Janet Jackson From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Pop Queen, Janet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana) is an American singer and sister of pop star Michael Jackson. Over the course of the 80s, she has emerged as the most respected talent of her family for the 90s. Janet has attained world-wide superstar status with her dance moves and music - always keeping up with trends and never selling out to the "safe pop sound." Janet first tried out her showbiz talents at the age of 5 in Las Vegas opening up for her brothers. By age 7, Janet was singing and dancing on TV specials with her brothers. But it was her acting in various sitcoms (Good Times (1977-79), Diff'rent Strokes (1981-82), and Fame) that first found her some success. Janet was actually hand-picked by TV mogul Norman Lear to appear in Good Times. She became of the most commercially successful female entertainers of all time, since her debut she has sold around 90 million albums and singles worldwide, and is the only female artist in history to score 5 back to back #1 studio albums on the Billboard Pop chart. Contents [showhide] 1 Early Career 2 Debut Album (1982) 3 Dream Street (1984) 4 Control (1986) 4.1 Control Achievements & Awards 4.1.1 Billboard Hot 100 4.1.2 Billboard Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles 4.1.3 Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play 4.1.4 UK Top 75 Singles 4.2 Music Awards 4.2.1 DMC DJ Awards 4.2.2 Radioscope Awards 4.2.3 Billboard Music Awards 4.2.4 American Music Awards 4.2.5 MTV Video Music Awards 4.2.6 Soul Train Awards 4.2.7 Dutch Edison Award 4.3 Album Achievements 5 Rhythm Nation 1814 5.1 Rhythm Nation 1814 Achievements & Awards 5.1.1 Billboard Hot 100 5.1.2 Billboard Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles 5.1.3 Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play 5.1.4 UK Top 75 Singles 5.2 Music Awards 5.2.1 Grammy Awards 5.2.2 Billboard Music Awards 5.2.3 American Music Awards 5.2.4 MTV Video Music Awards 5.2.5 Soul Train Awards 5.2.6 BMI Pop Awards 5.2.7 Hollywood Walk Of Fame 5.2.8 Starlight Foundation Awards 5.2.9 Center for Population Options 5.2.10 L.E.A.P. Awards 5.3 Album Achievements 6 Poetic Justice 7 janet. (1993) 7.1 janet. Achievements & Awards 7.1.1 Billboard Hot 100 7.1.2 Billboard Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles 7.1.3 Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play 7.1.4 UK Top 75 Singles 7.2 Music Awards 7.2.1 Grammy Awards 7.2.2 Billboard Music Awards 7.2.3 MTV Video Music Awards 7.2.4 Soul Train Awards 7.2.5 BMI Pop Awards 7.2.6 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 7.2.7 MTV Movie Awards 7.2.8 Golden Globes 7.2.9 Oscars 7.2.10 Ebony Magazine (Readers Choice Awards) 7.2.11 Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards 7.2.12 Narm Awards (National Association of Recording Merchandisers 7.2.13 Bravo Awards 7.2.14 Performance Magazine Awards 7.2.15 Rolling Stone Poll Awards 7.3 Album Achievements= 8 The Velvet Rope 9 All For You 10 Damita Jo 11 Super Bowl XXXVIII 12 Discography 13 External links [edit] Early Career Janet JacksonAs a member of the world famous Jackson family, Janet was exposed to the entertainment industry from an early age. She performed with the Jackson 5 and appeared on their US TV show. However, she also took on acting jobs outside the family; appearing as Penny Woods in the television series Good Times from 1977-1979. She subsequently had roles in A New Kind Of Family, Diff'rent Strokes, Fame and The Love Boat. Jackson's recording career began with small roles. A duet with brother Randy on "Love Song For Kids" (1978); backgrounds on two songs by sister LaToya (both tracks were also co-written by Janet Jackson); and backgrounds on brother Michael's "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" from his mega-successful "Thriller" album (1982). [edit] Debut Album (1982) At the age of sixteen, she released her first album. Simply called Janet Jackson produced by Soul singer Angela Winbush didn't achieve the commercial success of her siblings' recordings., though the album reached #6 on the US R&B chart, and spent 45 weeks in the Top 50 and hit #63 on the Pop chart. The album held 3 Top 20 R&B singles Young Love, which went #6, Say You Do went went #15 and Come Give Your Love To Me which