Why do we love Janelle Monae’s new video for “Electric Lady,” the title track to her latest release? Well, let us count the ways.
1. Her hair is fabulous.
Janelle started wearing just black and white outfits in homage to her mother and other domestics. But she’s been branching out in different looks lately, and in this video, she showcases her natural, big hair, which we adore.
2. The sorority/fraternity college theme.
Usually when we see a party in a music video, its in a club with half-dressed models, popping bottles and sex in every other frame. While there’s nothing wrong with any of the above, it gets old when it’s in EVERY video.
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In this party, college students are having the kind of party we want to go to – filled with people bustin’ moves on the dance floor and having a good time.
And can we say we’re not mad there’s a party in a video somewhere folks are getting an education?
3. Janelle shows love to other fabulous female artists in a creative way.
Estelle,Esperanza Spalding, T-Boz,Monica and Kimbra are all fab females in the music biz. They might not all have been able to get to the video shoot, so Janelle – who dubs them emeritus members of her Electric Phi Beta sorority, shows them via a Skype like chat app. Cute and clever.
4. T.I. and Joi make cameos
T.I.’s been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately so its nice to see him appear in this video, doing a few dance steps with Janelle. (Don’t tell Tiny, but the two look adorable together.) And the uber-fab Joi Gilliam is in the video as well.
Those of you who know, know that in the 90’s, Atlanta-based Joi was doing the kind of alternative funk that Janelle does now. Two of Joi’s early albums, Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome and Star Kittys Revenge are kind of cult classics. (You can check out more on Joi here.)
5. Janelle proves there is room in music for women who don’t lead with sexuality.
Nicki Minaj’s booty notwithstanding, Monae shows that you can have a viable career these days by focusing on your music, not just your sexuality. We’re not slut-shaming, we just think there’s room for all kinds of female expression and we’re glad Monae has a chance to represent herself the way she feels comfortable.
