Pynk
{{distinguish|Pink (disambiguation){{!}}Pink}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Pynk
| cover = Pynk_single_cover_art,_Janelle_Monáe,_2018.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Janelle Monáe featuring Grimes
| album = Dirty Computer
| released = {{Start date|2018|04|10}}
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =R&B{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8301655/janelle-monae-pynk-grimes-video|date=April 10, 2018|first=Mackenzie|last=Cummings-Grady|title=Janelle Monae Premieres Alternative-Infused "Pynk" Featuring Grimes|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 25, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/janelle-monae-pynk-ft-grimes/|title="PYNK" [ft. Grimes] by Janelle Monáe Review|website=Pitchfork|language=en|date=April 11, 2018|first=Eve|last=Barlow|access-date=August 25, 2018}}
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=18}}
| label = {{hlist|Wondaland|Bad Boy|Atlantic}}
| writer = {{Flat list|
- Janelle Robinson
- Claire Boucher
- Taylor Parks
- Nathanial Irvin III
- Charles Joseph II
- Wynne Bennett
- Steven Tyler
- Glen Ballard
- Richard Goodman}}
| producer = {{Flat list|
- Nate Wonder
- Wynne Bennett
- Chuck Lightning}}
| chronology = Janelle Monáe
| prev_title = Django Jane
| prev_year = 2018
| year = 2018
| next_title = I Like That
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Grimes
| type = single
| prev_title = Kill V. Maim
| prev_year = 2016
| title = Pynk
| year = 2018
| next_title = Love4eva
| next_year = 2018
}}{{External music video
| 1 = {{YouTube|id=PaYvlVR_BEc|title="Pynk"}}
| type = single
}}
}}
"Pynk" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Janelle Monáe for her third studio album, Dirty Computer (2018). It features Canadian art pop musician Grimes and interpolates the song "Pink" by Aerosmith, with members of the band being credited as co-writers. Lyrically, the song continues Monáe's female empowerment theme previously expressed in "Django Jane". The third single from Dirty Computer, a music video for the song was uploaded to YouTube on April 10, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/04/janelle-monae-and-grimes-reunite-on-new-song-pynk-and-video-watch/|title=Janelle Monáe and Grimes reunite on new song "PYNK" and video: Watch|last=Schatz|first=Lake|publisher=Consequence of Sound|date=April 11, 2018|accessdate=April 11, 2018}}
Background
Monáe describes the song as, "a celebration of creation, self love, sexuality and pussy power", and that the color pink "unites all of humanity" because it is the color "found in the deepest and darkest nooks and crannies of humans everywhere."{{cite magazine|last=Spanos|first=Brittany |title=Watch Janelle Monae Celebrate 'Pussy Power' in 'Pynk' Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/janelle-monae-celebrates-pussy-power-in-pynk-video-w518956|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=April 11, 2018}} In the Dirty Computer CD liner notes, Monáe describes the song's origins: "Inspired by Prince's mischievous smile as he played organ on "Hot Thang" and watched Cat Glover shimmy across the stage in "Sign O' The Times" and by Kali, Sheela Na Gig, Isis, Sheba, Athena, Medusa, Mary and all the Mothergoddess sculptures and paintings in pyramids, churches and castles around the world; midnight conversations and debates about The Great Cosmic Mother; insights from The Vagina by Naomi Wolff, and Interior Scroll by Carolee Schneemann and the calligraphy of Sun Ping; and Paul Simonon's quote that "pink is the only true rock n' roll color.""{{Cite AV media |title=Dirty Computer |author=Janelle Monáe |date=2018 |publisher=Bad Boy Records }}
Critical reception
“Pynk” received critical acclaim. Pitchfork praised "Pynk" and awarded it Best New Track. Eve Barlow stated: "As an expression of unity and an appeal to see people beyond gender, the song’s genre-bending sonics and the video’s femme-dominated utopia underscore Monáe’s long-held desires for a more fluid society."
Music video
The music video was directed by Emma Westenberg and was uploaded to Monáe's YouTube account on April 10, 2018. It features actress Tessa Thompson, a frequent collaborator of Monáe's. The plot finds Monáe and Thompson along with a group of other women dancing in a desert, having a slumber party and sitting out by a pool while expressing appreciation for the vagina.{{cite web|last1=Eckardt|first1=Stephanie|title=Janelle Monáe Practically Gives Birth to Tessa Thompson in Her New "Pynk" Video|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/janelle-monae-tessa-thompson-pynk-vulva-pants|website=W|date=April 10, 2018 |accessdate=April 11, 2018}} The distinctive pink vulva trousers worn by the dancers were designed by Duran Lantink.{{cite news |title=Duran Lantink, the man behind Janelle Monáe's vagina pants |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/apr/27/duran-lantink-the-man-behind-janelle-monaes-vagina-pants |access-date=26 June 2021 |work=the Guardian |date=2019-04-27 |language=en}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Organization ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| 2018
| Best Video with a Social Message | {{nom}} |
| scope="row"| 2019
| {{nom}} |
Use in media
The song is played at the end of episode 6 of Michaela Coel's drama I May Destroy You.
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = Digital download{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/86810745 |title=Pynk (feat. Grimes) |date=April 10, 2018 |publisher=Tidal |accessdate=April 11, 2018}}
| title1 = Pynk
| length1 = 4:02
|}}
{{track listing
| headline = Remix single
| title1 = Pynk (King Arthur Remix)
| length1 = 3:58
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Iceland (RÚV){{cite web|url=http://www.ruv.is/thaettir/vinsaeldalisti-rasar-2|publisher=RÚV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308212242/http://ruv.is/thaettir/vinsaeldalisti-rasar-2|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2015|title=Topplistinn 23. Juni 2018|accessdate=June 19, 2018}}
| 14 |
| scope="row"| US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/janelle-monae/chart-history/bst/|title=Janelle Monáe Chart History: R&B Songs|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 25, 2018}}
| 21 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Janelle Monáe}}
{{Grimes}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pynk}}
Category:Songs written by Janelle Monáe
Category:Songs written by Tayla Parx
Category:Songs written by Steven Tyler
Category:Songs written by Glen Ballard