hit #17. The CD has sold around 500,000 copies in the US. In 1982 Billboard Magazine named Janet, the #10 Biggest Selling Black Artist and in 1983 Billboard named her album Janet Jackson, the #10 Biggest Selling Black Album of 1983 [edit] Dream Street (1984) In 1984, she released a second album, Dream Street. It marked a musical progression from her debut, with more funky, up-tempo production by brother Marlon. The album produced two hits on the R&B charts, Don't Stand Another Chance reaching #9 and Fast Girl which peaked at #40. However, the album only peaked at #147 on the Pop chart and #19 on the R&B chart, the album has sold about 300,000 copies. The album did find success in South Africa with her deut with Cliff Richard Two The Power Of Love it peaked at #7 on the Top 75 sales chart. That same year, she eloped with singer James DeBarge and married him. The marriage didn't last long, with DeBarge's drug habit often cited as the reason for the break-up. One year later Jackson recorded a single only to be released in Japan. The song "Start Anew" was very much in the same vein as the material from her last album. Ironically, Jackson would start anew with her next project. [edit] Control (1986) Janet JacksonAfter the release of her first two albums failing to light up the charts or garner any interest, many critics cited Jackson's musical career had hit a dead end. Her management at the time believed a departure away from her light pop roots towards a far more funk and R&B sound was the necessary approach in rejuvenating her career. In an 1993 interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Jackson spoke of the experience in producing Control. She cited that the departure from pop, and the recruitment of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (famed proteges from the band "The Time" and had been producing hits for the likes of Luther Vandross and the SOS band) at the helm of the project was met with much resitance by her family. Much of the themes explored in Control thus centred around gaining independence, and self-assertion. In many respects the album Control served as a platform to prove detractors (family and critics), that she was in charge of making professional and personal decisions and she alone was accountable for the end results. The lyrics of the title track Control explained much her frustrations and even mentioned her annulled marriage to James DeBarge- Janet Jackson"When I was 17 I did what people told me, Did what my father said and let my mother mold me, But that was long ago now I know I have to take control. . . . First time I fell in love I didn't know what hit me, So young and so naive I thought it would be easy. . . ." The end result of the experience vetted positively in her favour. Upon its release, the album went to number one on both the pop (#1 for 2 weeks) and R&B charts (#1 for 6 weeks). The first single, What Have you Done For Me Lately gained massive radio airplay would go on to #4 on the Billboard Top 100, and #1 on the R&B Singles chart. Six of the nine tracks were released as singles. Five singles went to the Top 5 of the Pop charts, with Jackson achieving her first #1 pop single with When I Think Of You. Nasty, Control, The Pleasure Principle and Let's Wait Awhile all went #1 on the R&B Singles chart. The album sold over 14 million copies worlwide, won 6 Billboard Awards including Top Selling Pop Singles Artist and Top Selling Black Singles Artist, 3 Soul Train Awards (Including Album Of The Year), 3 MTV Video Music Awards, 4 American Music Awards, and was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards, including Album Of The Year. At age 19, When I Think Of You made Janet the youngest artist to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, since Stevie Wonder. A&M Records co-founder and artist in his own right, Herb Alpert would record three songs with Jackson and singer Lisa Keith in 1987 for his next album. Only two would make the cut, but both tracks would be released to radio. The single Diamonds would hit #5 on the Pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts. [edit] Control Achievements & Awards [edit] Billboard Hot 100 What Have You Done For Me Lately - #4 Nasty - #3 When I Think Of You - #1 (2 weeks) Control - #5 Let's Wait Awhile - #2 Diamonds - #5 The Pleasure Principle - #14 [edit] Billboard Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles What Have You Done For Me Lately - #1 (2 weeks) Nasty - #1 (2 weeeks) When I Think Of You - #3 Control - #1 (1 week) Let's Wait Awhile - #1 (1 week) Diamonds - #1 (2 weeks) The Pleasure Principle - #1 (1 week) [edit] Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play What Have You Done For Me Lately - #2 Nasty - #2 When I Think Of You - #1 (3 weeks) Control - #1 (3 weeks) Diamonds - #1 (2 weeks) The Pleasure Principle - #1 (2 weeks) [edit] UK Top 75 Singles What Have You Done For Me Lately - #3 Nasty - #19 When I Think Of You - #10 Control - #41 Let's Wait Awhile - #3 Diamonds - #23 The Pleasure Principle - #24 [edit] Music Awards [edit] DMC DJ Awards 1986 - Best Female Vocalist [edit] Radioscope Awards 1986 - Best Female Vocalist: "Nasty" [edit] Billboard Music Awards 1986 Black Artist (combined LPs & singles) 1986 Top Black Singles Artist 1986 Top Dance Club Play Artist 1986 Top Dance Sales Artist 1986 Top Pop Singles Artist 1986 Top Pop Singles Artist - Female 1987 Top Selling Female R&B Artist [edit] American Music Awards 1987 Favorite R&B/Soul Single for "Nasty" 1987 Favorite R&B/Soul Female Artist 1988 Favorite Pop/Rock Single for "When I Think Of You" 1988 Favorite R&B/Soul Single for "When I Thnk Of You" [edit] MTV Video Music Awards 1987 Best Choreography in a Video for "Nasty" 1988 Best Choreography in a Video for "The Pleasure Principle" 1988 Best Ciematography in a Video for "The Pleasure Principle" [edit] Soul Train Awards 1987 Best Female Album for "Control" 1987 Best Music Video for "What Have You Done For Me Lately" 1988 Best Music Video for "Control" [edit] Dutch Edison Award 1988 Album Of The Year for "Control" [edit] Album Achievements "Control" the album sold over 14 million copies worldwide At age 19, "When I Think Of You" makes Janet the youngest artist to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, since Stevie Wonder. "Control" the album was the #8 biggest selling album of 1986, and #6 biggest selling album of 1987. Control the album was named as the 28th Best Album of the 80s by Rolling Stone magazine. Control was included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century. Janet recived a record 9 nominations in one year for the "Control" album including, Favorite Album Of The Year. [edit] Rhythm Nation 1814 Pop Queen, Janet JacksonIt took until 1989 for a new album to surface. The release date was pushed back several times as Jackson, along with Jam and Lewis, struggled to commit their ideas to record. Rhythm Nation 1814 was the result. Jackson explained that "Control was about my life; Rhythm Nation is about what's going on in the world around us". Much of her inspiration on Rhythm Nation she said drew from other socailly conscious artists such as U2, Tracey Chapman, Bob Dylan. The album opens with a suite of songs about drugs, homelessness, education and prejudice. Musically, there is a much harder edge than on "Control" but the public did not flinch. The album hit #1 on Pop and R&B charts spawning four US number ones and a further three Top 5 hits. Rhythm Nation 1814 went to sell over 14 million copies like her last LP. She went on to win 14 Billboard Music Awards, including Top Selling Album of 1990, 5 Soul Train Awards, 1 Grammy, 2 NAACP Image Awards, 3 MTV Video Music Awards, and 5 American Music Awards. Her single Miss You Much also became the longest running #1 single of 1989. She also set chart history by becoming the first and only artist in music history to score 7 Top 5 hits from one album, the album was also the first in history to score 4 #1 hits on the Dance / Club Play chart. Jackson headed back to the studio to record "2300 Jackson Street" with her brothers. The track would feature all but 2 of the Jackson siblings. A video was also filmed. A massive world tour followed in 1990, The Rhythm Nation World Tour became the biggest and most successful debut tour by any artist in history, it was seen by over 2 million people worldwide, the tour ran a full nine months and performed over 120 shows, trailing only Madonna's "Blond Ambition" tour around the globe. The tour also set a record in Japan, for being the fastest sell out in the history of Japan's Tokyo Dome, tickets sold out in a record 7 minutes, once the tour finished, Jackson would hardly