Sinéad O'Connor's open letter to Miley Cyrus

[ismnotwasm]

Boom! there it is

The music business doesn't give a shit about you, or any of us. They will prostitute you for all you are worth, and cleverly make you think its what YOU wanted … and when you end up in rehab as a result of being prostituted, 'they' will be sunning themselves on their yachts in Antigua, which they bought by selling your body and you will find yourself very alone.

None of the men ogling you give a shit about you either, do not be fooled. Many's the woman mistook lust for love. If they want you sexually that doesn't mean they give a fuck about you. All the more true when you unwittingly give the impression you don't give much of a fuck about yourself. And when you employ people who give the impression they don't give much of a fuck about you either. No one who cares about you could support your being pimped … and that includes you yourself.

Yes, I'm suggesting you don't care for yourself. That has to change. You ought be protected as a precious young lady by anyone in your employ and anyone around you, including you. This is a dangerous world. We don't encourage our daughters to walk around naked in it because it makes them prey for animals and less than animals, a distressing majority of whom work in the music industry and it's associated media.

You are worth more than your body or your sexual appeal. The world of showbiz doesn't see things that way, they like things to be seen the other way, whether they are magazines who want you on their cover, or whatever … Don't be under any illusions … ALL of them want you because they're making money off your youth and your beauty … which they could not do except for the fact your youth makes you blind to the evils of show business. If you have an innocent heart you can't recognise those who do not.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/03/sinead-o-connor-open-letter-miley-cyrus

[seabeyond]

1. i liked what and how pink talked about this. i do like the woman. and there is chers input.

but i think the best is this woman, Sinéad O'Connor. needed to be said, whether she will listen is irrelevant almost. i am glad Sinéad O'Connor took the time to spell it out.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. Hey sea, do you have a link to Pink and Cher's comments? Been so busy with work and all -

would like to catch up on this topic.

Also Diane Rheem Talk Show segment today was about human trafficking. Am looking for a link to that to post for the group.

I thought it was very good.

[seabeyond]

3. i found a video but couldnt grab it and it had a commercial. 15 yr old took down a fence

last night. gonna have to deal with an iron welder, lol. i will be back and see if i can get the stuff. redq had a good one that were snips, but i liked the video too. tmz interview i think.

[PotatoChip]

4. Love you Sinead! You speak the truth.

[Squinch]

16. Love these. Thanks.

[BainsBane]

5. That seems a bit harsh

Saying Cyrus doesn't care about herself. I can't stand her myself, but I wouldn't go that far.

[nomorenomore08]

8. +1

She's obviously drawing upon her own negative experiences in the music industry. One can sympathize with her, of course, but this is still just one person's point of view.

[redqueen]

10. She might be inferring that based on recent interviews...

where Miley has talked about how messed up her life is.

[Mosby]

6. The 1% complain about the .1%

boo fucking hoo.

This has shit to do with real female empowerment Sinaid, You, Gaga, RiRi, Madonna, Miley, britbrit et al sold your motherfucking souls long ago in order to make hundreds of millions of dollars.

[redqueen]

7. WTF?

This letter isn't "complaining" it's advice from someone who's been there.

As for your little rant about which entertainers you think 'sold their souls', that is what has jack shit to do with feminism.

[seabeyond]

9. it has shit to do with what you are talking about... ya know. kinda like a rant from left field. nt

[Mosby]

11. some more thoughts

Nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited, and it is absolutely NOT in ANY way an empowerment of yourself or any other young women...

Miley isn't being exploited, she is doing what she wants, defining herself the way she want's and is making a shitload of money in the process. Frankly the comment is extremely disrespectful to people who are actually being exploited by others.

The music business doesn't give a shit about you, or any of us.

You know like britney, gaga, rihanna, et al.

ALL of them want you because they're making money off your youth and your beauty …

A good example of how throughout the letter she ridicules MIiey's career choices.

Real empowerment of yourself as a woman would be to in future refuse to exploit your body or your sexuality in order for men to make money from you.

