Lil Nas X's "Montero" Video Opinion

 

                Hey guys. This is a super late post and I apologize for that but I wanted to talk about something that’s been in my mind since I saw the issue earlier on TikTok. So, I’m sure you all know but just in case you don’t, Lil Nas X released a music video alongside the song “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”. The song isn’t under controversy, but the music video is as it depicts scenes of Lil Nas X giving lap dances around a man dressed as Satan. The music video is meant to be a portrayal of how homosexuality is seen as a sin today but still, Lil Nas X finds pride in his sexual orientation. I’ve seen a lot of videos and some comments about how this video is offensive to certain Christian followers, and I don’t think this video should be seen as anything offensive. We should instead be grateful that we live in a world that allows singers of different backgrounds and orientations to portray their themes and songs on any platform. There was a TikTok that I saw from the rapper himself saying that the way a lot of people see the video is similar to how society made him feel shunned for being gay. I completely understand where he’s coming from, and he has a right to showcase his point of view on social matters concerning the LBGTQ+ community. Honestly, I was happy to see this video come out and even reach the number one trending video on YouTube because the existence of this video alone shows how society is slowly yet surely changing social norms. I’m sure before when it came to music, many performers were blocked from showcasing their ideas because of how they looked or who they liked. Today, we have an opportunity to hear stories from those who probably couldn’t say much in the past. Plus, I’m only talking about this video as a straight man who’s watching this video from the outside. I’m sure there are a lot of gay men who have been in similar shoes of Lil Nas X that see the power in this video and start realizing that they should be just as prideful.

Finally, I also wanted to share my opinion on the hypocrisy on the matter of how this situation arose. A lot of followers of the Christian faith have talked about how the act of dancing on the devil is disrespectful, but religion and music have been tied together since music existed. Music was always seen as a form of showing worship towards God, and if you look at modern media, there are many artists that have created music videos that delves in the middle ground between religion and music. I’ve personally seen and heard a lot of rappers create images of comparing them to god and saying that they are “GOATED” for being the best in their industry. I’ve seen rappers portray themselves as angels by having wings on their backs saying that they are sent from above to do great things in life and create music. There have been many rock bands that have openly shown images of satanic rituals and have acted like they are followers of Satan themselves. There’s even a song by Demi Lovato called “Dancing with the Devil” that follows a show of the same name that showcases her battle with stardom. Through these examples, I’m sure you can get the idea of how common the ideas of religion are explored through creative aspects in music. However, these forms of imagery are never criticized and are honestly encouraged through many listeners. So why should this rapper’s interpretation of god and the devil be treated any different? I feel like those who are attacking this video for the basis of religion alone shouldn’t be looking at this situation through a religious framework but rather one of creativity and imagination. I know I’m sort of rambling here, but there was a lot that I thought about with this video and I figured I share my take for those who are willing to read it. If you want to discuss this more, I’m more than willing to on my Twitch channel but until then, I hope you guys have a great rest of the week!