have some time to herself. Jackson would record backgrounds on the all-star Eddie Murphy track "Yeah" and record the hit duet "The Best Things In Life Are Free" with Luther Vandross. The latter becoming a #1 R&B hit for the duo, and was nominated for a Grammy award. [edit] Rhythm Nation 1814 Achievements & Awards [edit] Billboard Hot 100 Miss You Much - #1 (4 weeks) Rhythm Nation - #2 Escapade - #1 (3 weeks) Alright - #4 Come Back To Me - #2 Black Cat - #1 (1 week) Love Will Never Do (Without You) - #1 (1 week) State Of The World - #5 [edit] Billboard Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles Miss You Much - #1 (2 weeks) Rhythm Nation - #1 (1 week) Escapade - #1 (1 week) Alright - #2 Come Back To Me - #2 Black Cat - #10 Love Will Never Do (Without You) - #3 State Of The World - #23 [edit] Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play Miss You Much - #1 (2 weeks) Rhythm Nation - #1 (3 weeks) Escapade - #1 (3 weeks) Alright - #1 (2 weeks) Black Cat - #17 Love Will Never Do (Without You) - #4 State Of The World - #9 [edit] UK Top 75 Singles Miss You Much - #22 Rhythm Nation - #23 Escapade - #17 Alright - #20 Come Back To Me - #20 Black Cat - #15 Love Will Never Do (Without You) - #3 [edit] Music Awards [edit] Grammy Awards 1990: Best Longform Music Video: for "Rhythm Nation 1814" [edit] Billboard Music Awards 1990: Top Selling Album Of The Year: for "Rhythm Nation" 1990: Top Selling R&B Album Of The Year: for "Rhythm Nation" 1990: Top Selling R&B Album's Artist Of The Year 1990: Top Selling R&B Artist Of The Year 1990: Top R&B Singles Artist 1990: Top Hot 100 Singles Artist Of The Year 1990: Top Hot 100 Singles Artist Of The Year - Female 1990: Top Dance Club Play Artist 1990: Top Hot Dance 12" Singles Sales Artist 1990: Top R&B Female Artist Of The Year 1990: Best Female Artist, Black/Rap 1990: Best Female Artist, Dance 1990: Director's Award (Black/Rap): for "Rhythm Nation" 1990: Director's Award (Dance): for "Alright" 1990: Billboard/Tanqueray Sterling Award for Artistic Achievement: for "Rhythm Nation" [edit] American Music Awards 1990: Favorite Soul/R&B Single: for "Miss You Much" 1990: Favorite Dance Single: for "Miss You Much" 1991: Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist 1991: Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist 1991: Favorite Dance Artist [edit] MTV Video Music Awards 1990: Best Choreography in a Video: for "Rhythm Nation" 1990: MTV Video Vanguard 1991: Best Female Video: for "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" [edit] Soul Train Awards 1990: Best Female Album: for "Rhythm Nation" 1990: Best Female Single: for "Miss You Much" 1990: Best Music Video: for "Rhythm Nation" 1991: Best Music Video: for "Alright" 1992: Sammy Davis, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award [edit] BMI Pop Awards 1990: Songwriter Of The Year 1990: Most Played Song: Alright 1990: Most Played Song: Come Back To Me 1990: Most Played Song: Escapade 1990: Most Played Song: Rhythm Nation 1991: Most Played Song: Black Cat 1991: Most Played Song: Come Back To Me 1992: Most Played Song: State Of The World [edit] Hollywood Walk Of Fame 1990: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star 1990: State of California Named Janet Jackson Day [edit] Starlight Foundation Awards 1991: Humanitarian of the Year [edit] Center for Population Options 1990: Nancy Susan Reynolds Award [edit] L.E.A.P. Awards 1991: Humanitarian Youth Advocay Award [edit] Album Achievements "Miss You Much" becomes the longest running #1 single of 1989 in the US Janet wins 14 Billboard Awards in one year (1990) including #1 selling album of 1990, the most awards ever in a single year. Janet wins a BMI Pop Award in 1990, for "Songwriter of The Year" which made Janet the youngest artist ever to win that award at age 23. Janet's "Rhythm Nation" world tour becomes Biggest debut world tour in History, and becomes to own the records for the fastest sell out in history in Japan (7 mintues), and Florida (9 minutes). Rhythm Nation" album breaks records held by King Of Pop brother Michael Jackson, and King Of Rock Bruce Springsteen, for the album with the most top 5 hits in History. 