Tightrope (Janelle Monáe song)
Encyclopedia
"Tightrope" is a 2010 song by American
singer Janelle Monáe
.
It is the first official single from The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
. The single premiered on February 11 on Pitchfork Media
website, earning an immediate 9/10 rating and their coveted "Best New Music" tag with the companion song entitled "Cold War
" debuting the following day via Monáe's official website.
The official remix, titled "Tightrope (Wondamix)", features rappers B.o.B
and Lupe Fiasco
.
It is also featured on the popular game Just Dance 3.
- Monae discussed the background to the song: "Tightrope is basically dealing with how in life it's important to keep your balance and not get too high or low about things during the time when you're either being praised or being criticised. Which is something that, as artists, Big Boi and I could both relate to, because there are so many peaks and dips along the journey of just being an artist on the road to success. So we both felt it was important to kinda help those everyday working people who are constantly dealing with life's obstacles, by giving them like a tutorial on how to deal with issues face-on."
backing vocals are the only thing that keep the theme of sci-fi and of the future. The song has also been compared to singer Amerie
's track 1 Thing
. She has also been compared to Katharine Hepburn
for her vocals on the track. Pitchfork Media
went onto explain "But when the chorus hits, she switches up into a classic soul-singer wail, the type of immediate retro yowl that keeps Sharon Jones in fancy shoes. And after Big Boi struts on in and rhymes "NASDAQ" with "ass crack", she ups the ante, rhyming "alligators" with "rattlesnakers," "another flavor," and "Terminator." It's just a star performance all around, and god knows we need those lately."
's iconic film "Meshes of the Afternoon" (1943).
on May 18, 2010, The Ellen DeGeneres Show
on May 26, Lopez Tonight
on May 27, Last Call with Carson Daly
on May 28, and on Dancing with the Stars
on September 28. In the UK, the song was the "Single of the Week" on iTunes
(i.e. released as a free download) for 7 days (beginning 13 July 2010) to promote the release of her album, The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
. On 25 June 2011, she performed "Tightrope" along with other songs at Glastonbury Festival
.
named "Tightrope" the eighth best single of 2010 in its year-end list. SPIN
ranked the song at #9 on its The 20 Best Songs of 2010, and PopMatters
placed it at #2 on its The 60 Best Songs of 2010. Spinner
named it #38 on its best songs of 2010. NME
named the music video of Tightrope #1 on its 50 Best Music Video of 2010.
The song was also featured in the Chevrolet Cruze
Canadian commercial to promote the new vehicle and in the American retail chain Kmart
Back to School commercial on 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe is an American R&B/soul musician signed to Bad Boy Records and Atlantic Records.Monáe debuted with a conceptual EP, Metropolis: Suite I ...
.
It is the first official single from The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
The ArchAndroid is the debut studio album of American recording artist Janelle Monáe, released May 18, 2010, on Wondaland Arts Society and Bad Boy Records...
. The single premiered on February 11 on Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
website, earning an immediate 9/10 rating and their coveted "Best New Music" tag with the companion song entitled "Cold War
Cold War (song)
"Cold War" is a 2010 song by American singer Janelle Monáe. It is the second official single from The ArchAndroid and her second to receive Pitchfork's coveted "Best New Music" tag. The single premiered on February 12, 2010 on Monáe's official website one day after "Tightrope" premiered on...
" debuting the following day via Monáe's official website.
The official remix, titled "Tightrope (Wondamix)", features rappers B.o.B
B.o.B
Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. , better known by his stage name B.o.B, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is currently signed under the labels of Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment, and Atlantic Records. His debut single "Nothin' on You" reached number one in both...
and Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
.
It is also featured on the popular game Just Dance 3.
Concept
Speaking in May 2010 to noted UK urban writer Pete Lewis - Deputy Editor of Blues & SoulBlues & Soul
Blues & Soul is a British music magazine covering black music. Genres covered include soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, reggae and world music. It was first published in 1966 and is known for first using the term Northern Soul....
