Janet Jackson, The #35 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Three

 

(Continued from Part Two)

 

About this time, Janet began to feel the effects of stardom; in her case, depression and anxiety, and it is with those feelings that she recorded her album The Velvet Rope, released in 1997.  The single "Together Again", written about all the friends Jackson had lost to AIDS, hit the Top 5 in every major country and topped charts in the United States and the Netherlands.

When "Together Again" gave Janet eight #1's, she tied heavyweights like Elton John, the Rolling Stones and Diana Ross.  The single has sold over six million copies throughout the world and earned Janet a Most-Played Song honor at the BMI Pop Awards.  The video was nominated for Best Dance Video at the MTV VMA's.

A #1 album, The Velvet Rope has also sold 10 million copies.  This song details Janet's struggle with depression.  "I never looked deeply at the pain from my past, never tried to understand that pain and work it through," Janet said in an interview with MTV.  "It was a journey I had avoided.  But one I now had to face."

Jackson released the single "I Get Lonely", a #3 smash that earned Jackson a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and a nomination for Top Hot R&B Airplay Single at the Billboard Music Awards.  It was also cited as a Most-Played Song at the BMI Pop Awards.

More historic was the fact that it was Janet's 18th straight Top 10 song, a record for a female artist that is topped only by Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

 

"Got 'Til It's Gone" samples "Big Yellow Taxi" from the legendary Joni Mitchell.  Getting permission was a long shot, but Jackson tried.  "Everyone said it couldn't be done, but if {Mitchell} was going to say no to me, I had to hear it for myself," Janet said to USA Today.  "I called her and told her I wanted her to hear it before she made a decision," she continued.  "Everybody was surprised when a couple of days later, she said 'yes'".

When one listens to the song, it is crystal clear that they wouldn't have a song without Mitchell, even though her one line is repeated a hundred times.  Jackson won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video for "Got 'Til It's Gone".  She won another Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Female Album of the Year. 

Jackson promoted the album with a tour of North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Africa.  An HBO special,  The Velvet Rope:  Live in Madison Square Garden, attracted 15 million viewers.   "Empty" is a brilliant song about the emotional emptiness felt by the Internet "connection".

Jackson won an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and she was named Favorite Female Artist of the Year at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.  She also captured a Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Female Artist of the Year and was nominated for Top Hot 100 Singles Artist, Female and Top Dance/Club Artist of the Year.  

 

This collaboration happened after an interview Jackson did on Hot 97 radio in New York City.  When asked what hip-hop artist she would like to work with, Janet said, "Busta Rhymes".  Busta happened to be listening to the interview at the time, and, as he told Billboard:  "I was actually in my vehicle driving from Long Island to New York City and I had to pull over because I almost crashed."

Jackson teamed with Rhymes for his song "What's It Gonna' Be?", a #3 hit that went Gold and was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the Grammy Awards and Best Rap/Hip-Hop Clip of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards.  The video was also nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.

 

In 2000, Janet starred in the movie Nutty Professor II:  The Klumps with Eddie Murphy, which grossed an estimated $170 million worldwide.  The single "Doesn't Really Matter" jumped to #3 and went Gold.  Jackson and Jimmy Jam had a conflict of which chorus to use for the song.  "I wrote 'Nutty, nutty, nutty, my love for you'," Jam said, "and she wrote 'Doesn't really matter'."

Jackson was nominated for Favorite Actress - Comedy and the song was nominated for Favorite Song from a Movie at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.  But later that year, Jackson's husband, Rene Elizondo, Jr., filed for divorce, which in itself was news as the two had kept their marriage private from the press for eight years.

Janet received the Award of Merit from the American Music Awards and the MTV Icon Award, citing her "significant contributions to music, music video and pop culture while tremendously impacting the MTV generation".  

 Jackson released the album All for You in 2001, which debuted at #1.  The title song led the way on the Popular chart for seven weeks (the longest-lasting #1 of the year) and landed in the Top 10 in 11 countries.  It won Song of the Year and Most-Played Song at the BMI Pop Awards and was nominated for Top Hot 100 Single of the Year and Top-Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single at the Billboard Music Awards.  

Jackson received a Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording and an ASCAP Award for Best Dance Song of the Year while the album was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album.  She also scored MTV Video Music Award nominations for Video of the Year, Best Female Video of the Year and Best Dance Video of the Year.  

