Entertainment
www.dailycall.com• Piqua Daily Call
Saturday, September 14, 2013
5
Q&A: Janelle Monae on new album, Prince, therapy Mesfin Fekadu AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Janelle Monae finally gave birth this week. No, it wasn’t a little baby, but a bundle of music that she says was just as laborintensive. “I just feel like this is a baby and I’m ready to have a C-section or this baby is ready to come,” Monae said of “The Electric Lady,” released Tuesday. Monae’s sophomore effort comes three years after her critically acclaimed full-length debut, “The ArchAndroid.” The new album is a departure for the 27-yearold, who collaborates with Prince (“Givin Em What They Love”), Miguel (“Primetime”) and Erykah Badu (“Q.U.E.E.N.”) on the 19-track set. “None of it was for politics,” she said of the guest artists, who also include Esperanza Spalding and Solange. “These guys are writing their own music; in control of their futures … they do what they feel on their own terms and time.” In an interview with The Associated Press, Monae, who is based in Atlanta,
talked about working with Prince, being in therapy and how her dreams helped her create the songs that make up “The Electric Lady,” coexecutive produced by Diddy and Big Boi of OutKast. AP: Your albums follow the story of Cindi Mayweather, an android who falls in love with a human and she’s being punished for that. What’s happening with her on “The Electric Lady”? Monae: This is her life before she became the ArchAndroid, what the community thought about her, what her thoughts were, what got her into trouble (and) why they wanted to dissemble her. AP: Are you Cindi? Monae: We share the same DNA. AP: Who influenced the album? Monae: George Lucas. I performed at his wedding reception. … I met him and I got a chance to speak with Steven Spielberg, and these are people whose ideas, you know, if they weren’t able to make their movies, I don’t think that I would have been able to articulate my thoughts on Cindi. … They kind of showed me how to do that, I just wanted to do it
with music. AP: How did you come up with the songs for the new album? Monae: The concept for that album didn’t come to me until I went on tour and I started to paint, and I would sing and paint at the same time. I would paint the silhouette of this female body … and I didn’t quite understand why I was painting this woman. I actually was a little freaked out by it. So I went back to Atlanta and I talked to my therapist, and she encouraged me, she said, ‘You should name her. Name her.’ And I did. AP: Were you in therapy for a specific reason? Monae: All around. I find it very helpful. It helps with my songwriting because once I am talking to somebody and I’m getting it out and it’s not in my head, I’m able to just write it out. AP: How long have you been in therapy? Monae: Since I was a 1-year-old I’ve had a therapist, someone to talk to. They might have not been certified, but I’ve always talked and been very open about where I am in my life. AP: What was it like to work with Prince?
Monae: It was very organic. Prince … reached out to me when I released ‘Metropolis’ … and I was doing that almost independently. He and I have been friends ever since and he’s always respected me as a businesswoman and he thought it was great that Puffy wasn’t telling me what to do and that I was in control of my creativity. And he always said, ‘If you ever need anything, I’m always here.’ AP: You’re sticking to your black-and-white fashion style, but your hair is straight in the “Dance Apocalyptic” music video. What happened? Monae: That wasn’t me. That was probably Electric Lady 57821. Lots of clones. AP: Why did you decide to make “Q.U.E.E.N.” the first single? Monae: Erykah Badu and I talk often, and we wanted to create an anthem for the marginalized. Women, gays, lesbians, the ex-communicated, the untouchable, immigrants. AP: Are you in the “Q.U.E.E.N.” video? Monae: Only on half of the video. The rap part. I have clones. AP: How many clones do you have? Monae: I can’t tell you, but that definitely wasn’t me.
