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Numerous legendary American comedians, including Whoopi Goldberg, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, and, most recently, Kevin Hart, have been honored with the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor since its inception in 1998. The 2016 ceremony featured actor Bill Murray, known for his roles in “Ghostbusters” and “Groundhog Day.” No one could have foreseen the extraordinary level of Miley Cyrus’s performance when she began the festivities by singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”
Miley’s rendition begins similarly to Sinatra’s 1969 hit: with a grand piano as a backdrop, the song’s waltz-like tempo adorned with the vocal runs of a pop icon, and witty asides inserted between lines. As Miley took the stage, Bill Murray, who was seated in the audience, watched her first lyric with tears in his eyes and gave her a standing ovation.
The first line of Miley’s cover, “Bill did it his way,” concluded with her altered words. The song’s somber tone was abruptly interrupted by a barrage of electric guitars, and Miley exclaimed, “So am I!” In response, her pianist, who looked suspiciously like an unknown Matt Lucas, danced enthusiastically and added synths to Miley’s rock arrangement.
This edgy performance, in which Miley wears a silver glitterball bodycon dress, is sure to shock those who have never seen her rock covers. Her three-year YouTube cover of Blondie’s “Heart Of Glass” has racked up 180 million views, her collaboration with Metallica on “Nothing Else Matters” has amassed 24 million views, and her rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” has more than 7.7 million views. “My Way” has surpassed 3 million views on YouTube, continuing Miley’s streak of rock cover versions that outshine the originals.
