After four years of silence, Ashanti’s back, and back with a vengeance. Her new video, "The Way That I Love You," from her upcoming album The Declaration, is based on the Oxygen reality show Snapped, a series that profiles women accused of murder. In the video, Ashanti stabs her boyfriend to death after finding proof of infidelity on her honey’s Sidekick:
As the video cycles through the evidence — bloody knife on the floor, bloody footprint, bloody body in the bathtub — it does a competent job of condensing the drama of, say, Forensic Files, into 4:21 seconds, while convincing us that this louse did a very bad thing, and that the well-coiffed Ashanti was driven over the edge. (The vid’s director is Kevin Bray, who’s directed episodes of CSI: NY and Cold Case.) "When women snap, they do crazy things," she says in an MTV News interview.
Two things detract from my enjoyment of this video (not to mention my own failure in "setting the scene" — it’s Friday morning, the birds are chirping outside my bedroom window, I’ve got a purring cat in my lap, etc .etc.): For one, this vid is based on a television show. Okay, a reality TV show, you got me there. But somewhere in this visual carousel of art-imitating-art-as-a-pale-simulacrum-of-life, I feel a little cheated. Isn’t there enough drama in the so-called "real" world to fuel such incisive artistic commentary? Also, just to be a little petty: Ashanti’s rubber-room garb — a silver floor-length ballroom gown — is nicer than anything I’d ever hope to own. I’d kill to own something like that. Now wait a minute…
What do you think, PopWatchers? Do you like the video? Are you psyched for the Ashanti’s return? Or do you think "The Way That I Love You" deserves to be booked on charges?
I love it…
She has me anticipating her comeback.
wow ashanti. putting the murder in murder inc.
okay, i’m fired…
I stupidly clicked play thinking that somehow within the last four years, she developed some talent. Nope. Still the same old, extremely overrated (though I think people are catching onto that) wannabe singer. Not impressed.
Ashanti’s not always “on,” but you can always tell that’s she’s trying. The female R&B scene looks a bit different now than 4 years ago, but Ashanti’s emerging as a more mature artist. She shouldn’t have to worry about Ciara and Rihanna for the moment.
There’s a lil’ bit of Ring the Alarm in this video, don’t you think?
Her look fashion makeup hair and sound — like Beyonce IMO…and didn’t she do a video similar to this or a song similar to this that was directed by Irv Gotti…I can’t remember the song … escapes me.
I think her come back is great .. I like Her look fashion makeup hair and sound . Why people hating on it .
the end reminds me of britney spears’ video for that one song. i like the song but the murder thing throws me off just a smidgen
I love the song!! However, the ‘I found my boyfriend cheating and now I’m about to kill his azz’ is played out. Also, the tub scene reminded me of the Brit’s video..then I started thinking about Cheetos & needing to do a Starbucks run. Please ladies…no more tub scenes!!
I love the video and song! She knows what she has to do in order to get back into the world of music, shes off to a great start!!
The video is something new and different than i’m used to seeing from her. I think she’s very talented & she always adds some new flava to the R&B game. I love the song. It’s a HIT and as long as she keeps pushing out HITS like this then she should have no problem making a proper comeback.
I love it. Hot song and video
That Video is on FIRE!
The concept is Hot..Ashanti is looking good… And it’s a creative spin to music videos…..Ashanti keep doing it BIG!
This is a hot song and she really did a nice job with the concept for the video. It is hard to make an impression these days, and this definitely does! Good video or not… this song should do some damage at radio.
First time i saw this video, i thought she really killed somebody. But Now I really don’t know…….PLZ HELP??????
THIS VIDEO IZ BANANAZZZ. I DON’T REALLY LIKE ASHANTI BUT THE SONG IS GREAT. AND THE VIDEO IS OFF THE HOOK.