See It First: Kirk Franklin Takes on Alcoholism, Armed Robbery and Domestic Violence in ‘Wanna Be Happy?’ Video
Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin has a bit of a reputation for pushing the boundaries whether it’s his cutting edge production that gets criticized for sounding too secular or his hip-hop choreography.
Franklin can except plenty discussion surrounding the music video for his latest song, “Wanna Be Happy?,” that premieres exclusively on Yahoo Music.
During a quest to find peace, “Wanna Be Happy?” suggests that some should consider how their own errs contribute to their unhappiness. The clip is reminiscent of TLC’s 1994 video “Waterfalls” in how it depicts people facing life-threatening issues.
In “Wanna Be Happy?,” a woman’s bout with alcoholism and drug use unravels at work; a man’s panic to provide for his baby on the way leads him to rob a bank; and a police officer strikes his wife in the face in public. Each scenario is displayed in graphic detail. The drug addict is shown with a white powdery substance. The bank robber brandishes a gun. And the abuser is shown hitting the woman with his fist.
But the video ends on a happier note for all. Watch above to see the intervention that takes place in each storyline.
“Wanna Be Happy?” appears on Franklin’s 11th studio album, Losing My Religion, out on Nov. 13. It is his first album in four years.
