// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did "Dance Apocalyptic" say to the beat? It was a cata-strophic failure to sync.
| "Dance Apocalyptic" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Janelle Monáe | ||||
| from the album The Electric Lady | ||||
| Released | July 2, 2013[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:26 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Janelle Monáe singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Dance Apocalyptic" on YouTube | ||||
"Dance Apocalyptic" is a song by Janelle Monáe, issued as the second single from her second studio album, The Electric Lady. The song was co-written with Charles Joseph II and Nathaniel Irvin III, and Monae, Chuck Lightning and Nate "Rocket" Wonder providing production. "Dance Apocalyptic" is a dance-pop song with elements of hip-hop, doo-wop, rock, Motown, and new wave. The song is built on kick-drums, keyboards, an electric guitar, scratching and synthesizers. Lyrically, the song is about dancing and liberation.
"Dance Apocalyptic" received widespread positive reviews, with critics noting its catchiness and feel-good lyrics.
Composition and lyrics
[edit]"Dance Apocalyptic" is a dance-pop,[3] new wave rock,[4] doo-wop, Motown and hip-hop song.[5]
Reception
[edit]Keith Murphy of Vibe praised the song, calling it an "infectious rave-up" and "the soundtrack to endless summer cookouts".[6]
Music video
[edit]![[icon]](/everything/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (March 2014) |
The music video was directed by Wendy Morgan.[7] The video features Janelle performing in a vintage style club accompanied by a band wearing black and white. in the midpoint of the video, there is a interruption where a news reporter (played by Janelle) reports on an Apocalypse, similar to the one described in Book of Revelation, with locusts, fires, earthquakes, and the raising of the dead. The video then returns back to Janelle performing as her band destroys their instruments. The video ends with a gang of bikers taking Janelle and her band away. [8]
Live performances
[edit]On September 9, 2013, Monáe performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman.[9] She then performed the song (along with "Electric Lady") on Saturday Night Live on October 26.[10]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dance Apocalyptic" (Chocolate Puma Remix) | 5:32 |
| 2. | "Dance Apocalyptic" (Olugbenga Edit) | 4:09 |
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[12] | 83 |
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | November 5, 2013 | Mainstream airplay | Atlantic | [13] |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Amazon.com: Dance Apocalyptic: Janelle Monáe: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ "The Electric Lady - Janelle Monáe - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ Widianto, Stanley (May 18, 2018). "Album Review: 'Dirty Computer' by Janelle Monáe". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
...from the dance-pop of "Dance Apocalyptic"...
- ↑ Kot, Greg (October 21, 2014). "Janelle Monae: Science fiction in African-American pop". BBC. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ↑ Rosen, Jody (September 5, 2013). "Rosen on Janelle Monáe's The Electric Lady: An Intermittingly Thrilling Failure". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ↑ Murphy, Keith. "Review: Janelle Monáe's 'Dance Apocalyptic' Is Weird, Genre-Bending Fun - Vibe". Vibe. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ Martins, Chris. "Janelle Monae Boogies While the World Burns in 'Dance Apocalyptic' Video - SPIN - Videos". Spin. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ Janelle Monáe (2013-07-02). Janelle Monáe - Dance Apocalyptic [Official Video]. Retrieved 2025-05-13 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Janelle Monáe Performs "Dance Apocalyptic" On David Letterman's Desk Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ Navaroli, Joel. "SNL Archives - Episodes - 10.26.2013 #9". SNL Archives. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Janelle Monáe - Dance Apocalyptic Remixes". Spotify. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ↑ "Janelle Monáe Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
- ↑ "CHR Available For Airplay - Archive". fmqb.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-07. Retrieved 2026-04-20.