It was 2020. The world was quiet, locked down, and frankly, a little bored of the same three sourdough recipes. Then Miley Cyrus walked into a backyard with a mullet and a microphone.
She wasn't singing "Party in the U.S.A." anymore. Instead, she breathed new life into a rock staple that’s been through the ringer for decades. When Miley Cyrus Sweet Jane hit the internet as part of her MTV Unplugged Backyard Sessions, it didn't just trend; it felt like a shift.
Honestly, covering Lou Reed is risky. You either nail the cool, detached vibe or you sound like you’re trying way too hard at a karaoke bar. But Miley? She took the Cowboy Junkies' slow-burn approach and injected it with her own whiskey-soaked rasp. It was gritty. It was effortless.
The Backstory of the Backyard
The Backyard Sessions aren't exactly new. Miley started them way back in 2012 to show people she actually had pipes—remember the "Jolene" cover that basically saved her reputation after the Disney years? Fast forward to October 2020, and she revived the series for MTV.
This wasn't just a random rehearsal. Miley was flanked by her band, The Social Distancers (a name that aged exactly how you’d expect), in a set designed like a neon-lit garden dreamscape. She wasn't just performing songs; she was curation personified. Between covers of Britney Spears and Pearl Jam, "Sweet Jane" stood out as the anchor. It felt like she was finally wearing the leather jacket she was born to inhabit.
Why the Miley Cyrus Sweet Jane Version Works
Most people forget that "Sweet Jane" has two lives. There is the original 1970 Velvet Underground version—jangly, upbeat, and classic Lou Reed. Then there’s the 1988 Cowboy Junkies version—ethereal, haunting, and sluggish in the best way possible.
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Miley chose the latter as her blueprint.
She slowed the tempo down to a crawl. Her voice, which has grown deeper and more textured over the years (partly due to vocal surgery and life lived out loud), caught on the lyrics like sandpaper on velvet. When she sings about "Jack in his corset" and "Jane in her vest," it doesn't sound like a story from the 70s. It sounds like something she saw yesterday.
The arrangement is sparse. You’ve got a steady, thumping beat and some light, atmospheric guitar work that lets her vocal range do the heavy lifting. It’s a masterclass in restraint. Most pop stars try to over-sing these moments with runs and high notes. Miley just sits in the pocket and lets the "La-la-la" refrain do the talking.
Is it on an album?
That’s the question everyone asks as soon as they see the YouTube clip. Short answer: No.
Longer answer: It’s complicated. While the performance was a massive hit on YouTube (racking up millions of views) and circulated heavily on social media, Miley Cyrus Sweet Jane was never officially released on a studio album like Plastic Hearts. It exists in that "live session" limbo that makes certain performances feel even more special because you have to go looking for them.
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However, it paved the road for Plastic Hearts. That album was Miley’s full-throttle pivot into rock and roll. Without the success of these Backyard Sessions, we might not have gotten the collaborations with Billy Idol or Joan Jett. It proved to the industry—and maybe to herself—that she could command the stage with nothing but a microphone and a legacy track.
The Lou Reed Connection
Lou Reed once said the Cowboy Junkies’ version of his song was the "best and most authentic" he’d ever heard. It makes you wonder what he would have thought of Miley’s take.
Reed was notoriously prickly about his work, but he loved artists who had a bit of "dirt" on them. Miley has that in spades. There’s a specific kind of authenticity that comes when a former child star stops caring about being pretty and starts caring about being loud.
What This Performance Means for Her Career
Before this era, people still associated Miley with the "Wrecking Ball" chaos or the "Bangerz" aesthetic. It was all very loud and very visual. Miley Cyrus Sweet Jane was about the music. Period.
It stripped away the props.
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- No giant teddy bears.
- No foam fingers.
- Just a woman in a leopard print coat and a voice that sounds like it’s seen some things.
This performance was the bridge. It bridged the gap between the pop star who wanted attention and the rock star who earned it. It showed a deep respect for music history. You don't cover the Velvet Underground unless you're trying to signal that you know where you came from.
The Cultural Impact
TikTok caught onto the cover almost immediately. Even years later, the audio snippets of her growling the chorus resurface whenever someone wants to look "edgy" or "alt." But beyond the social media noise, it influenced how we look at covers in the modern age.
We’re in an era where everyone covers everything. Usually, it's a "sad girl" piano version of a fast song. Miley didn't do that. She kept the soul of the track but adapted the mood to fit the 2020 anxiety. It was a comfort watch during a time when everyone was stuck at home.
How to Appreciate the "Sweet Jane" Vibe Today
If you’re just discovering this cover, don't stop there. To really "get" what Miley was doing, you have to look at the context of that entire MTV Unplugged set.
- Watch the full YouTube video: Don't just listen to the audio. The visual of the band in masks and the moody lighting is half the experience.
- Listen to the Cowboy Junkies original: It’ll help you see exactly where Miley pulled her inspiration from.
- Check out "Heart of Glass": Her Blondie cover from the same era is the perfect companion piece to "Sweet Jane."
- Follow the evolution: Put on Plastic Hearts right after watching the Backyard Sessions. You can hear the confidence she gained from these live covers bleeding into her original songwriting.
Miley Cyrus didn't just cover a song. She claimed a genre. Whether you're a die-hard Smiler or a classic rock purist who usually hates "pop girls" touching the classics, it’s hard to deny that she did the song justice.
Next Steps for You: Go to Miley Cyrus's official YouTube channel and find the "Backyard Sessions" playlist. Watch "Sweet Jane" and "Communication" back-to-back to see her range. If you're a vinyl collector, keep an eye out for fan-made pressings or limited-edition bootlegs of the 2020 Unplugged sessions, as they are highly sought after for their raw sound quality.