Audio: Janelle Monae’s “Mr President”
August 13, 2008
This song is PHENOMENAL.
What is so great about this song is it mixes fantastic thought provoking lyrics with the vocal stylings of Lauryn Hill, from the ‘Miseducation’ era, all while sounding original.
The song is an open letter to the current President, asking him what will he do about all of the very serious issues we as a nation are currently facing.
Pointing out food shortages (“food is running low”) and the importance of education among other things (“a book is worth more than a bomb any day”), Janelle really hits the nail on the head with this song, and I cannot wait to hear more.
http://www.zshare.net/download/16259954f1dd20f5
Well, I’ve just gotten into Ms. Janelle and she is AWESOME on more songs than just this and Sincerely Jane. Like she said an interview somewhere on youtube, Metropolis is about Cindi Mayweather, your above average, futuristic, musical genius cyborg and well, she falls in love, which is exactly what cyborgs are not supposed to do in Metropolis and if they do, they will be disassembled. So, she’s on the run. Violet Stars Happy Hunting, Many Moons and Smile are all heavy songs with a message. For instance, Violet stars happy hunting can be applied by the inequality gay people face, if you really listen to the lyrics. Not even really listen, just here them.
And I think to myself
(Impossible, it’s impossible for me)
Wait, it’s impossible
Now they’re getting at me (and the police are after you)
They’re even after you
For loving too
Wait, it’s impossible that they’re coming for me (the police are after you)
And now they’re after you (for loving too)
She seems to be a genuinely conscious artist. I love all that I’ve heard from her. It’s very anime meets broadway meets soul meets fusion meets gnarls barkley meets something-you-never-heard-before meets Judy Garland.