With the release of the second music video from her current LPThe Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monaé is making waves with “Waterslide.”
Directed by Alan Ferguson, who also worked on Janelle’s “Lipstick Lover,” Solange’s “Cranes in the Sky” and Lizzo’s “Good as Hell,” the “Waterslide” wreaks of vintage flower-power imagery and colorful, grainy shots.
In the clip, Janelle and a crew party and perform (with her musical collaborator Nate Wonder on the drums) in a lush, tropical backyard setting, vibing across a vibrant yard, lengthy lounge chairs, turquoise pool, and, a Slip ‘N Slide.
Though Monáe’s top half is mostly covered with bikini tops, at one point she takes a quick topless dive. Her frolicking is filled with gorgeous guests and a variety of skin tones, body frames, gender presentation, and physical ability. Pose‘s Angelica Ross, rapper Jeleel! and The L Word actor Jillian Mercado are among the revelers.
In a June Rolling Stone cover story, Janelle described her own backyard parties as the foundation for her album, saying “It was inspired by all of my friends, my community of folks who are from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, the Caribbean, Atlanta, L.A., Chicago.” “Seeing all of us together in our Blackness, in the love that we had in our eyes for each other. People from the continent fuck around with trap from Atlanta. You know what I’m saying? I love how the diaspora — we talk to each other.”
Sampling dancehall veteran Patra’s “Whining Skill,””Waterslide” is the tenth song on The Age of Pleasure, introduced by an interlude with Sister Nancy, whose classic “Bam Bam” is often duplicated.
Taking to Instagram, Patra expressed her enthusiasm about inspiring “Waterslide.” writing “I was contacted a few months back by an agent who said someone very famous wanted to sample my song ‘Wining Skill,’” she wrote. “Did not know who it was but found out that the person was actually one of my favorite females in the game… Amazing performer.”
Keep up with the latest trending music news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Andy Witchger