Watch the music video for Pynk, Janelle Monáe’s next nod to female empowerment
By Mia Johnson
Janelle Monáe debuted another music video that’s full of powerful imagery, all using the color pink. The video is easily one of Monáe’s greatest works so far.
Janelle Monáe’s embracing the power of women in her latest music video, and she’s using some of the greatest visuals to do.
The video, titled “Pynk,” has a not-so-subtle message if you watch and listen along with the music video. She starts out arriving in an insanely pink desert and later cuts to a reveal of quite possibly one of the best outfits ever.
She and her backup dancers spot frilly pink pants, which, let’s be frank here, look just like lady parts. But that’s the point. It’s not a far stretch from the hats that women wore during the Women’s Marches this year and last year.
Then, a few scenes later, out pops Tessa Thompson from between Monáe’s legs. Oh, the imagery!
The stylist who worked on the video, Alexandra Mandelkorn, explained her processes of designing the costumes to The Hollywood Reporter: “What I absolutely knew was that we needed to make this the perfect combination of elements to really embody all facets of female existence — strong, bold, powerful, soft, beautiful, edgy, provocative, political and even a bit of masculine/tomboy energy, which many females identify with.”
And all the pink? Of course, she said that move was intentional as well. At this point, you might be able to guess why. If not, watch the video below and you’ll catch on:
In February, Monáe released the video for “Make Me Feel,” which similarly follows the theme of “Pynk.” It was heralded as a bisexual and women’s empowerment anthem, so it’s likely these themes will continue to appear in her songs and music videos as more are released.
Monáe’s creative vision is filling a void in popular media where women have often been stifled from celebrating their bodies, their sexuality and who they are as a whole. As movements like Me Too and Time’s Up have been brought to the spotlight, this video is relevant now more than ever; it’s just what women need to know that it’s okay to embrace who they are.
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Monáe’s third studio album, Dirty Computer, will be out on April 27, including the songs “Pynk” and “Make Me Feel.”