♫ Janelle Monáe – Cold War
Kansas City native Janelle Monáe originally planned to pursue a career on Broadway but instead began focusing on music. By 2003, she had moved to Atlanta and recorded a self-released album, The Audition, which introduced the whole Metropolis/Cindi Mayweather concept.
Four years later, Sean “Diddy” Combs signed the singer/songwriter to his Bad Boy label, offering an official release for her Suite I of IV: The Chase EP which earned Janelle a Grammy nomination for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for her single “Many Moons”.
Janelle disclosed last year of the deal with Diddy (which he considers one of the most important signings of his career) that it’s not the traditional label-artist kind; it’s more of a partnership. And it seems to be a fruitful one with the release of her first full-length album, The ArchAndroid (pronounced Ark Android), hitting stores today.
Executive-produced by Nate Wonder, Chuck Lightning, Janelle and Diddy with co-executive production from Big Boi, The ArchAndroid is one of the most impressive debuts in recent years, dare I say on par with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. A fusion of funk, pop, rock and soul, the album marks the next chapter for the pompadoured performer’s alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather from the planet Metropolis, creating what she considers an “emotion picture”.
“The ArchAndroid is very inspiring for me. We wanted the story to be very compelling, but we also wanted to make sure that the journey we’re taking people on makes them feel like they’re watching one big emotion picture,” Janelle explains. The 18-track, 70-minute soundtrack, which is parts two and three of a four-part series, is near perfection with its lush instrumentation and pulsating beats, not to mention the varying vocal ranges of the album’s star. Imagine it: a “singer” who can actually sing.
Following the orchestral “Suite II Overture”, the album kicks off with the Afrobeat-influenced “Dance or Die” with Saul Williams. The 60′s psychedelic rock-inspired “Sir Greendown” flows seamlessly (much like the entire Suite II) into the next track, “Cold War” followed by the first single, “Tight Rope” featuring Big Boi, which Janelle reminds us “When you get elevated/ they love it or they hate/ keep dancing on them haters.” And that’s exactly what is done in the single’s video, which she explained is a tutorial on how to make it through life without going insane.
The juxtaposition of “Oh Maker”, fashioned in the styling of contemplative thought, with the beat-driven and scream-filled “Come Alive (The War of the Roses)” leads to the Woodstock-influenced “Mushrooms & Roses”, marking the end of Suite II. Another overture introduces us to “Neon Valley Street”, a smooth, modern R&B track, followed by “Make the Bus”, perhaps the album’s lowest point with indie pop/rock band Of Montreal. While the album’s final track, the Shirley Bassey-esque “BaBopByeYa”, is nearly nine minutes long, you won’t want it to end. Unfortunately, Cindi Mayweather Janelle Monáe belts out the last words: “I must go.” If you must…
Just promise us Suite IV will be as epic, magical and creative as The ArchAndroid.
WHATEVER CUZ WHAT YOUR SAYING IS NOT SET IN STONE! Who the fuck are you?????????????????
@ Queen
how exactly do you know thats the truth?
do you have proof
or are you one of those crazy folks that watched a few too many youtube videos are read these conspiracy websites to the point where your paranoid about anything and everything that has a shape, a dark color, numbers that have 6 as a factor, robots, the globe, the ok sign, the peace sign, anyone who looks to the left and barney, etc
you people consider anything and everything illuminati related
those who are weak are the ones who will let anyone and everyone brainwash them, thus me not being afraid of this “illuminati” bs
a secret society is exactly that A SECRET SOCIETY aka you dont know their exact dealings
I also think this chick is corny as hell, sorry!
I Love Cold War…One of my favorites off the album..
ESPWA ANOTHER FOOL DEFENDING THE ENEMY SCREW YOURSELF ……….
MORE THAN YOUTUBE EXPOSE THE INDUSTRY FOOL.
P.S THERE’S NO SECRET SOCIETIES ANYMORE GOD SAID THE TRUTH WILL BE EXPOSED, SOME CHOOSE TO BE BLIND LIKE YOURSELF.
MRSJONES,
THEY LOVE THE GARBAGE THEY’RE BEING SERVED, THE LOOK EATING LIES AND RUNNING FROM THE TRUTH BECAUSE SOME ARE AFRAID OF REALITY.
EXCUSE THE TYPOS I MEANT THEY LIKE THE GARBAGE THEY’RE BEING SERVED. SOME EAT LIES AND RUN FROM THE THE TRUTH…..
@queen
be quiet Illuminati whore =)
She’s honestly best on slower songs and I’d disagree with someone calling her range “varying” You could peg it and get it right more than 95% of the time and it’s honestly not outstanding. Which is why she’s much more effective when everything is slow so that her vocals and the instrumentation don’t overshadow the actual lyrics. She’s needs the benefit of what she’s saying.
