Janet Jackson is the youngest member of the incredible Jackson siblings. She was born on May 16, 1966 to Katherine and Joseph Jackson. Like her family members, she has been exposed to the entertainment world for most of her life. Started out as an opening act for her brothers, the popular Jackson 5, in their Las Vegas shows. She would soon be discovered by sitcom producers and would star in many hit TV shows from 1976 to 1984.
Although she was only seven, her brilliant impersonations of Mae West and Cher won the hearts of many producers which started her acting career. She starred in her first sitcom, the late seventies hit "Good Times". She was cast as an abused child (Penny Gordon) along side Ja'net DuBois. Then came "A Different Kind Of Family", and a role opposite Todd Bridges in "A Different Strokes" during the early eighties.
In 1982, her father prompted her to sing and pursue a recording career. Although she was not ready for this, she agreed. She recorded some demos for A&M records and got a four-album contract. Her first album, which was released at the same year, did not meet much success. The album, entitled Janet Jackson, peaked at #63 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums and sold a disappointing 250,000 copies.
In 1984, she got yet another role on TV. This time, the show needed her acting, and at the same time, her singing skills. The TV series "Fame" allowed her to show her talents more. But unfortunately, she was unable to concentrate. For that same year, at the age of 18, she eloped with James Debarge, member of the 80's popular singing group Debarge. The marriage was shaky due to her parents' disapproval. And later that year, she released her second album, Dream Street, which was even less successful than its predecessor. The album reached #147 on Billboard and sold only 200,000 copies. Her career was not going the right direction and pressure from family and work made the situation even worse. Finally, she annulled her marriage with James when she realized it was not working out and her parents were not happy about it. She got out of "Fame" and started thinking seriously about her career and what she really wants.
In 1985, she aligned herself with family friend A&M executive John McClain. McClain recommended Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, of the group The Time, to work with Janet. Janet was thrilled by the idea and agreed to work with them. She actually remembered watching them play in concert with her mother. She liked them a lot and was quite honored to be working with them for this third album. McClain sent Janet to a vocal coach on a daily basis. He also made Janet go to a ranch in Arizona where she worked out and followed a strict diet. For the videos, Paula Abdul was enlisted to choreograph.
1986 was the year the project was unveiled to the public. There were mixed reviews this time. But Janet, Jimmy, Terry, and John McClain knew they got something good. The release of the first single, What Have You Done For Me Lately, was a smash. The single would rise to the top 5 and become the first of her long string of Gold records. The album, on the other hand, was shifting more copies each week than any of her previous releases. Control would finally peak at #1 on both Pop and R&B charts of Billboard. The album would sell over 10 million worldwide and produce five Top 5 hits including Nasty, Let's Wait Awhile, and the #1 When I Think Of You.
After the incredible success of Control, Janet decided to take her time in planning her next project. People also started saying that Janet's success is just a fluke and that she's just riding on Michael Jackson's coattails. This prompted her to even try harder and establish her place in the music world. Rumors, then started flying that Janet's next album was going to be entitled Work. But the record company wanted Janet to do an album called Scandal. Janet hated the idea. For her, this would only make her family suffer more intrigues by supposedly singing about the different "problems" of the family. Both projects didn't meet the light of day. Although she recorded a song for Scandal, which became a b-side for Miss You Much.
In 1988, with a newly re-negotiated contract with A&M, Janet started working on the new project along with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The record company was expecting Janet to do a Control II. But Janet didn't want to exploit the formula of her creativity. She couldn't do something she had already done. The feelings were expressed, she needed something new to give to the people.
1989 was the year of the Rhythm Nation. Janet's new album, Rhythm Nation 1814 was released accompanied by a 30-minute long form video complete with songs and acting. The album was about social problems with great emphasis on illiteracy. The first single, Miss You Much quickly climbed the charts and spent four weeks at #1. The album also did the same on both Pop and R&B charts. It sold another 10 million worldwide and the singles were even more successful. The album spawned seven Top 5 hits including 4 #1's,the first and only artist to accomplished that feat. The Rhythm Nation World Tour was also the most successful premier tour by any artist. It was watched by over two million fans.
