🎵 Miley Cyrus Travels Back in Time

Plus, St. Vincent goes metal. Annie X channels ’80s pop divas.

Fun Fact: Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court case Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. The case involved rap group 2 Live Crew whose song Pretty Woman parodied Roy Orbison's classic (Oh) Pretty Woman. Despite significant changes, including portraying the "pretty woman" as bald and hairy, the Court deemed it fair use. This established a crucial precedent, legalizing parodies and allowing artists like "Weird Al" Yankovic and countless others to contribute to today's music scene.

Click here for a Spotify playlist with the songs mentioned in this article.

BIGGEST Songs of the Week 📈

Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz era, circa 2013, remains a pop culture touchstone. Back then, the 20-something’s rebellious antics grabbed headlines, often overshadowing the music itself. Critics argued that Miley’s schtick was more about manufactured shock than substance.

Regardless of the controversy, Bangerz was kind of a big deal for 2010s pop. It not only blended pop and hip-hop seamlessly, it showcased Miley’s range across soulful ballads, electronic bangers, and country tunes. It spawned chart-toppers like Wrecking Ball and We Can’t Stop, alongside sleeper hits like…