On the last day of the year, several iconic rock bands made their live debuts, and the most successful band of all time officially broke up. Here are the unforgettable rock history events associated with Dec. 31.
Notable Recordings and Performances
A surprising number of famous bands performed live for the first time on Dec. 31, and two of the debuts took place in the same year:
1961: The Beach Boys made their live debut at the “Ritchie Valens Memorial Dance” in Long Beach, California. They played three songs, and it was also their first paid show.
1969: Jimi Hendrix performed with his new group, Band of Gypsys, for the first time, alongside drummer Buddy Miles and bassist Billy Cox. The show was at New York City’s Fillmore East, and introduced R&B and funk elements to Hendrix’s classic sound.
1973: AC/DC played their first-ever live show at Chequers in Sydney, Australia. The band formed in November of that year, and during their first performance, they mostly played covers of songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Chuck Berry.
1973: On the very same day and on the other side of the world, Journey performed live for the first time at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. They were a progressive instrumental rock band at the time and adopted their classic sound four years later, in 1977, when Steve Perry joined.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Dec. 31 marks the birth of a famous musician and the breakup of a legendary group:
1963: Anthrax co-founder and rhythm guitarist Scott Ian was born in New York City. Ian formed Anthrax with bassist Dan Lilker in 1981, and the band has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
1970: Paul McCartney officially filed to dissolve The Beatles, marking the end of the most successful band in music history. They started to break up over a year earlier. Lennon privately left the band in September 1969, and McCartney announced his departure in April 1970.
These are the most noteworthy rock music events that took place on the final day of the year. Visit this page again tomorrow to discover what happened on that day in rock history.
On this day in rock history, T. Rex showcased their signature glam rock sound for the first time, the Beach Boys released a heavily soul-influenced album, and Keith Richards was born. Read on to learn more about some important rock music-related events from Dec. 18.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Some of the breakthrough moments and milestones we celebrate today include:
1971: T. Rex had already released four albums under the name Tyrannosaurus Rex, but released their second studio album, Electric Warrior, in September. It reached the top of the U.K. albums chart on Dec. 18 thanks in part to hits such as “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” and “Jeepster.”
1971: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Sly & the Family Stone were on top of the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart with their fifth studio album, There’s a Riot Goin’ On. It was a major commercial success, reaching Platinum status in the U.S. in 2001.
Cultural Milestones
Two iconic musicians who played in the same band share a birthday on Dec. 18:
1943: Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was born in Dartford, Kent, England. After first meeting Mick Jagger in primary school, they later reunited and bonded over their shared passion for American rhythm-and-blues artists, forming the Rolling Stones in 1962.
1943: Saxophonist Bobby Keys was born on the other side of the Atlantic, in Franklin, Tennessee. He appeared on many legendary albums by the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Dec. 18 is also the anniversary of some notable albums:
1967: The Beach Boys released their thirteenth studio album, Wild Honey, through Capitol Records. It was more soul-influenced than their earlier work and peaked at No. 24 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.
1970: T. Rex’s self-titled album, the first under this name and fifth overall, was released via Fly Records in the U.K. and Reprise Records in the U.S. Besides the name change, it also marked the band’s departure from their earlier psychedelic folk sound into a more rock-oriented one.
2020: Paul McCartney released his eighteenth solo album, McCartney III, via Capitol Records. This project was a continuation of two of his previous albums, McCartney in 1970 and McCartney II, released in 1980. The ex-Beatle featured on most instruments.
Dec. 18 brought important career moments for rock ‘n’ roll artists such as T. Rex, the Beach Boys, and Paul McCartney. Make sure to come back tomorrow to discover more moments in rock history.
Directions: Vote for up to 20 of your favorite Beach Boys songs in the poll below before May 16 at 11:59pm ET. Use the write-in option at the bottom is let us know any songs you think we might’ve missed!
It’s tiiiiiiimmmeee! Following Mariah Carey’s annual announcement, the holiday season has officially begun.
Whether you’re decking the halls or writing your Christmas list, we all know the best way to get into the festive spirit is by listening to some iconic Christmas tunes. From classic carols to merry pop, heartwarming country, and jingle bell jazz, we’ve picked out the 20 best Christmas albums (in no particular order) to help you start this year’s countdown to December 25!
No Christmas is complete without the queen of the holiday season herself, Mariah Carey! Released in 1994, this album is best known for the hit single “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which went on to become one of the best-selling Christmas songs of all time. The album also features classics like “Silent Night” and “Joy To The World,” where Carey’s vocals bring a fresh touch to these memorable carols.