In this Aug. 12 file photo, American R&B and soul musician, composer and record producer, Janelle Monae poses for a portrait at Dream Downtown, in New York. The Grammy-nominated singer released her full-length sophomore album, The Electric Lady, on Tuesday. It features collaborations with Prince, Erykah Badu, Miguel, Esperanza Spalding and Solange.
the cultural prize. He began learning English by watching American television from Tijuana, Mexico, and picked up the guitar after hearing blues and rock ‘n’ roll on the radio. In an interview, Santana, 66, said he was grateful to receive an award he remembers watching others receive almost every year on television with his family. “I guess people understand that Santana is not just a Mexican guitar player — I bring a collective-consciousness awareness agenda with me,” he said. “I grew up with the generation of Woodstock and Bob Marley, ‘One Love,’ and ‘Imagine,’ John Lennon. I am one of them, and we don’t do what we do to be commercial or to be popular or to be cute. It’s not entertainment or show business for us. For us, it’s a calling.” He said his musical life has been about bridging cultures, drawing on sounds of Africa, Latin America and American
Indians, as well as rock, jazz and the blues to create something new. Last year, the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts complained the Kennedy Center had long excluded Latinos from the honors. Of the more than 180 past honorees, only two had been Hispanic — Placido Domingo, the acclaimed Spanish tenor, and Chita Rivera, the actress and singer of Puerto Rican descent — the group said. The criticism led to a revised selection process this year, including the solicitation of nominations from the public, and a new committee of artists and officials to help narrow the potential honorees. Santana has been a contender in recent years for his strong credentials, said show producer George Stevens Jr. Santana, who swept the 2000 Grammy Awards in nine categories with his album “Supernatural,” said more mainstream institutions should be recognizing Latino
artists as well. In December, President Barack Obama will host the recipients at the White House, and Secretary of State John Kerry will host a dinner for them at the State Department. Joel, the “Piano Man” and one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, has devoted his life to music since he left high school before graduating. The 64-year-old, who wrote and performed such unforgettable hits as “Uptown Girl,” ”The Longest Time,” ”Allentown” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” said in a written statement that it is meaningful to join the roster of outstanding musicians who came before. “But to be chosen for this special award essentially for doing what I love most amazes me more than anything,” he said. The honors stand apart from other awards and feel almost like a homecoming, said MacLaine, 79, who grew up in nearby Arlington, Va.
“It’s a more global kind of recognition … not just Hollywood or New York,” she told The Associated Press. “The people who get these awards are contributing to the world’s art, and I feel privileged to be one of them.” After nearly 60 years as one of Hollywood’s leading actresses, MacLaine hasn’t stopped. She began this year with a role in the popular “Downton Abbey” on PBS and will close 2013 with her latest film, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” alongside Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig. Hancock, born in Chicago, became a classical music prodigy after his parents bought him a piano as a boy. By age 11, he was playing with the Chicago Symphony. In high school, though, he discovered jazz and began learning by listening. “The more I looked into it, the more it pulled me like a magnet,” he said. “And I was hooked forever.” In 1963, Hancock joined the Miles Davis Quintet, one of the
Dear Abby: I’m 8 years old and in second grade. I’m writing because I’m being bullied at school. I’m really smart, and at my school that’s a really bad thing. I try hard to be nice, but here that’s worse than being smart. The teachers didn’t help me with the bullies, so I stopped telling them. My mom told everyone she could about the bullies, but nobody helps. It keeps getting worse over time. Every day someone picks on me, pushes me or makes fun of me. Please help me. — Feeling Torn in Texas Dear Feeling Torn: Because you haven’t told your teachers that the bullying hasn’t stopped, they may think that it’s
My parents underno longer going on. Tell them again what stand this, but my sister you are experiencing, and brother-in-law think and be sure your mother that if I’d just “try hardknows. She should er,” everything discuss this with would work out. your teacher. Abby, I must If things don’t take a mild tranget better, she quilizer to go to needs to talk to small gatherings, the principal and, and I have told if necessary, the them this. school board. Would people Many schools Dear Abby tell someone offer programs Abigail Van who is allergic to Buren that discourage something to just bullying and train “try harder”? How can students who can help. I explain this better? — As a last resort, your Afraid In Taylorsville, mother should consult a Utah lawyer. Dear Afraid: I’m sorry You have a right to to say this, but individuan education that’s free als have been known to from this kind of pres- give people with severe sure. food allergies items conLawsuits have been taining their “trigger filed and won because foods” because they are school districts didn’t convinced “just a little” give it the attention they won’t hurt them — or should have. worse, that the problem Be sure to show this to is imaginary. your mother and tell her Your sister and brothyou wrote it. er-in-law do not understand phobias. Dear Abby: I am agoA medical professional raphobic. Although I might be able to explain have managed to make it to them, but until accommodations for spe- they’re ready to consult cial occasions like birth- one and really listen, it day parties and dinners would be healthier for with my family, I am not you to ignore them and comfortable at extreme- limit your time with ly large gatherings. them.
