H.E.R. cries out for help
Having Everything Revealed better known as H.E.R is the stage name of the best female R&B singer of our time. The 21-year-old songstress doesn’t rely on breathy vocals or sex appeal to camouflage lackluster musical ability unlike many of her peers. On the contrary, H.E.R subverts current definitions of a female R&B singer by building a platform that rests solely on her talent as a writer, vocalist and instrumentalist. To ensure that music remains the focus, she masks her identity by wearing large sunglasses during performances and uses her silhouette for album art. We stan a non-conforming queen, dedicated to her craft!
Needing to step away from overt expressions of femininity in order for art to shine, unfortunately, is nothing new. Authours such as the Brontë sisters used male pseudonyms to get their work published and to gain notoriety. Adrienne Rivera explains that the sisters believed “…their works would be taken more seriously if they were thought to be written by men”. Unfortunately, they were right and clearly this problem still persists today.
In spite of it all, I’m glad H.E.R. has been able to create great music because she has been a source of artistic and personal inspiration. One of my favourites is her song I’m Not OK. This track captures an emotion that is all too familiar. An overwhelming feeling that nothing is going well combined with the weight of not knowing where to begin with finding a resolution. In the chorus she repeats, “I’m not OK, no I’m not OK” and I felt that. This declaration is deeply vulnerable, but also signals an inner strength that I myself am trying to find.
The way history and racist social constructs are set up, fragility is a privilege that the Black woman rarely gets to enjoy. Yes, being described as strong is a compliment, but when it’s your sole descriptor it becomes problematic. It normalizes hardship, renders any other form of human expression invalid and overall eats away at your humanity. So, for H.E.R. to boldly proclaim that she is struggling, is to reach within and push back against what is expected of her. It is an anthem, a profound display of strength that inspires and motivates me to follow suit. Wish me luck, I’m pretty sure I’m going to need it.
References
Rivera, A. (2018, October 9). Seven women authors who used male pseudonyms.Retrieved from https://blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/seven-women-authors-who-used-male-pseudonyms
H.E.R. (2018, November 1). H.E.R. – I’m Not OK (Audio) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltLFS4DccA0
Kwon, S & RCA Records. Press Photos. Retrieved from https://cdn.smehost.net/rcarecordscom-usrcaprod/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PC-Sue-Kwon.jpg