I find it a bit odd that ppl are so quick to throw someone more mainstream like Beyonce under the lame “illuminati” bus but yet this chick is somehow praised for her “great” music..hmm I guess if she was more popular she would be on that silly site “vigilant citizen” or whatever it’s called. This chick is callin herself an android or alluding to an “alter ego” and yet no hate rants or warnings about the souls of the ppl who listen to her music? Ironic indeed
@71
Exactly but you have to understand her team is hyping her up on here. I haven’t seen this many positive comments on CL in years. People think the illuminati is just for successful artists. No. these unknown artists want a slice of the pie too. These same people talking about she’s so great would be the first to tell someone about Beyonce or Rihanna in the illuminati. Janelle is no less illuminati than they are. In fact she might be worse cuz she pushing it to the max having no shame dressing up as a robot and calling her album Archandroid. Just goes to show how much people know about the illuminati.
I had seen Janelle Monae’s performance on Late Night With David Letterman around an hour ago, Janelle Monae was fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you stupid motherfuckers need to learn how to read and write. i find it interesting that the dumbest fools on here are the ones with bad things to say. and you can’t spell. proofread much???
at any rate, this is the best music ever! her sound is unique. and she IS selling. she is number 1 on the itunes r&b charts. and, everyone i know bought a copy.
too bad your tastes in music suck, you illuminati obsessed freaks. go suck an illuminati cock…
BITCHES
ps follow me on twitter @juicyfruit.com
naw just kidding. laughing at that dumb bitch who told us to follow her with her dumb ass comment. go suck sum’n bitch.
@ The Glamorous Mixed Chick, Janelle Monae HAS been thrown under the “lame illuminati bus” on this site many times, including this particular post (see #26 and that lunatic “Queen” above). I don’t think that it has anything to do with whether or not an artist is a more mainstream or not when it comes to the illuminatiphiles. They see it in EVERYTHING.
In terms of The ArchAndroid album, it.is.brilliant.
say you’ll go
cold war
neon valley street
BABOP BYE YA!
I could go on and on. The whole album is amazing. Can’t get to sleep i’m hooked
Awesome Album .. No Female Is On Janelle’s Level..
Even if the illuminati thing ain’t true…i find it interesting that in most of her photos of late…case in point: the one above, that she strive to look like a ROBOT. I mean to most folks…everything that’s different seems cool and everyone else who disagrees is a hater or conspiracy theorist…but that robotic theme has continued from since the videos of last album and has found there way into some of live performances as well.
I like her…she’s beautiful and very talented, and even though I like her current single, I just can’t help my reservations.
Artists give no explanation for the things they do…they know that they can depend on their fans and stans alike to defend them and like mindless sheep we do…even when their material is questionable. We celebrate artists for their talent but that doesn’t mean their talent, beauty and influence should automatically absolve responsibility for the messages behind the material they put out. (this goes beyond janelle monae, btw)
I actually purchased the urry up itunes.
@QUEEN – I hate how youl try to force feed. How you even bring up GOD when your obviously angry. God is not a God of confusion so . . . You really need to reevaluate you methods. I dont remember Jesus going around telling them they are stupid this and dumb that – what i do remember is him showing love. Scatter the seed and let it fall and grow where it may. AND MOVE ON – no need to keep posting and coming back. Your are part of the problem actually – so check yourself and get your house in order b4 you come on here trying to reprimand ppl you dont know and artistry you dont understand. Because if you knew Janelle you would know that she is not Illuminati.
And you are bearing false witness – so get it together.
I wish people would listen to the album and stop this guessing what her motives are. Her “character” Cindy Mayweather is a robot who is fighting the system; she falls in love which is illegal, she dances which is also prohibited by the leaders of this imagined world. It has nothing to do with following the mainstream.
“Are we really living or just walking dead… Day dreamers please wake up we can’t sleep no more” from Sincerely Jane.
Nothing wrong with having a discussion but you have to listen to the music before judging it.
Its a great album!!!!
Well all of them do seem to have the same angle as a unit… alter egos…nikki’s massive attack on our children, shit rihanna and her dark ass, hell even sasha fierce so called devilish side.. Which i do believe the industry wants us to see! I dont see nothing remotely tasteful in ciara new song if she thought that riddin a D*** is creative! It really is sad soon all little 7 year olds will be popin harder than The so called Queen herself! SAD SAD SAD! Go head Monica, Go head Brandy, Go head Keshia ,Go head MARY, GO HEAD to all the ladies that have some kind of social responsibilty to our FUTURE!
What is she pushing with the metropolis thingy?
