IN THE SPOTLIGHT : COLDPLAY – “HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND” (FEAT. BEYONCÉ) VIDEO
Ultimately, the wait is over. Coldplay and Beyonce deliver a collaboration video for the band’s new song “Hymn for the Weekend,” The song from the British band’s freshest album “A Head Full of Dreams” was directed by Ben Mor and leads the band on a journey to Mumbai, India where the leads wander the streets observing religious shamans, swinging street teenagers and people rejoicing Holi, a Hindu celebration of colors.
Beyonce who performed in clips as a Bollywood Diva wearing henna and a bejeweled Indian attires. The video has sparked a discussion on social provision, specifically Desi or Indian culture. While some proclaiming it a “stereotypical” depiction of the land. I skipped addressing, Oh-so Miss-Kapoor also arrived in the video (Minimum 5 seconds).I’ve emphasized the assertive and cynical facets of the single.
1-It’s manifest, India is all about celebrating holi and colors. Half -naked young boys and slums is the real India.
2- No confusion at all, India is perceived as the country of snakes, temples and sadhus.
3- Beyoncé looks magnificent, yet India is not about dark complexions or exotic faces.
4- India is all about Bollywood and glamorous stars. Coldplay drilled Sonam Kapoor as a prop for an allurement quotient.
5- I’m biased but the taxi was the only saving grace. The art you noticed inside the taxi was sketched by a Pakistani artist, Samya Arif.
It’s one-sided depiction of a strong and distinct life although is hardly the rock group’s problem alone. India’s film industry has been among the vulnerable offenders when it comes to portraying portions of other cultures and nations. Overall a hot and happening affair enjoyed it.
Your commentary on the video was interesting. My opinion on this and cultural appropriation however is that people tend to forget that no culture, no country, no religion, no ethnic group can be represented by one music video or one TV show or one picture. They are so vast that maybe only the people of that culture or religion or ethnicity can fully understand their side of life. If you watch a 4 minute movie and base your entire perception about a culture it shows, here's news people; your views are flawed. Media shows bits and snippets of what they think you'll watch and they will continue to do so. It's your job to keep an open mind and actually make the effort to learn thru first or second hand experiences. But maybe I'm expecting too much? In any case I'm tired of this appropriation rant. But good piece of writing though. :)
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