Make Me Feel (Janelle Monáe song)

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"Make Me Feel"
Single by Janelle Monáe
from the album Dirty Computer
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2018 (2018-02-22)
Genre
Length3:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mattman & Robin
Janelle Monáe singles chronology
"Yoga"
(2015) 		"Make Me Feel"
(2018) 		"Django Jane"
(2018)

"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[edit]

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[edit]

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]

Live performances[edit]

Monáe has performed the song live on The Voice, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Austin City Limits, 61st Annual Grammy Awards, and 2019 Lollapalooza.

Use in media[edit]

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. The song was used as the finale lip-sync for the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

Track listings[edit]

  • Kaskade Remixes single[11]
  1. "Make Me Feel" (Kaskade Sunsoa Remix)
  2. "Make Me Feel" (Kaskade REDUX Remix)
  • EDX Dubai Skyline Remix single[12]
  1. "Make Me Feel" (EDX Dubai Skyline Remix)
  1. "Make Me Feel" (KC Lights Remix)
  2. "Make Me Feel" (KC Lights Dub)

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[32] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various February 22, 2018 Digital download Bad Boy [35]
United States February 27, 2018 Contemporary hit radio Atlantic [36]
March 5, 2018 Hot adult contemporary radio [37]
March 6, 2018 Urban radio [38]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Fitzgerald, Trent. "Prince Worked on Janelle Monae's Album Before His Death". The Boombox. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  3. ^ "Janelle Monáe Make Me Feel Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  4. ^ Moore, Marcus J. ""Make Me Feel" by Janelle Monáe Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  5. ^ Pile, Tatiana. "Janelle Monáe's "Make Me Feel" Is a Confident and Quirky Statement". Spin. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  6. ^ Russell, Erica (February 13, 2019). "30 Lesbian Love Songs: Women Singing About Women (Updated 2019)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  7. ^ "Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel [Official Music Video]". YouTube. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  8. ^ "Fans Are Hailing Janelle Monáe's "Make Me Feel" Music Video as a Bisexual Anthem—Here's Why". InStyle.com. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  9. ^ Maher, Natalie. "Janelle Monae Drops Two New Songs and Videos, Reveals Release Date For Upcoming 'Dirty Computer' LP". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  10. ^ "Cardi B & The Carters Lead 2018 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations". Billboard. July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  11. ^ "Make Me Feel (Kaskade Remixes) [Explicit] by Janelle Monáe on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  12. ^ "Make Me Feel (EDX Dubai Skyline Remix) [Explicit] by Janelle Monáe on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  13. ^ "Make Me Feel (KC Lights Remix) [Explicit] by Janelle Monáe on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  14. ^ "Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  15. ^ "Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "Janelle Monae Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  17. ^ "Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  18. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  19. ^ "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  23. ^ "Janelle Monae Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  24. ^ "Janelle Monae Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  25. ^ "Janelle Monae Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  26. ^ "Janelle Monae Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  27. ^ "Janelle Monae Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  28. ^ "Janelle Monae Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  29. ^ "Janelle Monae Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  30. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2018". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  32. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Janelle Monae – Make Me Feel". Music Canada. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  33. ^ "British single certifications – Janelle Monae – Make Me Feel". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  34. ^ "American single certifications – Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  35. ^ "Make Me Feel – Single by Janelle Monáe". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  36. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  37. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases - Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  38. ^ "impacting songs Urban AC". allaccess.com. March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
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