- Monae discussed the background to the song: "Tightrope is basically dealing with how in life it's important to keep your balance and not get too high or low about things during the time when you're either being praised or being criticised. Which is something that, as artists, Big Boi and I could both relate to, because there are so many peaks and dips along the journey of just being an artist on the road to success. So we both felt it was important to kinda help those everyday working people who are constantly dealing with life's obstacles, by giving them like a tutorial on how to deal with issues face-on."
Composition
Tightrope features futuristic/space themes; however, it has also been described to feature "serious old-school entertainer bona fides". Pitchfork Media note that the tracks sped up AlienExtraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
backing vocals are the only thing that keep the theme of sci-fi and of the future. The song has also been compared to singer Amerie
Amerie
Amerie Mi Marie Rogers , known professionally as Amerie or Ameriie, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She debuted in 2002 with the album All I Have, primarily co-written and produced by Rich Harrison, and was well-received in the urban market...
's track 1 Thing
1 Thing
"1 Thing" is a song written by American R&B singer-songwriter Amerie and Rich Harrison for Amerie's second studio album, Touch . The song is influenced by go-go rhythms and features a prominent sample of The Meters' 1970 funk recording of "Oh, Calcutta!", written by Stanley Walden...
. She has also been compared to Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
for her vocals on the track. Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
went onto explain "But when the chorus hits, she switches up into a classic soul-singer wail, the type of immediate retro yowl that keeps Sharon Jones in fancy shoes. And after Big Boi struts on in and rhymes "NASDAQ" with "ass crack", she ups the ante, rhyming "alligators" with "rattlesnakers," "another flavor," and "Terminator." It's just a star performance all around, and god knows we need those lately."
Music video
Monae released the video on March 31, 2010. The music video was directed by acclaimed director Wendy Morgan. In the music video she portrays an inpatient that possesses the power to walk through walls and later she catches the 'crazy/ dancing feet' with her friends. Monae talked about the video saying "'Tightrope' takes place at the Palace of the Dogs. A lot of the greats were admitted into this place, like Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix. We wanted to keep it raw and funky—just having it in an insane asylum made it that much cooler to me." The video references experimental filmmaker Maya DerenMaya Deren
Maya Deren , born Eleanora Derenkowsky, was an American avant-garde filmmaker and film theorist of the 1940s and 1950s...
's iconic film "Meshes of the Afternoon" (1943).
Live performances
Monáe performed the song on the Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
on May 18, 2010, The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
on May 26, Lopez Tonight
Lopez Tonight
Lopez Tonight was an American late-night television talk show hosted by comedian George Lopez. The hour-long program premiered on November 9, 2009, on cable network TBS. Lopez was the first Mexican American to host a late-night talk show on an English-language network in the United States. The...
on May 27, Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly
Last Call with Carson Daly is an American late night talk show that is broadcast on NBC. The show is hosted by Carson Daly, the half-hour show featuring celebrity interviews, documentary-style coverage of a topic, and musical performances. Last Call airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. Eastern / 12:35 a.m....
on May 28, and on Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
on September 28. In the UK, the song was the "Single of the Week" on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
(i.e. released as a free download) for 7 days (beginning 13 July 2010) to promote the release of her album, The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
The ArchAndroid is the debut studio album of American recording artist Janelle Monáe, released May 18, 2010, on Wondaland Arts Society and Bad Boy Records...
. On 25 June 2011, she performed "Tightrope" along with other songs at Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
.
Accolades
Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
named "Tightrope" the eighth best single of 2010 in its year-end list. SPIN
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
ranked the song at #9 on its The 20 Best Songs of 2010, and PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
placed it at #2 on its The 60 Best Songs of 2010. Spinner
Spinner (website)
Spinner is an AOL Music property, which bills itself as "the ultimate music blog for free MP3s, free CD listening, [and] discovering new artists."...
named it #38 on its best songs of 2010. NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
named the music video of Tightrope #1 on its 50 Best Music Video of 2010.
The song was also featured in the Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated models. The original iteration, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM...
Canadian commercial to promote the new vehicle and in the American retail chain Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
Back to School commercial on 2011.