Miley Cyrus and Joan Jett Tear Into “Bad Reputation” at the Super Bowl Pregame Show
Miley Cyrus and Joan Jett lean toward each other with their microphones up and Jett’s red guitar between them. The band is already at full tilt on “Bad Reputation,” and the two singers meet the chorus with the same rough edge.
The duet takes place at the TikTok Tailgate, the Super Bowl pregame concert outside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. About 7,500 vaccinated frontline workers were invited to the show. Cyrus brings Jett out as a guest and shares the stage with her for a short run of songs.
“Bad Reputation” gets much of its force from how quickly it moves. The guitar and drums leave little time between vocal lines, so the two singers have to make every entrance count. Jett stays close to her mic while Cyrus moves across the stage with a handheld one.
When Cyrus turns to sing directly at Jett, their voices have a similar grain. Jett delivers the words in short bursts, and Cyrus draws out the ends of some phrases. The differences come through even when the two voices land on the same line.
Cyrus inducted Joan Jett and the Blackhearts into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On the Tampa stage, their familiarity is visible in the way they watch each other and leave room for one another’s vocals without slowing the song down.
Under the official upload, one viewer wrote, “When the Pre-Show is better than the Halftime Show…” The comment captures the appeal of seeing a punk rock song played at full volume in the middle of a football pregame concert. The video below is cued to the duet.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Play “Bad Reputation”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance puts the same song in Jett’s hands with the Blackhearts. Watch how she keeps the guitar part going while singing against the backbeat.
Miley Cyrus and Joan Jett Sing “Different”
For the Backyard Sessions, Cyrus and Jett share “Different” in a smaller setting. The arrangement leaves more space between the instruments and makes it easier to hear what each singer brings when they harmonize.
