On March 26, Lil Nas X released the music video for his new single “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name).” The “Old Town Road” artist has been made headlines the past two weeks between a devilish music video featuring controversial biblical imagery as well limited edition shoes, which has now resulted in a lawsuit from Nike. 

The 22-year-old musician, otherwise known as Montero Lamar Hill, was inspired by the André Aciman novel “Call Me By Your Name,” and its 2017 film adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet (“Little Women”). The song which references the title in its chorus delves into biblical imagery such as the Garden of Eden, as well as the single cover art depicting a rendition of the Michelangelo classic painting “The Creation of Adam.”

Lyrically, the song is tasteful, creative and intriguing. Announced as of Monday, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, which would mark his second No. 1 spot. His first smash hit, “Old Town Road” back in 2019, spent 19 weeks on top after Billy Ray Cyrus collaborated on a remix of the song which initially sampled his track and was featured heavily in the chorus of the song.

The music video portrays Montero, a fictional haven similar to Eden, ornamented in lush pinks and purples. A red coal-hot snake slithers up the tree that Lil Nas X  lounges under. Portrayed as an Adam or Eve character driven to sin, the softer vocals that caress the first chorus that is  meant to be sung by this gentle being. When he takes on a darker and more abrasive tone in the following verses, Lil Nas takes on different characters, such as the serpent, Lucifer, which sings of temptations. The song which actually references several different versions of the banishment of Adam and Eve is extremely intriguing as Lil Nas transitions between different characters with each separate character played by him. On his ascent to heaven, he then falls in probably one of the most stylish ways down a pole dancing pole before seducing the Devil who contrasts extremely from his serpent counterpart above ground. Lil Nas then murders the Devil and takes his throne. Considered to be in support of Satanism by many conservative individuals, people were in outrage over the video.

To compliment the video, Lil Nas teamed up with a Brooklyn-based brand MSCHF, one that is designed to challenge consumer culture. The collaboration is 666 pairs of custom Nike Air Max 97s priced at $1,018. The shoes sold out in less than a minute with red lettering of the biblical verse Luke 10:18. With the MSCHF release of its “Satan Shoes,” it recently underwent a lawsuit and received a restraining order from Nike to prevent the shipment of the shoes, which were said to have already been shipped out. 

In a statement posted to its website on April 1, MSCHF stated, “Last week’s release of the Satan Shoes, in collaboration with Lil Nas X, was no different [than our Jesus Shoes]. Satan Shoes started a conversation, while also living natively in its space. It is art created for people to observe, speculate on, purchase and own. Heresy only exists in relation to doctrine: who is Nike to censor one but not the other?” Being that the creative outlet had released “Jesus Shoes,” its controversy with Nike has put Lil Nas X’s Twitter giveaway of the shoes on hold indefinitely.

Despite the song’s controversy and depictions of biblical places and figures, this shouldn’t come as a surprise being that many artists before him, such as Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie in “Emperor’s New Clothes,” have adressed biblical demons and characters, just as many will after. The primary opposition that has been rooted against this song is simply the fact that Lil Nas X is an openly gay man discussing sex in his song. Had it been any other straight rapper, there honestly would not have been so much backlash. Lil Nas, who likes to stake the flames and has been poking fun at all the criticism, is only profiting from all the outrage as he should.

Image from Lil Nas X via YouTube