PrimeTime

Album: The Electric Lady (2013)
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Songfacts®:

  • This sensual R&B ballad about two people finding themselves in the right place at the right time finds Monáe duetting with Miguel. The sci-fi Soul songstress told A.V.Club how she hooked up with the Adorn singer: "The collaboration happened through our music and energy, being out there, and both of us were fans of one another," she said. "I read in interviews that he wanted to work with me, and I loved 'Adorn' and loved what he was doing. I loved that he was writing and producing his own music, and I thought that was really cool. So when I was ready to write the love song, I thought he was a great communicator to women and to people in general, and I wanted him to be a part of my vision for 'Primetime.' I was just honored to have the opportunity to produce him and work with him and honored that he trusted my guidance throughout the song."
  • The song's music video was directed by Alan Ferguson, who previously worked with Monáe on her "Many Moons" clip. The singer plays a bar waitress called Cindi Mayweather, thereby working in the 'Electric Lady' plotline from her album. Miguel plays first love Joey Vic. Monáe explained: "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."

    She added: "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."

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