Janelle Monae sweetly satisfies Dallas during the Age of Pleasure Tour

October 9, 2023

On The Age of Pleasure Tour, Monáe plays out her new arrival of a similar name, intertwining each ability added to her repertoire together for the stage; emotional, melodic theater-esque developments and voicings, a plenty of masterfully executed dance moves, elaborate vocal runs, and smooth raps. The show kicks off with “Float,” where Monáe walks out donning a regal drape of flowers and matching flower crown. Her band elevates her words with a rapturous horn section, as Monáe effortlessly raps and performs vocal acrobatics over each instrumental line.

During one of Monáe’s most popular songs, “Make Me Feel,” she remains in a low light outline, encompassed by surges of smoke. Pausing dramatically that reflects the likes of Grace Jones and Michael Jackson, Monáe concretes to the crowd that she can impart craftsmanship through her body similarly as well as through her music.

Perhaps the most poignant moment of the night arrived toward the end. After the show-stopping performance of “Make Me Feel,” Monáe gave a tear-filled discourse about their initial emotionally supportive network, established in KCK's Quindaro area. It was a wonderful bookend to a brilliant night, showing us how craftsmanship can work with change of oneself and one's environmental factors. It was a suggestion to embrace current circumstances, and in Janelle Monáe’s own words, to “radically love ourselves out loud.”