major artists demonstrate the format's impact and popularity.
Increased Availability of Video Content: Streaming platforms and online video channels make it easier for artists to distribute visual albums.
Audience Appreciation for Visual Storytelling: Music fans increasingly value the visual dimension of their favorite artists' work.
How the Trend Is Changing Consumer Behavior:
More Focused and Immersive Album Consumption: Audiences are more likely to experience an entire album in one sitting, engaging with both the audio and visual components.
Deeper Emotional Connection with the Artist: The visual narrative can enhance the emotional impact of the music and foster a stronger connection with the artist.
Increased Discussion and Analysis of Album Themes: Visual albums often spark more in-depth conversations about the artist's intended message and artistic choices.
Implications Across the Ecosystem:
For Brands and CPGs: Opportunities for more integrated and creative brand partnerships within the visual narratives of these albums.
For Retailers (Streaming Platforms): Need to provide platforms that support the seamless presentation and consumption of visual albums.
For Consumers: Enjoy a richer and more meaningful way to experience their favorite music.
Strategic Forecast:
The visual album format is likely to remain a significant mode of artistic expression for pop musicians.
We may see further innovation in the format, potentially incorporating interactive elements or virtual reality experiences.
Areas of innovation (based on discovered trend):
Interactive Visual Albums: Allowing viewers to navigate the visual content in a non-linear fashion or access additional behind-the-scenes material.
Virtual Reality Visual Albums: Creating immersive VR experiences that accompany the music.
Short Film Series as Visual Albums: Breaking the album down into a series of interconnected short films.
Final Thought (summary): The Visual Album as Pop Star Statement represents a powerful evolution in how pop artists are presenting their music. By crafting cohesive and visually rich experiences that accompany their full albums, artists like Miley Cyrus are offering their fans a deeper and more immersive connection to their creative vision. This trend highlights the increasing convergence of music and visual media, and its continued popularity suggests that it will remain a significant form of artistic expression in the pop music landscape.
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