Janet (album)

**janet.**5th studio album

*janet. is the fifth studio album by American-singer Janet Jackson and was released May 18, 1993.*

***Janet*** (stylized as ***janet.***) is the fifth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson, released on May 18, 1993, by Virgin Records America. Prior to its release, Jackson was at the center of a high-profile bidding war over her recording contract. In 1991, her original label A&M sought to renew her contract, while others, such as Atlantic, Capitol, and Virgin all vied to sign her. After meeting with Virgin owner Richard Branson, she signed with the label. The contract was worth an estimated $40 million, making her the world's then-highest paid musical act.

Criticism that her success in the music industry was attributed to being a member of the Jackson family and a producer-dependent artist led her to write all lyrics for the album, in addition to co-producing every song and co-writing each of their arrangements with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Its title, read "Janet, period.", is meant to disassociate her public image from her family, dropping her surname. An R&B record, *Janet* incorporated pop, hip hop, opera, house and jazz, eliminating the rigid, industrial sound of her previous records. Lyrically, the theme of *Janet* is sexual intimacy—an abrupt departure from her conservative image. Much of her lyrics emphasize a woman's perspective on sexuality and the demand for practicing safe sex.

In the United States, *Janet* became the singer's third consecutive album to top the *Billboard* 200 and her first to debut at number one. Selling 350,000 copies in its first week, it set a record for the highest first week sales for a female artist at that time. Certified sixfold platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), it has sold over seven million copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan. Internationally, *Janet* topped the record charts in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom, and has sold an estimated 14 million copies worldwide.

*Janet* remains one of only seven albums in history to produce six top-ten hits on the US *Billboard* Hot 100 chart, including the number-one singles "That's the Way Love Goes" and "Again". The MTV-sponsored Janet World Tour supporting the album received critical acclaim for Jackson's elaborate stage performances, reinforcing her reputation as one of the preeminent artists of the MTV generation*.* *Janet* cemented her as an international icon and sex symbol, and is listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 200 Definitive Albums of All Time. Academics argued the erotic imagery in her music videos have contributed to a higher degree of sexual freedom among women.

## Background

Rumors of a multimillion-dollar bidding war over Jackson's recording contract began to circulate in spring 1991. *Jet* magazine reported: "A recording company has offered in excess of $50 million to sign superstar Janet Jackson to a recording contract, making the 24-year-old singer/songwriter/dancer/actress the key player in one of the hottest bidding wars among today's major record companies." Reports indicated that Capitol, Virgin and Atlantic were all bidding for Jackson's contract, as her ties to A&M would soon expire; by March, she had signed with Virgin. *The New York Times* declared "Janet Jackson has signed what is believed to be the most lucrative contract in the history of recording. The 24-year-old singer, songwriter and actress signed an exclusive contract with Virgin Records it was announced yesterday." Her new contract guaranteed a twenty-two percent royalty payment, in addition to her then-historic signing bonus. Chuck Philips of the *Los Angeles Times* reported that it had been the largest bidding war in recent memory and that "one reason the bidding was so heavy, various industry observers have noted, was that Jackson-at just 24-is still a relatively fresh face on the pop scene and that her dance-pop style is ideal for today's pop/video climate." In addition, her potential as an international superstar proved to be the primary motivation for the label's investment. Jeff Ayeroff, co-managing director of Virgin in the US stated: "Janet is a world-class artist and we expect her growth to be enormous." Chairman Richard Branson spoke with Jackson privately to seal the deal. He commented: "A Rembrandt rarely becomes available... When it does, there are many people who are determined to get it. I was determined."

