Well, Erykah Badu is back and, boy, has she ever entered stage right with a BANG! Her new music video, Window Seat, is a soulful meditation on vulnerability, the longing to be missed and wanted, a need for applause. The lyrics reveal a struggle with herself, relationship, and her need to perform.
A bell went off in my head when her music video hit the internet and media. What was it I recently saw her in? Initially I was stunned by her courage to get naked. When the resulting controversy regarding her disrobing crescendo erupted, I was reminded of where I saw her.
In Andrew Shaper's great documentary film Before the Music Dies, Badu does a testy tongue-in-cheek assessment of what it takes to be successful in today's entertainment business - if you are a woman. Her conclusion is that one needs various bodily implants with an emphasis on the butt. Especially the butt. Certainly you need huge amounts of cascading hair. Then you need to do some "ho' s**t," be prepared the teeter on stilettos regardless of your age and, finally, just go on and get buck nekked.'
Then you'll have yourself a career in The Business.
I'd say she made her point. The irony is, of course , she says it's for someone else to do. Though on her own eccentric, irreverent terms, her craving for attention and applause won out.
B O N U S:
Before the Music Dies can be seen on Hulu:
You have to watch it if only for Ray Charles and Billy Preston's Agent Double O Soul opening. It's phenomenal!
Cheers,
LFF
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