Miley Cyrus had Detroit ‘turnt up’ Saturday night during her Bangerz Tour stop at the Palace of Auburn Hills. With outrageous props, scantily clad performances, explicit profanity and extreme vocal talent, the Bangerz Tour was a huge party, celebration and concert rolled into one. And this lucky reviewer had a front row seat to all the action!
The night began with opening act, Icona Pop. This female EDM duo from Sweden exploded onto the scene in 2013 with their hit single I Love It. The pair, made up of Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo, put on amazing set. One of the standout numbers from Icona Pop was their performance of Me and My Girlfriend – a song that celebrates the sisterhood of two best friends. Of course, the girls got the best reaction to their closing numbers, I Love It. Icona Pop put on a great set that really set the mood for the explosive party that Miley Cyrus was about to bring. They did a great job of working the stage. Aino Jawo even told this reviewer that she loved him!
Aino Jawo (left) and Caroline Hjelt (right) of Icona Pop.
After Icona Pop, the arena exploded into a tidal wave of cheers when the lights dimmed and Cyrus’ song SMS (Bangerz) began to play. A huge screen of Miley’s head was displayed at the back of the stage. Her mouth then opened and a huge tongue came physically sliding out. Cyrus then slid down this tongue and began her performance. This was an incredibly clever and exciting way to begin the show, paying homage to Cyrus’ famous tongue-out pose.
Cyrus greeted the crowd with the upbeat performance of SMS (Bangerz), asking the crowd if they were ready to turn up and party.
Miley Cyrus performing at her Bangerz Tour stop in Detroit.
She kept the party going with songs like 4×4 and Love, Money, Party – which was complete with a gold car that shot fake dollar bills out of the exhaust (with Cyrus’ face on them) and a backup dancer dressed as a giant replica of rapper Big Sean – who is featured on the song. One of Miley’s costumes that was featured in this set was a glittery, green one-piece that featured marijuana leaves plastered over it. While Cyrus donned various costumes throughout the night, they all left little to the imagination.
After this, it was time for Cyrus to show off her pure vocal talent, which is often overshadowed by her outrageous performances and antics. Cyrus slowed things down with the songs My Darlin’ and Maybe You’re Right, before switching gears to the song FU – a mid-tempo that takes shots at a lover who scorned Cyrus (perhaps Liam Hemsworth?). The performance of FU also featured a costume change as Miley switched into a sparkling red gown. However, this classy costume was in contrast to the giant puppet-creature that Cyrus had on stage for the song.
Cyrus’ sped things up again with the next song, Do My Thang. This rendition of the song was remixed with a bit of country flair. It had the crowd screaming and dancing away. Do My Thang was followed by #GETITRIGHT, a song that speaks to getting things ‘right’ in the bedroom. Cyrus definitely performed to the lyrics as a huge bed was lowered to the stage.
The next song was one of the few non-Bangerz tracks performed – Can’t Be Tamed. The performance featured a giant wolf prop and Cyrus in feathery cowgirl chaps. She then slowed things down once more, again showcasing her vocal talents, with the ballad Adore You. For this song, Cyrus told people in the front rows to kiss and couples were featured on a giant “kissing cam” screen. At one point, Cyrus wasn’t impressed by the gentle kisses in the crowd telling people she wanted to see something ‘freakier’ at her Bangerz Tour. One couple adhered to her request and Cyrus thanked them.
Cyrus next performed another ballad called Drive, for which the crowd lit up their cell phones, before being carted to smaller soundstage at the back of the arena. It was back here that Cyrus did a small acoustic set in nothing but a long button-up shirt. Cyrus said it was her favourite part of the night as she got to go and talk to the people at the back of the arena. Cyrus sang her song Rooting for My Baby before covering Bob Dylan’s You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go, Lana Del Rey’s Summertime Sadness, Dolly Parton’s Jolene, and Coldplay’s The Scientist. This was one of the best moments of the night as you could hear her vocals shining through. However, the set was not without it’s controversial moments. Miley had her phone out to take a selfie video of herself singing with the crowd, as she does at every stop. But in Detroit, a fight broke behind her and Miley took video of it and yelled “cat fight!” at one point. She seemed to take delight in the controversy, joking about how rock and roll it was to have a fight at the Bangerz Tour.
Cyrus then made her way back to the stage and performed the songs 23, On My Own and Someone Else. This last performance featured Miley riding into the air on a giant hot dog – no, we’re not kidding! Cyrus told the crowd that the louder they sang and cheered, the higher she would ride into the air. Cyrus then thanked the crowd and wrote out on her flying wiener.
The crowd chanted Miley’s name as we waited for her encore. Cyrus popped back up for a performance of her party hit, We Can’t Stop. At one point, the front rows starting throwing articles of clothing on stage (including this reviewer’s hat which accidentally hit Cyrus in the leg – sorry, Miley!). Cyrus picked up a male fan’s shirt that had a vulgar proposition on it. She put the shirt on and performed the rest of the song with it. Cyrus then did the smash hit Wrecking Ball before once again going under stage. But the night wasn’t done! Cyrus did a second encore with the song Party in the USA – a true Miley classic! The song was complete with a dancing Statue of Liberty. Cyrus herself wore a sparking US flag costume and a cowgirl hat. At the end of the song, she was raised high into the air on a platform where she put in some fake ‘hillbilly’ teeth. Cyrus then thanked the crowd once more and was lowered to the stage for the last time.
That was the end of the Bangerz concert. It was one of the strangest concerts I’ve ever been to, but also one of the best. It was like a giant party that featured outlandish behaviour but also pure talent. Miley proved herself to live up to her outrageous name but she also proved that she has a permanent spot in the music game and one of the best vocal talents among her peers. We’re excited to see what she does next and would definitely recommend this show to others!
Speakers Up 