The pairing of Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe proved to be a winning combination. During the first stop of their co-headlining “Hooligans in Wondaland” tour at Roseland Ballroom in New York City on Wednesday night (May 4), the charismatic performers brought their high-caliber energy to the stage, affirming that quality shows are far from over.


Opening act Plan B warmed up the sold-out audience by performing hits off his sophomore album The Defamation of Strickland Banks. The U.K. rap sensation and his band turned up the decibels with his single “Prayin’” and a mash-up of covers including Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose” and a beatbox-assisted “Stand by Me.” After the bittersweet ode “She Said,” the band feigned a rouse in which rapper Ben Drew tackled his bassist to the ground.

If Plan B brought the heat, then it was Janelle Monáe who set the stage on fire in her classic black-and-white garb. She powered through a reviving “Faster” off her debut The ArchAndroid, before moving on to a beautiful cover of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.” With a sharp voice and a lot of charm, she kept hearts pounding, singing “Wondaland” and “Mushrooms & Roses.”

During her lively set, the eclectic songstress showed her artistry, painting a woman’s backside on a canvas and splashing it with the words “Freedom” and “Love,” while singing and crying out “I need your love!” “Cold War” and “Tightrope” came next as Janelle twisted and turned in her oxfords, mocking Plan B in the finale by jumping on her bandmates. She could not leave, however, without doing an encore of “Come Alive (War of the Roses)” to heavy jolting and random dancing.

The ladies were all aflutter when heartthrob Bruno Mars stepped out. Equipped with a pastel green guitar, the fedora-clad singer performed hits off his debut Doo-Wops & Hooligans, but started off with his very first written work, “Top of the World.” He then covered Barrett Strong’s “Money (That’s What I Want)” before delivering a ska-dipped “Billionaire.” He slowed things down with “Our First Time,” turning the lights down low and catering to his female fans. “Can I kiss you on your lips? Can I put my hands on your hips?” he asked.

After the slow dance, the platinum-selling artist channeled James Brown during “Runaway Baby,” before reminiscing with a song he grew up listening to: “Please Say You Want Me” by The Schoolboys. The audience sang loudly to “Marry You” as his segued into his current single “The Lazy Song.” Bruno then belted out the reggae-tinged “Liquor Store Blues,” an intimate “Nothin’ on You,” and the stirring “Grenade,” before capping the night with his chart-topping smash “Just the Way You Are” to a very satisfied crowd.

Janelle Monáe is ready to live the teenage dream. Katy Perry has tapped the “Tightrope” singer to open for her “California Dreams” tour on select North American dates.


The critics’ darling is set to hit the road with the pop superstar on six stops of her summer tour, beginning July 13 in Saskatchewan, Canada, and visiting Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton, closing out her short journey with a gig at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center on August 20.

Ahead of her dates with Perry, the Wondaland recording artist will co-headline the “Hooligans in Wondaland” tour with Bruno Mars, kicking off at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom on May 4 and traveling through June.

Katy Perry’s “California Dreams” Tour with Janelle Monáe

July 13 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre
July 14 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
July 16 – Calgary, AB – Stampede
July 17 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
August 19 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
August 20 – St. Louis, MO – Scottrade Center

Usher, Justin Timberlake, Janelle Monae and Lady Gaga are now allowed to tweet to their hearts content. Alicia Keys’ morbid Buy Life fundraiser, the one that “killed off” many celebrities’ digital lives until $1 million was raised, was off to a very slow start — apparently, many people would rather the Kardashians didn’t tweet — but thanks to a billionaire donating $500,000, they have reached their goal. Did you guys miss Gaga’s words of wisdom to her little monsters, or did you barely notice a change in your Twitter feed?

Even the heavy New York City winds couldn’t dim the star power at Keep a Child Alive’s 7th Annual Black Ball at Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday night (Sept. 30). The star-studded charity gala, which raised money for HIV/AIDS treatment, featured appearances and performances by Sade, Whitney Houston, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Usher, Swizz Beatz, Jennifer Hudson, Janelle Monáe, and more.

The belle of the ball, host Alicia Keys, lived out her dream by singing with Sade. “It was the most difficult thing I ever had to do in my life, to try to pick one song,” revealed the pregnant songstress, who finally decided upon “Love Is Stronger Than Pride.” “I lost sleep over it actually.”

Janelle Monáe gained new fans with her “Tightrope” walking and Swizz Beatz joined Jay-Z for “On to the Next One,” as his pretty in pink wife looked on. Alicia helped Jay cap the evening in their hometown by channeling Frank Sinatra with an impromptu performance of “New York, New York,” before closing with “Empire State of Mind.”

Janelle Monáe’s masculine wardrobe, consisting of a black suit, tie, and saddle shoes, has some questioning her sexuality. Music’s newest darling is addressing the rumors.


Since capturing the nation’s attention with her critically-acclaimed album The ArchAndroid, the sci-fi singer has had to face scrutiny about whether she prefers to date men or women, but she won’t give a straight answer. “The lesbian community has tried to claim me,” she tells Rolling Stone. “But I only date androids. Nothing like an android—they don’t cheat on you.”

For those wondering why she chooses to dress the way she does, Monáe has a perfectly good explanation. “I call it my ‘uniform,’” she says. “My mother was a janitor and my father collected trash, so I wear a uniform too.”

She hopes her original look will inspire other women to embrace their individuality. “I’m trying to open doors for girls who look like myself and have been told they can’t sing about this or that.”

It seems to be working because she has many supporters, including one famous fan in the White House. “People that worked in his campaign have told us he is very aware of me,” Monáe coyly reveals about President Obama. “He’s a fan.”