Chicago – Last Thursday, fans began lining up outside the Vic Theatre, in the Lakeview neighborhood, starting at six in the morning, to see rising pop star Melanie Martinez. By six that evening, the line stretched far down Sheffield Avenue, filled with kids, teenagers, and twenty-somethings, most of whom were dressed to the nines. Pigtails were everywhere to be seen. So were tutus, baby doll dresses, and sailor outfits, along with painted cheeks, dotted freckles, and rainbows of teardrops.
Just as fans mimicked Madonna in the 80s and 90s, so too is a new generation of girls and boys mimicking Martinez. The Vic was packed with an equal mix of genders and a variety of ethnicities. I noticed that straightaway, and it made me smile. While Melanie Martinez seems inspired by pop stars like Madonna, Katy Perry, and other pop stars who cross boundaries – especially when it comes to playing with fashion – the former Best New Bands Featured Artist is actually breaking the mold, in that she isn’t appropriating another’s culture. White female performers like Madonna, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus have been continually criticized for cultural appropriation. As a young Hispanic woman, Melanie Martinez doesn’t need to appropriate anything; she is living her own culture, being true to herself, and inspiring others in the process.
I’ll be honest, as a teacher, who works in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood, I was thrilled when I discovered Melanie Martinez. I immediately saw her as a pop star my students could not only look up to, but also relate to. Here was a young woman, who looks like them, comes from a similar background as them, and is working hard and achieving her goals. Which I hope would inspire the thought, “If she can reach for her dreams, then so can I!”
Though, I wondered, was I putting too much thought into this? How are kids really seeing Melanie Martinez? Well, I asked fans. I talked with kids of all ages, boys and girls, of different ethnic backgrounds, but especially kids of color, about why they like Melanie so much. Aside from the answers of “she has a great voice” and “she’s a good dancer,” I overwhelming heard two things: One, she’s different; she’s not a prepackaged pop star; she’s not afraid to be herself; she’s unique. And two, she’s Hispanic; she’s brown; she looks more like me than other musicians, and I, we, need more people to look up to who look like us.
I could not agree more! After seeing Melanie Martinez perform live, I can tell you she is extremely talented. Her voice is phenomenal! She is also very unique, bringing an alternative spin to pop music. Martinez looks a cosplay character. She’s an anime come to life, with a twisted grip, like Barbie meets Tim Burton. Just check out the video for “Cry Baby,” and you’ll understand!
The evening was filled with this aesthetic. As smoke filled the stage, two men in teddy bear hats came out to take their place behind the giant toys, where they played the drums, keyboards, and guitar. A giant mobile slowly circled above a monstrous crib, from which Martinez popped out of. Under dim, yet colorful lights – often glowing from giant blocks, which spelled out CRY BABY – Martinez danced around the stage, at times like a woman processed. Fans ate it up. Girls and boys screamed in excitement and approval.
All night Melanie Martinez performed songs from her debut album Cry Baby. She introduced “Training Wheels” as her “only love song” and “Pity Party” as “a really fun one, so let’s have some fucking fun!” Fun was indeed had during “Pity Party,” especially by the teenagers in the balcony, who danced atop the old, red cushioned chairs. Martinez told fans “Mrs. Potato Head” is her favorite song on the album “because it was the hardest to write.”
Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was when Melanie Martinez had a heart-to-heart with fans about embracing their civic responsibility, when she proudly shouted, “Vote if you’re eighteen and older, and remember to vote for someone who is ‘Berning’!” The venue filled with screams – and a few boos – but it may be a little too late, seeing as the Illinois primary just passed. Though, it’s still a great message to put out there, and hopefully she convinced a few fans to vote in the coming November election, once candidates have been nominated from each party. My only criticism was the placement of the microphone stand. It stayed planted center stage the entire show. I kept wishing Martinez would move it off to the side, especially since she was using a cordless mic and had no real use for it, except to perhaps hold on to while catching her breath or needing a moment to balance herself… but maybe it’s simply a security blanket of sorts. If that’s the case, Melanie, girl, lose that stand. You got this. Just ask your fans. They’ll tell you, you’re killing it!
At her Chicago performance, Melanie Martinez proved herself a talented pop star, on the rise, who is ready for bigger stages. I definitely see arenas in her future. Most importantly though, Melanie Martinez proved that she is more than a pop star. She is an inspiration to youth all around the world, but especially in the U.S. where kids of color are too often told they can’t participate in pop culture. They can’t reach high, setting lofty goals. They should aspire to fit in more, to be more “American,” which ultimately is the farthest from being American. The U.S. is a melting pot, made strong on the backs of generations of immigrants. We should all strive to be ourselves and embrace who we are and where we come from and share the beauty that is our uniqueness, while also coming together in our shared commonalities. I saw a generation doing just that, at a pop show. It was marvelous.
Melanie Martinez is currently on tour. A list of tour dates can be found on the pop singer’s Facebook page. Cry Baby is available for purchase on iTunes.
Sarah Hess
After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.
You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
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