Janelle Monae's Ecstatic 'PYNK' Video Is A Pastel-Soaked Ode To Self-Love

Near the end of February, Janelle Monae reintroduced herself to the world with two distinct new songs — the opening from her upcoming third LP, Dirty Computer — that properly present the multitudes she contains.


On the tough "Django Jane," Monae proclaimed "This is my palace, champagne in my chalice" in the opening bar, then continued for another three minutes. And just as speedily, she flipped into full erotic mode, celebrating sexuality in all its forms on the funky "Make Me Feel." What could the third taste of Dirty Computer possibly sound like?


On Tuesday (April 10), we noticed out: it's "PYNK," a summery, minimalist celebration of pink anatomical images — lips, blushing cheeks, and, because the video itself makes clear (and is also noted in its description), "pussy power!"


"Pink like the indoor of your... Baby," Monae starts the song, throughout the video, she fills pink, curved pant legs that evoke a certain anatomical image whenever they're brought with each other. "Pink beyond all the doors, crazy / Pink like the tongue that goes down, maybe / Pink like the paradise found."


At one point earlier into the Emma Westenberg-directed visual, Monae's go-to video costar Tessa Thompson (who's also noticed in the clips for "Make Me Feel" and "Yoga") makes an appearance between Monae's legs as she wears mentioned pants, evoking something that's either sexual or closer to birth, or perhaps both at once, given the supplied video description.


"PYNK is a brash celebration of creation. Self love. Sexuality. And pussy power!" The video description reads on YouTub. "PYNK is the color that unites us all, for pink is the color noticed in the deepest and darkest nooks and crannies of human beings everywhere... PYNK is where the future is born..."


there really are a lot more positive images to unpack and appreciate in the video, including throughout a pseudo-slumber party scene featuring Monae and her costars wearing underwear labeled "Sex Cells," good Cosmic Mother," "I Grab Back," and other slogans.


Grimes isn't in the video, although she's listed as a featured artist on the track. This marks their second teamwork soon after "Venus Fly" from Grimes's 2015 album, Art Angels.


Watch the full video above, and look out for Monae's Dirty Computer, set to drop on April 27.