After writing songs with themes of independence for *Control* and social injustice for *Rhythm Nation 1814*, Jackson desired to devote her new album to love and relationships, describing the theme of her new album as "intimacy" and that "sexual communication is the name of the game." She stated in an interview with David Wild for *Rolling Stone* that "while I was doing Rhythm Nation, I was thinking about how things were so hard, so regimented and so black and white ... I thought I'd do something on the sexy side—which is hard for me since I grew up as a tomboy and don't really think of myself that way. But I think this album is more on the feminine tip." She also commented on how her experience acting in *Poetic Justice* played a role in taking a new direction with her music. Speaking with biographer David Ritz, she stated that "*Rhythm Nation* was a heavy record, and *Poetic Justice* was a heavy movie. I wanted to do something lighter but also daring ... When I wrote the album, I was still in a poetic frame of mind, inspired by Maya's beautiful language. You can hear that inspiration or the interludes and especially on the song "New Agenda". This time I felt much freer expressing myself."

Despite the critical and commercial success of her two previous albums, Jackson continued to receive numerous comparisons to her brother Michael, often with doubts that she held staying power in the music industry. When Edna Gundersen of *USA Today* questioned her about the subject, she responded: "Certain people feel I'm just riding on my last name ... That's why I just put my first name on janet. and why I never asked my brothers to write or produce music for me." Virgin Records expressed the album title "punctuates the declaration of strength the singer, songwriter and producer boldly expresses on this moving collection of songs which explore love, sensuality, the power of sisterhood and her own evolving self-identity." Thomas Harrison, author of *Music of the 1990s* (2011) wrote that "the conscious decision was made, by the company and/or Jackson, to put her into the same league as other one-named artists, such as Madonna, Bono, Beyonce and Prince, or at least to put her on the same standing as others in the industry who are often called by one name, such as Whitney, Mariah, Britney, Diana, Dolly, and Garth among others. Jackson could now, in a sense, stand on her own and not be seen as a product of the family entertainment machine." Sal Cinquemani of *Slant* magazine recounted the title of the album ultimately "announced the singer as completely independent of her male-dominated family [and] it positioned her as the person in charge of her sound."

## Production

The album was recorded at Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, Minnesota, from September 1992 to February 1993. Songs on the album, with the exception of "What'll I Do", were written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and mixed by Steve Hodge and Dave Rideau; "What'll I Do" was written and produced by Jackson and Jellybean Johnson. Jackson took a larger role in songwriting and production than she did on her previous albums. She explained that "[a]ll my records are personal, and janet, is the most personal of them all. That's why this time around it was important for me to write all the lyrics and half of the melodies." Jam described the record as being "a more mature album musically." David Ritz noted that Jackson and her producers took risks by experimenting with musical influences that had not appeared in their previous work. He explained: "She asked Kathleen Battle and Public Enemy's Chuck D to contribute—an opera diva and a hardcore rapper, two artists one would not associate with Janet—and somehow pulled if off. Beyond Jam and Lewis, there's now a recognizable Janet Jackson production style that's gutsy and, in some cases, even eccentric."

"That's The Way Love Goes" contains a sample loop of "Papa Don't Take No Mess" written by James Brown, Fred Wesley, Charles Bobbit, and John Starks. The song "Again", was originally just an experimental sound the production duo was considering. While Jackson found its melody compelling, the trio did not give the song serious contemplation until the film producers from *Poetic Justice* requested a ballad for the film's soundtrack. Jackson subsequently wrote the lyrics for "Again" and adapted them to Jam's melody. The song was arranged by Lee Blaskey and accompanied by members of the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

*janet.* features eclectic production choices. The record incorporates R&B ("That's the Way Love Goes", "Where Are You Now", "The Body That Loves You", "Any Time, Any Place"), new jack swing ("You Want This", "Because of Love"), rock ("If", "What'll I Do"), opera ("This Time"), house ("Throb"), jazz ("Funky Big Band"), hip hop ("New Agenda"), and pop ("Again", "Whoops Now"). The album expanded Jackson's musical endeavors from the more electronic-based soundscapes of her prior albums. Like its immediate predecessor, *janet.* also features a number of interludes between songs that vary from short conversations, instrumentals, and ambient-based tracks.

