Hall of Fame: Janet Jackson
Editor's Note: Although Janet Jackson is best known as a pop artist, much of the music featured on 'Rhythm Nation 1814' was quintessential New Jack Swing - especially songs like the title track and "Alright." It is for this reason that we at NJS4Ever feel that Janet Jackson should be included in this Hall of Fame.
- A. Knyte
Born on May 16, 1966 Janet Damita Jo Jackson is the youngest member of one of the most famous families in show business history. Janet has always been a natural performer, even during the heyday of her older brothers, the Jackson 5. Her father Joseph put her in the Jacksons' 1974 Las Vegas Revue where she was known to steal the show everytime. In 1976, when the Jacksons left Motown for Epic/CBS Records, they put together their own TV variety show where the brothers got their sisters Rebbie, LaToya, and Janet performing songs, skits, and dance routines.
A year later, Janet made her solo acting debut on the 70's sitcom, Good Times as Penny. After that, Janet moved to another hit comedy on NBC called, Diff'rent Strokes playing Charlene, Willis' (Todd Bridges) girlfriend. While starring on Diff'rent Strokes Janet decided to give singing a try. Janet released her self-titled debut album on A&M Records in 1982, featuring the singles, "Young Love" and "Come Give Your Love To Me."
In 1984, Janet left Diff'rent Strokes and joined the cast of another TV show, Fame playing Cleo. She also released her sophomore album Dream Street, featuring the singles "Don't Stand Another Chance" and the title track. The year 1985 would bring good luck to both Janet and R&B producers James "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Lewis (formerly of The Time) when they first met up and forged their legendary partnership. Things really got started with Janet's third album Control (produced by Jam & Lewis). Featuring the hits "What Have You Done For Me Lately," "Nasty Boys," the title track, "When I Think Of You," "Let's Wait Awhile" and "The Pleasure Principle", the 'Control' album was a huge, Grammy-winning success. "When I Think Of You" became Jam & Lewis' first #1 Pop hit, and the Control album has sold well past 10 million copies to date.
Janet's fourth LP Rhythm Nation 1814 was released during the height of the New Jack Swing movement, and stormed onto the charts with the #1 hit "Miss You Much." The Rhythm Nation album was pro-social in that it addressed ills in society such as drugs, violence, racism, homelessness, etc. The next six top ten (in five cases, #1) singles proved to be unforgettable, as Rhythm Nation (#1), "Escapade" (#1), "Alright," "Come Back To Me," "Black Cat" (#1), and "Love Will Never Do Without You" (#1) mesmerized music fans all over the world between 1989 and 1991. Ms. Jackson even embarked on a world tour for the first time in career, and still maintains the record of having the most successful debut tour in history.
Janet left A&M for the home of her biggest New Jack Era rival (and former choreographer Paula Abdul) Virgin Records to the tune of $30 million. Editor's Note: this may have had an adverse effect on Paula's career since Virgin may have considered Janet's albums more of a *priority* after she joined the label. 1993's decidely more sensual Janet album (produced by Jam & Lewis) went for more of an 'urban/R&B' sound, and the first single "That's The Way Love Goes" remains the biggest hit of her career. Five more singles followed: "If," "Again," "Because Of Love," "Anytime, Anyplace" and "You Want This." 1993/1994 also saw another world tour, and a starring role opposite Tupac Shakur in the John Singleton film, Poetic Justice. Other notable unofficial singles from the 1993/1994 era include "Throb" and "On & On."
In 1995, A&M Records cashed in on Janet by releasing Design Of A Decade, a greatest hits compilation that featured two new songs, "Runaway" and "Twenty Foreplay." Then Janet kept a low profile until late 1997, emerging with the Velvet Rope LP (produced by Jam & Lewis), a deeply introspective album featuring "Got Til It's Gone," "Together Again" and "I Get Lonely." The Velvet Rope album was even more sexually-charged than Janet, laced with references to same-sex attraction.
In 2000, Janet returned with the "Doesn't Really Matter" single which marked a return to the more carefree and lighthearted Janet. "Doesn't Really Matter" was featured on the soundtrack to The Nutty Professor 2 (starring Eddie Murphy), in which Janet starred. Then in 2001, Janet returned with All For You (again, produced by Jam & Lewis) featuring the #1 title track, "Someone To Call My Lover," and "Son Of A Gun."
By 2004, Janet Jackson returned with Damita Jo - a release marred by "nipplegate," the incident which involved rising pop star Justin Timberlake ripping a piece of Janet's garment off, exposing one of her bare breasts (albeit, with a nipple shield) to a live television audience during the Superbowl Half Time Show that year. None of the singles from this album gained much traction, but it did feature production by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, and Kanye West.
In 2006, Janet Jackson returned with 20 Y.O., her final album to date featuring production by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The first single, "Call On Me" featured rapper Nelly, and was produced by her then boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri. While an admirable effort, this song also failed to gain traction on the charts, and the album was considered a commercial failure. This album marked the end of her relationship with Virgin Records.
In early 2008, Janet Jackson made yet another album attempt with Discipline. This time around, the first single ("Feedback") did gain traction on the charts, and while the sound was a clear departure from her previous style (think: Britney Spears on "Gimme More"), this single was perhaps her most promising one since 2001's "Son Of A Gun." However, her second single stalled, and she was subsequently dropped from her label, Island/Def Jam.
By late 2008, Janet Jackson embarked on an American tour which was plagued by cancelled dates and poor ticket sales. After touring internationally, Janet is expected to settle down in 2009.
Regardless of how the rest of Janet Jackson's career turns out, along with New Edition's Heart Break (also by Jam & Lewis) and both releases by Guy, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 is among the best albums that the New Jack Swing era ever produced.
