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Erykah Badu's 'Window Seat' Video: Naked Romp at JFK Landmark Has Web Talking

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 30th 2010 04:48PM

Erykah Badu 'Window Seat' Video

Erykah Badu's 'Window Seat' video is a purpose-driven striptease, featuring the singer walking through the city center of her hometown Dallas, tossing her clothes and walking slowly to the tune of the track. Immediately after Badu goes full nude, a gunshot rings out, her head whips back violently as her body goes limp, tumbling to the ground, leaving spectating citizens utterly confounded.

And it all goes down "within feet" of Dealey Plaza, the infamous spot of John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Badu told the newspaper the video was a "protest" and "about liberating yourself," adding that she chose the grassy knoll intentionally, for its historical significance."I tied it in a way that compared the assassination to the character assassination one would go through after showing his or her self completely," Badu told the Dallas Morning News. "That's exactly the action I wanted to display."

After Badu collapses, blue lines spill from her head, writing "groupthink" on the pavement. Badu has used the video to unleash a Twitterstorm of thoughts about the concept of groupthink. The clip concludes with the following spoken word passage:

They play it safe, are quick to assassinate what they do not understand. They move in packs, ingesting more and more fear with every act of hate on one another. They feel most comfortable in groups; less guilt to swallow. They are us; this is what we have become, afraid to respect the individual. A single person within our circumstance can move one to change, to love herself, to evolve.

A Dallas police officer told MTV if Badu had been spotted or reported, the combination of indecent exposure and the presence of children could have landed her a maximum fine of $4,000 and up to one year in jail ... or both.

"What was crazy was the fact that it's a high tourist area, so there was patrol cars all day, and I [was hearing] sirens, looking up and seeing some kind of sherriff's car or something," the video's co-director, Chike, told MTV. "So I was like, 'This is gonna be interesting.' Her contingency plan was get arrested -- she was big on doing it." Chike's partner Coodie said they had bail money ready, adding, "I think she really wanted to get arrested and even make a bigger message."

We gleaned the following facts about the video, which was shot "guerilla style, no crew, one take, no warning," from Badu's Twitter:

funny thing is, the physical nudity is nothing lol . i been naked all along in my words actions and deeds . thats the real vulnerable place

hours before i talked to mama. she said she wasnt fully in favor but she had my back .

we only had 1 shot to get it right. we didnt plan the shot. too busy lookin for cops and being petrified

i remember tweeting that day. "okay here goes nothing" i felt like i was going 2 do something life threatening.

the people caught in the shot were trying hard to ignore me

heard people yelling diff things @ me but i held my head up and kept moving. there were children there. i prayed they wouldnt b traumatized...

they were yelling , THIS IS A PUBLIC PLACE : YOU OUGHTA BE ASHAMED: PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON: DAMN GIRL! etc...

funny, i thought i was outta shape thus encouraging others toward self love .. but they think im showin off. lol. the irony .

The video arrived in tandem with the artist's new album, 'New Amerykah, Part Two: Return of the Ankh,' her fifth studio release since her 1997 debut.

Warning: Video below contains blurred-out nudity.

Tags: dallas, Erykah Badu, window seat

Comments

(298)

Sunday 04 April

By gheechie grrl

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They did have a choice... turn away, not look. Or better still, why not have a conversation about...

Wednesday 31 March

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I love it when washed up "artists" pull these "I'm making a political statement/protest" things to drum up some publicity. If she hadn't done this, NONE of us would have known the skank even had a new video, lol. You aren't fooling anyone sweetie, really, out your clothes on, you look pathetic.

Wednesday 31 March

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Now you know!

Wednesday 31 March

By some dude named steevo

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Erykah Badu has to be THE most over-rated singer in the last 15 years. Music critics have orgasms about her, but her voice is a joke. She sounds like a cross between a tom-cat in heat and a leaky radiator.

Wednesday 31 March

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Courage shes a stupid crack hor.But she does have a nice but.

Wednesday 31 March

By Dan

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Art is art and doing anything for attention is called "insecurity". I have seen art and this is not art. Sound familiar. Even more deplorable is a total lack of concern for young children in the area. Exposing yourself to an audience that is there to see that is one thing but exposing yourself to an unwilling crowd is called a disturbance so I guess that is what DISTURBED people do.

Wednesday 31 March

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I just love her! She has her own thing going on! Love the video, this is a piece of art.Keep wowing us Erykha :D

Wednesday 31 March

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There is no creativity portrayed here. Nakedness, for the sake of drawing attention, has been used since the dawn of man.

And the song, although pretty, sounds just like a zillion other songs out there.

Wednesday 31 March

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art it is not.most people couldn't care less what the hell she does.90% of the people never heard of her and don't care to.the only reason i know who she is,is because of my kid.

Wednesday 31 March

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What a maverick!! LOL! I love that someone actually used the words 'powerful' and 'milieu' to describe this PR stunt. Powerful. ROTFL

Wednesday 31 March

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Erykha looks Damn Good too! Mad Props!

Wednesday 31 March

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Damn Erykah's got a hot lil phatty.
I didn't know she had it like that.

Wednesday 31 March

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i dont care about her being naked if that is what this well ... wants. it is however to any one older an insult .why not do it in memphis .yes we know what happen there as well same deal bang.right .cant have that

Wednesday 31 March

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I honestly don't see the big deal; if she wants to make a video of herself fully naked walking down the street, then let her. I agree with StevieD. If Lady GaGa or Beyonce or anyone else like them would've done it, then we'd be saying how "artistic" they were. I mean, Lady GaGa's Telephone is basically a porn video, & nothing was said about that. Why make a big deal about this?

Wednesday 31 March

By Pat

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All she can do is get naked. She sure CAN NOT sing.

Wednesday 31 March

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all "artist" try to push envelope for attention however this spectacle was extreme bad taste magnified. there places that you do not use or touch in such an awful way. i remember that day i was 7 years old and it still makes cry today. the twin towers, the ok city bombing, and dealy plaza were not meant to be used in such a ridiculous. maybe when she grows up some more she might understand or maybe she won't

Wednesday 31 March

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Who know what the true reason behind her stunt? She was walking naked I don't really see anything wrong with that. There are way worse things that is happening in the America. Like human trafficing, gangs, drugs, force to buy health ins, unsoved murders, corupt gov. Sooooo, she can walk naked all she want's for all I care...

Wednesday 31 March

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She says it herself in the song:

"I need your attention"

Getting naked will do it.

I think the lyrics are pretty clear: I need attention. concentrating on my music, lover and my babies ...

Yep. I sympathize for her babies.

PUBLICITY.

Wednesday 31 March

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Here's my expression; She is garbage. Man I love America.

Wednesday 31 March

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Yep I've heard of trailer park trash. and your right they do live in amercia LOL take the trash out!!!!

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