Show me the Monae (ho, ho!)

Just when you thought that all we could write about was the X Factor and its various alumni (11 days to go!!!), The Pop Web goes and gets obsessed with the simply fantastic Janelle Monae.

Our interest was first stoked with the excellent Tightrope which features Big Boi of Outkast fame. Spoilt for choice in terms of versions, we'd recommend either the official mix or the Wondamix which features Lupe Fiasco and B.o.B. and which really ramps up the guitar line and gives the song a really different edge. Both versions work perfectly, and really deserved to ignite the charts more than they did. Especially because the "Tightrope dance" which features fairly heavily on the original video is a thing of shoe-shuffling beauty.

Undeterred, Monae's campaign for album The Archandroid continues with Cold War which is a beautiful and heartfelt ballad which contains among other things a simply beautiful guitar line and a spectacular vocal performance. The video, channeling Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U none too subtley, is nonetheless a great showcase for Janelle's performance abilities. She is an absolutely captivating singer who backs that up with a compelling video/media campaign which leaves you in no doubt that this lady is a star.



Of particular note, we feel, is the reference to Wicked leading in to the middle 8 where Monae shouts out "Galinda!". This has henceforth become our amazing pop/amazing musical crossover moment of the year. And that's no small feat.