Wrecking Ball; Not a Train wreck?

Miley Cyrus' second single 'Wrecking Ball' (off of her upcoming album, Bangerz) has swung to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. This is arguably due to the amount of attention the video has gotten

But we'll get to that part later. The question is, how is the song without the video? I've read several reviews, and a lot of them praise her voice over the production. Which I think is a fair criticism. The background of the song IS kind of generic. I do think her voice sounds excellent on it, and she does a great job of sounding heartbroken. I've always thought she had a decent voice, and I think the structure of the song really works for her. Her voice has a lot of power behind it, which is certainly more than you could say about an artist like Katy Perry. 

The music video is a subject of controversy. Mostly because it features a TWENTY YEAR OLD Miley Cyrus naked on a wrecking ball. This doesn't really bother me at all considering she's over eighteen and it's tastefully done (I won't show a picture because to be honest you live under a rock if you haven't heard about it by now) and I understand how it ties into the song. She's naked to represent the vulnerability she feels atop something as dangerous and destructive as a wrecking ball. That's fine with me, I can get behind that. I think people need to lay off Miley Cyrus. The only reason people care so much when she does this stuff is because she was this at one point in her life;

but guess what? she grew up. And I say that as someone who had all the CDs and watched the show religiously (I also wanted Miley and Lily to be a couple but that's something else entirely...) Her obligation as a children's role model ended the minute she left Disney.

That being said, is the music video any GOOD? I would say so. It fits the tone of the song, it's got a distinct look, and the director did an excellent job. Her facial expressions are spot on. You can tell how heartbroken she is. 

I think it's really a beautiful video in a lot of ways. The only thing that seemed a bit weird to me was the part where she licked this hammer she was using to destroy stuff. 

I could justify kissing the hammer. That could be symbolism for enjoying the pain. That makes sense to me. But LICKING? yeah even I'm weirded out by that. Maybe it's just her tongue thing again. 

Also the minute I saw her sitting on that wrecking ball I could just smell the parodies. And boy was I right about that. I guess I can understand when a plethora of material is handed to you, but I don't think it's really all that FUNNY. 

Yeah she's on a wrecking ball. She's riding the wrecking ball. she's owning that wrecking ball. hahaha???

Over all, I give the video and the song a B+. The video would probably be an A- if it didn't have the hammer-licking but it's still a very nice video. The song is also quite nice, and I enjoy it every time it comes on the radio.