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The Backyard Sessions are a series of music performances by American singer Miley Cyrus. The first sessions featured Cyrus performing cover versions of classic songs in an outdoor setting, and were released in 2012. Subsequent sessions have since been released in support of Cyrus' own projects, including the launch of her Happy Hippie Foundation in 2015 and the release of her albums Plastic Hearts (2020) and Endless Summer Vacation (2023).

The Backyard Sessions (2012)

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The first series was released on YouTube between September and December 2012, and showed Cyrus performing covers of classic songs with her band in an outdoor setting. The sessions began in September 2012 when Cyrus posted a video of her singing James Shelton's song "Lilac Wine". MTV explains the setting of the Backyard sessions by stating "She's also shown sitting down with her band in a serene garden space as she sings huskily into a standing mic."[1] The second session was posted in October 2012 as Cyrus performed the Melanie Safka song "Look What They've Done To My Song Ma".[2] The third and final video posted of the original sessions featured Cyrus singing "Jolene", originally performed and written by her godmother, Dolly Parton.[3]

List of performances

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Date Song Original artist Ref.
September 6, 2012 "Lilac Wine" Eartha Kitt [4]
October 4, 2012 "Look What They've Done to My Song Ma" Melanie [5]
December 24, 2012 "Jolene" Dolly Parton [6]

Happy Hippie Presents Backyard Sessions (2015)

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Backyard Sessions logo

In 2015, Cyrus released a new set of Backyard Sessions videos to publicize the launch of the Happy Hippie Foundation. On May 6, the first daily video was posted to social media, with Cyrus joined by Joan Jett in covering Jett's 2013 song "Different".[7] In a second video posted later that day, Cyrus covered Dido's "No Freedom", dedicated to Leelah Alcorn, a teenage transgender girl who killed herself by walking out in front of traffic the previous December.[8] Two more videos were posted on May 9, 2015. In the first, Cyrus performed "Androgynous" by The Replacements alongside Jett and Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace,[9] who came out as transgender in 2012.[10] In the fourth installment of the Happy Hippie Backyards Sessions, Cyrus provided backing vocals for Grace's performance of the Against Me! song "True Trans Soul Rebel".[11]

In videos posted May 12, Cyrus was joined by Melanie Safka for performances of "Peace Will Come (All According to Plan)" and "What Have They Done to My Song Ma," as covered in the original Backyards Sessions videos.[12][13] On performing with Cyrus, Safka commented that Cyrus showed "only the part she wanted me to see," but added that she was "very accommodating" and "totally real [...] Her heart is really in the music. The true test of character, for me, is if your heart is in the music."[14] Safka credited the videos with an increase in young people at her concerts.[14] Safka also performed a rendition of "Yaw Baby (Break My Heart)" while Cyrus watched in the background.[15]

In a May 15 video, Cyrus was joined by Ariana Grande for a cover of "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House.[16] Cyrus wore a unicorn onesie, while Grande wore a mouse onesie.[17] The pair reprised the performance at the One Love Manchester benefit concert organized by Grande in June 2017.[18]

In two videos posted on May 19, Cyrus performed covers of "Happy Together" by The Turtles, and Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".[19] In the final video, released May 23, she sang "Pablow the Blowfish" in memory of her recently deceased pet fish.[20] The song later appeared on Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (2015).

List of performances

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Date Song Original artist Ref.
May 6, 2015 "Different" (featuring Joan Jett) Joan Jett and the Blackhearts [21]
"No Freedom" Dido [22]
May 9, 2015 "Androgynous" (featuring Joan Jett, Laura Jane Grace, and Atom Willard) The Replacements [23]
"True Trans Soul Rebel" (featuring Laura Jane Grace and Atom Willard) Against Me! [24]
May 12, 2015 "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)" Melanie [25]
"Yaw Baby (Break My Heart)" (featuring Melanie) Melanie [26]
"Look What They've Done to My Song Ma" Melanie [27]
May 15, 2015 "Don't Dream It's Over" (featuring Ariana Grande) Crowded House [28]
May 19, 2015 "Happy Together" The Turtles [29]
"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" Paul Simon [30]
May 23, 2015 "Pablow the Blowfish" Miley Cyrus [31]

MTV Unplugged Presents: Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions (2020)

