Cécile McLorin Salvant - 'Wives and Lovers' [Official Video]

Visual Recording Artist - Storyboard P, the Basquiat of Street Dance

Band:

The ascendant careers of singer Cecile McLorin Salvant and Brooklyn flex dancer Storyboard P have followed strikingly similar paths. Both received classical training as budding performers, both produce work which simultaneously draws from the past while careening toward the future, and both have rocketed out of relative obscurity in recent years to the highest echelons of their respective fields.

The two paired up to create a music video for Salvant’s performance of Wives and Lovers from her album For One To Love. The video features alternating shots of Salvant and Storyboard P in striking red monochrome, with numerous tight shots of Storyboard P slipping in and out of frame. Salvant says, “Storyboard P’s concept of animations, rather than movement, is fascinating to me. I was mesmerized by his dancing the first time I saw him.”

According to Salvant, her choice to perform the song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David has raised the ire of many listeners. “I have been reading more and more negative comments about my choice to sing ‘Wives and Lovers’ … from men, who think that I shouldn’t be singing from a feminist standpoint at all,” she says, “and, much to my surprise, some women have also reached out, imploring that I not sing such a song. Others have told me that laughing at sexism was inappropriate. Things are too often taken at face value. I firmly believe that humor is one of the best and most important tools in making social or political commentary accessible,” she says. “Had I heard this song sung by a woman as a teenager, I would have felt empowered by the idea of mocking the 1960s ideal of a ‘perfect’ woman. It would have taken a bit of the daily stress from being a woman and made it a joke, made it something absurd, and thus powerless. This is my intention.”

The physical and conceptual depth and flexibility of both artists results in a work that illustrates the wonderful synergy between jazz and dance, aural and visual, beauty and humor. The song and video also affirm that music is an experience for the whole being, from patting foot to outstretched fingertip, and everything in between.

“Wives and Lovers”
(Burt Bacharach, Hal David)
Used by Permission of Sony/ATV Music LLC
All rights reserved

Cam Op/AC : DJ Carroll
Gaffer - John Batista
Key Grip - Jack McDonald
MU - Rie Tsuki
Stylist - Bianca Valle

[a-ramenartist]

Before I saw this song as just a bop with sus lyrics but when she sings it i'm imagining like, the voice of someone''s internalized abuse torturing them with thoughts of being abandoned, it's so powerful and her voice conveys such emotion and nuance

[americapatton]

Incredibly amazing. So anointed. May God continue to use her to bring more healing and hope throughout the world. One of a kind. A music masterpiece that will continue to sustain from generation to generation. 🎉✍️🙌😃🎺🎶🎶🎶📜

[alanross]

Last week in Edinburgh the concert opened with a stunning Promises Promises. Standing ovation at end.

[JRM]

Cécile McLorin Salvant for the GRAMMY WIN! I can't wait for what she produces next.

[rhondarobinson]

Just saw her live Saturday night in Baltimore. Spellbinding!!

[damienruud]

Such a formative album for me. Cecile definitely knows how to "hang on the note" and let it be its own blossom!

[TheLynnstein]

we've been waiting for you!!!! Glorious…...

[mains]

Dreamy jam, on the original, WoW .
dancing is cool too .
Total Fine Arts

[nadinapicarella]

Jazz is JAZZ...this voice...like butta.

[teleishamber]

Can I get vocal sheet music for this anywhere? (cries)

[wowjef]

This is great vocalisation, but Hal David's lyrics have to be the most sexist ever written

[Deborah]

Beautiful voice, but yes this is sexist.

[briidovulon]

Seeing some "feminist" social justice type make fun of such a beautiful and may I add true song makes me sick and reading the comments makes my skin crawl.
Maybe if you little girls took those lyrics to heart you could actually land a half decent man.

[jusssayin]

This song should have been left in the 1960s. It's sexist and not worth singing about in the 21st century!