19. Taylor Swift – ‘The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection’
We’ll never forget Taylor Swift’s Christmas era! Consisting of six tracks, including two originals from Swift, The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection perfectly showcases the singer-songwriter’s incredible vocals and ingenious writing skills. This is truly the Christmas album of our “Wildest Dreams.”
18. Frank Sinatra – ‘A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra’
The album may have been released 66 years ago, but A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra never fails to put us in the festive mood. From “Jingle Bells” to “The First Noel,” Frank Sinatra’s smooth vocals are guaranteed to make you feel so warm and nostalgic. Whether you’re sipping a hot cocoa or tucking into a festive feast, this timeless classic is a staple of any good Christmas playlist!
17. Michael Bublé – ‘Christmas’
Considered a modern holiday classic, Michael Bublé’s Christmas album gives us a jazzy take on some of our all-time favorite festive bops. Having sold over 12 million copies worldwide, this album proved itself to be the perfect soundtrack for Christmas. Following its huge success, the album was re-released in 2012 and saw Bublé team up with artists like Shania Twain and Rod Stewart. Now, that’s what we call a dream team!
16. Elvis Presley – ‘Elvis’ Christmas Album’
Elvis’ Christmas Album was a huge success and has remained a Christmas staple for nearly 70 years. Songs like “Blue Christmas” allowed Elvis to merge his iconic rock ‘n’ roll sound with the cozy vibes of the holiday season, making it an instant Christmas classic for years to come.
15. Kelly Clarkson – ‘Wrapped In Red’
With powerful vocals and iconic Christmas anthems, Kelly Clarkson’sWrapped In Red is an essential listen. While Clarkson may be defined by her pop-rock sound, she drew inspiration from a variety of different genres to create the perfect holiday vibe for her first Christmas album. So, whether you like jazz, country, or soul, Wrapped In Red has something for everyone!
With a unique blend of country and pop, Kacey Musgraves brought an acoustic and modern feel to Christmas with her 2016 album A Very Kacey Christmas. Accompanied by artists such as Willie Nelson and Leon Bridges, Musgraves’ dreamy album is the only Christmas gift we need this year!
13. Stevie Wonder – ‘Someday At Christmas’
Looking for festive R&B songs? We’ve got you covered! Released as his first Christmas album, Stevie Wonder’s Someday At Christmas is a unique take on holiday music. Wonder’s soulful voice and beautiful melodies are the perfect treat for your ears this Christmas.
12. Bob Dylan – ‘Christmas In the Heart’
Releasing a Christmas album is probably the last thing you’d expect of folk legend Bob Dylan, but that’s exactly what he did back in 2009. His alternative takes on certain Christmas classics are perfect for anyone looking to break from the usual holiday traditions this year — with the single “Must Be Santa” being a particular standout with critics. And in the true spirit of Christmas, Dylan donated all his royalties from the album to many charities, such as the United Nations’ World Food Programme.
11. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton – ‘Once Upon a Christmas’
Yes, that’s right — the “Islands In the Stream” duo joined forces once again, and this time it was in the name of Christmas! In songs like “A Christmas To Remember” and “With Bells On,” the famous match-made-in-heaven harmonies of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton proved to be the perfect Christmas gift, with the album being certified platinum twice.
10. Nat King Cole – ‘The Magic of Christmas’
If it’s a nostalgic Christmas vibe you’re going for this year, then look no further than the best-selling Christmas album of the ’60s! Let tracks like “Joy To The World” and “Deck The Halls” fill your home with merriness, as you wish for a holiday season as smooth as Nat King Cole’s voice.
9. Vince Guaraldi Trio – ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
Charlie Brown and Christmas music? Sign us up! Released in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas blends together the fun of our favorite characters from ‘Peanuts’ with the joyful sounds of Christmas music. It may have been released in 1965, but this jazzy little album is sure to warm your heart this festive season.
8. The Beach Boys – ‘The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album’
It’s time to take Christmas to the beach. On this album, the sun-kissed harmonies of The Beach Boys will have you exchanging snow for sand, sleighs for surfboards, and warm winter coats for swimsuits. But don’t be fooled — with original holiday-themed tracks like “Little Saint Nick” and “The Man With All The Toys,” this album is as Christmas as it gets!
7. Bing Crosby – ‘Merry Christmas’
With his version of “White Christmas” being the best-selling physical single of all time with over 50 million sales, we think it’s safe to crown Bing Crosby as the King of Christmas. This gift of an album doesn’t stop there with the classics though, as Crosby can also be heard crooning other holiday hits like “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Clause Is Coming To Town.”