THANK YOU #81
#81
You hit the nail on the head. If people were paying attention since the first suite, she’s tellin a story. How hard is that to figure out? Cindy Mayweather is the protagnist, she’s a robot. The entire theme centers around being free to be different and create. It’s really not rocket science.
The irony of illuminati enthusiasts callin other niggaz brainwashed LOL Priceless…
I don’t know how exactly you could compare Janelle Monae to Florence & The Machine. I love both artists equally, but they are nothing alike musically. You must be hearing something I’m not. And to the people that are all “I don’t know what’s so special about this album”, try listening to it a few times. Give it time to grow. This is not an album designed to appeal to people with the attention span of a rabbit on crack. You people are so accustomed to your Beyonce and your Lady Gaga and other overrated crap that at this point you wouldn’t know genius if it slapped you in the face. There’s a reason this chick is getting rave reviews all across the board, she is the next big thing. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say she may be the Michael Jackson of the 21st century.
Love Janelle Monae. Her Letterman performance was insane! Really great energy and dancing from her. I have heard her speak, she is quite articulate and intelligent. A nice and refreshing change from the artists we have seen recently in this industry.
I bought the whole album. She has recorded some very good music and yes, she does remind me a bit of Lauryn Hill. Unfortunately, I don’t believe her album is as catchy as Lauryn’s but that’s OK. It is still a solid album with stand out songs like Tightrope, Cold War, Dance or Die, etc.
As for this Illuminati BS, I wish people would start back on their meds. You sound ridiculous. What a shame that some people’s minds are so weak and pliable that they are incapable of actually thinking for themselves these days. People hear some crazy conspiracy theory and can’t even think it out logically to see all of the abundant flaws in the theory. They hear it, therefore, it must be true.
WHOA! Comparatiely she is so nostalgically futuristic. I have not stop playing the album period. She has the “golden voice” as well as Jazmine Sullivan. Janelle’s a compact Powerhouse! I cannot believe her range and style. She takes her place among the greats.
THE A R C H A N D R O I D… simply beautiful.
@ OMG (#49, #72)
Pro tip: gullibility is not cute, and you are sitting up here typing as fast as you can to show the world what a of fool azz sucker you are.
First of all, you assume that those of us who appreciate Janelle’s music must be “part of her team” just because you don’t hear her music on the radio, which means she can’t be “popular.” Believe it or not, OMG, not everyone needs to wait on a top 40 list to tell us what music to like. Are you really saying your behind still ain’t figured out that what is popular isn’t always good, and what is good isn’t always popular? Yeah, I was about 6 when I sussed that lesson out.
Only a simpleton would honestly believe that the mess being played on the radio is GOOD MUSIC. AHAHAHAHAHA!
Fool.
And you want to talk about people being brainwashed. What you are listening to on the radio is an audio extra value meal–mass produced, low quality and designed to appeal to the widest number of taste palettes. There’s a reason why filet mignon isn’t on McDonald’s menu. It’s known as gourmet food, and only appeals to those with refined taste–which is the minority of people. NOT the majority.
Janelle is filet mignon. You want to keep listening to your warmed-over Whopper sounding music, you do that OMG, but don’t sit up here sucking your teeth because we aren’t all as simple as you are.
Woohooo! Janelle Monae!!! I’ve always liked her style and she can really sing! My fav. song is Sincerely Jane, it has a nice message!
I’m in Europe and I’m just discovering today this perfect satanist and illuminati “archandroid”, one more! All the codes are there, how can one be so blind not to see it? Illuminati won’t fail because they perfectly know how stupid people can be… “freedom!” , “fun!” , “subprimes!” …bullshit for suckers.
Another JEAN told on may 19th: “Her “character” Cindy Mayweather is a robot who is fighting the system”
LOLLLL! An illuminati artist fighting the system! With the support of big productions by the banksters, sure! you’re a joker I guess……….!
I’m a whole year late commenting on this thread, why? Well, when the album was released, I didn’t know anything about janelle monae or her music. I saw her around, here and there, and really wasn’t interested in her. I listented to the ARCHANDROID, and i love it! Each and every song on this album has a meaning…and it tells a story. People want to call her weird, and that’s only because they don’t fully understand or appreciate her talent and music.
Illuminati? no. yes, her album is centered around an android named Cindy Mayweather, which was inspired by the Metropolis movie. Does that mean she is a devil worshiper? Before you answer that question, please watch a few of her interviews were she explains why she tell the story of Cindy Mayweather..and then listen to the content of her music, and then decide if she worships the devil or is part of any agendas. In every song, she speaks nothing but the truth. Nothing that she says fit into any agenda of the illuminati. People, get over it. Embrace real music.