This week, songbird Jennifer Hudson released the visual for her summer ready track “Walk it Out”. The video’s an affectionate love letter to Chicago. She’s basically like, ‘In order to date me, you must know how to walk these streets.’ Maybe that’s why her fiancé, WWE star David Otunga, is seen here walking around the block before she even wakes up. I don’t know. The video’s dope though.
I watched it half searching for my face in the background perusing down Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park but, alas, I’m not in it.
What is in it, however, is a whole lotta Chicago. Southside, Northside, all the sides. There are unmistakable apartment shots and neighborhood views from the first note to the last.
Plus, she is looking healthy and incredibly gorgeous!
Here’s the thing – I really want Jennifer Hudson to remain successful. I want her to win. She’s been through the ringer and, despite everything, the girl won’t stop smiling. On top of it all, she remains positive and forward moving. That alone makes her story inspiring.
If her persistent will to be happy and confident wasn’t enough, this video is a reminder that each day we all have reasons to be disappointed or to feel dejected. Still, we can choose to be happy.
Just look at what Jennifer has to go through in just one 24 hour period.
Jennifer Hudson’s “Walk it Out” Video: A Lesson in Life Choices
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She misses her train. We all know how moody the Blue Line can be.
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Only too late, she realizes she fell asleep with her makeup on. (We’ve all been there, right?)
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She wakes up in a studio apartment the size of Oprah’s dog’s closet only to find someone has scribbled all over her super fly white wedge sneakers. (No shade. My first apartment was a studio and I loved it!)
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She catches her man in the street, and he walks right past her. (Albeit, not before staring her down like she’s the last nugget in the box. He’ll be back.)
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Coming from Fluevog’s when a car full of bugaboos initiates the catcalling. Why aren’t these brothers at work? She keeps walking as one particularly audacious crewmember decides to invade her personal space with his tired game. She lets him down gently.
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Sidenote: Where is this salon where Asian women are braiding hair?
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Jennifer shows up on time for her hair appointment only to find her stylist is with another client. (This has happened to me so many times.) J brushes it off and decides to practice her runway walk while she waits.
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On her way home from the salon and guess who she runs into. That’s right, ol’ boy from the bugaboo crew. He’s mad now. His pride is butt hurt over her letting him down in front of his friends. Whomp. Hmm…she may want to dial “9-1” and another “1” if he runs up on her like that again. Not cool.
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It’s night time and there’s no one on the street. Bad sign! Still unfazed, Jennifer decides to go for a midnight stroll. Out of nowhere, Brother Audacious pulls up in a white Bimmer! Jennifer is too tough, though, because she ends up making him give her the keys and taking his car. Boss!
If you want to know what really happens in the video for “Walk it Out”, click below. How many local haunts do you recognize?
All photos: Jennifer Hudson VEVO