## Release & Promotion

### *Rolling Stone* cover

In September 1993, Jackson appeared topless on the cover of *Rolling Stone* magazine with the hands of her then-husband René Elizondo, Jr. covering her breasts. The photograph is the original full-length version of the cropped image used on the cover of the *Janet* album, shot by Patrick Demarchelier. In the cover story, "Sexual Healing" by David Ritz, Jackson explained, "sex has been an important part of me for several years. But it just hasn't blossomed publicly until now. I've had to go through some changes and shed some old attitudes before feeling completely comfortable with my body. Listening to my new record, people intuitively understand the change in me". Ritz likened Jackson's transformation to Marvin Gaye as he stated, "just as Gaye moved from *What's Going On* to *Let's Get It On*, from the austere to the ecstatic, Janet, every bit as serious-minded as Marvin, moved from *Rhythm Nation* to *Janet*, her statement of sexual liberation".

The image was cropped to show only Jackson's face on the album cover, and midriff in the interior booklet. The full version appears as the cover of the limited edition double-disc edition of the album, as well as the video compilation *Janet* released later that year. Sonia Murray of *The Vancouver Sun* later reported, "Jackson, 27, remains clearly established as both role model and sex symbol; the Rolling Stone photo of Jackson ... became one of the most recognizable, and most lampooned, magazine covers of the year".

### Singles

"That's the Way Love Goes", the album's lead single entered the *Billboard* Hot 100 at number fourteen and peaked at number one. The single was certified gold by the RIAA on November 12, 1993. Virgin records intended for "If" to be the lead single for the album, but Jackson, Jam and Lewis disagreed. "That's the Way Love Goes" remained at number one for eight weeks—the most successful chart performance of any member of the Jackson family. The single earned a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. "If" was released as the album's second single and peaked at number four on the Hot 100, receiving gold certification on September 28, 1993. To promote the album, Jackson performed a medley of the first two singles at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards. "Again", peaked at number one on the Hot 100 on December 11, 1993, and topped the chart for two weeks. The single was certified gold and then doubled to platinum by the RIAA on December 17, 1993. The single earned a nomination at the 66th Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and she also performed the track at the ceremony. "Because of Love" reached number ten, but was not certified by the RIAA. "Any Time, Any Place" peaked at number two on the Hot 100 and was certified gold on July 11, 1994. "You Want This", the album's final commercial single for the United States, peaked at number eight on the Hot 100 and was awarded gold certification on December 6, 1994. The album's hidden track "Whoops Now" was released as a single in selected territories in 1995.

The album's massive popularity at the time of its release made it one of the first instances in which an album's songs would chart prior to them being released as proper singles. "Throb," which would eventually be released as a B-side to "Any Time, Any Place" in June 1994, charted an entire year before due to unsolicited radio airplay, reaching number 66 on the Radio Songs Chart. Similarly, the album cut "Where Are You Now' reached number 30 on the same chart, being present on the chart for 37 weeks.

### Janet World Tour

Jackson embarked on her second world tour in support of her debut album with the Virgin Records label. Costumes and wardrobe for the tour were designed by stylist Tanya Gill, with outfits "rang[ing] from pipebone vests with high-heeled moccasin boots to zoot suits top-hats to circus-ringmaster bustiers." With a show encompassing over 100 costumes, a team of over 50 costume makers was led by wardrobe supervisor, Helen Hiatt. The tour's debut concert was held on November 24, 1993, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jackson held a four show engagement at Madison Square Garden which began on December 17, 1993, with the final performance held on New Year's Eve. Michael Snyder of the *San Francisco Chronicle* described Jackson's stage performance at the San Jose Arena in February 1994, as what erased the line between "stadium-size pop music concerts and full-scale theatrical extravaganzas".

Her performances also garnered criticism. Renee Graham of *The Boston Globe* commented that her stage show at Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts on June 20, 1994, proved her limited vocal range as "[t]he numerous costume changes, pyrotechnics and the dancing all but overshadowed her razor-sharp seven-piece band and three back-up singers", asserting Jackson was a better performer and entertainer than she was a vocalist. However, the *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*'s Steve Pick observed Jackson's stage show at the Riverport Amphitheatre on July 12, 1994, made the *Janet* album's numerous hit singles more effective with her "larger-than-life stage persona".

