Watch The Exclusive Premiere Of Madonna’s “Batuka” Video
Madonna’s Batuka video exclusively premiered on Refinery29.com today – together with an interview to the woman herself.
The video – which is now also available on Madonna’s YouTube channel – is the second collaboration between Madonna and Dark Ballet director Emmanuel Adjei and was filmed off the coast of Lisbon, Portugal, a location that offered a strong connection to the Atlantic Ocean and a house that looked like one that you would live in on the islands of Cape Verde, where Batuque was born. The all-women Orquestra Batukadeiras joins her in the clip and they will soon also be part of the Madame X Tour, opening in New York in September.
Madonna told Refinery29:
I found them to be so strong, authentic, soulful, loving, generous, and kind.
I learned a great deal from these women. Many of them came from very economically challenged backgrounds, without access to formal education. The ways we measure achievement and success in our conventional society fails to capture their singular brilliance and strength. I found them to be so strong, authentic, soulful, loving, generous, and kind. You can’t learn these things in school. They taught me those things. It’s a tough world out there, and it’s inspiring to work with people who have been through the struggle but still manage to manifest and share joy with us all. That was a big part of the lesson.
Madonna also said:
I was completely and utterly inspired by them. And there was no need or call for choreography. The dancing was organic and fluid; I just watched them move and joined them.
Drumming for me is connected to dancing, since they’re both centered in rhythm. Moving at different times and different rhythms and different time signatures. That segue from playing the drums came easily for me, since that was my first job in a band. It was authentic for me, and I love it. I love playing percussion.
She also explained that not only the women from Orquestra Batukadeiras are in her show, but they are her choir in general.
They’re my choir in God Control, Like a Prayer, Come Alive, and I Rise. They’re even dancing in my show; they’ve become fully integrated in so many ways. It’s amazing. It’s crazy how multi-talented they all are and how ready they are to share this experience. It’s been so great having them become a part of everything. They’re going to blow people away; the world isn’t ready.
Read the full interview and watch the video now on Refinery29.com.