6. Justin Bieber – ‘Under The Mistletoe’
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” also makes an appearance on Justin Bieber’s first Christmas and second-ever album, Under The Mistletoe. The two singers turned the song into a duet and gave it more of an electric-pop flare. The festive music video, which has had over 222 million views to date, features both Carey and Bieber in a fun Christmas mall setting.
5. Emmylou Harris – ‘Light Of The Stable’
Released in 1979, Emmylou Harris’ Light Of The Stable takes traditional Christmas carols and turns them into country tunes. Harris’ angelic voice perfectly compliments the sounds of the festive season, transporting her listeners to the ultimate winter wonderland.
4. Sufjan Stevens – ‘Songs For Christmas’
A fun collection of holiday tunes, Songs For Christmas by Sufjan Stevens is the perfect soundtrack to all your festive activities. Made up of five separate EPs, Songs For Christmas is a wholly unique and interesting take on Christmas music. With original memorable songs like “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!” and “Come On! Let’s Boogey To The Elf Dance!,” you’re sure to love this 42-track collection!
3. Ariana Grande – ‘Christmas Kisses’
Ariana Grande may be known for her unforgettable pop music, but did you know that she also makes incredible holiday music? Best known for the hit single “Santa Tell Me,” Christmas Kisses brings a touch of love and romance to the festive season, and is an absolute essential on any December playlist!
2. Ella Fitzgerald – ‘Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas’
With her signature vocals and impeccable jazz arrangements, Ella Fitzgerald’s Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas is a timeless classic. Fitzgerald brings a touch of personality and unique style to these iconic holiday tunes. This is best seen in her rendition of “Jingle Bells,” where she hilariously exclaims, “I’m just crazy about horses” at the end of the song. With Ella Fitzgerald, your Christmas is sure to be a swinging one!
1. John Legend – ‘A Legendary Christmas’
A John Legend holiday album has always been at the top of our Christmas list, so you can imagine how excited we were for the release of A Legendary Christmas back in 2018. Legend’s soulful vocals create a feeling of nostalgia and coziness that is just perfect for this time of year. We guarantee that you’ll be listening to this one for years to come!
Asbury Park, New Jersey is not just a popular shore destination, but a Mecca of music history. Home of iconic venues like The Stone Pony- where Bruce Springsteen got his start in performing- thousands of people flock just for The Pony alone…but every September, the seaside city gathers to celebrate rock and roll for Sea.Hear.Now.
Sea.Hear.Now is the perfect ending to your summer for multiple reasons. It gives you an excuse to enjoy the sun and the sand one more weekend post Labor Day, even better that you throw all of your favorite artists together. I’ve always said that festivals are the best bang for your buck as a music fan- you spend a few hundred dollars to see at least 10 artists over multiple days with general admission seating, as opposed to that $2,000 Taylor Swift ticket.
I’ve been to a few festivals spanning from Firefly in Dover, Delaware to the infamous Coachella in Indio, California. I’ve seen bands I may not have purchased single show tickets to, and I’ve become fans of artists just by happening upon their performances at these events. Festivals are great ways to try out new music without throwing all your money away- and there’s no better way to get a feel of an artist than seeing them live.
This was my first year at Sea.Hear.Now, and it didn’t disappoint. For fans of older music and new music alike, there’s truly something for everyone here. Located on the actual beach (so bring sand-appropriate shoes), Sea.Hear.Now features clothing pop-up shops, local food and drink vendors, and much, much more. Here are the highlights:
The Best Performances of Sea.Hear.Now 2023
The Killers at Sea.Hear.Now 2023
Chris Phelps
I’d be crazy if I didn’t start with what we all came for: the music. I hadn’t seen most of these acts live before, but I have admittedly seen (and worshipped) The Killers at Firefly a few years ago. But my reviews are as follows:
Sheryl Crow- if I can look half as good as her, I will consider myself successful. My first headline thought was: Breaking News: Sheryl Crow Has Still Got It. She has a powerful voice, knows how to rock the guitar, and “Soak Up The Sun” will always be famous.
Greta Van Fleet- one word: wow. Everyone compares them to Led Zeppelin, and I was so shocked by the vocal range and witty banter they provided. I became an instant fan.
Royal Blood- not only did I get the chance to interview the lovely British duo this weekend, but also see these two rockstars. Kicking off their tour, Royal Blood did not disappoint.