It was also during that time that Janet ventured into some major involvements with charities across the nation. With her first world tour being a huge box office success, she collected 25 cents from every ticket sold and raised $450,000, which she donated to the United Negros College Fund. Aside from that, she established her own scholarship foundation called The Rhythm Nation Scholarship Fund, supported by the UNCF. She also made big contributions to Make A Wish Foundation, Starlight Foundation, and the TJ Martell Foundation for children with cancer and leukemia. She continued to expand her horizon regarding this by affiliating further with other major charities. To the present, Janet is still working with these organizations and more than half a dozen more, like the AIDS Research Institute. Truly, Janet is a caring person, free from Hollywood hype.
In 1991, Janet signed a $32 million contract with Virgin Records for as few as two albums. At that time, it was the most lucrative recording contract in music history. Then in 1992, she released a duet with Luther Vandross for the movie "Mo' Money". The Best Things In Life Are Free went to become her 14th Top 10 hit. She also shot the movie "Poetic Justice" alongside Tupac Shakur with director John Singleton (Boyz 'N The Hood) that year.
Her virgin debut in 1993 came as a surprise. The conservative, social conscious Janet has now grown up to become one of Hollywood's sexiest and beautiful women. Her album, janet., marked her new image. Less shy and much more confident with her skills, she unveiled a more mature Janet. The album was about the ups and downs of love. The first single of the album was That's The Way Love Goes. It was the fastest charting and rising single of the year. Reaching #1 in 3 weeks and spending a total of 8 weeks at the summit. The album's success was even powered up by the release of her feature film debut "Poetic Justice". Although the movie was not very successful(spent the first weekend at #1 but not consistent during the next few weeks of release), Janet's acting did earn good reviews from the critics. The album was now selling strong, especially with the release of the second #1 single of the album and the "Poetic Justice" theme Again, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1994. The album would produce six Top 10 hits and sell over 15 million copies. She also toured behind janet. The janet.world tour was a smash, watched by fans in countries big and small. It was her most elaborate show to date and praised by critics for its extravagant flair.
1995, she duetted with brother Michael. The song Scream was Michael's first single off his greatest hits package HiStory. The single went Top 5 in many countries and was certified platinum in the US. It also won them a Grammy for Best Short Form Video. At the time of it's release, it was the highest debuting single of all time. It ranked as number five. (Later, it was beaten by Michael's number one debuting hit "You Are Not Alone".) Later that year, Janet released her own greatest hits, Design of a Decade 1986/1996. She produced two new songs for the album, Runaway and Twenty Foreplay. Runaway became her 17th solo Top 5 and Gold single. Making her the female artist with the most Gold singles, surpassing the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.
In 1996, Janet became a free agent for the second time. Her 1991 contract with Virgin contained a clause which states that if Virgin were to be sold to a new mother company, Janet can "escape" the contract without any liabilities. If the company were to be sold, she just needs to make one album and after that, can opt to either be free or continue with the contract. In late 1992, Virgin president did just that, he sold the company to EMI-Thorn, leaving the doors wide open for Janet. Janet already made an album for the company, 1993's multi-platinum hit janet. In 1995, Janet decided to become a free agent. This allowed her to complete a greatest hits package with A&M that same year.
What happened in 1990 happened again. Record companies engaged in war bid for Janet's services. Virgin, A&M, Dreamworks, Capitol, Disney, and Sony all wanted to sign her. By early 1996, the war of the labels ended, Janet signed a new recording contract with her old company, Virgin Records, worth an estimated $80 million. This record-breaking contract became the biggest in music history. This will tie her with the company until she finishes five albums, including a greatest hits. The breakdown composed of $35 million advance just for signing the contract. Then, for each album, she will receive $5 million. Virgin will also finance her high-priced videos with the other part of $25 million. This makes her the highest paid artist of our time.
In August of 1996, Janet and collaborators Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Rene Elizondo, Jr. began writing the songs for the new project. By January 1997, Janet was back in the studios recording songs for her long-awaited new album. It took Janet an unusually long time to finish the album. The whole recording process took six months to finish---the longest for any of her recording sessions. She recorded a total of 20 songs. In July of that same year, the album was finished. It was set for release in October.
