Leviticus: Faggot
| "Leviticus: Faggot" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover art for commercial international releases | ||||
| Single by Meshell Ndegeocello | ||||
| from the album Peace Beyond Passion | ||||
| B-side | "Deuteronomy: Niggerman"[1] | |||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Genre | Neo soul | |||
| Length | 6:08 | |||
| Label | Maverick | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Meshell Ndegeocello[2] | |||
| Producer(s) | David Gamson[3] | |||
| Meshell Ndegeocello singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Leviticus: Faggot" at VH1.com | ||||
"Leviticus: Faggot" is a song written[2] and performed by Meshell Ndegeocello, issued as the second single from her second studio album Peace Beyond Passion. The song peaked at number 15 on the Billboard dance chart.[4]
Music video
The official music video for the song was directed by Kevin Bray.[5] The beginning of the video depicts a young man who is thrown out of his house for being gay, and the video concludes with the man (presumably) committing suicide.[6] However, it is possible due to the way it's presented in the video, the whole ordeal was a dream sequence, or merely a suicide attempt, (as the man probably changed his mind, and is seen walking away from the scene composed) and that's not necessarily what happened.
Controversy
Because of the subject matter, the use of the word "faggot" being used so prominently in the song, and presumably[7] the same-sex relations depicted in the video, many music video stations refused to air it without edits. The Box aired the video in its entirety, while MTV aired it but omitted a clip of the male protagonist showing the razor blade he later uses to commit suicide.[6] BET would not air the video at all, with then-music director Gregg Diggs stating that the network's decision not to air it was strictly because of the use of the word "faggot" and not because of "anything sexual".[7] Ndegeocello declared Diggs' explanation "a crock of bull"[7] and further stated that networks that edited the video or did not air the video missed the point that the song and video were making.[6][7]
Chart positions
| Chart (1996)[2] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Dance Music/Club Play SIngles (Billboard) | 15 |
References
- ^ "Me'Shell NdegéOcello - Leviticus: Faggot (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Leviticus: Faggot - Meshell Ndegeocello | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ "Me'Shell NdegéOcello - Leviticus: Faggot (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ ""Leviticus: Faggot" by Meshell Ndegeocello | Music Video | VH1.com". VH1. Viacom International. July 3, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c Atwood, Brett (June 15, 1996). "Billboard". Billboard. Los Angeles: 85. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "The Advocate". The Advocate. Here Media: 58. July 23, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
External links
- "Leviticus: Faggot" at AllMusic
- "Leviticus: Faggot" at Discogs (list of releases)
- Template:MetroLyrics song