The Killers- I can’t say enough about this band and how amazing they are live. They opened with my favorite song of all time, “Mr. Brightside,” and I astral projected to the moon. Ask anyone there, The Killers are a must-see whenever they’re in town, bringing up a fan every time to play drums with them. Always electric, never a let down.
Greta Van Fleet at Sea.Hear.Now 2023
Pooneh Ghana
Stephen Sanchez- Sanchez creates story lines with his music, and to hear it seaside felt ethereal. Hits like “Until I Found You” sound better at the beach.
The Beach Boys- First of all, they brought out John Stamos as their drummer (instant win). But Mike Love and Bruce Johnston brought the house down, with Love’s son also helping them out. I loved every second of it.
Mt. Joy- Philly’s finest, Mt. Joy sounds just as good live as they do on your phone. Something about Mt. Joy at Sea.Hear.Now just makes sense.
Weezer- Weezer was another highlight of the festival- playing all of their hits and sounding identical to their soundtracks. “Beverly Hills” and “My Name is Jonas” were some of my faves.
The Foo Fighters- The Foo Fighter fans were plentiful, belting out every word. They didn’t miss a beat, and were the perfect ending to a rock-filled weekend.
The Food at Sea.Hear.Now
At any given festival, the food looks better than it tastes. It’s just a fact, no matter what they try and tell you. However, I did have my first Korean-style corn dog, which was essentially a giant mozzarella stick with a hot dog in the center and sauce on top…and it was delicious despite the fact that it would have sent a Pilgrim into cardiac arrest.
The drinks were moderately priced compared to other festivals I’ve been to, there were plenty of free water stations (as opposed to Coachella), and I need to give a special shoutout to the Hendricks Boat Bar. They had the best triage of Hendricks drinks (I don’t even like gin and these were delicious) curated by Erik Andersson, who also gave us a great tour.
The Experience at Sea.Hear.Now
Cam Richards
Fiona Mullen
Sea.Hear.Now has a lot to offer: picture opportunities, specific drink tents like Tito’s, Twisted Tea, etc., and even shopping opportunities. And for once, I want to emphasize the perks that VIP tickets could get you: your own viewing area close to the stage so it’s never a bad view, access to festival merchandise (not bands, however), your own bathroom area and food/bars, TV’s and a lounge. It’s truly worth the upgrade.
There’s even a surfing competition, which honestly worried me a bit since there was a hurricane but I’m not the professional. But what I loved about this festival is it stayed true to Asbury Park’s roots, featuring everything the small city had to offer.
No matter what, it’s a more relaxed vibe compared to the intense marathon that Coachella is. You have a wider age range of people, all dressed however they want (from festival chic to football jerseys on Sunday). But that’s the beauty of Sea.Hear.Now: come as you are, all will be welcomed.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m feeling a bit lackluster this week. It may be because of the raging illness I’ve been fighting- and I know I’m not alone here…but there is truly nothing I need more than the weekend and new music.
I’m gearing up to cover Sea.Hear.Now festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where I’ll be beach-side watching bands like The Killers and The Beach Boys play all weekend. Naturally, that means I need a playlist to get me through the drive to the shore, one that will hype up me and my roommates for a great weekend.
But, let’s not be selfish here, I’m sure you also have plans (and one day, I’d love to hear about them, just not now!) Here’s the thing about me, and I’m sure someone can relate, I find it hard to listen to the same playlist week after week. Whether I’m pregaming for the bars or driving to my next destination, I will tire of the same songs when I overplay them.
And then there’s the songs that I hyper-fixate on, listening to them on repeat until I finally scratch the itch and stop forever. Regardless, my mindset is “out with the old, in with the new” and you know what that means…
We have a whole new week’s worth of music to celebrate! That’s right: Drake and SZA, Demi Lovato, Chris Lake and Aluna, and more will be gracing our ears this weekend. If no one else is excited for this playlist, I am…so as always, let’s get listening!
Noah Kahan, Lizzy McAlpine- “Call Your Mom”
There aren’t enough sufficient words in the world to describe my love for Noah Kahan. He’s one of the busiest men in music right now- touring the world, collaborating on “Dial Drunk” with none other than Post Malone, he was just spotted recording with Zach Bryan, and now has released his collab with Lizzy McAlpine on his song “Call Your Mom.”
While “Call Your Mom” was already touching, Lizzy McAlpine’s voice lends a different perspective to the song. When your favorite artists announces a collab, part of you is nervous because you fear the song will be ruined now…but that isn’t the case with Lizzy McAlpine, whose gentle vocals enhance Noah’s, melding perfectly into one of the best duos music can get.
