GOT ’TIL IT’S GONE
Director MARK ROMANEK
Reteaming Janet with Mark Romanek, who
had directed her futuristic video for her duet
with Michael, Scream, 1997’s Got ‘Til It’s
Gone depicted a South African pre-Apartheid
celebration denouncing segregation.
Heavily infl uenced by the photography of
Malick Sidibé, Janet’s earthier, more rootsy
look to portray a lounge singer perfectly fi t
the vintage aesthetic of the clip.
“At that time, I was really into this
magazine that was popular in South Africa
called Drum Magazine,” Mark Romanek says.
“I guess it was like the Life magazine of the
township, and the photography was stunning.
I wanted to make a video that depicted black
culture that wasn’t so obsessed, as
a lot of the hip-hop videos were in that
period and still are, with materialistic
wealth and sexism.
“I just felt like ‘there’s
got to be other aspects of
Black culture to depict.’”
https://youtu.be/
uznTHSEgx4U35THE MUST-WATCH VIDEOS
RHYTHM NATION 1814
Director DOMINIC SENA
The 28-minute Rhythm Nation 1814 short
fi lm also featured Miss You Much and The
Knowledge but it is the Rhythm Nation
performance that has stood the test of time
as one of the greatest videos ever.
Shot in black and white (“to rid the
cast of colour lines”), the video is set in
an abandoned factory, with Janet and her
troupe of perfectly choreographed dancers,
all dressed identically in black caps and
unisex jumpsuits to signify them being as
one “nation”, rallying to spread the word
and fi ght against the world’s ills highlighted
in the song.
The video’s greatest infl uence has been
on the world of dance with its militaristic
take on breakdancing and street dance
the most infl uential and oft-emulated
style of choreography in pop ever since
it was released. The
video elevated Janet
from pop star to icon.
https://youtu.be/
OAwaNWGLM0cLOVE WILL NEVER DO
(WITHOUT YOU)
Director HERB RITTS
Janet’s previous public image had either been
feisty girl-next-door or militant crusader,
Love Will Never Do (Without You) marked
a seismic change of direction and debuted
the sexy image that she would portray from
this point onwards.
“Because Janet is known for her
instinctive talent for dance, as well as being
an all-round entertainer, we decided to try
something innovative on the video,” director
Herb Ritts said at the time. “The video
is a departure from her elaborate dance
production routines and focuses, instead, on
her alone, She is fresh, sensual, womanly
and vulnerable as she reveals herself to the
camera. We wanted to show this intimate and
more personal side of Janet.”
The video featured Janet and Calvin Klein
model Antonio Sabato Jr.
in a clinch in the desert as
she lip-synced to the song.
https://youtu.be/
dcNniKqfXIcIF
Director DOMINIC SENA
Set in a futuristic Oriental nightclub with the
sexual activity in its private rooms all being
monitored to convey the song’s themes of
lust, fantasy and voyeurism, If predicted the
impact technology would have on our sexual
attitudes in the future.
“I don’t think people really realise what
we were showing in that video that wasn’t
available with technology then,” Janet
said. “It featured futuristic technology,
specifi cally high defi nition touch screens. I
wanted the actors in the video to use these
screens to communicate, and relate with
each other, similar to what we all do with our
smartphones and tablets today.”
From a dance standpoint, Tina Landon’s
choreography is as infl uential and iconic as
Rhythm Nation 1814, with Janet swapping
socio-politics for sexual dominance and
female empowerment. She
relegates her male dancers
to plaything status.
https://youtube.com/
xsNLkqEH5nk“Janet felt a responsibility to promote safe sex
and began working tirelessly as a campaigner
for the AmFar (American Foundation for AIDS
Research) charity... She was honoured in
2013 for her work with them.”LISTEN UP!
Indulge your love for
Janet Jackson with our choice of
20 unmissable smashers.(^1) If
Dance anthem heralding Janet’s
sexual awakening.
(^2) Love Will Never Do
(Without You)
Rhythm Nation...’s sensual teaser
of Janet’s next direction.
(^3) That’s The Way Love Goes
The laid-back, sensual lead single
from 1993’s janet.
(^4) Nasty
The birth of New Jack Swing.
(^5) Rhythm Nation
The immaculate pairing of a social
message and kickass beat.
(^6) The Pleasure Principle
Control’s high-octane dance epic.
(^7) Miss You Much
The fi rst single from the Rhythm
Nation... album.
(^8) What Have You Done For
Me Lately
Janet’s breakthrough hit single.
(^9) All Nite (Don’t Stop)
Irresistible dancefl oor smash.
(^10) When I Think Of You
Janet’s fi rst US No.1 single.
(^11) Got ‘Til It’s Gone
Neo-soul masterpiece.
(^12) Black Cat
Janet’s compelling take on rock.
(^13) All For You
2000’s Change-sampling smash.
(^14) You Want This
Hip-hop, Motown and a whole
lotta attitude.
(^15) Runaway
Hit single from Design Of A
Decade hits compilation.
(^16) Let’s Wait Awhile
Janet’s fi rst ballad was well worth
the wait.
(^17) Escapade
Janet’s fun-fi lled break from the
seriousness of Rhythm Nation.
(^18) No Sleeep
Return to form from Unbreakable.
(^19) Again
Oscar-nominated theme from
Poetic Justice.
(^20) Together
Again
Janet’s tribute to
friends lost.
spoti.fi /2qIsbd8
In the past, Janet has spoken
about what inspires her to write
music and her answer has always
been it is when something
signifi cant occurs in her
personal life, or the
life of someone
close to her.
With reports
suggesting a split
from her third
husband, Wissam
Al Mana, and
a new baby son,
Janet has plenty to
write about.
Motherhood, and the sense
of fulfi lment it has brought her,
has been a particular source of
inspiration and Janet is keen to get
back in the studio.
Having rekindled their musical
marriage on 2015’s
Unbreakable, Jam and
Lewis will most
likely be Janet’s
main collaborators
on the album.
Having
postponed her
Unbreakable Tour
to have a baby,
Janet is also ready
to get back out on the
road. The US leg has been
rescheduled for the end of this
year and renamed The State Of The
World Tour.
WHAT’S NEXT?
MOTHERHOOD,
AND THE SENSE OF
FULFILMENT IT HAS
BROUGHT HER, HAS BEEN
A PARTICULAR SOURCE
OF INSPIRATION
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