This is a summoning of bodies: all shapes, sizes and shades
December 17, 2015 5:50 AM   Subscribe

Lizzo has a new album out - Big GRRRL Small World. Among a roster of tracks that specialises in audacious beats, hilarious lyrics, unexpected diversions and freakishly catchy hooks, sits My Skin, a sweet but weary ode to empowerment, body-positivity, and being a person of colour.

Big GRRRL Small World follows on from her debut album LIZZOBANGERS, from which you might know Batches and Cookies (video may not be SFW if it's not cool to see hot guys get greased down and covered in donuts)), the catchiest celebration of baked goods you'll hear this week.

My Skin was released with an accompanying essay which articulates Lizzo's experiences of discrimination and vilification, personally and within her communities - "My Skin literally matters. It matters because it’s the largest organ on my body. Because it’s my exterior. It’s been stretched, sunburnt and covered in glitter. It’s the first thing you notice about me. My skin is dark brown, but if you asked someone they would say it’s black. My blackness is my largest assumed ‘accessory.’". The song was apparently inspired when Lizzo took part in StyleLikeU's What's Underneath project, where "women sit on a stool and talk about their complicated and varied relationships with their body, all the while shedding one piece of clothing after another until there's nothing to hide behind".

Alternatively, if you prefer your anthems of self-acceptance delivered with a tad more bragadoccio, listen to another high point on the album, En Love, ensuring you stay tuned for the drop.
posted by greenish (12 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
RESPECT!
posted by Bob Regular at 6:19 AM on December 17, 2015




Thank you. This put tears in my eyes in a good way. Time to buy this album.
posted by rednikki at 6:55 AM on December 17, 2015


That was great!
posted by rtha at 8:18 AM on December 17, 2015


Saw Lizzo open for Sleater-Kinney in DC back in March. "Batches and Cookies" is like, the best -- she throws cookies into the audience during it.
posted by PandaMomentum at 8:53 AM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]


I just watched it.

BRILLIANT, but -

I bet she finds glitter in her hair for *months* after that shoot.
posted by Faintdreams at 9:51 AM on December 17, 2015


it's fine, she actually walks around surrounded by an aura of glitter
posted by clavicle at 10:09 AM on December 17, 2015 [3 favorites]


I saw Lizzo last summer backing-up Harmar Superstar. i think she's one of the few people on the planet that can go toe to toe on stage with Harmar without a) breaking or b) backing down. Fantastic artist, fantastic pipes.
posted by nathan_teske at 10:22 AM on December 17, 2015


Similarly freakishly catchy: Let 'em say.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:34 AM on December 17, 2015


Very cool! I've never heard of her before, but I downloaded a few songs after listening to them in this thread. Thanks!
posted by Slothrop at 3:17 PM on December 17, 2015


Bus Passes and Happy Meals is such an amazing song. I like it better live now that she's got Sofia Eris doing the call and response with her. My girlfriend and I met them (Lizzo, Sofia and her drummer who has a name but I'm lazy) after the Chicago Sleater-Kinney show and she's adorable and so gracious. Not yet famous enough that she isn't totally flattered when someone wants to meet her. Out of all the dumb things I said she countered with, "Can I take a picture with you?!?!" and "Do you want a hug?!" YES and YES.

We're from Minneapolis and we were at the Minneapolis show and everyone knew her, so I was curious how Chicago would respond. She walked on stage and immediately launched into Lizzie Borden, and 30 seconds in I think she had the whole crowd. She is fantastic live.
posted by good lorneing at 7:43 PM on December 17, 2015 [2 favorites]


Thanks to this post, both her albums are going to be in very heavy rotation on my music-playing devices.
posted by rtha at 11:16 AM on December 19, 2015


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