TheDigitalGardener said:

cindymay said:

she changes style in every album if you are a true Janelle's fan you know this)

She changes style in every album? What albums are these? She has only made two albums that we have heard, one of which is not commercially available.

Metropolis is an EP, The Archandroid is the only available JM album.

The person is probably refering to the Audition tapes (songs like You and You're my everything etc) and The Metropolis EP and then of course the offical release The Archandroid, that's how I took it ....

GoldDolphin said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

She changes style in every album? What albums are these? She has only made two albums that we have heard, one of which is not commercially available.

Metropolis is an EP, The Archandroid is the only available JM album.

The person is probably refering to the Audition tapes (songs like You and You're my everything etc) and The Metropolis EP and then of course the offical release The Archandroid, that's how I took it ....

of course , you took it right

Am I missing something here? This song sucks!

I think its boring, the video felt long and when Erykah Badu finally showed up I was like um and what?

I dig the both of them but i dont like this song. I'll give it another listen to see.

Listening to Neon Valley Street to remind me why I dug her so much last time around. Q.U.E.E.N. is sorta an awkward first single. Listenable. Badu's freestyle is useless, even though that's my lady. Janelle's is much better and closes the song on an interesting level. It's funny, damn near every hip&hop and/or r&b follow-up project is prefaced by a song about the haters. Understandable here cuz myself as well am kinda bored with her not wearing any other clothes and doing those weird faces she do, even though she got a little growing in those tights in that one set-up. Just hope she has less superficial things to sing about in the other songs and that isn't what she means by "personal".

purplepolitician said:

Listening to Neon Valley Street to remind me why I dug her so much last time around. Q.U.E.E.N. is sorta an awkward first single. Listenable. Badu's freestyle is useless, even though that's my lady. Janelle's is much better and closes the song on an interesting level. It's funny, damn near every hip&hop and/or r&b follow-up project is prefaced by a song about the haters. Understandable here cuz myself as well am kinda bored with her not wearing any other clothes and doing those weird faces she do, even though she got a little growing in those tights in that one set-up. Just hope she has less superficial things to sing about in the other songs and that isn't what she means by "personal".

it's not a song about her haters it's only a verse in the beginning it's about female, black female empowerement etc ....to me she continues to be a gem in music landscape if she is superficial I think you don't understand the meaning of this song very well....

wonder505 said:

Am I missing something here? This song sucks!

I think its boring, the video felt long and when Erykah Badu finally showed up I was like um and what?

I dig the both of them but i dont like this song. I'll give it another listen to see.

Exactly how I feel.

cindymay said:

it's not a song about her haters it's only a verse in the beginning it's about female, black female empowerement etc ....to me she continues to be a gem in music landscape if she is superficial I think you don't understand the meaning of this song very well....

Thank you

wonder505 said:

Am I missing something here? This song sucks!

I think its boring, the video felt long and when Erykah Badu finally showed up I was like um and what?

I dig the both of them but i dont like this song. I'll give it another listen to see.

Same. I grabbed this and the new Daft Punk/Pharell tune. One has 3 plays the other has 27. You guess which wins.

Marrk said:

wonder505 said:

Am I missing something here? This song sucks!

I think its boring, the video felt long and when Erykah Badu finally showed up I was like um and what?

I dig the both of them but i dont like this song. I'll give it another listen to see.

Same. I grabbed this and the new Daft Punk/Pharell tune. One has 3 plays the other has 27. You guess which wins.

Come on everything Nile Rodgers touches is golden and amazing to your ears. You shouldn't compare the songs because they're totally different. Love both songs though.

Woah! I never liked her before. But props must be given to Monae: she beat that track

up.

The song is average.

Check out Janelle dancing on 106 & Park!

I love this woman.

^

purplepolitician said:

Listening to Neon Valley Street to remind me why I dug her so much last time around. Q.U.E.E.N. is sorta an awkward first single. Listenable. Badu's freestyle is useless, even though that's my lady. Janelle's is much better and closes the song on an interesting level. It's funny, damn near every hip&hop and/or r&b follow-up project is prefaced by a song about the haters. Understandable here cuz myself as well am kinda bored with her not wearing any other clothes and doing those weird faces she do, even though she got a little growing in those tights in that one set-up. Just hope she has less superficial things to sing about in the other songs and that isn't what she means by "personal".

You totally missed the meaning of the song. The song is actually the exact opposite.

