Welcome to the Age of Pleasure.
Just in time with the raucousness that comes along with summer weather, Janelle Monáe has ushered in a new era in their performance persona, a decidedly more sensual and erotic point of view dubbed “The Age of Pleasure,” a moniker shared with the artist’s forthcoming album.
Fans who have forever married Monáe with tuxedos and bouffants are expressing their discontent at the new POV, but real fans are quick to cite that the artist has actually been evolving beyond the “Tightrope” era for some time.
Did they miss the whole PYNK song and video? The vagina pants? How yall gon be wrong and late?
Lipstick Lover marks the first single from The Age of Pleasure and the video does not disappoint. The creative endeavor is a thoughtful celebration of curves and jiggles and bikinis and beautiful bodies.
In the spirit of unabashed pleasure, Monáe even playfully flashed a crowd at a recent performance, looking like they were having the time of their lives. (I’d personally appreciate the body skincare regimen. Everything looked smooth as butta.)
Whether meaning to or not, Janelle Monáe’s Pleasure era has set the tone for my own personal summer and I, too, wish to be executing hip-heavy choreo in little to nothing.
The naysayers can stay home in their tuxedos if it makes them feel better.