8 top 5 singles in total, "Miss You Much," "Rhythm Nation," "Escapade," "Alright," "Come Back To Me," "Black Cat," "State of The World" and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)". Janet's "Rhythm Nation" tour becomes the most successful debut World tour in history, seen by over 2 million people worldwide, and made over 30 million dollars. Named by Rolling Stone magazine, the 27 greatest album ever made by a female artist, and one of the 500 greatest albums ever made. [edit] Poetic Justice In 1993, Jackson turned her attention to acting again and took a part in John Singleton's "Poetic Justice". Playing opposite Tupac Shakur, Jackson played Justice, a young African-American poet. For her performance, she earned the "Worst New Star" award at the 1993 Golden Raspberry Awards, though she did win two MTV Movie Award's for her peformance (Best Female Performance and Most Desirable Female) the movie also entered at #1 in the box office. In the meantime, she had left A&M records and signed a two-album, $50 million dollar deal with Virgin Records. At the time it was the largest recording deal in history. [edit] janet. (1993) The first album for her new record company was "janet." (with a period in the title). Often referred to by fans as her "sex album", it was trailed by the slinky, seductive "That's The Way Love Goes," which became the first & only single in history to enter the Billboard Hot R&B Airplay chart at #1. "That's The Way Love Goes" hit #1 the Hot 100 Singles Chart for 8 weeks, and also #1 on the Hot R&B Singles Charts and Dance Singles Chart. The single also becomes the Biggest Selling Single ever by a Female in South Africa (where it spend 44 weeks in the Top 100), and also goes #1 in Canada, Hungary, Japan, and many other places. In retrospect, it seems that this album was a love letter to her new husband and long-time friend Rene Elizondo. The couple had married in secret to avoid press speculation, and Elizondo is said to have co-written many of the tracks on "janet." It is his hands that cover the singer's breasts on the record's cover. Again, the record was a huge success. The "janet." album becomes the first album by a female to enter the Billboard 200 albums charts at #1 (soundscan era). The album also becomes the fastest selling album in history (at that time) 350,000 copies in the US in it's first week, and worldwide over 950,000 copies sold. The album also went #1 in 22 other countries including the UK, Japan, Australia, Denmark, and others. "janet." spawned six top ten singles, two of which hit the top spot. The album track "where are you now" managed to hit #12 on the Rhythmic Top 40. The non-album track "and on and on" (only available on the single to Jackson's "any time, any place) also managed a spot on the Rhythmic Top 40, hitting #17. Jackson's international success was expanding. In the UK, for example, the single releases saw Jackson return to the top 10 for the first time since 1986. Jackson performed a second consecutive world tour. She was on the road for the "janet." tour for two years. In 1995, Janet Jackson recorded the duet "Scream" with her brother Michael. Another number huge hit, reaching the Top Five on the Pop and R&B charts. The video became the most expensive video ever, weighing in at a cost of around $7.89million. Also in 1995, A&M Records released Jackson's first greatest hits album. Titled 'Design Of A Decade 1986/1996', the album featured all of Jackson's hits from her "Control" and "Rhythm Nation 1814" albums, as well as including Jackson's big hit "that's the way love goes. Also included were two new recordings. One of those songs, "Runaway" became a big hit for Jackson. The single peaked at #3 on the Pop charts and #6 on the R&B charts. The second, "Twenty Foreplay" would hit the Top 40 mainstream charts at #36. After the success of the "Janet" album, Jackson re-negotiated her deal with Virgin Records for a reported $80 million, making her the highest paid recording artist of all time. [edit] janet. Achievements & Awards [edit] Billboard Hot 100 The Best Things In Life Are Free - #10 That's The Way Love Goes - #1 (8 weeks) If - #4 Again - #1 (2 weeks) Because Of Love - #10 Any Time, Any Place / And On And On - #2 You Want This / 70's Love Groove - #8 Where Are You Now (Airpay Only Track) - #30 Throb (Airplay Only Track) - #66 [edit] Billboard Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles The Best Things In Life Are Free - #1 (1 week) That's The Way Love Goes - #1 (4 