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Tightrope (Janelle Monáe song)

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"Tightrope"
Single by Janelle Monáe featuring Big Boi
from the album The ArchAndroid
ReleasedFebruary 11, 2010
Genre
Length4:23
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Nathaniel Irvin III
  • Charles Joseph II
  • Antwan Patton
  • Janelle Monáe Robinson
Producer(s)
  • Nate Wonder
  • Chuck Lightning
  • Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe singles chronology
"Many Moons"
(2008) 		"Tightrope"
(2010) 		"Cold War"
(2010)
Remix cover
Cover for "Tightrope (Wondamix)" featuring B.o.B and Lupe Fiasco
Music video
"Tightrope" on YouTube

"Tightrope" is a 2010 song by American singer Janelle Monáe, the first official single from The ArchAndroid.

The single premiered on February 11 on Pitchfork, earning an immediate 9/10 rating and its coveted "Best New Music" tag. The companion song, "Cold War," debuted on February 12 via Monáe's official website.[1]

The official remix, titled "Tightrope (Wondamix)", features rappers B.o.B and Lupe Fiasco.[2] The solo version of the song without Big Boi is also featured in the video game Just Dance 3. It was featured during the end credits for Happy Feet Two, in a version that interpolates some singing from one of the characters and also features a new verse from American child actor and rapper Lil' P-Nut which replace Big Boi's verse. The song also featured on the third-season finale of teen drama 90210.

Concept

Speaking on May 2010 to UK urban writer Pete Lewis, deputy editor of Blues & Soul, Monáe discussed the background to the song: "'Tightrope' is basically dealing with how in life it's important to keep your balance and not get too high or low about things during the time when you're either being praised or being criticised. Which is something that, as artists, Big Boi and I could both relate to, because there are so many peaks and dips along the journey of just being an artist on the road to success. So we both felt it was important to kinda help those everyday working people who are constantly dealing with life's obstacles, by giving them like a tutorial on how to deal with issues face-on."[3]

Composition

"Tightrope" features futuristic, space themes; however, it has also been described to feature "serious old-school entertainer bona fides". Pitchfork note that the tracks sped up alien backing vocals are the only thing that keep the theme of sci-fi and of the future. The song has also been compared to singer Amerie's track "1 Thing", and Monáe was likened to Katharine Hepburn for her vocals on the track. Pitchfork went on to explain "But when the chorus hits, she switches up into a classic soul-singer wail, the type of immediate retro yowl that keeps Sharon Jones in fancy shoes. And after Big Boi struts on in and rhymes 'NASDAQ' with 'ass crack', she ups the ante, rhyming 'alligators' with 'rattlesnakers,' 'another flavor,' and 'Terminator.' It's just a star performance all around, and God knows we need those lately."[4]

Music video

Monáe released the video on March 31, 2010. The music video was directed by director Wendy Morgan. In the music video she portrays an inpatient that possesses the power to walk through walls and later she catches the "crazy/dancing feet" with her friends. Monáe talked about the video, saying, "'Tightrope' takes place at the Palace of the Dogs. A lot of the greats were admitted into this place, like Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix. We wanted to keep it raw and funky—just having it in an insane asylum made it that much cooler to me."[5] The video references experimental filmmaker Maya Deren's iconic 1943 film, Meshes of the Afternoon.

Live performances

Monáe performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman on May 18, 2010,[6] The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 26, Lopez Tonight on May 27, Last Call with Carson Daly on May 28,[7] and on Dancing with the Stars on September 28.[8] In the UK, the song was the "Single of the Week" on iTunes (i.e. released as a free download) for 7 days (beginning July 13, 2010) to promote the release of her album, The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III).[9] On June 25, 2011, she performed "Tightrope" along with other songs at Glastonbury Festival.