GoldDolphin said:

Marrk said:

Same. I grabbed this and the new Daft Punk/Pharell tune. One has 3 plays the other has 27. You guess which wins.

Come on everything Nile Rodgers touches is golden and amazing to your ears. You shouldn't compare the songs because they're totally different. Love both songs though.

speaking about Nile Rodgers I read one of his interviews some months ago maybe last year I don't remember well anyway he said he'd like to work or produce something for Janelle Monae....I think there is a reason why a lot of these great artists wants to work with Janelle: real talent

[Edited 5/4/13 13:28pm]

mjscarousal said:

^

purplepolitician said:

Listening to Neon Valley Street to remind me why I dug her so much last time around. Q.U.E.E.N. is sorta an awkward first single. Listenable. Badu's freestyle is useless, even though that's my lady. Janelle's is much better and closes the song on an interesting level. It's funny, damn near every hip&hop and/or r&b follow-up project is prefaced by a song about the haters. Understandable here cuz myself as well am kinda bored with her not wearing any other clothes and doing those weird faces she do, even though she got a little growing in those tights in that one set-up. Just hope she has less superficial things to sing about in the other songs and that isn't what she means by "personal".

You totally missed the meaning of the song. The song is actually the exact opposite.

exactly

This YouTube comment made me think of the Org:

"I can't read 5,000+ comments back, but somebody must have mention the Illuminati by now, right? Freemasons?"

I love it! rarely do I hear a song so funky it takes me back to the Prince era. Prince would be proud of this.

Dope song, and the video is just great. She is such a beautiful looking woman.

I can't wait for the album. I need that joint ASAP!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/...ch-of-badu

NaughtyKitty said:

Check out Janelle dancing on 106 & Park!

I love this woman.

Hahahahaha thanks for that, it was great!

I just love to watch her and think her videos are fabulous, love her style. When she's on my screen my eyes are following her.

I like the song too and Badu was fit so well into both the song and the video, not shoehorned this-could-be-any-track pasted in. Also like Janelle's rap at the end.

CynicKill said:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/...h-of-badu

That was interesting. Esp. appreciated Badu's comment:

"The hard reality is that, even though you give birth to it — human or music — it still doesn't belong to you. It's something you have to nurture and mold but it doesn't belong to you," she said. "It's some big girl shit. It really is. You have to let stuff go. It's hard."

Paging Mr. Nelson... Mr. Nelson to the Big Girl Panties phone... Paging Mr. Nelson...

Eileen said:

CynicKill said:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/...h-of-badu

That was interesting. Esp. appreciated Badu's comment:

"The hard reality is that, even though you give birth to it — human or music — it still doesn't belong to you. It's something you have to nurture and mold but it doesn't belong to you," she said. "It's some big girl shit. It really is. You have to let stuff go. It's hard."

Paging Mr. Nelson... Mr. Nelson to the Big Girl Panties phone... Paging Mr. Nelson...

Well, if he heard the word "panties," I'm sure he'll be here in a moment....

Naughty Kit

That video posting was fantastic.....I had to control myself here at work but Janelle makes you want to just BOP!

Isn't she something.....I love her:-P

When I see her I think of when I saw Lauryn Hill on the Miseducation Tour...The beauty, the vibe and the talent is a bit overwhelming. I must go see her live if I get the chance cuz that 106 clip got me too hyped!

DAV123 said:

Naughty Kit

That video posting was fantastic.....I had to control myself here at work but Janelle makes you want to just BOP!

Isn't she something.....I love her:-P

When I see her I think of when I saw Lauryn Hill on the Miseducation Tour...The beauty, the vibe and the talent is a bit overwhelming. I must go see her live if I get the chance cuz that 106 clip got me too hyped!

Same!!

I didnt show no love to Badu Badu looked great and I love her part

Queen lyrics

Girl, this is craziness
Let me tell you

I can't believe all of the things they say about me
Walk in the room they throwing shade left to right
They be like ooh, she's throwin' face
And I just tell em, cut me up, and get down

They call us dirty 'cuz we break all your rules down
And we just came to act a fool, is that all right?
(Girl, that's alright)
They be like, "Ooh, let them eat cake."
But we eat wangs and throw them bones on the ground

Am I a freak for dancing around?
Am I a freak for getting down?
I'm coming up, don't cut me down
Yeah I wanna be, wanna be

Is it peculiar that she twerk in the mirror?
And am I weird to dance alone late at night?
And is it true we're all insane?
And I just tell 'em, "No we ain't" and get down

I heard this life is just a play with no rehearsal
I wonder will this be my final act tonight
And tell me what's the price of fame?
Am I a sinner with my skirt on the ground?

