Ciara talks about that video with Justin Timberlake
For the AJC
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Just a few months ago, Atlanta R&B singer Ciara was at Six Flags Over Georgia, racing from ride to ride, and munching on a turkey leg that seemed almost the size of her whole slinky body.
The occasion was the renaming (for one day) of the amusement park’s Goliath roller coaster to “Goliath Fantasy Ride,” incorporating the title of her new album in stores today.
And the crowd on her heels wasn’t just a bodyguard, hair stylist, publicist and personal assistant — but her mom, dad, grandparents and other family members.
At 23, Ciara Princess Harris is still very much a daddy’s girl and mama’s “sweet baby.”
So when we caught up with the Grammy winner several days before the release of “Fantasy Ride,” her third CD, the first question was about her parents’ reaction to her risqué attire and moves in the video for her recent Top 10 pop single (featuring Justin Timberlake), “Love Sex Magic”:
Q: You called your parents and warned them about that [Oct. 2008] Vibe cover, and told them they made it look like you were naked. That you actually had on a bikini. So how did you explain that tug on Justin’s ear in the video?
A: [Laughs] I couldn’t say that was Photoshopped, huh? Honestly — they were excited. They’re embracing me getting older and everything.
Now, if I had done that during my “Goodies” [her 2004
debut CD and breakthrough single] days, my mama would have hit the floor. She flipped on the “Oh” video when I was dancing on top of that car. But like, I was young. Now that I’m a bit older, the music is changing. I’m
changing. Things are really exciting. I’m growing as a woman and as an artist. Taking some risks. Having more fun. And showing all of that in that video, it was fun.
Q: You said how your mom reacted. But your dad…
A: My dad said, “Oh that’s nice sugar.” He’s real proud.
Q: There was a big lag between your initial album release date [December 2008] and now. Why?
A: When we put out “Go Girl,” I saw it as kind of a starter single. I was still creating. I mean, even “Love Sex Magic” came towards the end [of the recording process]. … So with things going so well in the studio, and the songs getting better and better, I said “Wait a minute: Let’s take a second. Let me take my time and let it all work itself out.” And I appreciate my fans waiting for me.
Q: Meanwhile, between “Go Girl” and now, Beyoncé released [a single called] “If I Were a Boy” that many compared to [Ciara’s 2006 single] “Like a Boy.” What did you think of that?
A. Ummm, to be honest. I prefer not to comment on it.
Q. Surely you’ve been asked that question before — and/or formed an opinion on just the song itself?
A. I mean, I have respect for Beyoncé. I think she’s really, really talented. And [“If I Were a Boy”] is definitely a song that is similar to what I was expressing as a person in “Like a Boy.” Maybe we were just feeling the same thing.