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"MTV Unplugged Presents: Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions"
MTV Unplugged episode
Original air dateOctober 16, 2020 (2020-10-16)
Running time26 minutes
Guest appearance
Noah Cyrus
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Fobia" 		Next →
"BTS"
List of episodes

On October 16, 2020, Cyrus premiered a full Backyard Sessions concert on MTV. Her band called themselves "Miley Cyrus and the Social Distancers," and all members except the singers wore masks in performance. On October 17, she posted six concert videos to her YouTube channel. Four were covers: "Gimme More" by Britney Spears, "Communication" by The Cardigans, "Sweet Jane" by the Velvet Underground, and "Just Breathe" by Pearl Jam. She also posted a live version of her song "Midnight Sky" from her album Plastic Hearts and a duet with her sister Noah Cyrus of Noah's song "I Got So High That I Saw Jesus." During the concert, she also performed a cover of Jackson Browne's "These Days," but this was not uploaded to Cyrus's channel in October.[32]

List of performances

[edit]
Date Song Original artist Ref.
October 16, 2020 "Gimme More" Britney Spears [33]
"I Got So High That I Saw Jesus" (featuring Noah Cyrus) Noah Cyrus [34]
"Midnight Sky" Miley Cyrus [35]
"Sweet Jane" The Velvet Underground [36]
"Communication" The Cardigans [37]
"Just Breathe" Pearl Jam [38]
"These Days" Nico

Apple Music Backyard Sessions (2020)

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Furthermore, upon the release of her seventh studio album Plastic Hearts, Cyrus also released a second edition of the album onto Apple Music.[39] This edition included four videos for the backyard sessions for a few of the newly released songs, namely "High", "Plastic Hearts", "Golden G String" and "Angels like You".

List of performances

[edit]
Date Song Ref.
November 27, 2020 "High" [40]
"Plastic Hearts"
"Golden G String"
"Angels like You"

Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions) (2023)

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Main article: Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)

The concert special Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions) was released on Disney+ on March 10, 2023, in promotion of the release of Cyrus' eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation (2023). The special featured performances of eight songs from the new album, and a special performance of "The Climb". An updated version titled Endless Summer Vacation: Continued (Backyard Sessions) aired on ABC on August 24, 2023, before the release of Cyrus' single "Used to Be Young" the next day.[41][42] [43][44]

Date Song Ref.
March 10, 2023 "Jaded" [45]
"Rose Colored Lenses"
"Thousand Miles"
"Wildcard"
"Island"
"Wonder Woman" (with Rufus Wainwright on piano)
"The Climb"
"River"
"Flowers"

