Singer and actress Erykah Badu caused quite a stir with the debut of her provocative 'Window Seat' video. In it, the artist bares all -- literally. Thanks to Alanis Morissette, Lady Gaga and a few other exhibitionist-leaning artists, this isn't the first time that a songstress has gone nude before a video lens.
It is, however, an unexpected turn of events from a performer who admittedly steps outside of the box while cultivating her personal style. Few ever imagined that this thirty-nine year old mother of three would so unabashadly step out of her clothes on a public street just to make a point.
So What Was Erykah Badu's Point?
First, a little background on the making of the video and a slight American history lesson. The video was filmed in a single take in Badu's home town of Dallas, Texas. As she sauntered down a street littered with passerby and, piece by piece, stripped away all of her clothing while being led by a single camera man, surprised onlookers undoubtedly thought she'd lost her mind.
If the setting of the video looks familiar to some, it's because it was filmed in Dealey Plaza, which is also the exact site of President Kennedy's assassination in 1963. Besides obviously promoting the release of her latest album, New Amerykah, Part Two: Return of the Ankh (Universal/Motown), when interviewed by NPR, Robert Wilonsky, a writer with the Dallas Observer, reports that she donned all of her clothing before collapsing on the sidewalk as though being shot since she figured she would be a victim of her own character assassination following the Window Seat video premiere. Whatever that means.
Public Reactions to Erykah Badu Stripping in the 'Window Seat' Video
Because of the site's historical significance, however, more than a few are not amused by her actions. In fact, Ron Rice, an employee at Dealey Plaza, who happens to lead walking tours at the historical site, is reported on the Dallas News' website as characterizing her disrobing as "irresponsible".
In the same article, Rice went on to say that she should be arrested for her actions. Had she been caught at the scene, the truth is that she probably would have been arrested since it is rumored that she did not have a permit for the video's filming, or for her own public nudity, if such a thing exists. Comments directed toward the artist's critics on the Dallas News' website also reveal that her depiction of being shot at the video's ending was seen by some as being disrespectful.
As for Erykah's own comments about the 'Window Seat' video, certainly much more will be divulged as she manages a series of interviews promoting her album's release. For now, on her personal Twitter account Erykah Badu, also known as @Fatbellybella, summed the controversy up to simply this:
"I will my music brings you encouragement, joy, light, tears, chuckles, babies,...change. It is my therapy. I'm naked. E.Badu"
Sources:
- ErykahBadu.com, Erykah Badu Official Site (accessed March 30, 2010)
- Dallasnews.com, Reactions to Erykah Badu's nude Dealey Plaza video from groans to yawns (accessed March 30, 2010)
- MTV.com, Erykah Badu's 'WIndow Seat' Video: Our Favorite Bystanders (accessed March 30, 2010)
- NPR.org, Erykah Badu's New Video Stirs Controversy (accessed March 30, 2010)
- Twitter.com/Fatbellybella, Erykah Badu on Twitter (accessed March 30, 2010)
Laura M. Sands - Writing has always been my easiest and most prized form of self-expression. I have a variety of different interests and am pleased with ...
