Janelle Monáe proved she really is an "Electric Lady" with an exhilarating performance at The Vic Theater in Chicago on Oct. 21.
The sold-out show was made up of a diverse fan base that willingly waited in line for hours in the cold Chicago weather. The completely packed house created an intimate environment made up of "Fandroids" ready to jam.
Monáe didn't fail to impress as she graced the stage in her pompadour while wearing her signature black and white. From the moment she took the stage, she had the audience captivated with her stunning voice and electrifying James Brown-esque dance moves. The audience was on its feet singing and jamming and didn't stop until the end of her almost two hour performance. Although there was little breathing room, the energy and movement felt through the crowd made the entire experience unbelievably powerful. She sang classic hits such as "Tightrope" and "Sincerely Jane" as well as songs from her new album "The Electric Lady" such as "Q.U.E.E.N and "Dance Apocalyptic."
The performance was like no other as Monáe first entered the stage wearing a straight jacket led in by two wardens in lab coats. As she was "released" she quickly took over the stage as her unlimited energy helped her to connect with the audience. Monáe acted out the themes of breaking boundaries as it related to her song "Givin' Them What They Love." She enforced her desire of freedom from a futuristic android prison through her the powerful lyrics, "They want me locked up in the system cause I'm on a mission, blame it on my youth," making this performance a memorable part of the concert.
Monáe's fearless dancing only became more powerful as the concert evolved. Her android alter ego Cindi Mayweather shined as she belted out songs of love and freedom. She seemed almost in her own world as she owned the stage and brought her vision to life.
Her entire band was completely in sync, with each musician displaying his or her talents. The two backup vocalists supported Monáe's powerhouse style and voice, while lead guitarist Kellindo Parker once again rocked the house with his epic guitar solos, bringing Monáe to her knees, especially in the songs "Primetime" and "Victory" to name a few. It was apparent that the band was enjoying itself on stage as it delivered beautiful music to the excited audience.
Monáe's thought-provoking lyrics helped to steal the show as she passed her message of love and peace through the crowd. Right before she broke into her stunning song "Cold War," Monáe expressed, "I believe that you still deserve compassion, you still deserve love, you still deserve peace, you still deserve to be happy." Speaking to everyone about the importance to self-love she sang, "This is a cold war you better know what you're fighting for."
Monáe had complete control of the house especially when she commanded the audience to get low during her song "Come Alive" and then raise her up as she fearlessly dove into the crowd. The complete interaction of the audience created a more personal experience, as they were able to contribute to such a unique performance.
Monáe ended her show with four encore songs including a cover of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" leading up to the final new song "What an Experience." The audience rewarded her incredible performance with several standing ovations to show their gratitude. It was truly an electrifying experience from start to finish. Monáe has proved herself to be a tough competitor in the music industry and is not something to be missed.