Reminder: Janelle Monáe Can Sing. Well.

Though getting new material from Janelle Monáe is wholly satisfying when it happens, it isn't happening very often. Fortunately, Cindy Mayweather stays on her performance hustle. In this great video, Monáe sings her beautiful rendition of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile." There isn't anything particularly noteworthy about the black and white video--it just shows her standing on an elevated platform singing--if you discount how mesmerizing she is to hear and to watch. And that's the point. Strip away the futuristic regalia and you're still left with a fresh, dynamic singer. It's easy to get caught up in her theatrics and persona and forget that she is a gifted vocalist, and this video serves as a wonderful reminder of her abilities. [H/T: SC]