Am I a freak for dancing around?
Am I a freak for getting down?
I'm coming up, don't cut me down
Yeah I wanna be

Hey brother can you save my soul from the devil?
Say is it weird to like the way she wear her tights?
And is it rude to wear my shades?
Am I a freak because I love watching Mary? (Maybe)

Hey sister am I good enough for your heaven?
Say will your God accept me in my black and white?
Will he approve the way I'm made?
Or should I reprogram the programming and get down?


[Spoken Word]
Even if it makes others uncomfortable
I wanna love who I am
Even if it makes other uncomfortable
I will love who I am

Dance 'til the break of dawn
Don't mean a thing, so duh
I can't take it no more
Baby, we in tuxedo groove
Monae and E. Badu
Crazy in the black and white
We got the drums so tight
Baby, here comes the freedom song
Too strong we moving on
Baby there's melody
Show you another way
This joints for fight unknown
Come home and sing your song
But you gotta testify
Because the booty don't lie

No, no, the booty don't lie
Oh no, the booty don't lie

Yeah
Yeah, Let's flip it
I don't think they understand what I'm trying to say

I asked a question like this
"Are we a lost generation of our people?
Add us to equations but they'll never make us equal.
She who writes the movie owns the script and the sequel.
So why ain't the stealing of my rights made illegal?
They keep us underground working hard for the greedy,
But when it's time pay they turn around and call us needy.
My crown too heavy like the Queen Nefertiti
Gimme back my pyramid, I'm trying to free Kansas City.

Mixing masterminds like your name Bernie Grundman.
Well I'm gonna keep leading like a young Harriet Tubman
You can take my wings but I'm still goin' fly
And even when you edit me the booty don't lie
Yeah, keep singing and I'mma keep writing songs
I'm tired of Marvin asking me, "What's Going On?
March to the streets 'cuz I'm willing and I'm able
Categorize me, I defy every label
And while you're selling dope, we're gonna keep selling hope
We rising up now, you gotta deal you gotta cope
Will you be electric sheep?
Electric ladies, will you sleep?
Or will you preach?"

DAV123 said:

Naughty Kit

That video posting was fantastic.....I had to control myself here at work but Janelle makes you want to just BOP!

Isn't she something.....I love her:-P

When I see her I think of when I saw Lauryn Hill on the Miseducation Tour...The beauty, the vibe and the talent is a bit overwhelming. I must go see her live if I get the chance cuz that 106 clip got me too hyped!

I saw Janelle live last summer...she is truly something else..

My opinion of the song has kept changing. I was hyped at the unabashed Princely funk of the track when I first heard it, but that dipped when I honed in on the lyrics, which I was initially taking to be a run-of-the-mill RnB moan about 'the haters'. Felt like a bit of a let down, because it's so hackneyed, and because I enjoyed the fact that she was previously on the scene laying out this whole afro-futurist scenario like a modern-day George Clinton. Plus, Erykah's bit seemed to be completely extraneous and forgettable - and had a whiff of a guest star thrown in to add some 'cool value' to a new release.

I have to say, since I saw the video (and read some of the responses here), I've gone back to it and been won over once again. The way I interpret it now is that the 'haters' stuff is kind of a way in to a broader protest against being hemmed in by the judgment of others, or by religious interdictions, etc. Perhaps you could say that's not earth-shattering stuff, and it's been said before, but it's a likeable lyric for a funk track, and it somehow feels more genuine and thoughtful than certain other female singers' declarations of 'independence'.

Erykah's presence still doesn't add much for me (though I do like the bit with the mute trumpet and the vocal harmonies just after she's done). But that final movement with the rap is terrific, and it moves the whole thing into an entirely different register. The strings give it a Curtis Mayfield vibe, and she seems sincere and wholehearted enough to carry that off in her rap. And I like the fact that at that point all the futurist conceit dissipates and it's just a 'live and direct' bit of speechifying from the pulpit/soapbox. Dunno what the album will be like, and whether she'll be able to keep this up, but I am once again enthused. (Plus, when you see her passion on that 106 & Park spot, it's hard not to be utterly won over by her. )

Going to see D Angelo and Erykah this summer! So excited now all I have to do is see Janelle and Prince and my life will be complete

This is one of the best songs i ever heard in a long long time... Janelle just..