The first single from the set was a big departure from any of her previous recordings. The track, entitled Got 'Til It's Gone, features Joni Mitchell singing the loop of her famous tune Big Yellow Taxi and Q-Tip rapping during the breakdown. It was nothing similar to any songs ever released by any artist. Some fans were confused by the sound, while some loved it for its smooth and relaxed groove. The video was even more of a surprised. It features South Africa during the apartheid with Janet and 150 extras dressed and made-up to look like they came from that period. It was a very creative clip enjoyed by critics. In the 1998 Grammy Awards, the video won for Janet another award for Best Short Form Video. Nevertheless, Virgin decided not to release it as a single in the US, and used it instead to promote the upcoming album. However, it was a Top 10 hit around the globe.
The album, on the other hand, garnered tons of accolades from critics. It was labeled as Janet's best work in years, her boldest and most creative to date. Entertainment Weekly magazine even gave it a straight A rating. The wheels seemed to be on the roll for the new album oddly entitled The Velvet Rope. Meanwhile, Janet was flying around the world promoting the album. By October 7, the album was released. The fans were not disappointed. However, early sales reports indicated that the album was somehow selling below the standard of her last studio album. The Velvet Rope debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart and at #2 on the R&B Albums Chart. This was Janet's fourth #1 album. However, in just 6 weeks, the album already dropped out of the Top 10 in the US. Outside the US, however, the album was selling very well. It sold 3 million copies internationally in one and a half months, the first Janet album to do that.
The album covered grounds only the brave can tackle. It dealt with sensitive topics like homophobia, depression, loving oneself, and being special. It was quite an awkward time for her fans. They didn't know what to make of all this. The last time Janet was in the public eye, it was this confident, happy, always-smiling lady that they saw. But now, there seemed to be something more to that. Indeed, interviews and reports proved that there was something more than meets the eye. Janet confessed to the public that she had suffered depression in the past two years. Issues that she pushed aside during her childhood to her adulthood came back to haunt her. The struggle slowly ended while she was doing the album. That was the reason why it took her a long time to finish recording. She wrote about her personal issues. On the album, she symbolizes the velvet rope as the barrier that blocks others from getting to know who we are. With this album, she's letting down that velvet rope and letting the people know who she is. She confessed that writing the album was very therapeutic. Truly, the album was not only Janet's best, but also her most personal. On the song You, she blames herself for not being true to herself and trying to please other people all the time. On What About, Janet revisits an old abusive relationship. Everything on the album was twice as heavy and twice as dark as her 1989 serious and hard Rhythm Nation 1814.
The second single was a happy club song Janet wrote specifically for her friends she lost to AIDS. Her singing was reminiscent of the young Diana Ross. This catchy tune would become Janet's first single in the US. It quickly climbed the charts around the world, hitting #1 in Europe and Top 5 in Canada and Australia. In Japan it hit the pole position. In the US, it spent two weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The single became Janet's best-selling ever around the world. It sold over 3 million copies worldwide. It has become Janet's 18th Gold single in the US.
At around this time, Janet had already started work on her new tour. It would open on April, 1998 in The Netherlands. She released another single in May of 1998, the r&b ballad I Get Lonely. It became another hit in the US, debuting at #3 on the Hot 100 Singles chart. This gave her another record. She became the artist with the most consecutive Top 10 singles in the history of Billboard.
By April 1998, Janet was back in the touring circuit. She opened her third world tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, to a sold out crowd of 10,000 fans at the Ahoy in Rotterdam. She toured Europe for 6 weeks while releasing her single Go Deep in the UK and the rest of Europe. Plans for the release of Go Deep in the US were halted while Janet toured the area and the single was never released commercially. On October 11th Janet's show at Madison Square Garden was screened on HBO when millions watched.
Currently Janet, Miss Jackson if you're nasty!, is the highest paid singer of our time. Well...I gotta say..she damn well deserves to be!! You're an inspiration to millions Janet.
| Album | Worldwide Sales To Date |
| Janet Jackson | 300,000 |
| Dream Street | 250,000 |
| Control | 14 million |
| Rhythm Nation 1814 | 14 million |
| janet. | 15 million |
| Design of a Decade 1986/1996 | 6.5 million |
| The Velvet Rope | 7 million |
A few lil
facts that ya may not know about Miss J.
