Definitely CRAZY!!!

i have to disagree…

janelle monae is the epitome of creativity and rebellion going hand in hand. an artist that refuses to compromise their talents for fame or fortune will be respected by me any day. her entire gimmick isn’t even really a gimmick as much as it is a reflection of her determination to make her music heard above her image. and even in that, her image reflects her art.

the only issue i take with her whole business machine is the fact that Bad Boy refuses to put the correct amount of promotional dollars into her act. her music on the first portion of her project was amazing and video was even more epic! yeah, it’s definitely not one for attention deficit watchers of 106and park, but with a financial push, she could be the biggest crossover success our generation has ever seen and greatly needs.

It’s funny how our generation is so bent on independence and resistance against authority and conformity, but when our most rebellious pioneers display those paths clearly, we reject them.

a-nat, yes she is creative but you have to compromise. That is how you get fame and fortune. She may be respected by YOU but will that get her the fame that she is craving??? What she does may not be a gimmick, to me it is, but that is neither here or there she has to bend in order to get where she wants to be. Bad Boy always treats their up and coming like shit so what’s new there? That is why she must conform tp the music scene. To me right now she looks crazy and until she sheds her Lauren Hill likeness she is going nowhere fast.  There is a difference between talent and getting into the business. Is it fair? NO! But it is what it is.

When u die are your clothes going with you?
Carl lagerfield, cornell west both where the same UNiFOrM. You act like this is so weird… Then again I guess it is since most artists don’t have the balls to do it! I think it’s cool
As hell! They probably have someone like u in their life discouraging them to not continue wearing the shit they like.
Thank god you’re not in the music business you would surely compromise… Cassie rhianna style! Ha!

@ SUE, you make a great point about Cornell West and Karl Lagerfield. Both timeless legends in their own rights who’s choice of style is actually what sets them apart.

@ ABOVE, you also make great point about the compromises one has to make when on the road to stardom. However, in Janelle’s case, do we actually know that she’s trying to be a superstar? If anything, she’s actually stated that she’s just trying to get her music heard by as many as possible, an emphasis on “as possible”. there used to be a time when artists didn’t have to try so hard because their music spoke for itself. all janelle did was have an extensive imagination…those of which need and deserve the type of outlandish planning and budgeting that stars like madonna, michael jackson, and others get. but because she’s not michael or madonna, should she be shunned? should she have to reel in her imagination just because she’s not at superstar status? i think not.

Sue, like it or not, what Janelle is doing IS making a fool of herself. She looks stupid! She is clearly trying to get in on the fact that she acts like an idiot. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I hope I am discouraging her from looking and acting like a damn fool. Hopefully there are image people in the business that will take her under their wing and straighten out what can only be described as a mess. Comparing her to Rhianna, or Cassie is just wrong. Their styles may be different but not stupid.

A-nat, for the most part I agree with your last post but she really needs to tone down her wackiness. Being different is one thing but this is WAY over the top.

I became an instant fan of Janelle after watching her Many Moons video. It reminded me of the Hey Ya video, but 10x better. She is very unique and i love her voice.

This is for ‘Above’: calling her a fool, an idiot, and a mess is just wrong. Though you are entitled to your own opinion, i must disagree with your statements. I just dont feel that she needs to be “changed”. I mean, why? If thats how she expresses herself through her music that should be okay, shes being HERSELF, and theres nothing wrong with it. What IS wrong, is people trying to conform to what everyone else thinks is right, people just need to be themselves and quit trying to fit a ‘mold’ someone decided to create ‘cause they thought it was “right”.

I think Janelle is great and i hope to see more of her, despite what people think and feel about her image and so on and so forth.

Also, ‘Above’, if you feel that she is making a fool of herself, at least she gets paid for it, while you do it for free…

Asha, I call it as I see it. She is acting stupid and it is clearly an act. There is a difference in expressing yourself and acting a fool. Sure she is getting money for acting like a fool but call it what it is. It isn’t talent it stupidness. Your comment about me making a fool of myself for free. How do you know that? You have never seen me. You are just defending a fool because you are a fool. It has been said before that people like her and fools like you defending her are the reason the black race can’t move forward. Stupid sees as stupid does.

@Above: Thanks for your comment on my post. But now I have to take off at least one glove. Your words here have been nothing short of harsh and derogatory in reference to Janelle Monae. I’m sure these are words that you wouldn’t dare use if you were put in front of her. But as you said, these are some of the reasons that the black race can’t move forward…you just forgot to put your own statements as part of those reasons.

It’s interesting how in mainstream American music, we so quickly forget our pioneers like Sly and The Family Stone, Earth Wind & Fire, Billie Holiday…actually let’s go even further back to some of the creators of the music styles we incorporate today like Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Handel…all people who were deemed as crazy and avantgarde, yet our biggest musical inspirations look to these people as contributors to their own only recently budding musical legacies.

I said all that to say that stupidity is most easily recognized by the stupid. A true music lover can see more than just image and gimmick, but true talent. Also, true maturity also understands that hurtful words spewed forth are only the bi-products of the shortcomings of their owner.

Yes, my words were harsh towards her because she acts like a fool. Would I say these words to her face??? By all means. What is she going to do? Beat me up??? My statements aren’t part of the reason they are part of the solution. We need to stand up against craziness in our race. Please don’t compare this person to Bach or Mozart. That is way over the top. She is at best a clown and they are legends. A true music lover might understand her but most people that listen to music aren’t true music lovers, we just listen to music. With that said, she needs to get off this gimmick kick and show her true talent. She acts like a fool.

I have to agree with the post above she looks foolish. They say a picture paints 1000 words and judging by those pictures she needs help.

Hmm.. let’s be clear. ‘Chris’ isn’t Chris G. 😉

not feeling her. come again. what about vocal talent? takes more than fake weird…

She don’t even write her own songs she is made up by Nate Wonder she is a made up artist… Also she an asshole to people she feels she is better than everyone else.. She is from the hood anyway…..
Good work wonder land now change the monster in to an artist…...she’s a bitch in person….A real stuck up Bitch…..Slap the shit out of her….The only people loving her is the gays…..Her team is writing these reviews on her, she aint shit..

She is changing the face of music and changing perceptions on how people perceive women.  I watched her Many Moons video because I’ll admit, I was at first turned off by her gimmick with the suit until I watched that video.  She’s amazing.  Her music is inspiring.  And thank God she’s not around you judgemental folks.

I seriously cant believe that her performance can be blamed for problems within the black race. LMAO…get real

Wow, I’m completely shocked to find out this fabulous lady even has haters. Come on, have you even seen the girl dance? She’s like a tiny lesbian Michael Jackson. Sister’s got a vision and she rocks the hell out of it. Get over yourselves, people.

And holy crap, if you think she doesn’t have vocal talent you must never have heard any of her music. Go listen to Many Moons and Tightrope, seriously, go do it right now and try to tell me she has no talent.