Chris Lake, Aluna- “More Baby”
Chris Lake and Aluna are quickly emerging as the ultimate dance duo: with Aluna’s sultry vocals and Chris Lake’s iconic production abilities, it’s no surprise that they followed up the success of “Beggin” with their new single: “More Baby.” A song perfect for your pregames, your runs, or for any time you want to get up and moving, “More Baby” is classic Chris Lake.
It’s been a huge year for both Lake and Aluna, who have been touring and simultaneously releasing banger after banger. You can’t help but feel like this isn’t the end for a budding dynamic duo like these two, and “More Baby” just solidifies that any track can be a hit if their names are attached.
Oliver Tree- “Fairweather Friends”
Ahead of his third studio album, ALONE IN A CROWD, Oliver Tree has released dynamic single “Fairweather Friends.” Oliver Tree is one-of-a-kind, blending beats and genre-bending to create music fresh to your ears. With “Fairweather Friends,” Tree gives us a glimpse into the new album, which is about how we as humans act surrounding pop culture – the good and the bad.
“Fairweather Friends” makes for the perfect single, exciting and refreshing, introspective and self-deprecating. It’s about the friends that stick around when you’re at your highest of highs, but who are not necessarily there when you need them most. Everyone has had them, but Tree’s catchy beat and punchy lyrics make this song a thrill to listen to.
Shay Lia- “ON THE LOW”
If you want a song that embodies After Hours at the club, where you’re just focusing on dancing all night…then try Shay Lia’s “ON THE LOW.” Shay Lia’s crooning voice is ideal for her R&B sound, but it’s also perfect for mixing up genres and stepping out of the norm. “ON THE LOW” is an example of how Lia can throw her voice into any genre- dance, R&B, pop, you name it- and it will work.
Shay Lia created this track with Kaytranada, marking their 10th collaboration together over their long-time friendship. Now 10 years later, “ON THE LOW” shows that nothing has changed for the pairing: they’re still friends, they can still make a hit track, and it’s always going to work for them.
DWLLRS- “This Heaven’s Tall”
DWLLRS has a way of perfectly capturing nostalgia and wrapping it up into a flawless track. Their melancholic music can feel eye-opening, beautiful, and rare all at once. Their new single, “This Heaven’s Tall”, deals with the risks and rewards of falling in love with someone new, and, as always, the California duo puts their own spin on love that listeners will appreciate.
“This song captures a sweet ignorance of feeling close to heaven while falling in love-knowing that this love is temporary, and the fall will be devastating. Is the pain worth the thrill?”
Along with announcing that her next album will be released March 10th, the same day as Lana Del Rey’s Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, Miley Cyrus also seems to be giving a nod to Lana in other ways with the teaser for her forthcoming eighth record, Endless Summer Vacation. The title itself smacking of Del Rey’s rolodex of stock vocabulary for many of her CA-themed songs. Indeed, she even had a tour in 2015 called Endless Summer, with Courtney Love and Grimes as the openers on varying legs of the North American crusade to promote Ultraviolence. But, of course, like that latter title taking from something else in 60s and 70s-era pop culture (i.e., A Clockwork Orange), so, too, does Endless Summer have its roots in the name of a greatest hits album from The Beach Boys. And, yes, anyone who knows Del Rey’s work on even the most cursory level is aware that she’s just about as “goo-goo-eyed” over California as The Beach Boys. As such, she’s become something of the unofficial spokesperson for the state in a way that said band used to be—giving it an update with her darker motifs pertaining to decay and ruin (though she’s all for finding beauty in that as well).
Seeming to inuit the weight of taking up the mantle for a band that wrote a Golden State anthem as untouchable as “California Girls,” Del Rey finally had to name-check a Beach Boy in Norman Fucking Rockwell’s “The Greatest,” singing of “Dennis’ last stop before Kokomo” as a reference to his 1983 death after the preceding line, “I miss the bar where the Beach Boys would go.” In this instance, “Kokomo”—the paradisiacal (and fictional) island off the Florida Keys—is meant to represent Heaven, where Del Rey would like to imagine that Dennis went after drinking all day on December 28th and then jumping into the water in Marina Del Rey (how appropriate for another Lana connection). His drunken stupor led to his drowning and, much later, immortalization in a Del Rey song. In fact, the entire crux of “The Greatest” expresses a deep yearning and nostalgia for the music of the past (in the spirit of The Beach Boys), and even the way the music industry used to be (replete with free-wheeling sexual predators and all).
