In the words of Funky Dineva: Yes, GAWD.
We didn’t really need to hear “Q.U.E.E.N.”, Janelle Monáe‘s first single since 2010—a collaboration with Erykah Badu, to know that it was going to be several shades of fierce freshness. And we didn’t need to see the video for “Q.U.E.E.N.” to know that Janelle was going to put in WORK.
And yet, she still managed to defy expectations.
Three years after her 2010 debut The ArchAndroid, the Metropolis songstress has now been captured as a rebel leader of Wondaland Arts Society, and her supposedly dangerous “Musical Weapons Program”—Project Q.U.E.E.N— has been dismantled and turned into a museum installation…until now.
The video is yet another fabulous showcase of Janelle’s limitless, robo-minded imagination: Watch Janelle cut loose, serve face and just get down with herself within the sleekly styled, 60’s mod-meets-22nd century clip. (What’s black, white and red all over? This video set!) Badoula Oblongata (amazing overload) comes in later for a show-stopping, afro-tastic moment of smooth soul, all tied together by Janelle’s life-giving rant at the very end: “Categorize me—I defy every label.” Ain’t it the truth?
Are you weird for twerking in the mirror or dancing ’round late at night to this one? Nope. The booty don’t lie!
Come on and emancipate yourself, legendary rebels.
“Q.U.E.E.N. (feat. Erykah Badu)” was released on April 13. (iTunes)
