For those who’re on Twitter, you have most likely seen a LOT of chatter about Lizzo’s latest live performance by which she performed a 200-year-old flute that was gifted to James Madison, a founding father. The star posted a clip of the second with the flute on stage, proven under:
NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD THIS FAMOUS CRYSTAL FLUTE BEFORE
NOW YOU HAVE
IM THE FIRST & ONLY PERSON TO EVER PLAY THIS PRESIDENTIAL 200-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL FLUTE— THANK YOU @librarycongress
Lizzo
The flute was given to the previous president in 1813 as a celebratory present for his second inauguration. Weirdly sufficient, Madison himself by no means performed it — after it was granted to him, the flute was despatched to the archives on the Library of Congress, and it has been sitting there for alllll this time. That’s, till this week, when Lizzo was invited to “come see it and even play a pair” of songs.
The @librarycongress has the most important flute assortment on this planet with greater than 1,800. It incl Pres James Madison’s 1813 crystal flute.
@lizzo we’d love so that you can come see it and even play a pair if you end up in DC subsequent week. Like your music they’re “Good as hell.”
Carla Hayden
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden — who’s the primary Black lady to steer the nationwide library — informed BuzzFeed Information she was “thrilled” about Lizzo enjoying the flute and that she was in a position to assist make it occur.
In case you did not know, Lizzo is definitely a classically skilled flutist, so it makes good sense that she could be invited to provide the flute a whirl.
Earlier than her live performance, Lizzo practiced just a few songs on the Library, which has the most important flute assortment on this planet. A video of the observe session was posted on Twitter, as proven under:
A flute @lizzo performed within the Essential Studying Room Monday (with permission from some fortunate researchers who have been there!) appears much like the crystal one she had at her live performance, however is definitely plexiglass. It is usually very uncommon & was manufactured when the fabric was first invented.
Library of Congress
As you’ll be able to most likely guess, some folks — principally conservatives — on Twitter weren’t too joyful in regards to the centuries-old flute being performed.
This Lizzo-flute controversy is an ideal instance of what I’ve termed Face Tattoo Phenomenon
: the phenomenon whereby somebody does one thing intentionally controversial in an try to attract consideration, after which acts offended whenever you discover.
Somebody who recognized themselves as “President Trump’s favourite writer” tried to say that Lizzo “is not gifted sufficient.”
Lizzo is not gifted sufficient to play music on a $20 Yamaha Plastic Recorder off Amazon not to mention a crystal flute as soon as owned by James Madison.
The Biden Administration is making a mockery of the nation.
One different particular person even went so far as to say that the flute-playing “degrade[d] our historical past.”
The Library of Congress actually took out a 200-year outdated flute that belonged to James Madison simply so Lizzo may twerk with it.
They degrade our historical past after which name you racist if you happen to really worth it. https://t.co/i5cHjl5RXX
Nonetheless, there have been many others who identified the racist undertones of the criticism.
Lizzo is such an fascinating particular person for proper wing content material creators to moralize about as a result of she’s so squeaky clear. She makes catchy songs about positivity and performs the flute. There’s no believable deniability that they hate her for some other cause than being black and fats.
Individuals make clear how flawed right-wing Twitter was of their takes on the matter.
For those who wouldn’t have an issue with Taylor Swift enjoying Ben Franklin’s piano, you shouldn’t have an issue with Lizzo enjoying James Madison’s flute.
For those who do have an issue, cease and take into consideration why that’s.
And one particular person introduced up one other salient level — did y’all even know this flute existed earlier than Lizzo performed it???
Fabulous famous person singer Lizzo resides rent-free within the empty minds of racists as we speak for masterfully enjoying a 200 yr outdated crystal flute they by no means even knew existed till she performed it. Should be exhausting to reside with such hate day in and time out.
Another person subverted the feedback by saying they thought Lizzo ought to be solid as a mermaid in her personal film. Speaking to you, Hollywood!
Personally I believe Lizzo ought to be in a film the place she’s a ravishing flute-playing mermaid who lures sailors to their watery doom
And at last, one other particular person spotlighted the truth that Lizzo enjoying this flute was a second of historical past being made, since James Madison was the proposer of the three-fifths compromise.
James Madison was the writer of the three/5 compromise. He’s fortunate @lizzo didn’t break that flute into 5 items and throw it off the stage. Keep mad.
So, yeah. Lizzo did that.
What do you assume? Let me know within the feedback.
