Q.U.E.E.N. by Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae just released the song and video Q.U.E.E.N. If I had to sum it up in three words it would be:

• "mod-lishous"
• funky
• revolutionary

When I first heard her album Archandroid a couple years back I was blown away. But when I first saw the short film "Many Moons" that's when I fell in love with her!  Unlike a lot of artists these days, her music videos directly relate to the song being featured. I personally think her doing this makes for a more well rounded artist. 

The video Q.U.E.E.N is primarily in black and white (which may be a metaphor on how plain and simple the message is or how the world is "black and white"). Some of her first opening lyrics pretty much introduce the "thesis" of the song:

"They call us dirty 'cuz we break all your rules down

And we just came to act a fool, is that all right (Girl, that's alright)

They be like Ooh, let them eat cake          
But we eat wings and throw them bones on the ground"

Them be fighting words against the  "the man" don't you agree? 

"She who writes the movie owns the script and the sequel." 

Throughout the song she references revolutionary women such as Queen Nefertiti and Harriet Tubman. I think Janelle Monae is making her point clear that like these women, she won't be "put in a box" and the song is to encourage people to not only be themselves, but truly be the best they can be. 

"Even if it makes others uncomfortable

I wanna love who I am

Even if it makes other uncomfortableI will love who I am"

 

Fighting for freedom always seems to be weaved into all of Monae's songs. 

Whether it's sexual freedom:

"Am I a sinner with my skirt on the ground?"

or religious freedom:

"Hey sister am I good enough for your heaven?
Say will your God accept me in my black and white?"

Monae is on the front-lines for self-empowerment. 

So the bottom line (hahah it literally is here in this post...get it? :P) is that Monae is an inspiration to me. 

P.S. I also admire her wearing suits all the time. I suppose by wearing them she's not only making a fashion statement but making a statement on breaching the standard like Marlene Dietrich did back in the 1930s. 

I honestly could write about each line in Q.U.E.E.N but I had to remind myself this isn't a book, it's a blog! ^_^.

Holding Onto Summer

I'm a little picky when it comes to choosing my favorite season. It can't be so hot that when I go outside my head bends like a sad sunflower. Then again, it can't be so cold that it forces me to pile on clothes waddle around. But what I am sure of is that I always crave my Vitamin D. But as much fun it can be in the sun you do need to protect yourself from el sol and sunglasses are a fun way to protect your beautiful eyes. 

And sunglasses don't have to be just sunglasses. As the fiercely beautiful and alluringly strange Grace Jones said about her own look, sunglasses can serve as makeup on the go. With retro wing-tipped sunglasses or John Lennon circle shaped sunglasses, there are styles for every kind of woman or man. 

Let's just say I have erhmmmm....10+ sunglasses. These are my current favorite. These are the least inconspicuous shades of the bunch and I think they express my zest for fruit accessories superbly. 

No matter how high the sun decides to pull the cover's over herself to conceal her shine, I'll always have these kooky sunglasses. I've said this before, but I like to think it's sort of a "retro gangster" thing to wear your shades both at night and in your house. Why not? 

I feel that when it's cloudy and especially when it's rainy, you should always wear your brightest colors to brighten your mood. The sun will always be in and out of our lives but no matter what, I always try to cheer myself up through my clothing and accessories. It's the least I can do. 

Some songs I listened to while making this post: 

Island in The Sun - Weezer

Sweet Transvestite - Rocky Horror Picture Show

Chica Chica Boom Chic- Carmen Miranda

Nowadays - Chicago Soundtrack 

Feeling Good - Nina Simmone

Sun Queen: Cool on Hot August Nights

I am completely obsessed with cat eye sunglasses so it is no surprise that I stopped this wonderfully dressed lady. Not to mention the comic book umbrella rhymes so well with her shades. Sunglasses have been historically cool by characters such as The Fonz and Snoopy as Joe Cool. 

I loved this Sun Queen's in particular because they are two toned with my favorite color: mustard yellow. Mustard yellow is a specifically vintage color such as Tiffany blue. 

I asked her what she likes to do for fun and she said " I dance tango with my husband...I'm kind of shy about it but why not!? It's fun!" I really enjoyed her fun presence and it reflected in her clothing. 

I love how the texture of her jewelry was abstractly repeated in her rust colored fishnet stockings. It is difficult to make fishnets look great but this color was phenomenal facet of her outfit.

Down The Rabbit Hole

What I like most about Old Sacramento is that each and every store is jammed packed with STUFF. You want sweets? They have entire stores full of candy barrels after candy barrels. Or for some reason you love Mardi Gras 365 days a year there IS a store dedicated to obsessions like that.  However neither of these things are what tickled me pink on my trip to Sacramento; rather, I was infatuated Brooks Novelty Antiques and Records. 

Just as the sign above says, you have to go downstairs (and let me tell you, I didn't carefully go down the stairs, I gleefully ran).  

The blinking light for the "open" sign seemed to be winking at me. ...it was very convincing.  

Picture ^ of my dad conversing (which any conversation in this store is automatically more cool than another other conversation). 

I am 100% positive I am going back.  Not only do they have amazing rare records I want to gawk at again, but they have wonderfully colorful PINBALL machines. 

Although it was such a narrow store, they maximized their space by  placing objects on objects and product all over the walls and ceilings. This dousing of vintage products made me wonderfully nostalgic and no photos do it justice. Can't wait until my next visit.

See you there?

- ♕ (BREX)