"My Anaconda don't… My Anaconda don't… My Anaconda don't want none unless you got buns hun." -"Anaconda", Nicki Minaj, 2014
Warning: This post and its related links might be "shocking" or "inappropriate" for some and contain images and language not meant for some readers. The attached video, although found on YouTube, may not be suitable to view in a classroom setting. You have been warned. Thank you.
The somewhat controversial performative act that I chose to explore is the music video for Nicki Minaj's latest single, "Anaconda". Before diving in, I suggest you watch the video below. (If you'd like to follow along, lyrics can be found here.)
Wasn't that lovely? At first viewing, you might find this to be your standard, run of the mill, sex filled, foul language everywhere, don't let the kids see this music video that has become pretty commonplace in our media crazed world. And for those Nicki fans out there, this loud and colorful performance is nothing new. Thanks to fellow classmate Genna Guidry, Nicki's "Anaconda" has been bouncing around my head for the last few days. It samples directly from Sir Mix-a-Lot's 1992 magnum opus, "Baby Got Back", and feeds my narcissistic side because she even mentions my name! Sweet!
All of this aside, I think Minaj's performative act (I'm going to call the entire music video here the "act") is intentionally performed to mean something totally different to what the video implies. For the first two thirds of the video, I thought the video went with the lyrics. Lots of butts, lots of butt shaking (I hear "twerking" is what the youths are calling it), lots of sex, and phallic imagery abundant. However, things take an almost (I'm going to say it) feministic turn during the "cooking show" portion of the video. Minaj, disgusted with the banana (male anatomy/man/all Men?) thinks about eating it, looks disinterested, decides to chop up the banana, then finally throws it out. Awesome. If this wasn't clear enough, Minaj then proclaims how she feels quite clearly with the lyrics:
"Yeah, he love this fat ass
Yeah! This one is for my bitches with a fat ass in the fucking club
I said, 'Where my fat ass big bitches in the club?'
Fuck the skinny bitches,
Fuck the skinny bitches in the club
I wanna see all the big fat ass bitches in the motherfucking club, fuck you if you skinny bitches. What? Yeah!"
This article from TIME Magazine puts what Minaj is doing quite eloquently: "You may enjoy what I do, but make no mistake - this isn't for you." I think Minaj is furious, done, over men controlling her own lifestyle as well as that of other women in the entertainment industry. It's such a bold way to say it, but she does it proudly and with gusto. You can hear it in her almost crazed but powerful cackle towards the end of the song. She's done. She's not going to stand for it. I think that with this video, she's in control and almost threatening those naysayers and potential controlling influences, all under the guise of a sexy, outlandish video. It starts out vague, but by the end, she's hitting you over the head with it.
Minaj's performative act of shoving sex in your face is intentionally performed to mean that she's in control of herself and what she chooses to put out there. Personally, I think it's such a badass way to show that you aren't going to take anything from anyone, and it's misleading in the best of ways. Leave it to Nicki Minaj to challenge your way of thinking about dance and sexual content in music videos.
I had never listened to this song the entire way through, nor have I watched the music video until now(Thank you so much!). That being said, I think that your assessment of the piece very accurately describes Minaj's intentions with the meaning of the song. If I had not read your post, I would have likely not ever listened to the end of the song and discovered its true meaning. Since I am largely unfamiliar with her work, I wonder what songs Niki Minaj has recorded in the past that have a similar intention of breaking the mold of the usual sexual "booty thumping" music that I imagine her music gets classified with. I will definitely listen in her future work to see if she continues her trend of making more meaningful and impactful messages in her music.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it (but remember, it's not for you! It's for her! NO!) I'm not sure all of Minaj's discography follows this mantra, but I'm sure some songs hold similar meaning for her. We have to remember she's a performer at heart, so those crazy big eyes and bubblegum pink lips are definitely part of the show, but I think she's pretty intelligent too and knows when she needs to say something in her own unique way. I think she's a powerful female performer who can be an inspiration for others with her "fuck it, fuck you, I'm gonna do me" attitude. I think she also enjoys playing with the "I'm the man, you're the woman" stereotype. Check out her song "Come on a Cone". My favorite lyrics are near the end (again): : "And I'm not masturbating, but I'm feeling myself
DeletePaparazzi is waiting, cause them pictures'll sell
Now don't you feel a-stupid, yeah that's egg on your face
If you wasn't so ugly, I'd put my dick in yo' face!
