That whole “star-crossed lovers” cliché need not apply. Janelle Monáe’s heart-stopping R&B ballad with Miguel, “PrimeTime” from The Electric Lady, really blasts off when the two singers combine on the chorus, exulting, “It’s the prime time for our love / Ain’t nobody peeking but the stars above.” An evening under the stars figures in the song’s new video, too, but no obstacles can stand in this couple’s way — especially not when Miguel knows the cool shows, has the sweetest abode, orders Chinese food, and even when he’s spilling their drinks manages to make Monáe laugh. All of this is told from a slight Twin Peaks-y remove. Of course, it’s The Electric Lady, so director Alan Ferguson (BET Award-winning co-director of Beyoncé’s “Party” and “Dance for You” videos) also stylishly incorporates an elaborate sci-fi storyline. Read his plot summary below. “Cybersoul”? Okay!
PrimeTime is a love story based on the early adventures of Cindi Mayweather (Janelle Monáe) and her first love Joey Vice (Miguel). The Emotion Picture gives a glimpse at Cindi’s humble beginnings as a “cyber-server” at the Electric Sheep nightclub, a syn bar serving high-class “show droids” to the rich and lonely in a dangerous section of Metropolis known as Slop City. Incidentally, the innovative cybersoul music played at the club directly impacted Cindi, and she began singing and performing her own innovative compositions a short time after quitting this assignment. In addition, Cindi became determined to change the public perception of what an electric lady could be, dream, and aspire to after working in the dismal conditions at the club.