### Commercial Performance

*Janet* debuted at number one on the *Billboard* 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It was the first a female artist debuted at number one since the start of the SoundScan era; with the largest first week sales in history for a female artist at the time with 350,000 units sold in its first week. The album also earned worldwide success, debuting at number one in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. It also debuted in the top 10 in Sweden, The Netherlands, Canada (with 65,000 copies sold at the first week) and Switzerland. In Germany the album peaked at number five and charted for 49 total weeks, becoming Jackson's longest charting album.

*Janet* was first certified gold by the RIAA on August 8, 1993, denoting 500,000 units shipped within the United States. The same day, the album's certification was raised to 3× platinum, denoting 3,000,000 units shipped. On November 17, 1993, *Janet* received 4× platinum certification and was later awarded 5× platinum on December 17, 1993. The following year on April 12, 1994, the album was certified 6× platinum. It was the second best selling album of 1993 in United States with 4.3 million copies sold, behind *The Bodyguard* soundtrack and was the biggest selling album by a solo artist. Within seven months of release the album had sold over ten million copies worldwide. Other certifications include a Double Gold certification in France, a 2× Platinum certification in the UK And Australia, a Platinum in New Zealand and a Gold certification in Norway.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album has sold 7,035,000 million copies in the United States since its release, and also sold an additional 860,000 copies through BMG Music Club. With estimated worldwide sales of over 14 million copies, it is Jackson's best selling album.

## Tracklisting

All tracks written and produced by Janet Jackson, James Harris III and Terry Lewis, except where noted.

Special Oz Tour Limited Edition (bonus disc)

Limited edition (bonus disc)

**Notes**

* "That's the Way Love Goes" contains:
	+ samples from "Papa Don't Take No Mess", written by James Brown, Fred Wesley, Charles Bobbit and John Starks and performed by J. Brown.
	+ an interpolation from "Georgy Porgy", performed by Toto and written by member David Paich.
* "You Want This" contains samples from:
	+ "Love Child", written by R. Dean Taylor, Frank Wilson, Pam Sawyer, Deke Richards and performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes.
	+ "Jungle Boogie", written by Robert Bell, Ronald Bell, Claydes Smith, Robert Mickens, Donald Boyce, Richard Allen Westfield, Dennis Thomas and George Brown and performed by Kool & the Gang.
* "If" contains samples from:
	+ "Someday We'll Be Together", written by Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua and Jackey Beavers and performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes.
	+ "Honky-Tonk Haven", performed by John McLaughlin
* "New Agenda" contains samples from:
	+ "School Boy Crush", written by Hamish Stuart, Onnie McIntyre, Alan Gorrie, Steve Ferrone, Molly Duncan and Roger Bell and performed by Average White Band.
	+ "Kool It (Here Comes the Fuzz)", written by Gene Redd, Woodrow Sparrow, Robert Bell, Ronald Bell, Westfield, Mickens, G. Brown, Thomas and Smith and performed by Kool & the Gang.
	+ "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)", written and performed by Stevie Wonder.
* "One More Chance" is a cover of the song of the same name, written by Randy Jackson and performed by the Jacksons.

"**That's the Way Love Goes**"
"*You Know...*"
"**You Want This**"
"*Be a Good Boy...*"
"**If**"

"This Time"
"*Go on Miss Janet*"
"**Throb**"
"**What'll I Do**"
"*The Lounge*"
"Funky Big Band"

"New Agenda"
"*Love Pt. 2*"
"**Because of Love**"
"*Wind*"
"**Again**"

"Where Are You Now"
"*Hold on Baby*"
"The Body That Loves You"
"*Rain*"
"**Any Time, Any Place**"

"*Sweet Dreams*"
"**Whoops Now**"
"One More Chance"
"And On and On"
"70's Love Groove"