More condescension from Sinaid about Miley's career choices.

I've been in the business long enough to know that men are making more money than you are from you getting naked.

Sinaid gives away her motives for writing this ridiculous letter, how dare a man make any money off a woman.

edit: when I talked about them "selling their souls" I was referring to all of them making completely lousy, corporate pop/rnb crap, (yeah I think gaga totally sucks musically) the whole video/performance side of it I don't really pay attention to. Quality artists don't need to shock or use nudity but I will defend a persons right to do so, it's a career decision, nothing more.

[ismnotwasm]

12. I disagree

It's a career expectation and unless you take total business control ala Madonna, most of them fall by the wayside. The names we know are the very very few that made it from thousands, most failing even if they have rich daddies. Despite talent.

O'Conner was writing that letter as an open letter because Ms. Cyrus state that O'Conner was a musical influence. She has a complete right to express her opinion about that and it came across as heartfelt, as well as as an accurate observation/personal experience. Or did you miss the recent photos of O'Conner, "what she looks like now" making fun of her?

[Mosby]

15. I could be totally off about all of this

But my first reaction was that Sinead was lecturing Miley about what she should or should not do for the "music gods" even though both of them have made shitloads of money during their careers. I certainly don't hate wealthy people but I'm not real sympathetic about their problems.

After re-reading it a few time it seems like Sinead is just trying to shame Miley and I think that's wrong.

Edit - it wasn't a career expectation for Adele or Michelle Branch or Avril Lavigne or Taylor Swift.

If you have talent you don't need a crutch.

[ismnotwasm]

19. I think my problem

Is Cyrus has been working very hard to get a name, aside from Hanna Montana, but it started with the Lolita like Vogue cover a few years back. She was what, 15? She's has been emphasizing the sexual for a number of years, and my gut tells me a meltdown is coming. I suspect this is what O'Conner is seeing as well. She also was considered pretty hot in her heyday, but decided just to age without shame.

I could be completely wrong too, and I don't think she should be shamed, but she comes across as acting out as opposed to fully embracing her sexuality. I don't find her particularly talented, and I think her Dad's a creep, but those are just impressions. I don't know them, I don't eat at their table.

Every woman entertainer emphasizes the sexual to a certain extent, but then so do the men. Women tend to present this far more aggressively, but as your examples show not always.

Now there is a Halloween costume based on her VSA performance. It's kind of cute.

And I don't agree about having talent equals not needed a crutch. It's a cut throat business, and I suspect it's depends on how well you're marketed.

We shall see. Cyrus is very attractive, with family backing and so so talent. I don't like current pop culture either, and I hope Cyrus side-steps the snake pits.

[seabeyond]

20. my gut tells me a meltdown is coming.

lohan? she was talented. i think people are seeing the same pattern. i think this is the concern.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. suggest you go to the Lounge where Taverner has written an open letter to Miley

[seabeyond]

18. i read it. meh. of course the young woman is going to make her choices. and it is merely

advice to take to heart, think about or reject.

three awesome women took the time and put forth the effort to help a young woman along that it seems at least two of the women admire and respect. they shared from their own experience and respect.

i personally would not dismiss so easily and might even value an older, more successful performers attention.

they might actually know something.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

21. I had to delete my reply to Taverner because, even though it was on point, I was afraid of a hide ..

I have found that one can post pictures/videos on here and they are left to stand but, if one tries to describe what is in the video/pictures the WORDS describing them are HIDDEN.

I think that is so weird.

I think Taverner must have went to the Billy Ray Cyrus school of raising daughters and let me just leave it at that.

[seabeyond]

22. lol.

ok. i was being delicate, lol, cause i did not know your position.

thanks

[ismnotwasm]

23. Ick

I trashed the thread the minute you mentioned it. I like the lounge, I just don't post there much, didn't want to see that one.

[seabeyond]

17. something happened along the way to adulthood. pink, cher, sinead.... for these three women to

take notice and put forth the effort to reach out and guide someone so young, starting out, one would think it would give pause.