I’ve been writing about how a poor live performance can kill your affection for a band. It has happened with Dirty Projectors. With Spoon. With Paramore (the opposite is also true: both Cabalancas and Oberst only completely clicked with me when i loved em live).
It is especially true of Erykah Badu who I loved early in her career but who was so awful ten years ago at Radio City Music Hall, I completely turned off her.
I bought her latest single, “Window Seat” out of a sense of responsibility to not dislike stuff before I heard it. And was surprised to quite like it. But only quite like.
Then I saw the video on http://www.erykahbadu.com/ and I am in awe. Badu walks through downtown Dallas taking off her clothes till she is naked near the spot where JFK was assisnated when an unseen sniper shoots her dead.
This was recorded on the street, guerilla art tactics that could easily have gotten her arrested. It was filmed without permission, and in public during daylight hours in crowded streets. The video itself has her breasts and pubic area pixalated. But like Badu herself might say: she aint no cheap thrill.
Now, I love the single and I think the video is very thrilling stuff and I think i’ve finally forgiven badu for that godawful concert.