The Phenomenally Successful Cougar Alum Returns to Campus and She’s Still 100% That Cougar. BY LAURIE FICKMAN 50 UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Magazine • SPRING 2020 She’s on a dizzying fast track — she It was another Houstonian, Beyoncé, who with members of the UH band on her visit. garnered eight nominations in 2019, a year that served as her primary inspiration Lizzo said, “This is the place I didn’t know who I was. music journalists seemingly ran out of ways to and after seeing a Destiny’s Child concert in This was the place I was hardest on myself, describe. “Wild Year” one headline proclaimed, 5th grade, her career path was carved in stone. where I struggled. But all of those struggles and and after she was named Time Magazine’s She knew she wanted — no, she had to — insecurities made me who I am.” And she shares 2019 Entertainer of the Year, another headline become a performing artist. the benefit of hindsight. ouston may blared, “Of Course, Who Else?” During college, as a Cougar, Lizzo played “Not knowing what you’re doing has H To describe her as a pop and rhythm and flute in the Spirit of Houston Marching Band. nothing to do with where you’re going. be known for its blues singer and classically-trained flautist On that recent visit back, she surprised current Cherish your journey,” she advised, “and respect almost gives short shrift to the artist who is band members by simply walking in and your journey.” soaring temperatures Lizzo. Yes, she is an extraordinary musician, playing an impromptu flute solo. David Bertman, UH band director, has a and mouth-numbing but she is also — in her own words — a “whole They surprised her right back, performing slightly different memory of Lizzo when she damn meal.” Her main dish is music, with an her song “Good as Hell.” It was great fun for all was a student. jalapeños, but lately appetizer of attitude, side order of self-love, and involved, but then, band always was for Lizzo. “What I remember most is she had this there is nothing hotter dramatic performance for dessert, all served “I always had so much fun in band. That was beautiful, huge just gorgeous flute sound,” onstage by a scantily-clad, voluptuous artist my favorite part of school,” Lizzo said. “I was Bertman said. “Her spirit and energy and from the state of Texas who is proud to pose nude on a record cover like ‘Can I just go to band school?’ That’s why I kindness matched her beautiful flute sound.” than the career of and implores others to be equally confident. became a music flute performance major.” What Lizzo showed the world was different With her exuberant celebration of what Lizzo often says the flute chose her when it than what she felt inside, and her ability to UH alum and three- makes her unique, Lizzo swiftly became a was offered up by a middle school band teacher understand her own weaknesses fueled her time Grammy-winning role model for the body-positive movement, She has said that, “Body positivity only exists in sixth grade. Back then she named her Sasha desire to help others with similar pain. and also for people everywhere who struggle because body negativity is the norm.” after Beyoncé’s album, “I Am … Sasha Fierce,” “I think a lot of the times we’re unkind phenom: Lizzo. with self-doubt. Though the mantle makes her She admits it’s a road she has well traveled. the name of Beyoncé’s onstage alter ego. because we’re unkind to ourselves and we really nervous, she doesn’t want it to seem trendy. “I would body shame myself every single She credits her late father with always don’t know any better,” she said. “I think if we day, and ask ‘Why can’t I fit that?’ or ‘Why telling her the flute would be her path to all treated ourselves better, we would know how does my body look like this?’ I have to look at success, though she argued with him, because to love each other.” every single thing I’m shaming and find love she thought the audience would think the At her concerts, she encourages people to in those things,” said Lizzo of her method for instrument was uncool, and then she would be be kinder to themselves first and let that self- overcoming her own insecurities. thought uncool, too. love cause a ripple effect of happiness cascade As she found that love, she broke through to But her connection with the flute was to others. become a force of nature, an undeniable piece undeniable, and Sasha found her way back She doesn’t just talk the talk. She sings of American culture and music. into Lizzo’s professional repertoire. She began it with her approach to self-respect and Though one of the Grammy nominations playing the flute on Instagram videos, which empowerment on full display in many of her was for “Best New Artist,” Lizzo will be quick went viral. Then the flute made its way onto lyrics. One example is in the song “Good as to tell you she is no overnight success. At 30, her concert stage. Lizzo recalls the exact Hell,” when she advises what to do if your man she has been beating the musical drum, playing moment during one performance when she doesn’t love you anymore: gigs, forming bands, alternating from electro realized she broke through with fans and really pop to R&B, to flute, and back and forth again, connected. At that moment, she had the flute in If he don’t love you anymore for well over a decade. her hand. Just walk your fine a** out the door Now, her flute has its own Instagram I do my hair toss From UH, Where Else? account with more than 300,000 followers. Check my nails orn in Detroit, Melissa Viviane “It took me so long,” she said. “When you Baby how you feelin’? Jefferson, who would take on the hide who you are, it makes it harder for people Feeling good as hell name Lizzo, moved to Houston to get to know you and get to love you, but as with her family when she was nine. soon as you are unashamed of who you are — I Or on “Truth Hurts,” which boasts an amazing Growing up in the Alief area, she was so nervous that people would call me a 160-million views on YouTube: Bcredits Houston’s special musical flavor for nerd or think I wasn’t cool — but as soon as I honing her palate. showed the world all of me, that’s when they You’re ’posed to hold me down, “The biggest influence from Houston started to fall in love with me.” but you’re holding me back music for me was freestyling,” Lizzo said. Small wonder why she’s a role model. And that’s the sound “Here, freestyling is a whole art form. It’s a of me not calling you back culture, it’s a way of life, it’s very laid back, Her Philosophy it’s very melodic,” she said as she launched he year 2019 was not Lizzo’s only And, perhaps, the coup de grâce on into spontaneous freestyle verse offering her spectacular success. She’s survived independence: homage to Houston. plenty of hard times. She was “I learned how to freestyle here in homeless for a period, living in her I put the sing in single. Houston,” she recalled during a recent visit car to dedicate herself to music, and (Top) Lizzo surprised the Spirit of Houston Band by dropping by their rehearsal back to H-Town and the UH campus. “We Tshe had an admittedly difficult time in college. Those lyrics come straight from Lizzo’s heart, during a visit to UH. would bang on the desks in school and bang “This is the place I was most insecure,” which was shaped, in part, on the UH campus, (Bottom) This year, Lizzo earned three Grammy wins and eight nominations. on the school bus.” Lizzo revealed, sharing that difficult memory deep in the heart of Texas. 52 UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Magazine • FALL 2019 SPRING 2020 • UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Magazine 53.