David Byrne Mystifies NBC Viewers on Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton's New Year's Eve Special
01/05/2023 08:47 pm EST
Generation Gap
First, commenters quickly drew lines between generations in discussing Byrne. They felt that younger viewers simply weren't aware of his reputation, or the fact that his unique voice was celebrated by his fans for decades.
Freedom
Die-hard fans felt that Byrne had earned the right to perform any songs at any venue he wanted, and should not be considered out of place.
Theorizing
Given Byrne's quirky reputation and the utter surprise of this appearance, many fans theorized that he was a last-minute addition to the lineup. Perhaps, they speculated, he had even asked for the honor himself.
Name Mixup
Along the same lines, fans theorized about how Byrne wound up singing a David Bowie song when he first took the stage, thinking that the similarity in names might not be a coincidence.
Matching Energy
Seeing Cyrus perform alongside Byrne, many fans felt like this was a great match and wondered why it had never been done before. Some even joked that Cyrus might have been more at home as a celebrity in the 1970s rather than the last two decades.
Original Music
While Byrne's fans defended him from criticism, they had complaints of their own. Many wondered why he was singing covers, with just one of his own original songs. They also wished that his band, Talking Heads had been able to join him.
Confused
Finally, fans joked that Byrne seemed as confused as anyone by his own appearance on this show. They quoted his own song to reference the awkward moments.
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