You f--k up the kitchen, then you should do the dishes
October 9, 2020 4:22 PM Subscribe
Janelle Monae's evocative and powerful video for her anthem to racial justice and democracy, "Turntables." The song is featured on the soundtrack to the 2020 documentary about voter suppression, All In: The Fight for Democracy, directed by Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés, featuring Black politician and activist Stacey Abrams. “I started thinking about all the people on the front line. What could be my gift to them? It was this song to remind them that the tables are turning. We’re seeing that progress is being made, even in the midst of dealing with such traumatic events. We have figured out a way to be the solution. I wanted this to be my gift because revolutionaries need love too. They need inspiration, and they need an anthem. This is my stab at that.”
She is sublime in every way.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 5:39 PM on October 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by Kitchen Witch at 5:39 PM on October 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
WOW! What a song and what a video! I will be rewatching that video for sure to catch the layers and details!
posted by brainwane at 5:48 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by brainwane at 5:48 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
"Turntables" is a great song, and it'll tide me over until she graces us with the follow-up to Dirty Computer. Speaking of which, her performance of "Americans" on Colbert serves as a perfect companion to her new release.
posted by vverse23 at 7:13 PM on October 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by vverse23 at 7:13 PM on October 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
I am pretty out of the loop musically—if I find out about a song it’s either because it on a movie or show soundtrack, or CBC Radio happened to feature it. I haven’t even really listened to much by Janelle Monae before. Well, they played “Turntables” on the CBC’s weekly top music show, and I immediately had to to look it up. I have been watching the video over and over ever since—it is profoundly moving.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:16 PM on October 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:16 PM on October 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
I haven’t even really listened to much by Janelle Monae before.
There's a lot to love about Monáe's catalog. The first several of her albums form sort of an afrofuturist narrative about a time traveling android. Lots of really interesting songs there (I first learned about her through Tightrope, via MetaFilter). Dirty Computer is... something else entirely. Probably her "Revolver" in her evolution. Still waiting for her Sgt Peppers.
If you find Monáe appealing, I do suggest you go back through and check out earlier stuff. You may find stuff you really like there. And her albums work as long-form projects, so there's substance beyond the 5 min short form.
I sort of view her as the gift the Universe gave us to help us cope with the loss of Prince.
posted by hippybear at 7:22 PM on October 9, 2020 [18 favorites]
There's a lot to love about Monáe's catalog. The first several of her albums form sort of an afrofuturist narrative about a time traveling android. Lots of really interesting songs there (I first learned about her through Tightrope, via MetaFilter). Dirty Computer is... something else entirely. Probably her "Revolver" in her evolution. Still waiting for her Sgt Peppers.
If you find Monáe appealing, I do suggest you go back through and check out earlier stuff. You may find stuff you really like there. And her albums work as long-form projects, so there's substance beyond the 5 min short form.
I sort of view her as the gift the Universe gave us to help us cope with the loss of Prince.
posted by hippybear at 7:22 PM on October 9, 2020 [18 favorites]
And now I've finally watched the video, and it's a fascinating sort of blend of her afrofuturist stuff with the more direct political commentary of Dirty Computer.
She's long been a very specific kind of creative mind, and I love where her path has taken her over the years. This video and song are pretty great. It's a combination of remembrance, celebration, and incantation.
Her opening performance at The Oscars of Come Alive this past February was one of the most electric things I've ever seen on television.
posted by hippybear at 8:11 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
She's long been a very specific kind of creative mind, and I love where her path has taken her over the years. This video and song are pretty great. It's a combination of remembrance, celebration, and incantation.
Her opening performance at The Oscars of Come Alive this past February was one of the most electric things I've ever seen on television.
posted by hippybear at 8:11 PM on October 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
I would appreciate an explanation of "I'm kicking out the aubergine". Like, this must mean a thing, but I have no idea what. Help?
posted by hippybear at 9:03 PM on October 9, 2020
posted by hippybear at 9:03 PM on October 9, 2020
I would appreciate an explanation of "I'm kicking out the aubergine". Like, this must mean a thing, but I have no idea what. Help?
When I heard that, I thought it was a smash-the-patriarchy lyric, using the eggplant 🍆 emoji as synecdoche or something, but on googling, apparently the old regime is what she's kicking out.
posted by Superilla at 9:17 PM on October 9, 2020 [15 favorites]
When I heard that, I thought it was a smash-the-patriarchy lyric, using the eggplant 🍆 emoji as synecdoche or something, but on googling, apparently the old regime is what she's kicking out.
posted by Superilla at 9:17 PM on October 9, 2020 [15 favorites]
I know it's just less than a second at the end, but watching Janelle Monae literally pound sand at the end just made me feel great.
posted by Quonab at 9:18 PM on October 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Quonab at 9:18 PM on October 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
kicking out the old regime
posted by umber vowel at 12:28 AM on October 10, 2020
posted by umber vowel at 12:28 AM on October 10, 2020
I love this song and video so very very much.
I had seen the video and wondered about all the Atlanta imagery in there, and now it makes sense that it was for the documentary about Stacey Abrams. Monae has been based in Atlanta for most of her career, but she usually references her hometown of Kansas City more.
For people just discovering her and interested in her earlier stuff, I have always adored Q.U.E.E.N. and it's video
posted by hydropsyche at 4:17 AM on October 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
I had seen the video and wondered about all the Atlanta imagery in there, and now it makes sense that it was for the documentary about Stacey Abrams. Monae has been based in Atlanta for most of her career, but she usually references her hometown of Kansas City more.
For people just discovering her and interested in her earlier stuff, I have always adored Q.U.E.E.N. and it's video
posted by hydropsyche at 4:17 AM on October 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
Oh shit, and the very first video of hers that I saw was Cold War and it is such an amazing song and video
posted by hydropsyche at 4:29 AM on October 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 4:29 AM on October 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
She's so great; thank you for posting this.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:42 AM on October 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:42 AM on October 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
So good, thank you for posting!
posted by winesong at 7:32 AM on October 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by winesong at 7:32 AM on October 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Shocked that it took me almost a month to see this—another casualty of 2020, in less distracted times someone would have texted me if there was a new Janelle Monae video! Well, it was worth the wait.
posted by babelfish at 8:50 AM on October 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by babelfish at 8:50 AM on October 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
This couplet is everything:
You laid an egg now it’s bout to hatch
Your gas lightin bout to meet your match
posted by Brachinus at 8:57 AM on October 10, 2020 [8 favorites]
You laid an egg now it’s bout to hatch
Your gas lightin bout to meet your match
posted by Brachinus at 8:57 AM on October 10, 2020 [8 favorites]
Her lyrics are always so on point - love her!
posted by Space Kitty at 7:49 PM on October 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Space Kitty at 7:49 PM on October 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Everything I see from her screams to me that she's this generation's David Bowie, but with a more powerful set of ethics to her voice
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:15 PM on October 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:15 PM on October 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
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posted by mydonkeybenjamin at 4:49 PM on October 9, 2020 [3 favorites]