About Sam Smith's Grammy Performance & His Song "Unholy"
A lot of Christians were in an uproar over Sam Smith & Kim Petras's Grammy performance. Probably because of Smith was wearing a red outfit, complete with a sparkly red top hat with Devil horns. They called the performance and the song they were singing, "Unholy," an act of Devil worship. Father Leo Patalinghug even used the performance to upload a video to TikTok to remind Catholics that the performance is why we need to be careful about what we take in for entertainment. Upon finding out the true meaning of the song, I think Smith's wardrobe choice was not meant as a display of Devil worship. It aligned with the song's lyrics. However, the BDSM props and sexually provocative dancing were not necessary or appropriate. And neither were the cages. The Grammys are broadcasted at a time when kids have not gone to bed yet.
The BDSM props, sexually suggestive choreography, cages, and scantily-clad back up dancers undermined the song's message. There were multiple potential creative alternatives to lewd dancing, props, and revealing outfits, like wearable placards prohibiting adultery and heart costumes.
The true message of the song is about the evil of adultery. The song doesn't glorify or condone adultery. On the contrary, it condemns adultery for the evil thing it truly is. So while I agree that we need to be mindful about what we take in for entertainment, Father Leo seems to have misunderstood what "Unholy" is about. In our sex and lust-saturated culture, we should be praising songs like "Unholy." The sex-themed aesthetics of the Grammy performance were inappropriate, but that doesn't mean the song itself is bad.
My fellow Christians, please do yourselves a favor: listen to the song on whatever music app you have. Listen to the song without the sex-themed imagery of the Grammy performance. You'll see what I'm saying is true. And then please take a chill pill. This song or the Grammy performance isn't worthy screaming bloody murder over because that's what Petras and Smith were hoping for.
And to those who are tempted to comment and say I'm excusing an act of Devil worship, I'm not. I'm using critical thinking skills/good old common sense. I'm simply not going succumb to "Satanic Panic."