Post authorHappy November! Can you believe that 2019 will end in less than 60 days! This year has gone by so quick! Speaking of 2019, have you checked out the latest episodes of the Netflix show Black Mirror? One of my co-actors in a play production that I am involved in told me about the show. Since then, I have been hooked on it! I watched the majority of episodes in the span of two weekHave you seen the show? What is your favorite episode? My favorite is Season 3’s “Nosedive”. It kind of gave me a fright because of the premise of how a social media-like rating system could affect our lives. Wouldn’t it be scary for people to rate your every action and saying just instantly like social media? Another favorite is “Shut Up and Dance” from the same season. I love the suspense in that one!
Inside the Black Mirror: “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too”
Today’s battle is inspired by the recent Black Mirror episode “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too”. Now, this hasn’t been everyone’s favorite episode in the series. Most of the critics disapprove of the episode with a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Most of the arguments on why this episode fell flat are like the critique from The Verge‘s Adi Robertson: “After a promising start, its story becomes simultaneously overstuffed and underdeveloped.”[1]Even though many have not liked “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too”, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like, I feel like this episode comes full circle with Miley Cyrus’ career. The musician’s first singing/acting gig was Hannah Montana on The Disney Channel. My sister, though she won’t admit it now, was a big fan of Hannah Montana as she had the merchandise, watch the show religiously, and even saw the movie.
The character of Hannah Montana was appealing to my sister’s age range as she was inspirational and appealing with her kid-friendly humor and content. Ashley O and Hannah Montana have so much in common in terms of fanbase and music. But also, their artist being controlled by another person: Ashley O was controlled by her aunt and Hannah Montana was controlled by the writers and producers with The Disney Channel.
Gradually, Miley Cyrus transformed from the wholesome character of Hannah Montana into the musician she has become today. Although I was initially shocked by the transformation, I eventually embraced Cyrus’ transformation. I, as a creative person too, looked at Cyrus’ changing musical and artistic directions as something she wants to express wholeheartedly. Although I don’t listen to former Disney star’s latest releases, I support whatever she releases because its something that makes her happy.
Battle of the Songs: Stepping Into the Black Mirror
Two songs that were featured in the Black Mirror episode “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” were “On A Roll” and “Right Where It Belongs”. These two songs are happier, positive remixes of Nine Inch Nails’ tunes “Head Like a Hole” and “Right Where I Belong”. Series creator Charlie Brooker re-wrote the two tunes for the episode and sent them to Trent Rezor, the frontman of the band, for his approval. Rezor approved of the remixes. He even thought the episode itself was funny.
The two songs that are up for this battle is “Head Like a Hole” and it’s happier version “On a Roll”. Which will win? Listen and vote!
Nine Inch Nails’ “Head Like A Hole”
But when I listen to “Head Like a Hole”, I hear elements of dance music. You can hear it in the main synthesizer holding up the melody throughout the song. The song is labeled as industrial dance-rock as it mixes the elements of dance and thrash metal together. You can hear the thrash metal in the chorus when Rezor screams the lyrics. But, it is still weird to hear thrash metal mixed with dance music? Maybe it just with me when my ideal thrash metal tune.
I like better as it features more of a metal edge. She covered it at the end of the Black Mirror episode where Ashley O got to finally perform the music she always wanted to perform. Instead of being the pop sensation Asley O, the character became the metal trashing Ashley Fuckin` O.
By the way, the Nine Inch Nails were nominated for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fans can vote up to five artists a day to see their favorite artists in the 2020 class. You can vote.
Ashley O (aka Miley Cyrus) – “On a Roll”
I can admit that I am in love with “On a Roll”. For one week, I played this song over and over on Spotify. I don’t know why. Maybe because I love the inspirational lyrics. Or, the fact that I learned the word “verve” from it. Or, maybe because I love the pop sound. Whatever the reason may be, “On a Roll” is a great tune to listen for inspiration.
