COURAGE

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 is the fourth studio album by Janet Jackson, released on September 19, 1989, by A&M Records. Despite demands from label executives for material similar to her previous album, Control (1986), she insisted on creating a concept album addressing social injustice. Collaborating with her producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, she co-wrote six of the album’s tracks. Its remaining songs were written by Jam and Lewis, with the exception of “Black Cat”, which is Jackson’s composition. She also co-produced the album, with label executive John McClain serving as executive producer. While writing lyrics for the album, Jackson, Jam and Lewis drew inspiration from news media, exploring subject matter such as racism, poverty and substance abuse. Although critics viewed the album’s theme as transparent—too generalized to adequately address any of these issues—she was hailed as a role model for youth because of her socially conscious lyrics.

Produced during the height of the new jack swing genre, the album blends rhythm and blues with industrial music and the utilization of rap vocals, swing note, synthesized percussion and the use of sample loop. The title track “Rhythm Nation” embodies each of these traits, laying the foundation for trends in R&B music throughout the decade. Other songs on the album range from mechanized dance rhythms to soft balladry, giving it the broad appeal of multi-radio format regarding airplay. Due to its innovative production and lyrical exploration, critics have regarded the album as the pinnacle of Jackson’s artistic achievement. It became her second consecutive album to hit number one on the Billboard 200, as well as the top of the charts in Australia and the top ten in Japan, New Zealand and the UK. Certified sixfold platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), it has sold over fourteen million copies worldwide. It has been named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and is listed in the Quintessence Editions Ltd. reference book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Its seven commercial singles all peaked within the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first album to achieve that feat. Jackson received nine Grammy Award nominations, winning Best Music Video, Long Form for “Rhythm Nation” in 1990. Music videos for the singles, which displayed a mix of Broadway-style choreography and militant imagery gained heavy rotation on MTV; Jackson was presented with the MTV Video Vanguard Award in 1990 for significant contribution to the art form. The supporting Rhythm Nation World Tour became the world’s most successful debut concert tour by a recording artist. It proved her to be a consummate performer rather than a studio-only phenomenon, as well as a fashion icon among young women.

MISS JANET

“Love Will Never Do (Without You)” is the seventh single from Janet Jackson’s fourth studio album, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week. The song became Jackson’s fifth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, the final of seven top five singles from the album, making her the only artist to achieve seven top five singles from one album. The success of “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” also helped the album to become the only in history to produce number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in three separate calendar years, those being “Miss You Much” in 1989, “Escapade” and “Black Cat” in 1990, and “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” in 1991.

The video was directed by the late photographer Herb Ritts and choreographed by Tina Landon on September 13, 1990. Jackson originally planned to wear a dress for the video, but Ritts envisioned Jackson in nothing more than a black top and a pair of jeans. The video features cameos by actors (then Calvin Klein underwear models) Antonio Sabàto, Jr. and Djimon Hounsou.

The video won for Best Female Video and was nominated for Best Choreography and Best Art Direction at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. It ranked 13 on Rolling Stone’s The 100 Top Music Videos, 72 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Videos, and 88 on MTV’s 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made.

SHADOWS

“Scream”/”Childhood” is the lead single from Michael Jackson’s ninth studio album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I where “Scream” is the first song and “Childhood” is the tenth song on the second disc of the album HIStory Continues. The A-side, “Scream”, is a duet with his younger sister Janet Jackson, while the corresponding B-side, “Childhood”, a solo piece. The single was released on May 31, 1995.

Generally well received amongst critics, it has been compared favorably to other accomplished pieces by Jackson. It went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award and an American Music Award. The corresponding music video remains one of Jackson’s most critically acclaimed pieces; it won numerous MTV Video Music Awards and a Grammy. At a cost of $ 7 million, it was listed in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive music video ever made, however director Mark Romanek has refuted the claim saying that there were two other music videos from the same era which cost “millions more” than the video for “Scream”.

Michael performed the song on his 96-97 HIStory World Tour. Janet performed the song on her 2011 Number Ones: Up Close and Personal World Tour as a tribute to her late brother.

JUST ONCE

MISS YOU MUCH

TWISTED ELEGANCE

The Velvet Rope is the sixth studio album by Janet Jackson, released October 7, 1997. She developed the record as a concept album with introspection as its theme. Its title, The Velvet Rope, relates to an individuals need to feel special—symbolic of literal velvet ropes at events where only Very Important Persons (VIPs) are allowed entry—as well as a metaphor for emotional boundaries. Lyrically, she offers her audience the opportunity to cross her own velvet rope, exploring her feelings of despondency though the course of the album. Although she introduced sexuality into her music with her previous album Janet (1993), The Velvet Rope takes the concept a step further, encompassing sadomasochism and same-sex relationships, in addition to addressing social issues, such as homophobia and domestic violence. Musically, the album blends contemporary R&B, rap, hip hop, and electronic music, with songs ranging from smooth balladry to up-tempo dance rhythms. Referred to as her masterpiece, it has been the subject of critical acclaim. It is listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The Velvet Rope debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming her fourth consecutive album to top the chart. Although considered to be a commercial disappointment in comparison to the Janet record, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified The Velvet Rope triple platinum, with worldwide sales exceeding ten million copies.