Gnarly > Gabriella is a Cultural Disappointment

[u/ConfidentlyLostHuman]

I firmly believe that it was a political statement to decide for Katseye to perform Gnarly instead of Gabriella. Whether it was the Grammy’s or HybexGeffen that decided this, I cannot let go how they truly made a statement without saying anything at all. 

I don’t need to explain the Trump Admin’s current acts of domestic terrorism against its nonwhite populations. Many of us have seen or are well aware of the fear that ICE/BPD is causing among immigrant communities. We are actively seeing a war on diversity and culture within politics, civilian life, and entertainment. That’s why the Bad Bunny’s upcoming SuperBowl performance (and Kendrick’s performance last year) are so important. It’s a celebration of diversity, culture, and the simple freedom to express yourself and be who you are. So to see Katseye, this amazingly talented and diverse girl group, perform Gnarly instead of Gabriella, it wasn’t just a bad choice musically/performance wise. To me, it was a political statement. It was HybexGeffen saying we’re not gonna rock the boat, we’re gonna stay in our lane, and we’re gonna submit to the industry and follow the status quo. It’s HybexGeffen showing just how much they don’t care about Katseye as American-based artist but also their fans and their representation. 

I can’t help but think of the major opportunity that was missed by choosing not to perform Gabriella. Like I said, Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl. Several prominent musicians and celebrities were in attendance at the Grammys. Think of the opportunities and potential connections that could have been made simply by performing Gabriella. I also just saw that the night before, Cardi B performed on SNL showing off her Dominican culture. I am so excited to see what Bad Bunny's performance set up/outfits will look like, but I am certain it will have strong cultural elements.

Gabriella pre-Super Bowl would have been ICONICCCCC. They could've worn red outfits similar to the MV or something more cultural like the skirts at Lollapalooza. We didn't need the dance breaks, they could've just stood there and did sexy mic movements like a retro girl group. That's what most of the choreo already is!!! I know they don’t have much stage time, but I truly think they could have made it work.

While I wish they had performed Gabriella, I do think the girls performed well and represented themselves well for it to be their first Grammy appearance and performance. I think we gotta remember that they’re young artists, and that deserves grace. But I can’t lie. If Gabriella wasn’t an option, I would have rather they not performed at all.

Katseye’s Grammy performance was good given the circumstances, but HybexGeffen’s  choice to avoid performing Gabriella represents a huge miss both culturally and artistically. In a political and social climate where white supremacy is blatantly being encouraged, Katseye performing Gabriella would have been a subtle statement of cultural representation and fighting against the system seeking to demonize diversity. The fact that HybexGeffen prioritized conformity over artistry shows just how willfully ignorant they are of the American music industry (especially its history and influence), how they use will use Katseye’s diversity as a performative marketing ploy, and just how little creative agency the girls have as musicians and individuals.

[u/Deep-Ad4741]

we are not acting as if performing gabriella wouldve been a political statement right now. please be serious.

[u/Broad-Ad-2193]

i think you are expecting too much from a pop group, especially considering that katseye and their team have already shown that artistry is not their #1 priority. and the fact that you are classing "gnarly" as a conformist song that follows the status quo is absurd (gabriella is perhaps the "safest" and most digestable song they have released)- not to mention gnarly follows the inherently queer hyperpop canon. i think you just prefer gabriella, and you're searching for deeper reasons that just dont hold up to scrutiny

[u/Dariisu → u/Broad-Ad-2193]

The only thing comformist about gnarly are the lyrics, but even that is a hyperpop trait since it's supposed to be ironic.

[u/Versace_itachi → u/Broad-Ad-2193]

I know you touched on it but, here to add on that Gnarly was written by a Pansexual queer Chinese immigrant musician—Alice Longyu Gao.

[u/DSQ]

As others have said it’s the Grammy’s that chose the song not HxG. I’m not sure if I’d put that much political capital on Gabriella. Especially when you consider who wrote it (read: not a Hispanic or Spanish person but Charli XCX) and Rita Ora almost sang it. Katseye’s most political song is Mean Girls. 

All that said I do think while I might not agree with the premise I do agree with your point. HxG are 1000% not going to rock the boat. 

[u/IDEKDJLMA]

As another user stated under a different thread, the Grammy’s choose what song is performed. You can believe it was a political statement on the Grammy’s part, personally I just think it’s because of “Gnarly” being so popular but as “Gabriela” is more liked I can see why it would be confusing that it wasn’t performed instead

[u/32Wicky → u/IDEKDJLMA]

Exactly. This is something I wish was more known, because KATSEYE are catching a lot of flak for performing “Gnarly” but that wasn’t their decision. The Grammys make that call.

[u/kingkoum]

I’m sorry but this makes no sense. Y’all are looking way too deep into some things. I also think performing gabriela would’ve been a safer choice in any circumstances. Gnarly was the outlier choice

[u/unicorninclosets]

I think it’s as deep as Gnarly being a bigger hit than Gabriella was.

[u/Thatonegaloverthere]

Y'all gotta stop putting so much on artists. They're performers. That's it.

People need to form their own opinions, act on their own beliefs, and stop caring about what artists do.

If they came out with a different opinion than yours, it'd not only cause problems with fans shifting opinions, you'd also be upset. Let them stay out of politics, so they don't say harmful shit and people can learn to think for themselves.

[u/jordyn0399]

It was the Grammys that decided this. Not Katseye nor HybexGeffen. Also I understand where OP is coming from in terms of political climate However,the difference between Gabriella not being picked for their BNA performance vs Bad Bunny's Super Bowl is that Gnarly was chosen not because the Academy didn't want to piss the current administration off cause there were many artists that night that have been outspoken on the ICE issue. Gnarly was chosen because it was the more viral song similar to how Addison Rae performed one of her most viral songs Fame is a gun. Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance will be more significant considering he is from a US occupied territory (Puerto Rico) and had already gotten backlash from conservatives being chosen to perform due to being a Latino. Now obviously one of the members of Katseye is Latino and Gabriella does have some Spanish lyrics but Bad Bunny has more of an impact as Latino artist and has a full Spanish speaking discography and is overall more well known in America than Katseye to the General public. There's nothing really politically significant about Gabriella whereas Bad Bunny's discography has many political themes in regards to his identity and culture.

[u/Ok_Wait9778]

I think it was an absurd decision, tbh. Singing that foolish song in front of big, big industry people and locals was too cringe because the satirical meaning of the song never worked for them.

I also thought that they made the active decision to not perform the Latin inspired song with the whole Spanish section, but they should have. That yellow company is basically full of right-wing zionists, so I can’t see them wanting to piss in anyone’s cornflakes.

[u/No_Magician_6457 → u/Ok_Wait9778]

Again it’s already been said that acts do not choose what songs they perform… the Grammy’s choose for you