Janelle Monáe - Q.U.E.E.N. feat. Erykah Badu (with links to lyrics & a related post)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the 2013 song "Q.U.E.E.N." by Janelle Monáe - featuring Erykah Badu. Links to the song's lyrics and a racialicious.com discussion about this song are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO

Janelle Monáe - Q.U.E.E.N. feat. Erykah Badu [Official Video]



janellemonae, Published on May 1, 2013

Available on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/jmqueen

Directed by Alan Ferguson

Q.U.E.E.N. featuring Erykah Badu
From The Upcoming Album, The Electric Lady

© 2013 Atlantic Records
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Click http://www.directlyrics.com/janelle-monae-queen-lyrics.html for the lyrics to this song.

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RELATED LINK
For a discussion post about this song, click
http://www.racialicious.com/2013/05/14/is-it-true-were-all-insane-monae-and-badu-legendary-rebels/ "Monáe And Badu, Legendary Rebels" by Andreana Clay.

Here's an excerpt of that post:
"Some have begun to speculate that this song may be about her (queer) sexuality, which may be true, and that’s ok. But, I’m more interested in the ways her freak status is about weaving in a politic that is specific to this generation, her generation, our (hip-hop) generation(s). This is most exemplified in the rap lyrics at the end of the song. Some surprise as in, ”I’m tired of Marvin asking me ‘What’s Going On;” while others challenge ”Categorize me, I defy every label;” and my favorite–as a Missouri girl with roots deep–stays grounded, ”Gimme me back my pyramid, I’m tryna free Kansas City.” Those lyrics, that (brown girl) insurgency explored through a simultaneous connection and refusal to be pinned down are indicative of the margins many of us have have been relegated to. Have celebrated in. Created alliances through. Where we’ve landed and where our true possibilities lie. As Lorde* states, Monáe gives a nod to ”those of us who stand outside the circle of this society’s definition of acceptable women; those of us who have been forged in the crucibles of difference.” Whether it’s because of our sexuality, our political stances, our backgrounds, or our hairstyle, what we have forged on our bodies and in our collaborations are the tools, the communities we depend on. Not throwing out one piece in favor of or deference to another."
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*"Lorde" refers to Caribbean-American writer and civil rights activist Audre Lorde (February 18, 1934 – November 17, 1992).

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Janelle Monáe & Erykah Badu for this record. Thanks to the producer of this video and to its YouTube publisher. Thanks also to the author of the excerpted post.

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