 

The single "Someone To Call My Lover", which uses the guitar riff from America's hit "Ventura Highway", hit #3.  The loop played in the chorus was borrowed from a classical song Janet heard in a television commercial when she was young.  That featured song was "Gymnopédie No. 1" by French composer Erik Satie.  

Although it was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards, it would be the last Top 10 song Janet would ever have.

Janet was named Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist at the American Music Awards and she was nominated for Favorite R&B/Soul Album and Internet Artist of the Year.  She won a Most Performed Song trophy from ASCAP for the song, while the album has topped nine million in worldwide sales.  

 Janet's subsequent tour was captured in an HBO concert special that was watched by over 12 million people.  "Better Days" is a fully orchestrated piece mixing soft rock and electronic music.  

Jackson earned an Artistic Achievement Award at the Billboard Music Awards and she was nominated for Top Female Artist of the Year.  "Doesn't Really Matter" and "Someone To Call My Lover" both were tabbed among the Most-Played Songs at the BMI Pop Awards.

Jackson collaborated with Justin Timberlake on a song on his album Justified before performing at halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.  Janet performed a medley of songs before Timberlake joined her onstage.  In the middle of the song "Rock Your Body", Timberlake tore open Jackson's costume, revealing her right breast before 140 million people watching.

Jackson and Timberlake apologized afterwards, but significant damage had been done.  For some explicable reason, Timberlake's career was relatively unaffected, but Janet's would never be the same.  An appearance at the Grammy Awards was canceled, a role in a television movie was taken away and a Mickey Mouse statue wearing Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" outfit was removed from Walt Disney World.

 

While Jackson's album Damito Jo debuted at #2 in 2004 and sold over three million copies worldwide, it paled in comparison to past releases.  It still set a female record with her sixth consecutive album to debut at either #1 or #2.   Radio stations purposely blacklisted Janet's music, and the album, initially expected to perform extremely well before the Super Bowl incident, received little airplay.  Still, there are quality tracks on the album such as "Island Life".

 

The album, titled after Jackson's middle name, took 18 months to record.  "R&B Junkie" was recorded at Flyte Tyme Studios West in Los Angeles, California.  

 

"All Nite Don't Stop" is an interesting blend of Samba, Latin, Dancehall and ambient techno.

Many radio stations refused to play Jackson's songs, but Damito Jo still was nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album and "I Want You" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards and Jackson was once again nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist at the American Music Awards.  

 

 

The boycott continued with the album 20 Y.O. in 2005, with Janet again tabbed as a nominee at the Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary R&B Album.  The title celebrated the history-making album Control that gave Jackson her start as a successful artist.  The song "Call On Me" was nominated for Top-Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single at the Billboard Music Awards. 

"Enjoy" is also a fan favorite.  Forbes magazine ranked Jackson as the seventh-richest woman in entertainment with a fortune of over $150 million.  In 2007, Janet starred in the movie Why Did I Get Married?, which grossed over $60 million.

Jackson signed with Island Records and released the album Discipline, which debuted at #1.  Stations continued to boycott her music and "Feedback" was the best she could do at #19.

 Although Janet didn't write any of the songs on the album for the first time since Control, she chose "Rock With U (sic)" as a song for the gay community, which adored her.  After the song was released, Janet received the Vanguard Award, honoring her contributions in promoting equal rights among the gay community.  

After the death of brother Michael on June 25, Janet performed a tribute to him at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.  Janet released the compilation album Number Ones (named The Best for releases in other countries).  

With her musical career stalled, Jackson starred in the movie sequel Why Did I Get Married Too?, which also grossed $60 million, and the movie For Colored Girls.  Janet released the book True You:  A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, which was #1 on The New York Times' Best-Seller List.

Janet endorsed the weight-loss program Nutrisystem and donated 10 million dollars in meals to the hungry.  In 2013, Jackson announced she was married to businessman Wissam Al Mana.

In 2015, Jackson founded her own record label, Rhythm Nation, and attempted to make a comeback.  She released the album Unbreakable, which became her seventh #1 and Janet was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist at the American Music Awards and a People's Choice Award for Favorite R&B Artist.  "2 (sic) B (sic) Loved" is one of the best tracks on the album, which gave Jackson the distinction of being only the third artist in history to achieve a #1 album in four different decades.

Janet reunited with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the album, which featured themes of Janet's childhood and her reaction to brother Michaels death.  "The Great Forever" is another solid track.

Jimmy Jam said (to the BBC) "Shoulda' Known Better" is "just a wiser, more mature look at the reality of trying to make a positive change, a social change."

