"Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe

<p>Whether you're high or low, you got to tip on the tightrope... and Kirk's got to tip right into a Strong Songs analysis of "Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe.</p> <p>It's time for some thump, some pop, and some sizzle, along with some clever rap phrasing, phrygian harmonies, surprise ukulele, and the funkiest horn section in Metropolis.</p> <p><strong>Band/Artist:</strong> Janelle Monáe</p> <p><strong>Album:</strong> <em>The ArchAndroid</em>, 2010</p> <p><strong>Composed by:</strong> Janelle Monáe, Nathaniel Irvin III, Charles Joseph II, Antwan “Big Boi” Patton</p> <p><strong>Listen/Buy: </strong><a href= "https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-archandroid-deluxe/370300698">Apple Music</a> | <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/ArchAndroid-Janelle-Monae/dp/B002ZFQD0E">Amazon</a> | <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/album/7MvSB0JTdtl1pSwZcgvYQX">Spotify</a></p> <p><strong>------</strong></p> <p><strong>ALSO FEATURED:</strong></p> <p>Several other songs from <em>The ArchAndroid;</em> "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder from <em>Natural Wonder Live;</em> re-created beats from Strong Songs episodes on <a href= "http://strongsongspodcast.com/single-ladies-by-beyonc">Beyoncé's "Single Ladies"</a> and <a href= "http://strongsongspodcast.com/thriller-by-michael-jackson">Michael Jackson's "Thriller."</a></p> <p>For more on the lore behind Monáe's Metropolis suite, read this great summary by Charles Pulliam-Moore at <em>io9</em>: <a href= "https://io9.gizmodo.com/from-metropolis-to-dirty-computer-a-guide-to-janelle-m-1825580195"> https://io9.gizmodo.com/from-metropolis-to-dirty-computer-a-guide-to-janelle-m-1825580195</a></p> <p><strong>OUTRO SOLOIST: BJ CORD<br /></strong></p> <p>This episode's outro soloist is BJ Cord, a fantastic trumpet player based in Portland by way of Chicago. BJ works at Monette trumpets making some of the most beautiful horns in the world, and is a regular presence on their Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/monettetrumpets">https://www.instagram.com/monettetrumpets</a></p> <p><strong>THE STRONG SONGS TH