Grimes returned to The Tonight Show to tackle the topic of artificial intelligence with a magnetic rendition of “We Appreciate Power” alongside frequent co-collaborator HANA on Monday night (Dec. 10).
The mechanical performance had Grimes sitting blindfolded and cross-legged at the front of the stage. Two dancers donning triton-like objects circled around each other on a rotating platform on Grimes’ left, while HANA pushed along the song with grungy guitar riffs on her right. Wearing white, they all glowed in the flashy blue lights.
Grimes and HANA opened with the hypnotic, urgent refrain: “What will it take to make you capitulate?/ We appreciate power/ We appreciate power.”
“People like to say that we’re insane,” Grimes took over in her wispy voice. “But AI will reward us when it reigns/ Pledge allegiance to the world’s most powerful computer/ Simulation: it’s the future.”
She and HANA jumped up in time, banging their heads as they reached the next chorus and the dancers fought in slow motion, eventually losing their tritons as HANA’s voice dramatically took over.
The performance gained energy as the dancers joined in, marching and saluting in time with the music alongside the frontwomen. Grimes created howling, electrifying synth sounds amid the dancers knocking each other to the ground. “Submit,” the women repeated together, sinking to the ground while the dancers gave in to the enticement of their glowing phones.
Watch Grimes electrify The Tonight Show below.
