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. 

In today’s edition of Lights, Camera, Albums, we’re going to cover an artist I’ve loved since her Disney Channel days, Miley Cyrus. Specifically, we’re going to cover Miley’s most recent album, Endless Summer Vacation. 

And don’t worry, I already have plans to cover both Bangerz and Plastic Hearts, so this won’t be the last time we hear (literally) from Miley. 

If you’ve missed the other Lights, Camera, Albums, I got you. We’ve done pieces for both Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, so you can get an idea of what you’re in for. 

Without further ado, let’s dive into today’s Lights, Camera, Albums. 

“Flowers”/”Flowers” (Demo) – The First Wives Club

This was an easy pairing for me. The First Wives Club chronicles the journey of three women (Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn) who come together after the tragic death of their other college best friend (Stockard Channing). Throughout the movie, they regain their independence and begin to rebuild their lives after being left by their husbands. I see “Flowers” being sung from Annie’s (Diane Keaton) perspective because she has the biggest character growth. 

“Jaded” – The Holiday

The Holiday is one of my favorite rom coms of all time. I watch it multiple times throughout the holiday season. As I was listening to and studying the lyrics of “Jaded,” I couldn’t help but think about Iris (Kate Winslet) and Jasper’s (Rufus Sewell) relationship. It’s obvious how amazing Iris is and how poor Jasper treats her, including letting her be blindsided by his engagement. When Iris finally understands her worth, she kicks Jasper to the curb. Jasper had a wonderful woman in front of him, and he completely screwed it up. She “could’ve taken [him] places.” 

“Rose Colored Lenses” – The Great Gatsby (2013) 

I know that living in excess is part of the 20s, but I chose to focus on Baz Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby because no one does excess like Baz. I digress. Daisy and Gatsby know on a practical level that their love won’t last, but they’re going to keep the “Rose Colored Lenses” for as long as possible. 

Man, what a Promising Young Woman. 

“Used To Be Young” – Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 

I can’t think of a better representation of “Used To Be Young” than Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. The entire story is told in flashbacks from when the Ya-Yas (Ellen Burstyn, Fionnula Flanagan, Shirley Knight, and Maggie Smith) were young, and it shows them as they move from carefree young women to mothers while not hiding all of the struggles along the way. 

“Thousand Miles (feat. Brandi Carlile)” – Burlesque 

Christina Aguilera’s Ali seems to have had a difficult past but is trying to create a solid foundation for her future. She falls for Cam Gigandet’s Jack, gets a gig at a burlesque club owned by Cher’s Tess, and she finally starts to get her feet on solid ground. She may have traveled a “Thousand Miles,” but she’s finally starting to let go of the past. 

“You” – Practical Magic

I really like these two together. In Practical Magic, Gillian views love as an intoxicating and chaotic force, while Sally wants stability and connection. I think “You” does a good job of capturing both of their perspectives. 

Which era of Taylor Swift is this?

“Handstand” – American Pie

I have no idea how the physics within this song work, so it’s impossible to find an exact match, and I think it needs a silly movie with an iconic sex (?) scene. Additionally, the only other idea I had was to pair this with Bring It On and continue on with my Missy and Torrance fan fiction. 

“River” – Friends with Benefits

We all know what this song is about, so I chose a movie that revolves around sex. Friends With Benefits is a rom com, but it starts out with two people just looking to get their freak on. However, they eventually do become a couple, so it works with all of the lines about children as well. 

Note: I don’t condone an ounce of Mila Kunis’s recent actions and think the letter she wrote was truly heinous. We fully support the victims here on the B Movies Blog. 

“Violet Chemistry” – Ava’s Possessions 

For some reason, this was the easiest connection for me. I think “Violet Chemistry” works on two levels: with Ava and her demon, and between Ava and Hazel. Hazel (Annabelle Dexter-Jones) wants to keep her demon around, and she attempts to show Ava (Louisa Krause) the benefits of possession. On the flip side, Ava and her demon are interconnected now, so it’s all about the dance they do. 

This is exactly how I look when I think of a new idea for the blog, and Elliott also likes it. 

“Muddy Feet (feat. Sia)” – John Tucker Must Die 

I know “Muddy Feet (feat. Sia)” is a lot more intense than John Tucker Must Die, but they both have two common threads: infidelity and revenge. The only thing missing in the song is the thong, but I do believe that bit has already been taken by Sisqo. 

“Wildcard” – Pretty Woman 

I like to think that “Wildcard” would be the song Vivian (Julia Robers) sings to Edward (Richard Gere) towards the beginning of the movie when they’re starting to fall for each other, but neither can fully commit. Because, y’know, it’s a rom com, and we have to have our ebbs and flows to get the big payoff. 

“Island” – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again 

First and foremost, this movie made me BAWL MY EYES OUT when I watched it on a date one time, and I haven’t been able to watch it for reasons I won’t mention here because y’all already know what I’m gonna say. Anyways. 

When I relistened to “Island” for this piece, I thought of Donna’s (Lily James) journey to Kalokairi and how devastated she is when Sam (Jeremy Irvine) leaves her to rejoin his fiancé. This island is becoming her home, but it now has memories of Sam, reflecting Miley’s sentiment. 

“Wonder Woman” – Barbie 

I know that “Wonder Woman” is about Miley Cyrus’s grandmother, but I think it’s a perfect representation of how many women feel. The line, “Never know she’s broken, only when she cries,” punches me in the gut every single time I listen, and it reminds me so much of America Ferrera’s speech from Barbie. Being a woman is so exhausting, and I think it’s easy to forget that we’re allowed to show emotions, let alone have them. 

Whenever we inevitably get Mamma Mi3, I really want Dolly Parton to play Cher’s sister.