We imagine the pitch meeting for Janelle Monae‘s minimal-as-it-gets new video for “Cold War” went shorter than most do. Actually, we imagine it went a little something like this:

“So, let’s hear it.”
“Here’s what I’m thinking: Janelle, nude, shot from the shoulders up, singing to the camera against a plain black background. All one take.”
“…”
“…”
“We love it!”

And so it became.

But don’t get us wrong; there’s nothing “boring” about this vid. Janelle let’s it all hang out (emotionally, that is…) and commands every frame. You cannot help but be sucked into the song and this clip.

Check out the uber-powerful video below.