5 key cultural references in Nicki Minaj's ridiculous 'Roman Holiday' Grammy show
Watch: Catholicism, 'The Exorcist,' 'West Side Story' and what Nicki did on her Christmas vacation
Nicki Minaj performing at the 2012 Grammy Awards, looking as confused as we are
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What the hell was that?
Nicki MInaj's Grammy Awards show performance of "Roman Holiday" was hell, in so many ways. Most notably, it was a theatrical interpretation of hell, though viewers were indiscriminately and unknowingly cast there within the first few notes.
The jumbled, faltering, brain-deleting insanity of the stage presentation wasn't made any more tolerable by Nicki's singing voice, bending around the tracked vocals in caterwauling notes and nonsense. Until there is a fully edited music video to accompany this song, it will be forever burned into memory as a vortex of blistering shame and confusion.
Nobody -- especially Minaj -- was ready for this. But there were some clues as to what she was going for, references to pop culture flotsam and bedlam that could one day parse into a central theme or idea.
Below, I outline five of many influencers on Minaj's Roman trainwreck. If you relax your eyes long enough, you'll see a dolphin or perhaps a man with a funny hat emerging from this image:
1) West Side Story's "I Feel Pretty" -- Maria is nearly hysterical about how damn pretty she is. She's got a massive crush on a dude. Minaj -- who is already exalted as a musical sexual icon -- sings it out of demonic delirium. Good girl gone mad?
2) "The Exorcist" -- Minaj didn't go so far as vomiting (literal) bile or masturbating with a crucifix, but the video clip and the hyper-sexual performance's arc all point to the film as the main influence and reference, along with a little dab of "The Craft."
3) Roman Catholicism -- Aside from the general insanity flopping all around the stage, what's even more jarring after first-glance is a woman of color springboarding off of Catholicism (Roman Catholicism, get it?). While Madonna and Lady Gaga before her have made a pop spectacle of Catholic rituals and pock-marked history, Minaj put paired sacred and profane with an urban track. An "altar boy" is seen on his knees, his face in that space just above her knees. Her confession turns into an expulsion of violence. The stained glass windows of the "church" become the fire-and-blood-colored backdrop for levitation. The "pope" was her companion on the red carpet. At the end of her (literal) rope, she begs "Mother, forgive me" instead of the traditional gender-opposite "Father, forgive me."
4) Minaj's own self-reference -- Minaj's multiple personalities get further chopped and screwed here. She's rapping as Roman, her tiffy gay male alter-ego, and singing as Roman's mother Martha on the chorus. Meanwhile, she continues to play on her womanly wiles, trudging around in a dress and dealing with the occasional bondage fantasy. Is Roman persecuted by demons because he is gay, or because the Catholic Church doesn't look too kindly on homosexuals? Or did the producers even get that far?
5) The Holidays -- The Young Money rapper seems to be all about the holidays. She released her first album "Pink Friday" on Black Friday of the shopping year in 2010 and originally plotted to release "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" on Valentine's Day. That drop date has since moved to April 3, which is mid-week of Holy Week for Catholics and other Christians. And, of course, there's the title "Roman Holiday" -- a day to enjoy and witness the suffering of others -- and the musical allusion to classic Christmas carol "O Come All Ye Faithful," altered for Minaj's altar.
If I don't die before I wake, then I'll be able to witness "Starships," Minaj's next single from "Roman Reloaded," debuting on Ryan Seacrest's radio show today (Feb. 13). I pray for clarity.
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About This Blog
Katie Hasty is HitFix's New York outpost for movies and music. She served as a web editor and columnist for Billboard Magazine for five years, and has freelanced since 1999 -- as a writer, editor, music supervisor, A&R consultant, radio correspondent, recording artist and concert promoter. She plays guitar and sings in her Brooklyn-based band Numbers And Letters, and loves Christmas songs, dark beer, Tom Waits and serial sentences.
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupJo-Ann
February 13, 2012 at 7:57AM EST Reply to CommentNikki Manaj is an untalented hack who doesn't deserve the 15 minutes she's been allotted. Please make her go away.
Ard
February 13, 2012 at 10:12AM EST Reply to CommentIt was aweful. I had to change the channel. My question is why u have not heard any new outlets talking about it. It was 100x worse than MIA flipping the bird at the super bowl!
POP
February 13, 2012 at 12:21PM EST Reply to CommentIt was awesome, good dancers, good song, and an epic performance. I think your reading into it too much. People just hate it cuz she showed up their fav performers XD.
Alegba Damn who are you a member of the Insane Clown Posse??? I'd hate to have to carpool with you and your playlist. I'd rip my eardrums out within 5 mins.
February 13, 2012 at 7:00PM ESTNot a fan of scum
February 13, 2012 at 12:55PM EST Reply to CommentI wish she had attack3ed & mock Islam as much she attacked & mocked the Catholic church. Is she did she would be dead within a week.
Marie that would be good, can't stand her!!!!! too bad that has to be on the Grammy's soundtrack, I won't buy it if she is. I have an open mind, but she is no Lady G or Madonna
February 13, 2012 at 7:12PM ESTEm Why does everybody keep comparing her to Lady Gaga or Madonna? Minaj's music is not even the same genre or the same audience. And how did Lady Gaga set a standard for what those claim as an "acceptable," "awesome," or "outrageous" performance? Artists shouldn't have standards, after all, they are artists.
February 14, 2012 at 12:46AM ESTCM I'm sorry but that islam comment was so inappropriate! I am muslim and as horrifying as that performance was, I would not kill her or anyone else for that matter.
February 15, 2012 at 8:02AM EST