B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping another edition of Lights, Camera, Albums into the ol’ VCR. 

If you’re new to Lights, Camera, Albums, welcome! 

LCA is a series where I take an album and pair each song on the tracklist with a different movie.

Sometimes, the connection is obvious. Other times, you might just have to hear me out. 

Either way, I love doing this series, and everyone really seems to enjoy reading it, so we’re happy you’re here. 

If you’d like to catch up, we’ve covered albums from Taylor Swift to Fall Out Boy, and I’d definitely recommend checking all of them out. 

Now, I do have some disclaimers up top, per usual.

First and foremost, I’m not making light of some of the content in these films. Movies like Thirteen have some heaviness to them, and I’d never make fun of it. 

Secondly, I feel weird including pictures with funny captions in this one, so we’re going to stick to the ol’ written word instead. 

Finally, we’re not going to do the deluxe version of Bangerz, so we’ll end this one with “Someone Else.” 

Alrighty, that should do us for introductions and disclaimers. 

Without further ado, I present to you Lights, Camera, Albums: Miley Cyrus’s Bangerz. 

“Adore You” as Ghost 

Surprisingly, I really struggled with the pairing for this song. I knew I wanted some sort of romantic movie, but nothing felt right. Then, it finally clicked. 

Ghost is a story about a love so strong that it transcends the afterlife, and when I listen to “Adore You,” I feel that same intensity. Plus, these lyrics sealed the deal for me: 

Baby, can you hear me

When I’m cryin’ out for you?

This piece is also coming out two weeks before KP’s death anniversary, and Ghost was one of her favorite movies of all time. Additionally, she LOVED Bangerz. This one’s for you, Ma. 🖤

“We Can’t Stop” as Spring Breakers 

Now, I obviously know that Spring Breakers is, um, a bit more intense than the carefree-ish lyrics of “We Can’t Stop.” HOWEVER, I think these two go well together because they share a “fuck it” type of energy. I think this song rings especially true for Candy (Vanessa Hudgens) and Brit (Ashley Benson). 

“SMS (Bangerz) (feat. Britney Spears)” as Uptown Girls 

I loved Uptown Girls so much when I was growing up, and I’m honestly so glad I’ve finally found a spot to include it. Molly (Brittany Murphy – RIP) lives a chaotic and party-fueled life until she loses everything and becomes Ray’s (Dakota Fanning) nanny. I see Molly jamming out to this song while she’s out or getting ready before she learns that all of her money is gone. 

“4×4 (feat. Nelly)” as Natural Born Killers 

This is one of those movies I was warning everyone about up top. Natural Born Killers definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, and I’m not trying to make light of the content. 

Mallory (Juliette Lewis) and Mickey (Woody Harrelson) are so twisted and enjoy inflicting so much torment on others. But, this song made me think of this movie because, in their minds, it’s some grandiose, romantic voyage. So, I think this song represents their mentality vs what we as the viewer think about their actions. 

“My Darlin’ (feat. Future)” as Titanic 

I really, really struggled with this pairing. Like with “Adore You,” I really wanted something romantic to encapsulate the feel of this song. Finally, it clicked with me. And no, it had nothing to do with the fact that I had sent my sister the recorder version of “My Heart Will Go On” earlier. I digress. 

I could honestly see this song playing during a couple of different scenes in the film, but most notably during the car scene when Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet), erm, consummate their relationship. 

“Wrecking Ball” as Love Lies Bleeding 

I couldn’t tell you how or why, but this was one of the first connections I made. The entire focal point of Love Lies Bleeding is Lou (Kristen Stewart) and Jackie’s (Katy O’Brian) tumultuous relationship. Jackie swings into Lou’s life like a wrecking ball, and I could absolutely see Jackie singing this song towards the climax of the movie. 

“Love Money Party (feat. Big Sean)” as Someone Great 

I love these two together. In Someone Great, Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) wants to have one last hurrah with her two best friends, Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow), after a breakup. 

Throughout the movie, Jenny and her friends try to avoid growing up by focusing on love, money, and partying. While Jenny and Co do have to face adulthood eventually, they can rock out to this song in the meantime. 

“#GETITRIGHT” as The Ugly Truth (2009) 

Somehow “#GETITRIGHT” and The Ugly Truth together just feels right. Maybe it’s because they both have a playful energy about them? Regardless, I could totally see this song on the soundtrack if it came out now. 

While under the tutelage of Mike (Gerard Butler), Abby (Katherine Heigl) finds her sexuality (in a problematic and misogynist way). I could totally see this song playing when Abby is trying to seduce her next door neighbor, Colin (Eric Winter), and Mike is trying to help her.

“Drive” as Baby Driver

I love this movie, but I do want to address up top how unfortunate it is that so many shitty men are in it. I obviously don’t condone any of their actions, and I think they’re absolute trash. Moving on. 

I feel like this one is a little bit on the nose, but I also think it’s extremely fitting. So much of Baby Driver is dependent on the music of the film. In fact, certain scenes are even syncopated with beats in the songs. That’s why I wanted to pair a movie I love with one of my favorite Miley Cyrus songs of all time. Additionally, I think the lyrics go really well with the last act of the film. 

“FU (feat. French Montana)” as She-Devil

This is another reminder about awful people. Roseanne Barr is gross. Moving on. 

I really like this movie for reasons I can’t explain, but I think that in this case, all roads lead back to Meryl Streep. Regardless, as much as I hate Roseanne Barr, I do love that Ruth gets her revenge on Bob (Ed Begley Jr.) and Mary (Meryl Streep) when they have an affair. 

“Do My Thang” as Thirteen 

This is another movie that I’m not making light of because Thirteen shows self-harm, amongst other things, and I would never make fun of it. I just think that “Do My Thang” really encapsulates the vibe of being a teenager. Everything seems so inconsequential, and you just want everyone around you to let you do your thing.

“Maybe You’re Right” as Bride Wars 

This may come as a surprise, but I actually love the movie Bride Wars. I don’t think it’s groundbreaking cinema by any means, but I really enjoy it.

One of my favorite parts is towards the end when Emma (Anne Hathaway) realizes she and Fletcher (Chris Pratt) shouldn’t get married because he’s terrible (and, tbh, is probably just how Chris Pratt is IRL). 

Sure, it takes Emma the entire movie of him making some of the most heinous, red pill comments of all time, but she gets there. I think this movie is the perfect middle finger to Fletcher, even though things end a little too agreeably for me. 

“Someone Else” as Challengers 

This was actually the first pairing I made. For those who don’t know, not only did I love Challengers, but it’s one of my favorite movies of 2024 (spoiler for my end of year list). I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to include it in this LCA. Then, when I listened through Bangerz for my research, it became obvious where it should land. 

I 100% see this song being sung from Patrick’s (Josh O’Connor) perspective, and I think it’s aimed at Art (Mike Faist). There could be an argument made for it to be sung to Tashi (Zendaya) as well, but I think it better summarizes his and Art’s relationship. Game. Set. Match.