Causing outrage by positioning oneself—literally—as Jesus is nothing new in the music industry. Whether it’s Nas (from whom Lil Nas X obviously takes a portion of his name) or Madonna, nailing oneself to the cross has long been a popular form of controversy-stirring (in addition to “simple” cross burning). But, as it’s been a while since someone has done it, perhaps Lil Nas X thought the time had come for someone to jump back up there. After all, feeling like a martyr is the name of the game in these modern times, for it seems to be one of the best ways to get attention (since taking off one’s clothes doesn’t have the same rarity as it used to).
It’s easy to feel like a martyr anyway as a celebrity in the social media age, wherein internet trolls appear in waves to deride anyone they perceive as somehow affronting. And Lil Nas X is no stranger to invoking the “wrath” of such trolls. But he, in turn, knows how to invoke his own wrath by being even more “controversial” in response. Indeed, he seems to take a page from Ye’s (back when he was Kanye West) 2004 “Jesus Walks” video with the religious overtones and imagery that abound in this self-directed project. Perhaps this is why Ye is featured as one of the “problematic” figures walking on the stairway to heaven. And, also taking a page from something Ye would do (and has done in the video for “Famous”), Lil Nas X includes the presence of Taylor Swift walking up the stairway as well. Though she surely wouldn’t like the implications of having to share any “heaven space” with said man/eternal nemesis. One friend she might not mind having around, however, is Ed Sheeran, another famous face (or rather, imitation of a famous face) who appears on the scene. Mariah Carey (who’s also name-checked in the song via the lines, “Last year was a quiet year/Now I’m on Mariah, yeah/I’m finna take it higher, yeah, okay”), Oprah and Barack Obama are in the line for “ascent” too as the very Kendrick Lamar-esque (specifically, “Humble”) beat drops.
As the camera then makes its way upward to show us a “slice of life in the sky,” we see the “angel” (or is he God?) that is Lil Nas X, who waves playfully to none other than Michael Jackson doing his moonwalk amongst the clouds. This, in fact, may be the most controversial moment of all in the video. But it also seems telling that a shot of Michael Jackson immediately prompts the camera to dip quickly down into hell to see what’s going on there (as Lil Nas X already showed us his fondness for doing in “Montero [Call Me By Your Name]”). And, in Lil Nas X’s imagination, what’s going on is a “gladiator-style” basketball game between Jesus and the devil…after a quick flash to Lil Nas as some kind of devilish Macbeth-ian witch standing vigil over a cauldron filled with dismembered arms and legs.
During said basketball game, “Satan” is, of course, wearing Lil Nas X’s notorious “Satan” Nikes with “Luke 10:18” emblazoned on them (that verse containing the lines: “He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven’”). After “J Christ” makes a slam dunk, Lil Nas X then cuts to himself dressed as the head cheerleader sassily cheering on the game as his fellow squad members lift him above their head.
It’s in the next scene that Lil Nas X delivers on the promise of a song title like “J Christ,” appearing nailed to the cross that we initially see him on from a perspective that makes him appear turned upside down as he raps, “Which way that we goin’? Hmm, this way” before the cross is “flipped around” to show his crucifixion “right side up.” Lil Nas X then goes from crucifixion to sheep shearing—perhaps a symbolic nod to how he plans to lead his flock while ensuring they all look their best. As Lil Nas X does while “serving cunt” in the next scene where he treats the white steps he stands on like a heavenly Met Gala photo opportunity. Turns out, Ts Madison is watching him strike these poses on her TV, as the headline, “Breaking News: We Are So Back” captions it. And yes, based on the subsequent headline detailing the “Global Flood Warning,” it’s clear that this moment in history would be the perfect time for J Christ to swoop in (which makes him sound more like a superhero than a messiah). Lil Nas X, indeed, does offer a fair point about how these are very apocalyptic times, and Jesus really ought to be materializing per the Bible’s “save the date” promises regarding the apocalypse.
The Noah’s Ark allusion is, obviously, not lost on the viewer either as torrents of water proceed to flood the city. Lil Nas X then does a very 00s-inspired round of choreography amid the lightning and rain with a billboard behind him that reads, “Lord Help Me For I Am At War.” Or, as Ye phrased it on “Jesus Walks,” “We at war/We at war with terrorism, racism/But most of all we at war with ourselves.”
Lil Nas X goes through that war with the self in a very “Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump” sort of way as he battles with the storm on a ship caught thrashing among the waves. When the tempest subsides and Lil Nas X’s ship starts to sail into the sun of a new dawn, the words, “Day Zero A New Beginning” flash over the screen. The final title card then quotes the Corinthians with, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Ah, leave it to Lil Nas X to repurpose scripture for the announcement of an upcoming album drop.
In short, the real reason for Lil Nas writing a song called “J Christ” was so he could serve all the looks while declaring, “Back-back-back up out the gravesite/Bitch, I’m back like J Christ/I’m finna get the gays hyped/I’m finna take it yay high [not Ye low].” And he has…even while also sinking into the depths of hell to do it.
[…] Genna Rivieccio Source link […]