Janelle Monáe claims she time-traveled to 1970s to see David Bowie perform live
Time traveler? FILE PHOTO: Janelle Monáe attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025, in New York City. She claims she time-traveled to see David Bowie on stage in the 1970s. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Janelle Monáe may only be 39 years old, but she said she saw David Bowie perform live in 1970, thanks to time-travel.
“Yeah, I was backstage,” Monáe said. “I was like, this is what I want to do. I jetted back to the 2000s and I was like, I can have the musical, make the music, create the lyrics, and create community around transformation and being queer — not even just in sexuality, but in how we see the world.”
Rolling Stone noted that Monáe’s debut, “The ArchAndroid” was influenced by “Ziggy Stardust.”
Monáe also spoke about Halloween, which she says is when “people give themselves permission to be on my frequency,” People magazine reported.
She also talked about a screenplay she’s working on.
“The goal has always been to write, star in, do the soundtrack, produce. A lot of things, I know, but I have to fully realize an idea, and I know that I will not stop until I get this,” she said.
But Monáe said she wishes it could go faster.
“I wish I had some sort of pipe that I can push in my brain. Because the time that it takes... You have the idea, and to realize it, you gotta talk to all these people,” Monáe said. “I’m just like, “I see it!”
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2005: Music Artist Janelle Monae attends the BIG BOI album release party at Guest House on November 15, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Virgin Records) (Brad Barket/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2008: Janelle Monae attends a screening of "A Raisin In The Sun" presented by ABC Television Network at AMC Theaters on February 19, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) (Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2008: Singer Janelle Monae performs at The Blender Theater on April 3, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2009: Janelle Monae performs during the 2009 Voodoo Experience at City Park on October 30, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2011: Recording artists Sean "P. Diddy" Combs (L) and Janelle Monae attend the second annual Essence "Black Women in Music" event at the Playhouse Hollywood on February 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2013: Janelle Monae and Sean "Diddy" Combs celebrate with Target the release of her new album "The Electric Lady" at Pier 84 on September 9, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Target) (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Target)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2014: Janelle Monae attends the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2016: (L-R) Model Chrissy Teigen, musicians Janelle Monae and John Legend attend the 2016 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Irving Azoff at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 14, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS) (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2017: Actress Janelle Monae of 'Moonlight,' winner of Best Motion Picture - Drama, poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2017: Musicians Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monae onstage at Stevie Wonder presented with "Key of Life" Award at the ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo on April 15, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP ) (Maury Phillips)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2018: Recording artist Janelle Monae attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NARAS) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NARAS)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2018: Janelle Monae performs at the Greek Theatre on June 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2019: Janelle Monáe performs at Coachella Stage during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 19, 2019 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2022: Grace Jones and Janelle Monae attend the "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" European Premiere Closing Night Gala during the 66th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 16, 2022, in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI) (Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2023: Janelle Monáe attends the 2023 BET Soul Train Awards on November 19, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2024: Janelle Monáe attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2024: Janelle Monáe attends Miami Art Week - Saint & Citizen Presents: Saint Sessions Live at The Temple House on December 07, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2025: Janelle Monáe attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Photos: Janelle Monáe through the years 2025: (L-R) Guillermo del Toro and Janelle Monáe attend Netflix's "Frankenstein" Los Angeles Premiere on October 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Netflix) (Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Netflix)