Normani is Coming: You ready?
So if you’re anything like me, you’ve already seen the new Normani video at least 3 or 4 times and if you haven’t, you definitely should. “Motivation” was released at midnight August 16th and sent social media into a stan-filled frenzy. The video is currently trending on Youtube, over 440,000 people have tweeted about the single within 12 hours of its release, and there has been an outpouring of support from celebrities like Halsey to Kelly Rowland all for for the pop star’s debut single.
The song, co-written by tourmate and fellow star Ariana Grande, is a big deal for the singer. Following chart-topping tracks like “Love Lies” with Khalid and “Dancing with a Stranger” with Sam Smith, this is her first single as a solo star. Both songs definitely displayed Normani’s massive potential, but “Motivation” brings it to fruition and shows that she can hold her own as a solo artist.
As many know, the New Orleans native got her start on Fox’s The X-Factor USA in 2012. Originally eliminated in early stages, she was brought back to join a group of other X-Factor hopefuls, and from this brought Fifth Harmony. Multiple accolades, Billboard hits, and a somewhat rocky split later, the group decided to pursue solo careers. Many are very aware of Camila Cabello’s spotlight post-5H, but I think it’s time for Normani to take center stage.
The video is jam-packed with nostalgia, paying homage to pop culture fixtures in the early 2000’s. From the 106 & Park intro to the bubblegum pink Mariah Carey Heartbreaker-era aesthetics in the promotional materials to the multiple Beyoncé music video references, Normani is showing respect for the artists that paved the way for her career in the most fun, unbelievable way.
Of course, none of this would be complete without a signature component of early 2000’s music videos: jaw-dropping hip-hop choreography. And on this, Normani surely doesn’t disappoint. Though she has a team of incredible background dancers to support her steps, it is clear that she doesn’t use them as a crutch to add some movement in the video. This comes as little surprise to longtime fans of Normani, who have known her since the days of her posting dance videos to Future among others to her showstopping BBMA performance, but was a pleasant surprise who know her mostly for her vocal prowess. In an age of unconventional pop stars who do not combine vocals and choreography in the ways that musicians did in the past, Normani’s commitment to being a woman of many talents is both impressive and refreshing.
If all of that wasn’t enough, the video is truly what representation for Black people should look like. The fact that there is a dramatized version of herself watching 106 & Park and dreaming of one day seeing herself on that screen is a testament to that. With the powerful girl posse that accompanies her throughout the video to the joyful brass band that accompanies her during the iconic rain scene and could even be a reference to her Big Band childhood in New Orleans, she is making sure many areas that are important to her as a young Black woman are covered. And she even shows representation for areas that don’t relate to her, as shown by the awesome moment in which plus size model Nao Seych walks off with a male model that Normani and her crew were checking out. The moment was brief, but truly great, showing that fat women are just as desirable as their skinnier counterparts and should be viewed as such.
All in all, after a few days of excitedly anticipating this release, it did not disappoint. I can honestly say I am so excited for Normani’s rise to even more success and I will definitely be supporting her as she makes her way.
