Be careful! Once you begin watching Janelle Monáe’s “Water Slide” music video, you may not be able to stop. A celebration of light, bodies, and dance, Monáe entices, both vocally and visually. “Water Slide” is off of their latest album, THE AGE OF PLEASURE. The visual is sun-soaked and dripping in fashionable detail, reminiscent of the viral video of Monáe’s fan-favorite track “Lipstick Lover.” Alan Ferguson co-directed both videos with Monáe.
“Water Slide” glistens with joy from the very first shot. A row of bare legs perch behind the cloudy film camera, cutting quickly to Monáe at a pool party in long braids and a runway-worthy swimsuit. As the song takes off, we’re brought through a variety of pool party scenes, thick with confidence and colors that make each individual stand out as beautiful and evocative. Light bounces off of mirrors and playful tin foil wear, flitting through the pool over vocals that shine equally as bright. The chorus is groovy and sensual, matched by rainbow bikinis and synchronized hip swerves in the backyard. Some people are topless, others, like Monáe, are wearing fruit. The instruments themselves light up in the video, where the orange guitar and yellow drums enhance their critical role in the song’s beat. The video is perfectly playful and thoughtful, bringing the heart of “Water Slide” to life.
“If I could f— me right now I would do that (do that)
Looking in the mirror at me, my God, like, who dat (who dat)
Feeling myself wanna play in it
Splash, make a wave in it
I could spend the whole day in it
And I’ma do that”
Janelle Monáe, “Water Slide”
Janelle Monáe will begin THE AGE OF PLEASURE TOUR in Seattle on August 30th, traveling across North America through mid-October via Live Nation. More information is available here. Check out the music video for “Water Slide” and listen to THE AGE OF PLEASURE below!
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