Badu Bares It All: Act of Liberation or PR Stunt?

In her new video, Erykah Badu stirs controversy by getting both fully naked and shot in the head by a sniper in a little over 5 minutes. While Ms. Badu describes the piece as an act of liberation, it has caused quite a turmoil: from Dallas officials saying the the video was shot without a filming permit and that Badu got naked in broad daylight in front of stunned tourists and children, to JFK fans upset that it all took place at almost the exact spot where the late president was assassinated. What's your take on this? Act of liberation or PR stunt?! All of the above? Or are you just in awe of Erykah's behind? Watch the full video below to make up your mind! (be sure to listen to her statement at the end of the video)
- Lou C-D

Tags: Badu, Controversy, Erykah, Liberation, PR, Seat, Statement, Stunt, Video, Window

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Comment by Mushtaq Omar on May 4, 2010 at 6:58am: It seems like style over content to me Im afraid. Its a shame really. I used to dig her inovation because it was cohesive. It now seems a little self indulging which bores me. I hope the albums good.

Comment by blu girl on April 10, 2010 at 12:56pm: i agree. when she was on wanda sykes last week, wanda asked her about the video and all she talked about was how she used to go double & triple platinum and doesn't any more. i was stunned. i'm waiting for her to explain her work and she's talking about records sales.

Comment by weallfail on April 9, 2010 at 3:04am: It's funny how in the video that FashionFreak posted on the previous page she mentions about going butt naked, but says somebody else should do that. I like the song and the message the song conveys and even her talking at the end (a nice introspective quotable quote [I know corny alliteration here]). However, not pulling the permit and trying to get arrested is just a gimmick. I could forgive this more if it were the record company or the video producers were egging her to do this, but it was her idea.

Personally I think the video and the lyrics are a bit contradictory. First we got the video which portrays the struggle to remove oneself from the conformity; to break free from the social strata. This only ends up is assassination of ones character (both self and externally inflicted) because of our fear to break from societal constraints. Then we have the song itself which like the article states seems to indicate a reluctant departure. Where she's is fed up and wants to leave only to come back if begged. Well if the article is right and she is talking about her fans then... Perhaps she feels a bit spurned by her audience. Maybe her sales were not quite as high as she expected from her previous album and this video perhaps is subtle way of getting back at us. Perhaps she is from another planet doling out great music when those who are worthy beg enough. Perhaps I'm reading into this too much. Regardless she needs to have more faith in herself, her fans, and her music. I think I need some sleep.

Comment by Hitch on April 7, 2010 at 10:37pm: I like that article, I don't follow her music at all though. I don't see how this action would realistically result in anything and even if it does then what? Also not as original as some like to think

Comment by blu girl on April 4, 2010 at 9:59am
i like the song and video but it's really not that serious to me. badu's music, while i still like it in spells, has gotten more and more self indulgent over the years and this is no different. rob fields breaks it down really well

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-fields/window-seat-or-much-badu_b...

Comment by Joe on April 6, 2010 at 12:53am: it looks like she might have to tell some people to eat her placenta again.

and I, for one, look forward to that.

her new album is amazing. Favorite tracks: 'Window Seat' + 'Agitation' + 'Out My Mind, Just in Time' + 'Uhm Hmm'

Comment by G.I.A.G. on April 4, 2010 at 4:22pm: Good article. He broke that ish down. I'd have to agree with him on this one.

Comment by blu girl on April 4, 2010 at 9:59am: i like the song and video but it's really not that serious to me. badu's music, while i still like it in spells, has gotten more and more self indulgent over the years and this is no different. rob fields breaks it down really well

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-fields/window-seat-or-much-badu_b...

Comment by Morgan on April 3, 2010 at 1:27pm: i have to say this is my favorite video of all time....... simply cause its so original......

Comment by wynterhawk on April 3, 2010 at 10:39am: @fashionfreak. Hell yeah. I have that in my fav video folder. God, that woman is priceless. And they slipped in a little article of her in the new Nylon issue with Zoe Saldana on the cover. I've never read that magazine before, but I bought it for Zoe and was pleasantly surprised to see EB hiding in some of the later pages. :D