weeks) If - #3 Again - #7 Because Of Love - #9 Any Time, Any Place / And On And On - #1 (10 weeks) You Want This / 70's Love Groove - #9 Where Are You Now (Airpay Only Track) - #12 New Agenda (featuring Chuck D (Airplay Only Track) - #66 [edit] Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play The Best Things In Life Are Free - #3 That's The Way Love Goes - #1 (1 week) If - #1 (2 weeks) Because Of Love - #4 Throb - #2 You Want This - #9 [edit] UK Top 75 Singles The Best Things In Life Are Free - #2 That's The Way Love Goes - #2 If - #14 Again - #6 Because Of Love - #19 Any Time, Any Place / And On And On - #13 You Want This / 70's Love Groove - #14 Whoops Now / What I'll Do - #9 [edit] Music Awards [edit] Grammy Awards 1993: Best R&B Song: for "That's The Way Love Goes" [edit] Billboard Music Awards 1993: Top Pop Albums Artist Female for "janet." 1993: Top Billboard 200 Albums Artist - Female 1993: Top R&B Aritst - Female 1993: Top R&B Album - Female for "janet." 1993: Top R&B Single - Airplay: for "That's The Way Love Goes" 1994: Top R&B Singles Artist - Female [edit] MTV Video Music Awards 1994: Best Female Video: for "If" [edit] Soul Train Awards 1994: Best Music Video: for "If" [edit] BMI Pop Awards 1993: Most Played Song: That's The Way Love Goes 1994: Most Played Song: Again 1994: Most Played Song: Any Time, Any Place 1994: Most Played Song: Because Of Love 1994: Most Played Song: If 1995: Most Played Song: You Want This [edit] Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 1994: Best Singer [edit] MTV Movie Awards 1994: Best Female Performance: for "Poetic Justice" 1994: Most Desirable Female: for "Poetic Justice" [edit] Golden Globes 1994: Best Original Song Nomination: Again (from Poetic Justice) [edit] Oscars 1994: Best Original Song Nomination: Again (from Poetic Justice) 1994: Friends of The Black Academy Award Nominees, Award of Recognition - Composer/Lyricist "Again" [edit] Ebony Magazine (Readers Choice Awards) 1993: American Black Achievement Award 1993: Best Female Artist [edit] Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards 1994: Music Poll Awards: Rock Album Of The Year: for "Janet." 1994: Music Poll Awards: Music Video Of The Year: for "If" [edit] Narm Awards (National Association of Recording Merchandisers 1993-1994 Best-selling R&B recording: for "Janet." 1993-1994 Best-selling pop recording: for "Janet." 1993-1994 Best-selling recording of the year: for "Janet." [edit] Bravo Awards 1993: Goldene Siegerin Der Otto-Wahl [edit] Performance Magazine Awards 1993: R&B Artist Of The Year [edit] Rolling Stone Poll Awards 1993: Best Female Artist 1993: Best R&B Artist. [edit] Album Achievements= "Janet." the album sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and went #1 in 23 countries. At the time, the "Janet." album becomes the first album by a female to enter the Billboard 200 albums charts at #1 (soundscan era). In it's first week, the 'janet.' album sold nearly 1,300,000 copies in 7 days worldwide. "That's The Way Love Goes" becomes the first & only single in history to enter the Billboard Hot R&B Airplay chart at #1. That's The Way Love Goes" becomes the biggest selling single of all time in South Africa, going Platinum 4 times over, and spending 9 weeks at #1 on the Top 100 Singles chart, and 44 weeks in the Top 100. The most weeks at #1 and the most weeks spent on the Top 100 Singles chart in History! According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Janet's Rolling Stone Magazine cover, becomes the world's most popular magazine cover ever in history! The photograph also becomes the most influential and most copied photograph in Rock History, Everyone from Spin Magazine to rap star O.D.B. to Brad Pitt, Benicio Deltoro, and Guy Richie have copied the photograph. Janet's apperance on NBC's hit TV Show "Saturday Night Live", ended up becoming the most watched SNL show in history at that time. The "Janet." world tour finished in Holland, Europe in March to make over $80,00,000 The 'janet,' album makes history when Janet becomes the first and only artist ever to have 5 or more top 5 hits from 3 albums in a row. At the time, Any Time, Any Place becomes the longest running #1 R&B single in Billboard history. [edit] The Velvet Rope In 1997, Jackson released "The Velvet Rope". Sonically, it was much more adventurous than