[Singing] Dick in your face; put my dick in your face, yeah!" She takes a very manly thing, a dick, and literally says she will put it in yo face. What an act of defiance. What a pure manly act. Women don't have dicks to put in people's faces, but she says it so matter of factly that I believe it. It's like her crazy laugh at the end of "Anaconda". She uses the idea of a man combined with the inciting of fear in others to show she's a strong woman. Go Nicki go.
Well, Nikki M, I will say that I personally can't stand her as an artist at all. However after reading your post, it put a different idea of performance in my head. Personally I have always looked at performers like her and think of it more as a marketing scheme, rather than real performance. But the idea of her flaunting her sexuality to represent the control that she has over her own is noteworthy. Clearly this disrupts my expectation of Nikki as an artist or lack there of, to actually having more depth to her personal performances .
ReplyDeleteI think it's important how she chooses to do it, too. I don't think anyone who hasn't read my blog or that news article I linked to above initially thinks of Nicki as a feminist. She isn't raving on the streets burning bras or letting her armpit hair run rampant, and I'm sure some women find her throwing sex everywhere utterly repulsive and vulgar and not becoming of a woman, but I think if you squint and look sideways at Nicki, you can start to find small hints of feminism, strong independent woman qualities, and her coyly hiding these images within her videos and lyrics. In case you were looking for the rest of that video I showed you earlier, it's here: http://youtu.be/D3EhE7TP_m4?t=4m35s I started it right where she starts to explain about The Kid leaving the game and actually performs!! part of the song I mentioned in my reply to Carter.
DeleteWell...you know I had to drop my two cents on Miss Nikki F Baby! I have had mixed feelings about Nikki Minaj from day one when she hit the music scene. Her raunchy lyrics, over the top costumes, edgy persona, and schizophrentic vocal choices had me pondering on what was her intent behind it all. Was she seeking attention, wanting to be a modern day reincarnation of former Hip Hop Queen Lil Kim, or was she simply being herself? Over time I have grown, such as yourself, quite fond of her boldness and find it to be a smart tactic to aid her in standing out in the music industry. She has inspired other artists to not conform to mainstream stereotypes and demands, and sparked a unique artist to fan relationship for other artists to follow. For that..I tip my hat off to you Nikki Minaj and encourage you to continue to be a unique and valid trailblazer in the music industry.
ReplyDeleteNow I will agree that this is indeed a performative act, but it comes as no surprise when the artist is Nikki Minaj. Hidden messages and a twist in the bridge or vamp is something that can be found in many of her songs. An example of a song and video that shows Nikki once again having a feminist quality in it is Super Bass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JipHEz53sU&list=UUaum3Yzdl3TbBt8YUeUGZLQ
Although the song talks about her liking of the perfect guy, she repeats similar actions found in the Anaconda video. Such as showing female unity and power over men in dance numbers and even doing a sexy strip tease on a guy that does show she is in control. The depths of Anaconda and "buns" are deeper than the anatomical make up and lifestyle of having a big ass. Through her lyrics she lets the world know that having a huge ass will give you control over men, which is why she even attacks skinny women at the end of the Anaconda song.
But once again, this should come as no surprise when you talk of Nikki Minaj. The same way it shouldn't for other artist such as Miley Cyrus or Marilyn Manson.You either can love it or hate it, but at the end of the day their uniqueness is what makes their records sell.
-Amar