In October of 2016, Jackson announced she was expecting a child, which was born January 3, 2017.

In her career, Janet has chalked up 40 hits with an impressive 29 of those reaching the Top 10 and 10 going to #1.  She holds the Rock Era record for most consecutive Top 10 hits by a female with 18.  According to ABC News, Jackson has sold over 100 million records worldwide.

Jackson has won 12 American Music Awards from 35 nominations, five Grammy Awards out of 26 nominations, 33 Billboard Music Awards from 68 nominations, four MTV Video Music Awards from 20 nominations, four Blockbuster Entertainment Awards out of six nominations, 21 BMI Pop Awards and two ASCAP Awards and has been nominated for three People's Choice Awards, a World Music Award, a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award.

Janet Jackson, The #35 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

  (Continued from Part One)

In 1991, Janet signed a $32 million contract with Virgin Records.  It was the biggest contract to that point until brother Michael signed a new deal within the year.

 Members of New Edition had much to do with this song.  Michael Bivens and Ron DeVoe wrote it along with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and members of Biv DeVoe and Ralph Tresvant (all former members of New Edition) sang backing vocals.  Janet collaborated with Luther Vandross on the song "The Best Things In Life Are Free" from the movie Mo' Money, a #2 song in the U.K. and Australia that peaked at #10 in the U.S.  The pair were nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, a category won that year by Boyz II Men for "End Of The Road".

 Jackson released the album Janet. in 1993.  "That's The Way Love Goes" catapulted to #1 for eight consecutive weeks and sold over two million copies.  Jackson won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and the video was nominated for Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.  

Jennifer Lopez appeared on the video as a backing dancer.  Lopez said she was first inspired to begin recording after seeing Jackson's video "The Pleasure Principle".  "I was a little girl trying to do every single move that she was doing," Lopez said.

 

"If" reached #4 and sold over one million copies and earned Best Female Video at the MTV VMA's.

 

In 1993, Jackson appeared on film for the first time in Poetic Justice.  "Again", from the soundtrack album as well as from Janet., stayed at #1 for three weeks and went Platinum.

Jackson was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards as well as the Golden Globes for "Again".  The album reached #1, Janet's third to do so, while Janet. has sold over six million units in the U.S. and over 14 million worldwide.

 Jackson scored another Top 10 with "Because Of You".

 

The single "Any Time, Any Place" soared to #2 and went Gold.

Jackson scored American Music Award nominations for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist in both 1994 and 1994 and was also nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Single (for "That's The Way Love Goes").

She won seven Billboard Music Awards--Top Billboard 200 Album Artist, Female, Top Pop Albums Artist, Female, Top R&B Artist, Female, Top R&B Album, Female, Top R&B Singles Artist, Female, Top R&B Single - Airplay (for "That's The Way Love Goes") and Dance Clip of the Year (for "If") and was nominated for Top Pop Artist of the Year, Top Hot 100 Single of the Year (for "That's The Way Love Goes").

Janet. also generated five Top 10 hits, her third album to accomplish that tough feat.  Jackson thus became the only artist of the Rock Era to have three albums with at least five Top 10 hits.

 

But Janet did one better--she once again pulled a sixth Top 10 from her album with "You Want This", another Gold record.  Including "Love Child" by the Supremes in the song came from Jimmy Jam--he was a big Motown fan.

Jackson earned BMI Most-Played Song Awards for all six Top 10 singles on the album.

 

Janet and brother Michael teamed up for the #5 song "Scream" from his album HIStory in 1995.  Janet won an Artist Achievement Award at the Billboard Music Awards.  The duo won a Grammy for Best Music Video and were nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, won a Billboard Music Award for Pop/Rock Video Clip of the Year and won a Most-Played Song honor at the BMI Pop Awards.  

The video for "Scream" (the most expensive ever made at the time, costing $7 million to shoot) received 11 nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year, Viewers Choice, Best R&B Video and Breakthrough Video and won an award for Best Dance Video.

Meanwhile, Janet, as co-producer of the album, was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year and was named Favorite Female Artist at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.  

 Jackson released the compilation Design of a Decade:  1986-1996, a #3 album.  The new song "Runaway" reached #1 in Canada and #3 in the U.S. and also went Gold.  It was originally written to be a duet with Michael and Janet but "Scream" was chosen instead.  Janet won another BMI Pop Award for Most-Played Song.  

Jackson earned a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Pop Female and Design of a Decade has now sold over 10 million copies worldwide.  

Join us for Part Three of Janet Jackson!

