Sufjan Stevens performs at a benefit concert as part of Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell on August 2, 2011 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Everyone has opinions about Miley Cyrus. Like, even Sinéad O’Connor. Turns out indie heartthrob Sufjan Steven has some strong feelings too. This weekend the singer/songwriter/player of all instruments penned an open letter to Miley, but unlike everyone else, he didn’t seem to have an issue with her clothing, her image, or her penchant for sticking out her tongue.
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Instead, Stevens decided to get real with Miley regarding a totally different — and much more important — topic: grammar. In the letter, which he posted on his website, he wrote:
Dear Miley. I can’t stop listening to #GetItRight (great song, great message, great body), but maybe you need a quick grammar lesson. One particular line causes concern: “I been laying in this bed all night long.” Miley, technically speaking, you’ve been LYING, not LAYING, an irregular verb form that should only be used when there’s an object, i.e. “I been laying my tired booty on this bed all night long.” Whatever. I’m not the best lyricist, but you know what I mean. #Get It Right The Next Time.
Unlike Sinéad O’Connor’s open letter, however, this one isn’t likely to turn into real beef, as it seems to be all in good fun. Stevens consoled her for her grammatical slip-up by letting her know that “even Faulkner messed it up. We all make mistakes, and surely this isn’t your worst misdemeanor.”
After a bit more rambling, Stevens wrapped things up:
Miley, I love you because you’re the Queen, grammatically and anatomically speaking. And you’re the hottest cake in the pan. Don’t ever grow old. Live brightly before your fire fades into total darkness. XXOO Sufjan
Alright then. Thanks for that, Sufjan.