An anthem for a naked lifestyle?

Or just a lovely song.

My partner Emma, uses Spotify to listen to her music of choice and due to the algorithms used will often be exposed to new content that broadens her musical tastes.

Some of you will be aware that in my day job, I travel far and wide across New Zealand. Listening to music as I drive is one of the ways that I get through the long journeys.

As mobile reception in rural New Zealand can be described as intermittent at best, streaming content is not an option and I have reverted to a playlist of some 900 songs on a USB stick rather than streaming content.

One drawback of this approach is that I rarely listen to new material. For those who know me, many would say that I am fairly settled in my musical tastes.  I'm ok with this as I like the music I like, and I am content to listen to it on infinite repeat.

I could download new content and add it to my playlist, but that would require forethought and planning, and I often think of doing this while I am driving rather than before I set off.

One of my social media friends recently posted on the platform formerly known as Twitter, a song by an artist whom I had never heard of, which given my musical habits, is no surprise.

The Artist is Dorian Frankel and along with producer and musician Michael Starr, the musical style is bright and uplifting even when the subjects being sung about may not be.

The song brought to my attention is called “Naked”, and some online have suggested it would make a great anthem for naturism.  I have already posted a link to it on some of my other naturist social media sites, but it has also triggered a flow of thoughts that often precede a blog entry.  So here we are.

I reached out to Dorian to ask for permission to write about her work and ask what influenced her to write it.  It seems to articulate a message that nudists and naturists have been trying to get across for some time.

Dorian replied:

While I don't consider myself a naturist, or in any case don't pursue a naturist lifestyle, I do think the general fear of or discomfort with nakedness is something worth examining - both why it exists and what it leads to. The song came out of thoughts about how people curate an image, how they'd like to be perceived, partially by how they dress, and how if we were all just naked, we would have to be more our authentic selves. I don't know if that's actually true, but it was the notion that led to the song.

Naked is one of many songs Dorian has written, and the only one I've heard that talks of nudity as an appealing notion.  One doesn’t have to be a nudist to appreciate the sentiments of the naturist philosophy.

One problem with music is that there will always be people who like a song without listening to the lyrics or understanding the content.

The number of people who play Sting’s “Every Breath You Take” at weddings is indicative of this.

Sting himself has said that the song is about a possessive lover obsessing over a lost partner and the jealousy that follows.  He said:

"One couple told me 'Oh we love that song; it was the main song played at our wedding!' I thought, 'Well, good luck'.

And that I guess is the point of this ramble.  Some people will listen to the song Naked and hum along happily, oblivious to its message.

Some will approve of the message, but admit it is something that they could never do themselves.

Some will hear the song as a broadly appealing and thought-provoking suggestion for a positive change.

Some will hear the message and take it as a clarion call to action and try to mobilise the masses to a new nirvana.

After listening to the song a few times, as well as other songs that Dorian sings on her album “One More Song”, I am of the opinion that Naked is appealing and thought-provoking rather than an anthem.

If nothing else, it is a great tune with a positive message that co-incidentally aligns with the naturist philosophy. Whether it is adopted as an anthem for naturism or not really doesn’t matter. It is a song that can be listened to and appreciated by anyone, clothed or not.

Thank you for reading.  Have a comfortable day.

Links:

Dorian Frankel’s song “Naked” on Youtube

Dorian Frankel’s album “One More Song” on Spotify