#ThrowbackThursday: “Video” by India.Arie

Pop newcomer Meghan Trainor has made a name for herself this summer thanks to the popularity of her debut single “All About That Bass.” The song was released in June and has quickly made its way to the second spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and according to Billboard is on pace to capture the top spot in the coming weeks.

The popularity of “All About That Bass” is based on a number of factors. For one, the song’s hook is really quite catchy and the doo wop style delivery of the verses is equally desirable to the listener’s ears. But I believe that the song’s popularity is also based on the message behind the track. “All About That Bass” can be considered as an anthem of sorts for women who struggle with body image. The overarching theme in the song is that every woman should embrace themselves as beautiful, regardless of what messages they may be receiving from society at large about what is considered beautiful. Trainor drives home this message in her song by crooning, “Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top.” As the father of a young daughter, I whole-heartedly appreciate the message that Trainor is sending out to young listeners in her debut single. And it also reminds me of another song that preaches a similar message, although be it in a different style, India.Arie’s “Video.”

India.Arie released her first album Acoustic Soul in 2001, and her debut single off of that effort was “Video.” This song was, like Trainor’s, a song that spoke to the body issues that many women deal with in their lifetime. In India.Arie’s “Video” she confesses that while she may not be the average girl featured in music videos, she knows that she is still beautiful. She makes this clear by singing, “And I know my Creator didn’t make no mistakes on me, my feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes, I’m lovin’ what I see.” This uplifting positive message helped “Video” earn India.Arie four Grammy nominations in 2002 for “Record of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance,” and “Best R&B Song.”

So in light of the recent success that Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” has achieved today we remember another song that speaks a positive message to women about their body image, India.Arie’s 2001 Grammy nominated hit “Video.” And to all the ladies out there, to include my own young daughter, know that you are all beautiful. Regardless of how pop culture may define the word. Enjoy!