This new Janelle Monáe and Erykah Badu video for "Q.U.E.E.N." (not sure what it stands for, but it's probably as much of a non-acronym as U.O.E.N.O.) may take a while to digest. There are painted dancers reminiscent of "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," a fly on an espresso cup reminiscent of the bees in "Work It," and an isolated pair of shoes on a pedestal — all put in relief by the stark white background of a museum.
Janelle starts out as a frozen exhibit as seen from the future, but comes to life once the music starts playing (the record needle is a gold tooth in an otherwise whitewashed skull). Then, Erykah emerges (walking a dog in front of a wall of identical clocks, of course) as a part of an old group called "Badoula Oblongata," to deliver her verse and make the claim that "the booty don't lie."
But then, Janelle comes through unexpectedly at the end for an uplifting rap verse, complete with what sounds like a Philip K. Dick reference ("Will you be electric sheep?"). There's a lot more, lyrically and visually, to catch, than what was just described, so take a look for yourself. Don't get too caught up in the aesthetic allusions, though; the song, according to Janelle, is meant to just make you "JAM. DANCE. FUNK OUT."
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