Accolades

Rolling Stone named "Tightrope" the eighth best single of 2010 in its year-end list.[10] SPIN ranked the song at #9 on its The 20 Best Songs of 2010,[11] and PopMatters placed it at #2 on its The 60 Best Songs of 2010.[12] Pitchfork ranked it number 10 on its year-end list.[13] Spinner named it #38 on its best songs of 2010.[14] NME named the music video for "Tightrope" #1 on its 50 Best Music Video of 2010.[15] In January 2011, The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop annual critics' poll ranked "Tightrope" at number 2 to find the best music of 2010, behind CeeLo Green's "Forget You".

The song was also featured in the Chevrolet Cruze Canadian commercial to promote the new vehicle and in the American retail chain Kmart ”Back to School commercial in 2011. It was featured on the unranked list of TIME'S ALL-TIME 100 Songs.[16]

Track listings

Solo version single[17]

  • Tightrope (The Solo Version)

Wondamix Single[18]

Digital Remix EP[19]

  • Tightrope (Robbie Rivera’s Juicy Mix)
  • Tightrope (Robbie Rivera’s Juicy Big Room Dub)
  • Tightrope (Robbie Rivera’s Radio Mix)
  • Tightrope (Goodwill & Hook ‘N’ Sling Remix)
  • Tightrope (Paul Harris Vocal Remix)
  • Tightrope (Paul Harris Dub)
  • Tightrope (10 Rapid Instrumental)
  • Tightrope (Wondamix) (feat. B.o.B and Lupe Fiasco)
  • Tightrope (Acapella) (feat. Big Boi)

Cover versions

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[23] 20
South Korea (Gaon International)[24] 61

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Tightrope"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[25] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Smith, Clyde (February 11, 2011). "Janelle Monae's Debut Album, 'The ArchAndroid', Due in May; First Single, 'Tightrope (Feat. Big Boi)', to Arrive via JanelleMonae.com". Hip Hop Press. Archived from the original on February 15, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  2. ^ K, Matty. "Janelle Monáe ft. B.o.B. and Lupe Fiasco - Tightrope (Wondamix)". The DJ Booth. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  3. ^ Monáe, Janelle (June 2010). "Janelle Monae: Funky Sensation" (Interview). Interviewed by Pete Lewis. Blues & Soul. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  4. ^ Breihan, Tom (February 22, 2010). "The Playlist: Janelle Monáe - "Tightrope" [ft. Big Boi]". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  5. ^ Tommy, Melinda (April 1, 2010). "Janelle Monae Tightrope Official Music Video Premiere". Rnbmusicblog.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  6. ^ Dombal, Ryan (19 May 2010). Janelle Monae Blows Out "Letterman". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 25, 2010
  7. ^ Upcoming Janelle TV appearances Archived May 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Wete, Brad (September 29, 2010). "Janelle Monae walks the 'Tightrope' on Dancing with the Stars". The Music Mix. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  9. ^ "Tightrope (feat. Big Boi) (single)". iTunes. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  10. ^ Staff (December 7, 2010). Rolling Stone's Best Singles of 2010. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  11. ^ "The 20 Best Songs of 2010". Spin. December 8, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  12. ^ "The 60 Best Songs of 2010". Pop Matters. December 24, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  13. ^ Granzin, Amy (December 13, 2010). "The Top 100 Tracks of 2010". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  14. ^ "Best Songs of 2010: 50 Tracks That Blew Our Hair Back This Year". Spinner. December 13, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  15. ^ "50 Best Music Video of 2010". NME. 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  16. ^ Time (magazine)|
  17. ^ "Tightrope". Amazon.
  18. ^ "Tightrope". Amazon.
  19. ^ "Tightrope". Amazon.
  20. ^ "Marcus Collins". iTunes. March 9, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  21. ^ Weber, Lindsey (January 10, 2014). "Watch CHVRCHES Cover Janelle Monae's 'Tightrope'". Vulture. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  22. ^ "Glee season 6 song spoilers". MJsBigBlog.com. September 14, 2014.
  23. ^ "Janelle Monáe – Tightrope" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  24. ^ "2010년 26주차 Digital Chart 국외". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  25. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Janelle Monáe – Tightrope". Music Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
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