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Ammara Brown sparks controversy with album cover

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AMMARA Brown is in the eye of a storm following the release of her album cover that accompanied her newly released single titled Crucify Me.

AMMARA Brown is in the eye of a storm following the release of her album cover that accompanied her newly released single titled Crucify Me on social networking sites like  Facebook and Twitter early this week.

SIMBARASHE MANHANGO

The cover depicts a creature with a woman’s body and the head of a crow or an eagle on a cross.

The creature has huge wings while the cross has all sorts of ornaments and chains hanging from the sides.

While the musician says the cover picture is an artistic expression, the cover has certainly got people talking more than the song itself and has since its release garnered much criticism for its proposed religious innuendos.

Over the past few days social media has been abuzz with reactions ranging from insults to praises by a few who feel she is exercising her artistry.

What seems to have irked many is the concept of a woman crucified on a cross, an ideal that presents a distinct paradox from what Christianity entails.

With this kind of imagery portrayed, it could still trigger controversy anywhere across the world.

Recently, American pop female artiste Lady Gaga courted the same controversy following the leak of her new video Judas’ on the Internet which the artiste described as a “pop art fantasy Fellini motorcycle film.

The clip begins with the 12 disciples cruising down the highway on motorcycles clad in distressed leather jackets, personalised with each of their names.

Seen riding behind “Jesus” is none other than Mary Magdalene, whom Gaga takes on the role of, with a scruffy Judas not far behind.

Images like these have so far been regarded as highly suggestive of the overwhelming illuminati expressions that have of late been linked to many international stars.

According to Wikipedia, Illuminati is a name given to several secret groups, both real and fictitious.

Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an “Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776”.

NewsDay caught up with Brown at a local hotel in Harare and the diva addressed all the controversy surrounding her song, especially in regards to her album cover.

“There is nothing religious about Crucify Me at all. It is just a metaphoric piece of art that has been interpreted differently. For the past 24 hours many people have been going back and forth about this concept and I have really given the issue a special amount of thought,” she said.

“The song is about a woman cheating on a man hence from a female perspective it is more about female sexism in the sense of broken relationships.

“The woman is saying I am sorry for having cheated on you and please do not crucify me hence she is begging for forgiveness and another chance.

“Crucification in this sense comes in as a way of paying for your sins hence this is what the woman in his song is asking to be spared from. This is not about Jesus and not even a thing has religious connotations.

“Broad thinkers have been saying the song is actually nice and a beautiful work of art while some find it weird. However, this was not premeditated and I did not see it coming, but I personally think that this concept needs broad minds that are exposed to what is happening in the world.” she said.

Below are some of the comments posted on Social Media Khetani Michael Banda: I am not against the artwork in particular – I am a die hard heavy and death metal fan and the majority of these genres’ album artwork is occultic, gothic and a disfiguration of Christianity in one way or the other. The lyrical content is the same yet my question is: Does Ms Brown know what her album artwork means or was this just meant to cause a stir, as it has already done. I  would like to read her write.

John Arufandika: The graphic doesn’t have a head. Gen 3:15.

Gilmore T Moyo:  I understand being artistic . . . but Ammara . . . this is too much. No No!!

LouieJonez : Isn’t this what an artist just does. Look at the Comments now. To think a couple of hours ago she wasn’t on anybody’s mind. She created hype for her song and that’s just the reason. I bet you now even know and want to hear her song. The attention will gradually shift from her cover to Ms Brown then to her song. In Shona we say “Zvake Zvaita”. Let’s all learn to get used to these schemes . . . Ndiyo Yacho.

Hansel Benjamin: That’s why it is called art. Your interpretations can be far from what the artist herself was trying to portray. Problem is we now living in a world where we quick to condemn without trial.