previous albums, featuring tinges of Euro-trance and jungle alongside the familiar pop and funk tracks. Jackson's first release "Got 'til It's Gone" would not become an official release, although it was received quite favourably at radio. The second single "Together Again", dedicated to friends who had died of AIDS, was a worldwide smash and has become an anthem for many Jackson fans. The following single "I Get Lonely" became another Top 5 hit for Janet. The remix version featuring R&B group Blackstreet would end up reaching the #1 spot on the R&B charts. Two additional tracks were released to radio, one, "Go Deep" becoming a favourite. The Velvet Rope also saw Jackson toy with her sexy image. In particular, a cover of Rod Stewart's "Tonight's The Night" seemed to be addressed to a female love interest. Additionally the album had some fairly blatant sexual material. Photographs inside showed Jackson tied up in bondage ropes on a bed. Close ups of her nipples (with a piercing through them) were featured. There was also a non-musical interlude track featuring Jackson (possibly simulating) having phone sex with a female. Other lyrics on the album pointed to a troubled state of mind in their author. The album's "concept" was that happiness comes from within.and Jackson seemed to be struggling with the fact that fame and money had not brought her happiness. Jackson's voice could be heard all over the radio even after the last single from "The Velvet Rope" was released. First she would appear on the Shaggy single "Luv Me, Luv Me". The song would only make it as high as #76 on the Hot 100. Busta Rhymes would also recruit Jackson to sing on the track "What's It Gonna Be?!", with help from a steamy video, the song would hit the Top 5 of the Pop charts, and #1 on the R&B and Rap charts. This single would mark Jackson's first appearance on the rap charts. Jackson next hit the charts again with R&B group Blackstreet with the track "Girlfriend/Boyfriend". The song would just miss the Top 40 of the pop charts, but still hit the Top 20 of the R&B charts. The singer would then record a duet with legend Elton John for his "AIDA" soundtrack. The song "I Know The Truth" was a touching ballad, showcasing Jackson's ever-growing versatility as an artist. Jackson would also write, produce and record a song for a Pepsi promotional campaign. The campaign and accompanying song "Ask For More" would never reach North America, but nonetheless a single released overseas. Jackson had returned to her pop roots while maintaing the euro-influences from her last album. However, after this project, it was announced that Jackson had split up from her second husband Rene. To most fans this was a shock.they'd never known that the couple were married. It was widely reported that Rene was planning to sue for lost earnings (his co-writing credits had been omitted from all songs before "The Velvet Rope" as part of the couples vow of secrecy). However, Jackson maintained that the break-up was amicable. This seemed to be blown out of the water by a track on her next, and most recent album "All For You"... On "Son of a Gun" the refrain taunts an un-named lover "Ha Ha... thought you'd get the money too, greedy motherf***ers try to have their cake and eat it too". [edit] All For You The All For You album (released 2001) was much more upbeat than The Velvet Rope. Songs dealt with the joys of romance and being single. Commercially, it was not as successful as previous efforts and only three singles were released. However the title track became Janet's second biggest hit, reaching #1 for 7 weeks. The second single "Someone To Call My Lover" hit the Top 5 of the Pop charts, an equally big hit for Janet. Jackson's box-office appeal was not in doubt, as another sell-out tour proved. Although the European leg of the concert was cancelled in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks on America, extra dates were added around the USA and the television / DVD release of the final, Hawaiian date of the tour was a massive success, bringing into question why Jackson would cancel a leg of the tour due to flight risks, yet fly to Hawaii and Japan. Perhaps the low ticket sales in Europe were a reason no dates were re-scheduled. Jackson returned to the studio to feature on young singer Justin Timberlake's song "(And She Said) Take