References

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  1. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (September 7, 2012). "Miley Cyrus Covers 'Lilac Wine' & we are Officially Bowled Over With Wow". MTV. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  2. ^ Huffington Post (October 10, 2012). "Miley Cyrus 'Look What They've Done To My Song': Singer Covers Classic Folk Song". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  3. ^ "Miley Cyrus Releases 'Jolene' Video: Singer Covers Dolly Parton's Classic Song". Huffington Post. December 26, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  4. ^ Miley Cyrus - The Backyard Sessions - "Lilac Wine" on YouTube
  5. ^ Miley Cyrus - The Backyard Sessions - "Look What They've Done To My Song" on YouTube
  6. ^ Miley Cyrus - The Backyard Sessions - "Jolene" on YouTube
  7. ^ Hilton, Perez (May 5, 2015). "Miley Cyrus Launches Her Happy Hippie Foundation With A Backyard Session With Joan Jett!". PerezHilton.com. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  8. ^ Saul, Heather (May 9, 2015). "Miley Cyrus pays tribute to late transgender teen Leelah Alcorn as she launches homeless LBGT Happy Hippie Foundation". The Independent. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  9. ^ Goble, Corban (May 8, 2015). "Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace, Joan Jett, and Miley Cyrus Cover the Replacements' "Androgynous"". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  10. ^ "Tom Gabel of Against Me! Comes Out as Transgender". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. May 8, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  11. ^ Kerps, Daniel (May 10, 2015). "Miley Cyrus and Laura Jane Grace Perform Against Me! Track". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  12. ^ Dionne, Zach (May 11, 2015). "Watch Miley Cyrus' "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)" in New Backyard Session With Melanie Safka". Fuse.tv. Fuse Networks. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  13. ^ Varga, George (May 14, 2015). "Watch Miley Cyrus & Woodstock alum duet". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Tronc. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Bingaman, Brian (March 10, 2016). "Melanie talks about hanging out with Miley Cyrus, an award held hostage 26 years, and more". Ticket to Entertainment. 21st Century Media. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  15. ^ "Happy Hippie Presents: Yaw Baby (Break My Heart) (Performed by Melanie Safka)". CMT. Viacom. Retrieved June 15, 2017.[dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Miley Cyrus & Ariana Grande cover Don't Dream It's Over for Happy Hippie Foundation". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. May 13, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  17. ^ Lovitt, Bryn (May 14, 2015). "Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande Put on Their Best Onesies and Covered Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over"". Noisey.com. Vice Media. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  18. ^ Weiss, Suzanne (June 4, 2017). "Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus Sing Duet at Manchester Benefit Concert". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  19. ^ Van Nguyen, Dean (May 19, 2015). "Miley Cyrus covers The Turtles' 'Happy Together' as part of Backyard Sessions". NME. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  20. ^ Malec, Brett (May 19, 2015). "Miley Cyrus Actually Wrote a Beautiful Song About Her Dead Blowfish, Pablow, and the Lyrics Are Insane". E! Online. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  21. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'Different' (Performed by Miley Cyrus & Joan Jett) on YouTube
  22. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'No Freedom' (Performed by Miley Cyrus) on YouTube
  23. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'Androgynous' (Performed by Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett & Laura Jane Gr... on YouTube
  24. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'True Trans Soul Rebel' (Performed by Miley Cyrus & Laura Jane Gra... on YouTube
  25. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'Peace Will Come (According to Plan)' (Performed by Miley Cyrus & ... on YouTube
  26. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'Yaw Baby (Break My Heart)' (Performed by Melanie Safka) on YouTube
  27. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'Look What They've Done to My Song Ma' (Performed by Miley Cyrus &... on YouTube
  28. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'Don't Dream It's Over' (Performed by Miley Cyrus & Ariana Grande) on YouTube
  29. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: 'Happy Together' (Performed by Miley Cyrus) on YouTube
  30. ^ Happy Hippie Presents: '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' (Performed by Miley Cyrus) on YouTube
  31. ^ Miley Cyrus - Pablow "Backyard Sessions" (Official Video) on YouTube
  32. ^ Curto, Justin (October 16, 2020). "Here's What Happened in Miley Cyrus's MTV Unplugged 'Backyard Sessions' Special". Vulture. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  33. ^ Miley Cyrus & The Social Distancers Perform “Gimme More” (Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions) on YouTube
  34. ^ Miley Cyrus ft. Noah Cyrus Perform “I Got So High That I Saw Jesus” (Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions) on YouTube
  35. ^ Miley Cyrus & The Social Distancers Perform “Midnight Sky” (Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions) on YouTube
  36. ^ Miley Cyrus - Sweet Jane (MTV Unplugged Presents Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions) on YouTube
  37. ^ Miley Cyrus - Communication (MTV Unplugged Presents Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions) on YouTube
  38. ^ Miley Cyrus - Just Breathe (MTV Unplugged Presents Miley Cyrus Backyard Sessions) on YouTube
  39. ^ "Plastic Hearts (Apple Music Backyard Sessions Edition) by Miley Cyrus". November 27, 2020.
  40. ^ "Plastic Hearts (Apple Music Backyard Sessions Edition) by Miley Cyrus". November 27, 2020.
  41. ^ Blistein, Jon (March 6, 2023). "Miley Cyrus Reviving the 'Backyard Sessions' for 'Endless Summer Vacation' Special". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  42. ^ Petski, Denise (August 17, 2023). "Miley Cyrus To Release New Song "Used To Be Young" With ABC Special". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  43. ^ Aswad, Jem (March 3, 2023). "Miley Cyrus and Disney Reunite for 'Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)'". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  44. ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (March 3, 2023). "Miley Cyrus to Perform Songs From New Album on Disney+ Special 'Miley Cyrus — Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  45. ^ "Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions) Review". 1883 Magazine. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
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