Janelle Monáe twerks it out in something fierce in her brand-new "Q.U.E.E.N." video.
HOO boy. We THOUGHT we knew what it was like to miss soul-funk pioneer Janelle Monáe in the time between 2010's The ArchAndroid and her upcoming sophomore effort, The Electric Lady. We also felt another twinge of "we need more Janelle solo stuff!" after her appearance on fun.'s "We Are Young." But now, after watching Janelle's hyper-stylish, black-and-white video for her powerful Erykah Badu-assisted jam "Q.U.E.E.N.," we are ENTIRELY aware of just how empty life was without Janelle and her unbeatable tuxedo-ed swagger.
Watch Janelle Monáe featuring Erykah Badu's "Q.U.E.E.N." video after the jump.
Directed by Alan Ferguson (Solange's boyfriend!), "Q.U.E.E.N." depicts Janelle and Erykah (aka "Badula Oblongata") as frozen human sculptures in what could easily pass for an interactive SoHo pop-up art gallery. As "Q.U.E.E.N."'s funk-tinged bass line kicks in, the sculptures flicker to life with Janelle twerking in her chair (seriously, best "chair dance" we've ever seen) and singing about haters and their snap judgments: "I can't believe all of the things they say about me/ Walk in the room they throwing shade left to right."
Backed by an aesthetically stunning bevy of mod '60s dancers, Janelle finally sidles up to a queen-like Erykah Badu, who's looking terribly regal in all white and gold. Together, they sing about female equality ("Baby, here comes the freedom song") and loving oneself despite social pressure ("But you gotta testify/ Because the booty don't lie").
Aaaand we're dead. Join Janelle's perfectly mod dance party below, and look out for The Electric Lady this fall.
