The Prodigy Grows Up – Moves On

Just a few days ago I was watching an interview with Miley Cyrus. She is now 17 years old and a mega superstar. For her it all started years ago, making her a – Child Prodigy. Throughout history their have been countless child prodigies. Mozart was one of the better known prodigies. He attracted a great deal of attention from many who were amazed at his musical talent at an extremely young age. But the list continues into modern times. Buddy Rich, Herbie Hancock, Marvin Hamlisch, Steveland Morris (Stevie Wonder), Michael Jackson and many, many more, all started out playing or singing music very young, but also developed extraordinary talent. We seem to be drawn to the exploits of the very young. Deep down I think we want to be part of discovering something special. We love to watch someone very young do something beyond their years.

What about the musical talent of young Ms. Cyrus? During the interview and other interviews I’ve seen and heard with her, she appears very polished and ready to take on the entertainment world. Miley has taken over a very large share of her world in a very short time; with the successful TV show Hanna Montana raking in mega dollars. The difference about the music world of our time is that there are so many different things a performer needs to do. A vocalist today has to do so much more than sing. He or she needs to be able to write music, perform on television shows, in movies, and videos in order to continue to climb to the top and stay there. Also, there is another element that did not exist before recent years. The tabloid era has really emerged with the internet, television shows, and magazines all designed to follow and report on celebrities full-time. You see many turning to drugs, alcohol and other vices trying to escape the quest for their privacy. I wonder how celebrities can take someone following them around, digging for every bit of information at all times. This is where I truly admire Miley. Of course, her father Billy Ray Cyrus has dealt with tabloid pressures from his own musical and acting career. So he can be of assistance I’m sure. But Miley exudes a confidence and awareness well beyond her years. Now she is entering adulthood with a budding love interest all over the pages of the tabloid press. Welcome to the adult world Ms. Cyrus. So, what type of career is in her future? Will it end early and/or tragically like Wolfgang Mozart? Or will she enjoy a long, fantastic career like Stevie Wonder? I hope it will be the latter.