Victoria Will | Invision | AP, File
Santana, 4 others to receive Kennedy Center Honors
n Contract Bridge — By Steve Becker
great jazz ensembles. He has gone on to embrace electronic music and collaborate with the likes of Annie Lennox, John Mayer and Christina Aguilera. Hancock, 73, said he is overwhelmed “to be on that list of people whose work I’ve respected for so many years during my lifetime.” Arroyo, born and raised in Harlem as the daughter of a Puerto Rican father and an African-American mother, said her voice was discovered by accident in high school when she was heard imitating the singers outside an opera workshop. She went on to star in the great opera houses of Paris, London and Vienna, and performed 199 times at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City after her breakthrough performance in “Aida” in 1965. Arroyo, 76, said she is most proud of her current work teaching young opera students, though she called receiving the Kennedy Center Honors unimaginable.
Second-grader facing schoolyard bullies alone
Solution:
FRIDAY 9/27 IS OUR LAST DAY OPEN FOR THE SEASON DON’T MISS THESE GREAT SPECIALS 6 PLAIN DOGS and a 1/2 gallon of ROOT BEER for $8.99 or 6 SPANISH DOGS and a 1/2 gallon of ROOT BEER for $11.50
1407 South St. 773-0252 Mon.-Sat. 11am-8pm
SATURDAY 9/14/13 ONLY ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. EXTENDED FAN CUT 2-D CANELO (PG-13) ONLY (PG) 9:00 PM ONLY 11:45 AM ONLY INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2 LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER (PG-13) 11:50 AM 2:30 5:05 7:40 10:20 (PG-13) 12:05 PM 3:25 6:30 9:40 THE FAMILY ( R ) 12:30PM 3:40 6:40 9:30 MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY RIDDICK ( R ) OF BONES (PG-13) 12:45 PM 3:55 6:55 9:50 7:05 PM 10:05 ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US WE’RE THE MILLERS (R) EXTENDED FAN CUT 3-D ONLY 12:55 PM 4:10 7:15 10:00 (PG) 2:20 PM 4:55 7:30 10:10 PLANES 2-D ONLY (PG) GETAWAY (PG-13) 12:15 PM 2:45 5:15 7:50 10:15 11:55 AM 2:15 4:40
We Pay the Highest Prices for Gold,
Diamonds and Estates!
Dear Abby: My wife and I disagree about when and where it is acceptable to yawn. I believe a public yawn during dinner or conversation is not appropriate. She sees no reason why a natural human trait such as yawning should be stifled. Again, my assertion is that yawning denotes boredom or lack of interest in what people are conversing about or doing. What are your thoughts? — Not a Yawner in Flagstaff,, Ariz. Dear Not a Yawner: My thoughts are similar to an observation made by English writer G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), who said, “A yawn is a silent shout.” I have never seen anyone who is intensely interested in something yawn, and to do it in the presence of others implies that the yawner is tired, bored or otherwise not fully engaged. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
2343 W Main St. Troy JUST OFF I-75
937-335-0055
M-W 10am-6pm Th-F 10am-8pm Sat. 10am-5pm bonnie@harrisjeweler.com
~ BUYING NOW ~ ~ It’s Worth Your Drive! ~
40490429
WASHINGTON (AP) — For Carlos Santana, music has always been a calling. He idolized his mariachi musician father as a boy in their remote hometown in Mexico and later grew up with the Woodstock generation after immigrating to San Francisco. Now the music legend will join the luminaries receiving this year’s highest national honors for influencing American culture through the arts. Santana is among five who will receive the Kennedy Center Honors. Fellow honorees announced Thursday include actress Shirley MacLaine and three standout musicians spanning rock, jazz and opera — Billy Joel, Herbie Hancock and Martina Arroyo. Top entertainers will salute them in a gala performance Dec. 8 to be broadcast Dec. 29 on CBS. Santana is unique among those who have received
40492071
Associated Press
40439791
Brett Zongker