Me Now". Jackson was also featured on Beenie Man's "Feel It Boy", the song and video would become another hit for Jackson. However controversy was caused when Jackson's fans protested her collaboration with Beenie Man whose album's lyrics very blatantly promoted the violent attack on and killing of homosexuals. Jackson's well-wishes can also be heard on fellow artist, and one-time duet partner MC Lyte's newest release. [edit] Damita Jo Jackson's newest album Damita Jo was released in March 2004. Its first single, "Just A Little While", which has a pop-rock feel to it, was marketed to mainstream and adult contemporary radio in early spring 2004. However, likely due in part to the Super Bowl controversy (see below), it was a commercial flop. The fact that MTV and VH1 had declined the video did not help matters. It was almost immediately followed by the second, more urban single, "I Want You". To date, "I Want You" has not fared any better than "Just A Little While" at either pop radio or urban radio. The one promising sign is that MTV, VH1, and BET did decide to play the "I Want You" video; nevertheless it has not been spun as frequently as many of Jackson's previous videos. Third single "All Nite (Don't Stop) received some airtime for its promotional video but the single didn't catch on at radio and failed to appear on the charts. Because of the poor sales of her album, in 2004 Jackson also began doing television talk show promotions, a first for her. She hosted Saturday Night Live and was heavily criticized because of the extremely sexual content of many of the sketches in which she was involved (notably one which made a joke of the phrase 'cork-soaker' sounding like something more perverse.) Oddly enough, though Damita Jo didn't live up to her past album sales, she received an American Music Award nomination for Favorite R&B/Soul Artist in 2004, and on December 07, 2004 NARAS announced the 2004 Grammy nominations, though Janet was banned from attending the award show last year (see, Super Bowl controversy below), she earned two nominations for Damita Jo, one for Contemporary R&B Album the Year, and another for her platinum-certified single I Want You in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. Jackson is currently dating Jermaine Dupri. [edit] Super Bowl XXXVIII During the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004, Janet Jackson performed with Justin Timberlake to an audience of more than 100 million people. During this live performance, her top was torn open by Timberlake, exposing Jackson's right breast; the nipple was partially covered by a starburst-shaped decoration held in place by a piercing. Timberlake called the incident a "wardrobe malfunction". Jackson apologized at first, calling it an accident and claiming that Timberlake was supposed to pull away the bustier and leave the red-lace bra intact. CBS, the NFL, and MTV, which produced the halftime show, disclaimed all responsibility under a hailstorm of controversy. The FCC has announced an investigation. As a result, CBS cancelled its invitation to Jackson to perform at the 2004 Grammy Awards ceremony. The FCC tightened up restrictions on lewd content on television and the entertainment industry suffered a major backlash. Programs that once pushed the envelope began eliminating even mildly coarse language from their broadcasts. Some performers were penalized for things they had gotten away with previously. Many people directly blamed Jackson for this new wave of censorship. See also: Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime controversy [edit] Discography 1982 "Janet Jackson" #63 US - Worldwide sales - 1 million units 1984 "Dream Street" #147 US - Worldwide sales - 1 million units 1986 "Control" #1 US, #8 UK, - Worldwide sales: 14,000,000 1987 "Control - The Remixes" (remix album) #20 UK 1989 "Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814" #1 US, #4 UK, Worldwide sales: 14,000,000 1993 "janet." #1 US, #1 UK, Worlwide sales: 17,000,000 1995 "Janet.Remixed" (remix album) #15 UK, Worldwide sales : 1.5 million 1995 "Design of a Decade 1986/1996" #3 US, #2 UK, Worldwide sales: 7,000,000 1997 "The Velvet Rope" #1 US, #6 UK, Worldwide sales: 8,000,000 2001 "All For You" #1 US, #2 UK, Worldwide sales: 7,000,000 2004 "Damita Jo" #2 US, #32 UK, Worldwide sales: 3,000,000