"PrimeTime" is a song by American psychedelic soul and R&B singer Janelle Monáe featuring Miguel. It was released on August 19, 2013, as the third single from Monáe's second studio album, The Electric Lady.[2][3][4]

"PrimeTime"
"PrimeTime Remixes" single cover
Single by Janelle Monáe featuring Miguel
from the album The Electric Lady
ReleasedAugust 19, 2013 (2013-08-19)
Genre
Length4:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Nate "Rocket" Wonder
  • GianArthur
  • Monáe
  • Chuck Lightning
Janelle Monáe singles chronology
"Dance Apocalyptic"
(2013)
"PrimeTime"
(2013)
"What Is Love"
(2014)
Miguel singles chronology
"#Beautiful"
(2013)
"PrimeTime"
(2013)
"Ashley"
(2013)

The song has charted at number 20 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, and at number 36 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

A single containing two remixes of the song was released digitally on February 25, 2014.[5]

Critical reception

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Mark Rozeman of Paste magazine commented that with "PrimeTime" Monáe was "taking things at a slower pace" than in the first two singles from The Electric Lady – "Q.U.E.E.N." and "Dance Apocalyptic" – and called the song a "romantic slow jam" with "soulful guitar".[2]

Spin's Chris Martins wrote that the song is "a classic R&B ballad shaded in with Lynchian '50s haze and powered by the strength of the featured duet. Monáe and the Kaleidoscope dreamer are a natural fit, trading verses and uniting for the chorus ... which should be enough to make Mariah Carey just a little bit jealous," referring to Miguel's collaboration with Carey on "Beautiful".[1]

Music video

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A music video for the song, directed by Alan Ferguson, was released on October 10, 2013. It stars Janelle Monáe in the role of Cindi Mayweather, the protagonist of Monáe's Metropolis concept album series, and Miguel as Joey Vice, Mayweather's love interest.[6]

Track listing

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PrimeTime Remixes – Single[5]
No.TitleLength
1."PrimeTime" (featuring Miguel) (Kastle Remix)4:40
2."PrimeTime" (featuring Miguel) (Chloe Martini Remix)4:54

Charts

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Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[7] 20
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[7] 36

Year-end charts

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Chart (2014) Position
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[8] 50

References

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  1. ^ a b Martins, Chris (August 19, 2013). "Janelle Monae and Miguel Find 'Primetime' Under the Stars". Spin. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Rozeman, Mark (August 19, 2013). "Janelle Monáe Releases New Single "Primetime (feat. Miguel)"". Paste. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  3. ^ Martens, Todd (August 19, 2013). "Listen: Janelle Monáe and Miguel get sensual in 'Primetime'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  4. ^ Harris, Aisha (August 19, 2013). "Janelle Monáe Teams Up With Miguel for Love Ballad "PrimeTime"". Slate. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Primetime Remixes - Single by Janelle Monáe". iTunes. 25 February 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "Janelle Monáe - PrimeTime ft. Miguel [Official Video]". YouTube. October 10, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Chart Search". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  8. ^ "Hot R&B Songs - Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2019.