I turned on Saturday Night the previous week the way one looks at a car accident as they cruise by in traffic.  After the VMA's I figured blowing up would be too obvious and PR rehab was the prescription, but whay I got was a surprise.

Miley Cyrus was the host AND musical guest (I wonder why?).  The humor was only mildly self-deprecating, less though than I would have liked and the irony up against Sinead O'Connor's infamous SNL stunt permeated the air after their public feud.

The surprise came of all places, in her music.  As a traditional hater of pop music I was unprepared to be open-minded despite having heard she was coming out with a hew album.  When she came out with very little fanfare in front of nothing but a true blue rock band it was curious (although attempts to diminish her own attractiveness in some curious goal to eliminate her child-star persona remain successful).  What came next was unnerving...I liked it.

Yes this poor, wretched masters class in self-destruction belted out a rock song that to be honest I think would have made a Pet Benatar or Joan Jett proud (Joan Jett was someone I remarked she should reference for a better understanding of rebellion after the VMA performance).

The problem is, now what do I do?  I have always lamented that Pink allows herself to be lumped in with the pop stars, and even blogged before about Adele.  Now I find myself warming to not only Miley Cyrus, but Katy Perry, this new girl Lorde and a couple others.  Am I just softening or is pop music actually getting better.  If so, why? How?  It occurred to me that perhaps the shows American Idol and the Voice have returned a greater emphasis on talent and substance over shlock with younger performers.  Any other possibilities?