Janet Jackson, the #35 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"One of the best female singers."

"What emotion and feeling she brings to her songs!"

"So smooth.  Gotta' love Janet!"

"She's so beautiful and talented."

"Awesome artist."

"I love Janet for life."

"Jackson is a phenomenal artist and performer."

"A legend."

"Love her silky voice.  Awesome Janet!"

"Janet is so incredibly talented--an awesome dancer and performer."

"Her voice is so lovely."

"What I love most about Janet are her fun, happy songs. They burn your soul with Joy. OH, and that smile. Perfection."

"She's the bomb!"

"Janet has always been incredible."

"Icon!"

"She is an excellent performer!"

"Goodness, she is awesome."

"Timeless music from Janet."

"I adore Janet - she is so amazing!"

"She is one of the greatest female performers of all-time."

Janet Jackson was born May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana, the youngest of 10 children in a highly musical family.  Her brothers began performing as the Jackson 5 when Janet was young.  After the group achieved their first #1 song, the family moved to Los Angeles.

Janet performed at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada when she was seven.  She began acting in the variety show The Jacksons in 1976.  She received a big break when she was chosen to star as Penny in the sitcom Good Times.  Janet also starred in the television shows A New Kind of Family and Fame and starred in Diff'rent Strokes for four seasons.  

When Janet turned sixteen, her father and manager Joseph Jackson arranged for an audition with A&M Records and he signed a recording contract for her.  Janet released her self-titled debut album in 1982 and the album Dream Street two years after.

Janet eloped with singer James DeBarge in 1984, but the couple soon divorced.  After her second album flopped, as the first one did, Janet decided to fire her father as manager, as she was now 18.  "I just wanted to get out of the house, get out from under my father," she said, "which was one of the most difficult things that I had to do."

For her third album, Janet contacted producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.  The trio worked magic with the album Control, released in 1986.  Janet thought she was done recording but when she got back to Los Angeles, she was called to come back to Minneapolis to record one more.  The last song she recorded for the album became her first single and first hit.  "What Have You Done For Me Lately", jumped to #1 on the R&B chart and #4 Popular in the U.S. and #3 in the U.K. and the Netherlands.

"What Have You Done For Me Lately" was nominated for Best R&B Song at the Grammy Awards.  Janet wrote this song after being shouted at rudely by men calling her "Baby" and other names.  "So many men call women 'baby'" she said.  "I've got a name and if you don't know it then don't shout at me in the street."  

"Nasty" also climbed to #1 R&B and hit #8 overall and was nominated for Best Female Video and Best Overall Performance in a Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Control raced to #1 on the Album chart and has now sold over five million copies in the United States and over 10 million worldwide.  "When I Think Of You" gave Janet her first #1 in the United States and when it did, she and brother Michael became the only siblings in history to have solo #1 songs.

 

The title song, a declaration of independence from her father, also topped the R&B chart and reached #5 overall.  Each of the first four singles went Gold.

 

The single "Let's Wait Awhile" made it four #1's on the R&B chart and peaked at #2 Popular in the U.S. and reached #3 in the United Kingdom.  Some teachers used the song to show their students it was okay to say no.  That was fine with Jam, who wrote it:  "Sometimes music reaches a broader meaning and it's fantastic to be associated with something like that," he said.

  

 

With five Top 10 hits, all reaching the Top 5, Control thus became one of 25 albums in the history of the Rock Era to accomplish that feat.  "The Pleasure Principle" also rose to #1 on the R&B chart and was nominated for Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. 

 We also want to feature this track--"Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)".

Jackson was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best Concept Music Video for her work on the album.  She set the record with 13 American Music Award nominations in 1987 and 1988, winning for Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("Nasty"), Favorite Pop/Rock Video and Favorite Soul/R&B Video (both for "When I Think Of You") and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist.  

Janet was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist in both 1987 and 1988, Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist both years, Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist, an initial nomination for Favorite Pop/Rock Video for "When I Think Of You" in 1987 before it won the next year and a nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Video, also for "When I Think Of You".

