*Contrary to EURweb’s assumption of digital imagery used in Erykah Badu’s new music video for the song “Window Seat,” the songstress did in fact go au natural in public for the Coodie Rock-directed clip.
In the video (scroll down to watch), Badu is featured prominently as she takes off her clothes while walking through downtown Dallas. By the end of the clip, Badu is totally nude.
The singer later falls to the ground after being shot in the head at the same location where former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Instead of blood coming out, Badu bleeds blue while animated words spell out “groupthink” from her head when she collapses on a sidewalk.
Since its premiere over the weekend, the “Window Seat” video has encountered mixed reaction among viewers. According to Badu, the idea to go nude came on the spur of the moment.
“We only had 1 shot to get it right,” she tweeted Sunday (March 28) night on Twitter. “We didn’t plan the shot. Coodie and I just went raw dog. Too busy lookin for cops and being petrified.”
While it may seem to have taken quite a bit of time, Badu admitted to quickly taking off after shooting the entire stripping scene in a couple of minutes.
“The people caught in the shot were trying hard to ignore me,” the vocalist tweeted. “Lol, [except] one guy grabbing [my] clothes. … He disappeared. Didn’t have time to look for him or clothes. We ran. It was the peeps off camera yelling.”
And while she endured her share of shouts from people, Badu continued as she “held my head up and kept moving.”
“… There were children there. I prayed they wouldn’t b traumatized,” the entertainer added.
“Window Seat” is the first single off Badu’s new album, “New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh.” The album, which features production from Ahmir “?ueslove” Thompson, 9th Wonder, James Poyser and the late J. Dilla, among other is currently available in stores.
Watch Erykah Badu’s ‘Window Seat’:
I’m never surprised at anything she does…
After “Mama’s Gun,” I had dubbed EB my favorite artist hands down. However, since, I’ve tried to stay on the bandwagon but I’ve just not been overly-impressed with her offerings. Then you add this weird bizarro type stuff–going nude in downtown Dallas? Really? You couldn’t think of anything else creative that would have garnered the same effect?–I just can’t get with it. I will say the subject matter–anti-groupthink–is appealing to me so I would like to hear the song. Lord knows in this community these days, groupthink is a big-time problem.
The more I watch the video I understand it a lot better, but I’m still not sure if this is actual artistry or just a publicity stunt to re-introduce her to the public and hopefully generate sales. I’m thinking I should give her the benefit of doubt BECAUSE Badu has always been authentic, genuine and more importantly UNAPOLOGETIC. Hmmmm. It is what it is… I say if we can stomach the teabaggers spitting on our black leaders and all kinds racist names without starting a riot then we should be able to digest this mildly shocking form of social commentary from a musical artist. Keep doing you, Badu-Baduuuuu.
…Dayum!!!Dayum!!…How come a muthafuccer always gotta miss the good sh1t?…Here her azz comes stripping down the street..With all that “Ba-Du”…You gotta admit, that “Ba-Du” done got bigger…I woulda loved to have seen that sh1t…You prolly woulda seen me in the video…running beside her gawking…Hell, no…I wouldn’t have averted my eyes…I’m looking…I’m looking man…
…Wait-a-minute, did she say “Raw-Dog” style?…
huey wishes to lie naked with badu’s booty…
Kudos!!! Great publicity stunt. Although when she says it was spontaneous I think she is not being truthful. No one wears all those layers.
WTF?? I do.
I love the song… have to see the vid in its entirety to provide my assessment….
I liked Erica in her early days with the CD that had her early hits like Tyrone and a few others. I just cannot get into her any longer. She has gotten a bit too eccentric.
Badu got a nice badu-nkadunk. All I’m saying.
I’m not offended by the video and ‘get’ her point about group think and people’s need to “assassinate” things they don’t understand. Did she have to get nekkid to make the point, but a lil provocativeness didn’t hurt anyone.
She got naked to shed off all the layers that society tries to burden ya with.
Bad-Dukie-Du!
After looking at this video again, I’m firmly convinced that she had her people as “extras” at the place where she finally stripped naked. There’s just no way that folks would walk by so nonchalantly with someone who was topless or naked. Just no way.