MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name): Bop or Flop?

*Rolling Stone

Pop, 3 min, EXPLICIT

Artist: Lil Nas X

Single + Video

Directed by Tanu Muino and Lil Nas X

Released: March 26, 2021

What’s it about? Lil Nas X poses as Adam in the garden being seduced by the serpent, then he is stoned to death in a Roman dome. Before he goes to heaven, he descends into hell on the longest stripper pole and gives Satan a lap dance before breaking his neck. Amen.

Notable lyrics: (Nasty, Another whore anthem :)

• I want that jet lag from fuckin' and flyin'

• Shoot a child in your mouth while I'm ridin'

• Tell me you love me in private

• I do not care if you lyin'

Visuals: On point! Told a story that would make the straights and the homophobes upset! Also I loved that he used a shot from Spongebob as part of his treatment. The symbolism tells a story and gives a valid critique of the flaws in the Christian faith.

Bop or Flop? This song/video is definitely a certified BOP. He did what he had to do and then some! He is becoming a queer icon. The concept of the video is about accepting your sexuality and embracing it, no matter the consequences.

After all, this is the message LGBTQ people are taught in most churches, so why are the homophobes still mad that his video is embodying that?

Christians preach about love and forgiveness but pick and choose which sins they allow grace for. After all, in Old Town Road, Lil Nas X sung about lean and adultery. Yet in comparison to Call Me By Your Name, now it's a song for kids... I find it interesting that the conversation around setting an example for children only comes up when an artist is female or gay, as though Lil Nas X was the first artist to transform his image to something more raunchy. The label is explicit... it's not for kids. Next.

Also, this brings to question whether or not being gay really is a sin (There are scholarly takes about the word "homosexual" not appearing in the Bible until 1946).

Despite the fact that the Bible was written by men thousands of years ago in a foreign language and has been translated many times, Christians are taught to believe that the Bible is infallible, meaning it has no errors.

The older I get, the more I question this. If we are to take everything in the Bible literally and without room for error, interpretations can get tricky real fast when it comes to topics of slavery, gender roles, and sexuality.

Even if you're not ready to question the Bible's fallibility, can we agree that the church can treat people better? What happened to letting God judge? What happened to minding our business? Why are people so offended by the way other people live their lives?

What are people to do when they are believed to be an abomination? When they feel unworthy of God's love (and therefore, everyone else's) due to qualities about themselves that they can't change?

These types of beliefs are oppressive and harmful, and can lead an LGBTQ person to depression, self harm, and even suicide.

Ultimately, I commend Lil Nas X for using trolling for good. This is what art is for - to stir up important dialogue and make important critiques about culture. He did that while making a song that's a banger. This is an important moment, and the video is a must see.