Jackson won six Billboard Music Awards--Top Pop Singles Artist, Top Pop Singles Artist, Female, Top Dance Club Play Artist in 1986, Top Dance Sales Artist, Top Black Artist in 1986 and Top Black Singles Artist in 1986.  She earned a total of 22 nominations in 1986 and 1987, including Top Pop Album Artist in both 1986 and 1987, Female, Top Pop Singles Artist, Female, Top-Selling Album of the Year, Top Adult Contemporary Single (for "Let's Wait While"), another nomination for Top Dance/Club Play Artist in 1987, Top Black Single and Top Dance Sales for 12" Singles (both for "Control"), another nomination for Top Black Artist in 1987, Top Black Albums Artist in both 1986 and 1987, Top Black Album, another nomination for Top Black Singles Artist in 1987, Top Black Single (for "Nasty"), Top Music Video Cassettes (for Control - The Videos)

 

The choreography work of then-unknown Paula Abdul on Jackson's videos led to a recording contract for Abdul.  Janet combined with music industry legend Herb Alpert for the #5 "Diamonds" in 1987.

 

In 1989, Janet included more socially conscious lyrics on her album Rhythm Nation 1814, her second consecutive #1 album.  The number "1814" was merely the project number assigned to the album by A&M Records.  The single "Miss You Much" was a #1 on both the Popular and R&B chart and sold over two million singles.

"Miss You Much" captured American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Single and Favorite Dance Single and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards.  

 

The title song was a conscious decision to write a positive song after seeing nightclub fights and violence dominate the headlines.  "I was reading about all these clubs and I thought it would be great if we could create our own nation," Janet said in an interview with the newspaper Los Angeles Times.  "One that would have a positive message and that everyone would be free to join."  "Rhythm Nation" stopped at #2, but did hit #1 R&B.  It has been certified Gold and the video was nominated for Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Jackson released the single "Escapade", #1 in both the U.S. and Canada and another million-seller.  Johnny Gill, formerly with New Edition, provided finger snaps on the song.  Jimmy Jam recalled how the song originated:

     While [Janet] was sitting in one room coming up with

     lyrics, I put it on the 24-track. We hooked the drum                   machine up. On my left hand I played the bass, on the 

     right hand I played the chord. And it was just enough

     for her to sing to, which we do a lot. Because we like 

     to let her sing to as minimum of a track as we can do,

     then fill in the track around her so that her part is the

     main part of the song. With 'Escapade,' she sang it 

     and we kept saying we'll go back and redo the 

     track... we never redid the track.

 

Janet was nominated for Favorite Dance Artist at the American Music Awards and Favorite Female Musical Performer at the People's Choice Awards.  "Alright" reached #4 in the United States and #6 in Canada and has also been certified Gold.  Jackson earned Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

 

The single "Come Back To Me" peaked at #2 in the U.S. and #3 in Canada.  Janet also recorded a Spanish version called "Vuelve a Mi".

"Black Cat" is another great #1 song on the album that has been certified Gold and was nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammys.  Although she didn't win, Janet became the first artist to be nominated for Best Vocal Performance in the categories of Rock, Dance, Rap and R&B.

Rhythm Nation has now sold over six million units in the U.S. and over 20 million globally.  The single "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" topped charts in the U.S. and Canada and is also a million-seller.  Jackson won Best Female Video at the MTV VMA's.  

Rhythm Nation became the only album in the Rock Era to generate #1 songs in three different calendar years, is another of only 25 album to contain five Top 10 songs and still is the only one to contain seven Top 5 hits.

In 1991, Janet won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Dance Artist and was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Album.  She won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form for Rhythm Nation 1814 and she was nominated for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Voices.  

She won a record 15 Billboard Music Awards:  Top-Selling Album of the Year, Top-Selling R&B Album of the Year, Top Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year, Top Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year, Female, Top R&B Artist of the Year, Top R&B Female Artist of the Year, Top-Selling R&B Artist of the Year, Top-Selling R&B Albums Artist of the Year, Best Dance Artist, Female, Top Dance Club Play Artist of the Year, Top Hot Dance 12" Singles Sales Artist of the Year and was nominated for Top Pop Artist of the Year, Top Hot 100 Single of the Year ("Miss You Much"), Top Dance/Club Play Single of the Year ("Rhythm Nation"), Best Black/Rap Female Video Artist, a Tanqueray Sterling Music Video Award for Artistic Achievement and a Director's Award in the category of Black/Rap for the video to "Rhythm Nation" and a Director's Award for Dance for the video to "Alright".

Janet also earned BMI Pop Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Most-Played Song honors for "Alright", "Escapade", "Rhythm Nation", "Black Cat" and "Come Back To Me" and the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMA's.

Jackson set a record for the most successful debut tour in history, and set aside funds from the tour to establish the Rhythm Nation Scholarship.  It is amazing that on the strength of two highly successful albums, Janet received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Much more from Janet in Part Two!