During the last six weeks of lockdown, we’ve seen a spectrum of celebrity reactions. Some have used their wealth and privilege to raise millions for local charities and those in need. Others have come across as tone-deaf or self-serving in their attempts to be supportive. These people, who have more privilege and wealth than others may have in their lifetime, have had to tread carefully for fear of public rebuke. Where does a quarantine themed album fall on this spectrum?
Last night, Todrick Hall released an album specifically about COVID-19 called Quarantine Queen. He first made the announcement in an Instagram post:
Surprise! Soooo...exactly one week ago I decided to write and create an entire album to hopefully lift your spirits during this quarantine! Nina Simone once said “It's an artist's duty to reflect the times in which we live.” I hope this inspires you to stay healthy, stay creative, stay safe and stay home while continuing to stay fabulous!
I’m not sure this is exactly what Ms. Simone meant!
The album itself is just okay. It has the usual catchiness and dance beats of Todrick Hall, but the lyrics and the production show that it was indeed cobbled together in one week. “Mas(k)ot” is a parody of “Bootylicious”. “Meow” is about Tiger King, which most people have moved past at this point. “Tiktok” is about the app and “Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs” is a reskinned version of Todrick’s hit single, “Nails, Hips, Hair, Heels”. Most of this album is just recycled pop culture. As my boyfriend texted me last night, “I know he’s making music for the people but a song about refusing to pay rent coming from a millionaire…”
In concept, I don’t think a quarantine-themed album is a bad idea. My biggest issue is that it seems to profit off a disaster which has left millions of people without jobs or financial security. I would argue that there is room for lighthearted content that can help us ease the anxiety and grief of a global pandemic, but that seems less genuine and authentic when someone makes money off it. It also makes some of the album’s decisions seem more suspicious. Are the references in the song truly relevant to quarantine, or are they the ones that would generate the most buzz? *cough* Carole Baskin *cough*
There’s a line in “Rent” where Todrick says, “I’m not paying but I do pay my dancers.” This is directly aimed at the several accounts from dancers and artists who have worked with Todrick and who claim that he didn’t pay them fairly for their work. Even though he claims that they’re false, it’s just another level of intrigue added to an already questionable album.
I also don’t have an issue with artists releasing albums during quarantine. Lots of artists have chosen to proceed with their scheduled album releases. Todrick’s next album, the third installment in his Haus Party Trilogy, is scheduled to come out soon. Although originally scheduled for October 2019, it has been pushed significantly since. Still, he addresses it in his Insta post above, and I’ve seen rumours that it’s set to come out in May.
Why does Todrick need to write and produce a quarantine album on top of his upcoming release? If it were truly for the people, then maybe the proceeds should be donated to those who need it. There’s still time Todrick.
