Q.U.E.E.N.

"Q.U.E.E.N."
Single by Janelle Monáe featuring Erykah Badu
from the album The Electric Lady
Released	April 23, 2013 (2013-04-23)
Recorded	2012
Genre	Hip hop soul R&B funk
Length	5:10
Label	Wondaland Arts Society Bad Boy Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Janelle Robinson Kellis Parker Jr. Roman GianArthur Irvin Nathaniel Irvin III Charles Joseph II
Producer(s)	Nate "Rocket" Wonder GianArthur Monáe Chuck Lightning
Janelle Monáe singles chronology
"We Are Young" (2011) "Q.U.E.E.N." (2013) "Special Education" (2013)
Alternative cover
File:Janelle Monáe - Q.U.E.E.N (Remixes).png Remix EP cover
Erykah Badu singles chronology
"See Thru to U" (2012) "Q.U.E.E.N" (2013)

"Q.U.E.E.N." is a song by American recording artist Janelle Monáe featuring the singer Erykah Badu. It was released on April 23, 2013 as the lead single from Monáe's second studio album, The Electric Lady. Unlike Monáe's previous singles, "Q.U.E.E.N." goes deeper into her concept of self-perception. Stylized in the form of question and response, each line of the song has Monáe expressing her thoughts on subjects ranging from sexuality to religion. Prince, a mentor to Monáe, called the music video for "Q.U.E.E.N." the best music video of 2013. Many music critics praised the single while also praising Monáe's boldness and creativity.

Song info

According to Monáe on her Twitter page, "Q.U.E.E.N." was inspired by "private discussions between her and Erykah Badu," and "is meant to make you jam, dance, funk out and dialogue later." While the album focuses on the empowerment of women and the need for women to control their own images, the single "Q.U.E.E.N." focuses on the empowerment of other oppressed peoples as well as women. The title is an acronym for Queer, Untouchables, Emigrants, Excommunicated, and Negroid. Throughout the song, Monáe uses a question-answer format to explain the stereotypes, misconceptions, and oppression of those in the LGBT community, untouchables (those in poverty), emigrants (those who were forced to leave their home countries due to dangerous/unlivable circumstances), the excommunicated (those who have served/continue to serve time in prison), and the negroid (black people of all origins).

Monáe uses various terms and phrases from LGBT slang in the beginning of the song. She opens the song with, "I can't believe all of the things they say about me, walk in the room they throwin' shade from left to right. They be like 'ooh, she servin' face,' and I just tell 'em cut me up and get down." Both phrases throwing shade and serving face are phrases used by many in the LGBT community, especially in the African-American gay community. She also alludes to lesbianism later in the song when she sings, "Hey, is it weird to like the way she wears her tights?" and, "Am I a freak because I love watchin' Mary?" Monáe then juxtaposes these references with religion by asking, "Hey brother can you save my soul from the devil?" and, "Hey sister am I good enough for your heaven? Will your God accept me in my black and white? Would he approve the way I'm made or should I deprogram, reprogram and get down?"

Music video

A music video for the song, directed by Alan Ferguson, was released on May 1, 2013. The music video in length is 6:04. It features Janelle Monáe as herself in the future. She, along with her band members and Badoula Oblongata (Badu), have been frozen in time and placed on display in the Ministry of Droids museum. They are all described as "rebels who time travel," by a representative for the Ministry of Droids at the beginning of the video. One woman dressed in all black and the other one dressed in black and white arrive to the museum and knock down the guards. They then put on Monáe's song, "Q.U.E.E.N." and within seconds, Monáe and her band begin to reanimate. As well as portraying herself in the video, Monáe also portrays her android persona Cindi Mayweather. Cindi along with her android sisters dance and question each other throughout the song. Towards the end of the video, Monáe delivers her climactic rap wearing her tuxedo "work uniform." The camera focuses in on her as she raps and then cuts to black immediately after she finished. Writing for Billboard, Gregory DelliCarpini Jr. said of the music video, "Channeling the retro swagger of Elvis's "Jailhouse Rock" video, Monae jams while surrounded by six dancing ladies rocking bold black-striped looks. Janelle contrasts the backup dancers in a solid look while getting her groove on in a puffy sleeved white shirt and black second skin pants paired with fierce metallic Givenchy heels." The music video features a prominent Black and White Theme. It is shown in the clothes, the background, the furniture, and even the people. Janelle Monae has four costume changes thorughout the entire video. Other than the first outfit we see on her, the only colors that we see are Black and White. The first outfit has a black jacket with a white shirt and pants followed by a red sash over her and ended with black boots. The next outfit is a white ruffled shirt with black pants and silver heels. Then the third outfit is a dress that is striped with black and white. Followed by a black and white tuxedo at the end when she raps the last part of the song. As well as the furniture is a mix of black and white, there is also black and white people. It looks like in the music video they are dancing with each other and also teaching each other to dance. This theme seems to be important to Janelle Monae because of the lyric "Will your God accept me in my black and white, would he approve the way I'm made". This means that this aspect of Black and white is important to who she is as a person.

Afro-Futurism

Afro-Futurism is described as works that mix African American culture voices with technology.

Critical reception

Critics wrote positive reviews of the song. Will Hermes of Rolling Stone gave 3.5 stars saying it was "an anthem of self-determination with a funkadelicious bass line, it downshifts into soul jazz midway through, with Erykah offering Badu-ist perspective ("Booty don't lie!"). Then Monáe transforms into a superhero MC to take it home." Afropunk wrote "Q.U.E.E.N. does a good job of breaking free of the duality of the black and white Janelle wears proudly." Another phrase that can be said about this song is by the Chicago Tribune that proclaims, "Yessssssssss! Honestly, that's all that needs to be said. This song kicks so much butt." Much of the reception presented here in this paragraph is praisng Monae for her unqiueness which she trys to employ throughout the music video.

Live performances

Monáe first performed the song live at the 2013 BET Awards along with Erykah Badu to critical acclaim. She has also performed the song at the 2013 iTunes Festival in London.

Track listing

Q.U.E.E.N. – Single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Q.U.E.E.N." (featuring Erykah Badu)	5:10

Q.U.E.E.N. – Remixes

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Q.U.E.E.N. [Tradelove Remix]" (featuring Erykah Badu)	5:25
2.	"Q.U.E.E.N. [The FatRat Remix]" (featuring Erykah Badu)	3:30
3.	"Q.U.E.E.N. [ATFC's Return of the Boom Bap Remix]" (featuring Erykah Badu)	6:56
4.	"Q.U.E.E.N. [Solidisco Remix]" (featuring Erykah Badu)	4:22
5.	"Q.U.E.E.N. [Barjo Remix]" (featuring Erykah Badu)	4:31
6.	"Q.U.E.E.N. [Vindata Remix]" (featuring Erykah Badu)	6:18

Charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	47