Miley isn’t exactly conveying that sentiment (not yet anyway) in her Endless Summer Vacation teaser, but she is performing the whole “California myth” shtick, going so far as to deem the album “a love letter to Los Angeles” (what Billie Eilish also called her filmed-for-Disney concert at the Hollywood Bowl—literally: Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles). One can imagine Del Rey internally commenting (in the style of Janis Ian in Mean Girls) of Miley saying such a thing, “Hey, that’s only okay when I say it.” And it’s true, Del Rey was the one who jump-started California’s shift back toward being the apple of the U.S.’ eye, even amid all of its many and increasing climate disasters ranging from fires to floods. She being the one to remain consistently committed to it while other musicians only dabble (even California native Katy Perry, who tried to one-up The Beach Boys with her own “California Gurls”).
But it isn’t just that Miley is serving up “California as a concept” vibes for Endless Summer Vacation that reeks of Del Rey. She’s even taken to adopting the ethereal spoken word manner of Del Rey that first materialized on Honeymoon’s “Burnt Norton,” wherein she recites the T. S. Eliot poem of the same name. A manner that was ultimately a precursor for releasing a spoken word album of her poetry book, Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass. The album itself offers fourteen of the thirty poems from the book spoken by Del Rey, with musical accompaniments by her usual bitch, Jack Antonoff. Among the offerings was the, you guessed it, “L.A. love letter” called “LA Who Am I To Love You.” The answer to that being: a native of the state of New York who rightly turned her back on NYC and the East Coast in general by fleeing to the West. Miley, too, fled the East in favor of the West, but being from Tennessee makes it slightly less “traitorous” by East Coast standards. Especially New York ones that perpetually champion that eponymous city as the “greatest” in the world despite kind of being the shittiest.
Maybe that’s why Miley feels that she can also try her hand at bringing “profundity” to L.A. with some spoken word verses in the Endless Summer Vacation teaser that include, “We met each other on the neon dinghy. Past the manta rays and palm trees. Glowing creatures beamed down from great heights. Electric eels in red venom. In the sky, we could see the riders on horseback.” It sounds like a lot of acid and/or weed-induced nonsense, which continues with, “On comets, coming toward us kicking up with laughter” (side note: the way she says “On comets” briefly makes one think she might just continue with, “On Cupid, on Donner, on Blitzen…”). Throughout this entire time, we’re shown “impressionistic” imagery that so often gets associated with California, namely a pool, paraded again toward the end of the teaser in spotlighted darkness next to empty outdoor furniture. As the Bret Easton Ellis-inspired (think: Less Than Zero) musical ambience continues, Cyrus gets even more faux poetic with the lines, “My friend Big Twitchy rode the boat to the light, surfed the north break. We danced until there was nothing left. Just me and Twitchy. ‘Cause that’s all we knew.”
Having commenced the teaser with a close-up on a clear, blue pool that harkens back to the “Slide Away” single cover, we’re reminded of a visual like “Blue Jeans,” where Del Rey firmly established her California aesthetics in music video format. Another scene in Miley’s teaser includes a looming, blurred-out helicopter that correlates to Del Rey’s “High by the Beach” video motif. Shaky camera work trying to focus on a bleach blonde, cherry red lipstick’d Cyrus wearing black shades adds to the DIY/“found footage” look she’s going for. Of the very variety that Del Rey repopularized with “Video Games.” Elsewhere, an image of a 5G cell phone tower posing as a palm tree additionally evokes the dystopian feel Del Rey has also cultivated in her lyrical portrayals of Los Angeles and California. Not to mention highlighting the “ersatz” quality L.A. and CA are frequently mocked for. And yet, for as maligned and made fun of as this milieu still is, it seems to keep inspiring. Even if much of that inspiration appears to be yielding similar statements and visuals. All of which can now be linked back to Del Rey kickstarting the “California trend” with her sophomore record (heralded by “West Coast” being the first single from it).
In any case, it is said that all great artists inspire imitations (e.g., Easton Ellis ripping off Joan Didion’s Play It As It Lays for Less Than Zero). And Del Rey herself is but an imitative pastiche of so many California-centric bands and musicians past. So perhaps there’s no harm done, per se, by Miley emulating the chanteuse she once collaborated with on “Don’t Call Me Angel” (which seems to be crying out for a follow-up single from just the two of them entitled “Call Me City of Angels”). She might even have something slightly new to say about the state. But don’t get your hopes up on that front. Only time—and California—will tell.
