Theories Behind The Title – Dave Chappelle: The Bird Revelation

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Both of Dave Chappelle’s new comedy specials have titles which aren’t as self-explanatory as what most comedians offer. Now, Netflix provided a definition for Equanimity but what about The Bird Revelation? Well, here are some theories.

Let me begin by saying that, like the other article dealing with The Bird Revelation, this began with a comment which sparked an idea. One which led me to traverse Google and try to piece a few things together.

• It’s in reference to the Book of Revelations

Let me begin by saying I’m not a religious person. Spiritual yes, and I appreciate the positive things religion can do for people. Of which, may include Chappelle’s inspiration for naming his special. Now, as for why the title may be inspired by Revelations, specifically Revelations 18 and on, take this passage from the New International version, per Bible Gateway:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’^[a]
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
³ For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

In this theory, let’s say Babylon is Hollywood, if not the entertainment industry in general. The kings of the earth who committed adultery will be the Cosbys, Weinsteins, and the lessers the birds like Louis C.K and etc. Meanwhile, those who covered for them, they are the merchants. The ones who benefited from bringing, rather luring, these women, even men, to these kings and animals who haunt, own and scavenge within Babylon. These merchants who, of impure spirits, like the unclean birds, kings, and animals, drunk from the wine which was the silent tears and shocked faces of victims. All the while becoming rich and living off what the kings of the industry gave them for their assistance, notoriety, and/or silence.

Also, taking note of what Bible Tools says, birds can also be considered demons. So the title, “Bird Revelation” could mean Demon Revelation, and with revelation meaning, per Dictionary.com’s definition, “something revealed or disclosed, especially a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized,” it could be Chappelle is calling his contemporaries, alongside Weinstein, demons who were unknown till now but have thus been revealed unto us.

• It Could Be a Reference to the book Hollywood Babylon

Taking things another direction with the Book of Revelations, and the whole birds being demons thing, maybe the book “Hollywood Babylon” also is a piece of the pie? Maybe one inspired the other and as Chappelle read about the scandals that were hidden within Hollywood between the 1900s and 1950s, and as he thought about the fall of Babylon, “Hollywood Babylon” led him to the book of Revelations and then the title of the special?

• “I was alive. I could fly”

It could very well be that the title has nothing to do with religion, the idea of Hollywood as a burning Babylon, or anything like that. Especially if you take note of the quote which appears before the special and also Chappelle bringing up the book, “Pimp” by Iceberg Slim. One of the key ideas in the special is choice. Whether it is the choice of the perv and rapists to do what they did or the choice Dave himself had to face when offered $50 million dollars to continue a show which no longer fulfilled him. Now, let’s take some things into account. As Chappelle notes in Equanimity, he didn’t grow up rich. He wasn’t living in the projects but $50 million is $50 million and considering Chappelle did okay, but wasn’t RICH BITCH, so came a few questions. Would he sing to the tune of $50 million, like a bird, or fly away?

Now, for many, perhaps there isn’t a real choice in the matter. When else in life will there be $50 million on the table? Yet, looking around, Chappelle’s wings were not clipped. He made it that far without Comedy Central and arguably, as 2017 has shown, could survive and damn near make as much as they put on the table, without them. Perhaps explaining, in part, why the Charlie Parker quote starts the show. He recognized, despite what Comedy Central may have left him feeling, he was alive and could fly the coup. And taking further note of Parker (nicknamed Bird, by the way), and reading over his Wikipedia page about his addiction to heroin, something stuck out to me. It’s this recording noted to have happened on July 29th, 1946. One in which Parker is noted as being “Erratic,” another word for crazy. In that session, it is noted you could see the condition Parker was in. He was drinking, missing beats, and damn near had to be shouted at to complete the session. In my mind, minus the heroin and maybe the drinking, this might have been where Chappelle was at. He came to work because of obligations he felt he was under and while Chappelle Show may very well be a highlight of his career, as Parker’s session that night led to one of the highlights of his career, there was still bad blood. For Parker, it was someone releasing a version of his song “Lover Man,” flaws and all. For Chappelle, it was the release of the third season, flaws and all.

Leaving one last reason that Charlie Parker may have inspired the title. According to the article “I came alive. I could fly” which can be found on News 24.com, this quote from Parker came from him finally getting to play what he had been hearing in his head for some time. And considering the hesitance of Chappelle, because, as he notes:

It could very well be these thoughts have been just on his mind and despite him knowing what backlash could come, and did come, Netflix did give him a platform to say it. So like Charlie, with Chappelle now at the point of his career where he can say and do as he pleases and, at worse, people just write a bunch of click-bait articles about it, tweet about it, but it doesn’t seem to kill his bottom line, he said what he said. Thus making it so “The Bird Revelation” could very well be the revelation that, at this point, Chappelle was alive, could fly, and essentially was free – just like Charlie Parker (minus his heroin addiction). A man also noted for being an artist and intellectual vs. an entertainer, and how he was uncompromising. Words of what may just be some Wikipedia editor showing off their skills and talents, but like with the whole “Hollywood Babylon” and Revelations theory, all it takes is a handful of words to spark an idea. One odd moment to spark a joke, and whether right or wrong maybe this sparked some theories of your own. Share them in the comments.