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Check out "Time Will Reveal," a new track from Janelle Monae, in our audio player.
There are some great Janelle Monae related features on the Zune Marketplace right now, including an exclusive song. Here's the breakdown:
- You can purchase "Violet Stars Happy Hunting!!! (Live From The Blender Theater)," an exclusive live version of the song.
- Janelle breaks down the meaning behind each of the songs in her album.
- "The Guestlist," featuring 8 of Janelle's favorite songs, complete with reasoning.
- A spotlight of videos that feature Monae that you can purchase.
- A list of her influences, inluding albums that she likes, apparently, as well as a Bjork video she likes, as well.
All you need to view and/or purchase is the free Zune software.
According to SOHH.com, she will also be featured as part of the Zune's "Green Room" interview series, launching in September. Watch below for a preview clip.
The mysterious "Imagination" MySpace page has added a pair of videos in what they are calling "The Imagination Campaign". One for Jonathon and one for Jovian.
E! Online and MTV.ca are reportng that Janelle Monae's "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" will debut at #115 on The Billboard 200 with sales of 5,200.
This has to be considered a success, for a number of different reasons. The EP concept itself is a challenge, but it's even harder when most of the album has previously been released. This EP is essentially a re-release with two new tracks. She is who she is and she has her fans, but what she has going for her is not something that is raking in big sales right now. That's not to say she can't do it, just that it will be a great challenge.
Due to this, it is tougher to garner press. The majority of press she has received has been limited to the internet, primarily, and Atlanta area media. She doesn't have a video out, though that will be soon. This isn't to say that Bad Boy should have promoted her more. I think Bad Boy's promotion of her was fine. It's questionable how much you can really invest in the promotion of a re-release EP like this. The purpose of it, from my perspective, is to introduce her to some people, setting the stage for the album to do well.
So, I think all parties did a good job with this one. If she hits, she hits - perhaps the video will boost her. But, it'll be interesting to see what she is able to do with a full album of new material where there has been time to get her out there more. The EP will help introduce her to people, leading to sales of the album. But, right now, #115 has to be counted as a good thing. So, congrats to them.
In anticipation of her upcoming peformance at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Oregon, Local Cut has a feature on Janelle Monae.
But the ultimate charm of Monae is her unique style; she creatively pairs puffy button-up �70s secretary blouses with bow ties and crushed velvet tailored drummer boy jackets. High-waisted slacks, thick cummerbunds and ankle socks with two-tone (black and white) saddle golf shoes, the slick bottoms of which allow her to moonwalk across stages. A facial centerpiece, her signature high-piled �do leaves a huge puff of hair resting on her forehead for a faux hawk / �60s beehive effect. The complete ensemble combined with her infectious energy (and that voice!) creates a pretty hypnotizing package. She is treat to watch live, bursting into impromptu, erratic dances between verses, allowing the full bands that back her a few moments to shine. Offstage, she seems like the kind of girl you�d want to get gelato and go window shopping with.
Paste Magazine has a feature on Janelle Monae.
�This is a historic night,� the emcee shouts to the crowd. Waving blue and white inspirational signs, the assembly chants louder. The excitement is palpable. The diversity of the crowd�young and old, black and white, male and female�is itself a sign of the hope offered. When the shouts reach a fevered pitch, the guest of honor emerges. Welcome Janelle Mon�e.
Sure, it�s only a club show, but�Barack Obama allusions aside�it does feel historic. You can�t help but feel you�re watching the birth of a superstar. �I�ve just watched Prince, Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, Judy Garland and AC/DC all at once,� a friend exclaims as we leave the show.
From the official site, here are some upcoming Janelle Monae in store appearances.
8/20 - 5PM
Rasputin Music
2401 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley CA 94704
8/23 - 6pm
Easy Street (Queen Ann store)
20 Mercer Street
Seattle WA 98109
8/24 - 3pm
Independent Records
937 E Colfax Avenue
Denver CO 80218
The iTunes exclusive "Fantastic Edition" of "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" will be out in a couple of weeks, according to Bad Boy.
After seeing that the release was no where to be found, I reached out and was told that it would be released after the video for "Many Moons" premiered. The iTunes package will include a copy of the video.
The MyFox Atlanta website has video from Janelle Monae's performance on Good Day Atlanta on Tuesday morning. There is a quick interview at the end.
PopMatters has a feature on Janelle Monae.
After months of Wondaland�s successful grassroots marketing of Metropolis, Combs made an offer to be Wondaland�s partner for a major release through Atlantic Records. Because major label executives already told Mon�e that they �didn�t know what to do� with her, she wanted to make sure Combs accepted the Metropolis project as is. She explains, �I wanted our partner to be extremely excited. They had to be able to accept that I�m obsessed with black and white right now. They had to accept this pompadour. They just had to love what they had seen versus the other way around.�
For his part, Mon�e says, Combs was ready to evolve. She continues,
�He was ready to give something to the industry that he believed in without record sales. Now it�s a different thing because record sales have declined. There�s no incentive for you to make a radio hit because radio hits are not going to help you sell your records. For him, and I�m sure a lot of the other record execs, now it�s like they can go ahead and try out new things. I wanted to do the partnership to show other independent artists like myself that it can be done. It can happen. This division doesn�t have to exist. Mainstream changes everyday. Now they�re looking to us grassroots independent artists to help so it�s been a really big blessing and I�m excited about it. Of course, it�s a lot of work but I love doing this. This is what I was doing before I met Sean and I get a chance to do it more on a larger scale, for a broader audience.�
Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Brian Howe of Pitchfork dispense with loads of praise for recent Janelle Monae performances in Oslo and Atlanta.
As of right now, the exclusive iTunes "Fantastic Edition" of Janelle Monae's "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" is a no show. Only the regular version of the album is available for sale, along with a digital booklet which features high resolution scans of the album booklet. I've e-mailed people at the label and her management to find out where it is.
Janelle Monae's Bad Boy debut EP, "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" was released today.
Track listing:
1. "March of The Wolfmasters"
2. "Violet Stars Happy Hunting!" featuring The Skunks
3. "Many Moons"
4. "Cybertronic Purgatory"
5. "Sincerely, Jane"
6. "Mr. President"
7. "Smile"
Janelle Monae's Bad Boy debut EP, "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)," was executive produced by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, The Wolfmasters and Janelle Monae. It was co-executive produced by Antwan "Big Boi" Patton.
Besides that, all seven of the EP's tracks were produced by Nate "Rocket" Wonder, Chuck Lightning and Janelle Monae for Wondaland Productions.
The limited edition vinyl of "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" features a hidden bonus track, according to a sticker on the cover.
The two sided album insert inside of Janelle Monae's "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" features Cindi Mayweather behind the "Imagination Inspires Nations" message, on one side. On the other site is an offer to text MONAE to 50505 for "all the latest news, contests, exclusive content and more."
There is a new MySpace page being promoted on the physical copies of the "Metropolis" EP release: myspace.com/icampaign. Outside of a background image featuring Cindi Mayweather and "Imagination Inspires Nations" slogan, there is not much there, yet.
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