"Make Me Feel" is a song by American singer Janelle Monáe, released on February 22, 2018 as the lead single from her third studio album, Dirty Computer. This marks her return after a three-year hiatus. A departure from her longtime songwriting-production team of Nathaniel Irvin III and Roman GianArthur Irvin, Monáe co-wrote the song with Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson, Robin Fredriksson, and Justin Tranter. Several critics compared it to the work of Prince, while Monáe herself has stated that Prince helped create sounds for the album, including for "Make Me Feel".[2] It became Monáe's second single as a lead artist to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 99 on the week of March 10, 2018.[3]
Critical reception
Writing for Pitchfork, Marcus J. Moore says of Monáe and the song, "The polymath unpacks a rubbery funk tune that recalls the likes of Prince and Sheila E. Her 1980s influences are clear, down to each massive synth line and the feeling of raw sensual energy woven throughout the song."[4] Tatiana Pile of Spin wrote, "The single is a high-energy funk song with some reverent similarities to Prince's 'Kiss' ... With this bouncy single, Monáe taps into her unique soul-pop sound to deliver a song reminiscent of past tracks such as 'Q.U.E.E.N.' and 'Dance Apocalyptic'."[5] In 2019, Billboard included the song in its list of the "30 Lesbian Love Songs".[6]
Music video
The single's official music video was uploaded to YouTube on February 22, 2018, the day of the single's release.[7] Directed by frequent music video collaborator Alan Ferguson, the music video features Monáe and actress Tessa Thompson in a nightclub. Referred to by Monáe as an "emotion picture", the video heavily resembles the nightclub and plot shown in the Black Mirror episode, "San Junipero". Throughout the video, Monáe is seen flirting with both Thompson and a man; at one point she runs between the two as if she cannot decide which one she wants. Ultimately, she dances with both. Also throughout the video, the colors of the bisexual pride flag are displayed in the overhead lighting, so-called "bisexual lighting". The music video, as well as the song, was praised as a "bisexual anthem."[8]
Writing for Billboard, Natalie Maher states the video, "takes a more Prince-inspired approach, both musically and aesthetically, with the actress hitting an '80s-esque club with actress Tessa Thompson, and serving some of the best moves and looks we've seen from her. The video also features what seems to be an allusion to Robert Palmer's iconic '80s videos, with Monae playing a similarly white guitar, backed by her own group of funky female dancers."[9]
The video received two nominations at the 35th MTV Video Music Awards in the categories "Best Art Direction" and "Best Editing".[10]
The song is the theme song for the Big Mouth spin-off Human Resources. A cover of the song was also used in a TV advertisement for the international fashion brand Calzedonia.
^Rolling Stone Staff (December 14, 2018). "50 Best Songs of 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 7, 2022. Forget the past and the future: This is pop's right-the-fuck-now, in all its glory.
^Arvunescu, Victor (December 2, 2018). "Top Airplay 100 – Început de decembrie pe ritm djadja!" [Top Airplay 100 – December kicks off in djadja rhythms!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
