Song of the Day: “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, and the Roots

This week, I’ll be writing about some a cappella songs I like. I’m sorry this week doesn’t have a catchy tagline like “Get Pitch Slapped.”

One of the biggest hits of 2013, “We Can’t Stop” is an anthem for partying and rebellion and self-medication. It’s a compelling track, but I find the studio version’s production to be busy and distracting. Thankfully we have an alternate version immortalized on YouTube: Miley singing this song a cappella with the Roots on The Tonight Show.

This version is something of a revelation: the song’s tone is a much more controlled: celebration, with just a hint of angsty mourning. It also draws attention to the fact that Cyrus is in fact a very engaging vocalist when she isn’t hampered by theatrics and odd production choices (see the chorus of “Party in the USA,” which brutally distorts Cyrus’s voice.)

The video honestly makes me wish That Fallon would bring on more musicians to do a cappella renditions of their hits with The Roots. A few more entries in the Classroom Instruments series would be nice, too.