Janet Jackson to kick off world tour
Gay icon promises all the hits, lots of dance
By KEVIN NAFF, Washington Blade | Sep 4, 3:50 PM

Janet Jackson will kick off her long-awaited “Rock Witchu Tour” Sept. 10 in Vancouver, her first tour in more than seven years. Jackson talked to the Blade today about what fans can expect.

“This show is for the fans,” she said, adding that she will perform about 30 tracks during the two-hour show. “It’s a nice mix from ‘Discipline’ and all the other albums.”

She noted that the show is focused on dance tracks and that she hopes to give concertgoers an escape from their problems, citing the current state of the economy.

“It’s a big show,” she said, “a completely different show. It’s very much upbeat. The kids say it shouldn’t be called the ‘Rock Witchu Tour,’ it should be called the ‘History of Janet Tour.’”

As for the vibe and style of the set, Jackson said she’s intrigued by the future so the set design will incorporate futuristic elements. Her costumes will be more elaborate than in the past.

So far, 24 North American dates have been announced, but Jackson said that more U.S. dates will be announced soon and that she’s in talks to take the tour all over the world, including possibly Europe, Asia, Australia, Russia and the Middle East.

The show will be recorded, she said, possibly for a television broadcast, then later packaged with older tours and material for sale. Specifically, she mentioned that her 1990 “Rhythm Nation Tour” was recorded in High Definition, but never released to the public.

“When I did ‘Rhythm Nation’ in Japan, I recorded the show in HD back then and they were trying to explain to me what HD was — that was 1990,” she said. “I’m assuming I was the first person to do this in concert. It trips me out to see HD catch on so many years later. We’re trying to put a nice package together for the fans.”

Jackson urged fans not to believe online rumors about her set list. One purported list leaked by blogger Perez Hilton was a very early version and “not the final list,” she said.

LL Cool J will open the show in select cities and Jackson praised him as an “icon in his own right.”

“He’s legendary when it comes to what he does,” she said. “He has a great body of work and I love his new single; he’s an entertainer. I wanted someone else who could really entertain the people and he’s a sweet guy.”

Her last album “Discipline” opened at No. 1 and generated two singles, “Feedback” and “Rock With You,” but a reported dispute with record label Island Def Jam brought a halt to promotions for the project. Jackson said she wasn’t sure if she would work with IDJ again, but confirmed there will be no further singles released from the album. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a new Janet single in the near future.

“I may just cut something new and throw it out there while I’m on the road,” she said.

And which acts does Janet like to see perform live? She cites Prince, The Time and Jill Scott as her favorites, as well as her brothers.

“Jill Scott puts on such a beautiful show and it was very inspirational to me,” she said.

The “Rock Witchu Tour” marks a long-stalled return to touring. Jackson said she was in rehearsals for a tour two years ago in Atlanta while filming Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married,” but that IDJ asked her to postpone it and record a new album, which she did.

“We were so excited to go out last time,” she said. “The kids were so excited, it was sad — we had our crying session.”

This time around, however, everything fell into place and Jackson said she’s developed a close-knit relationship with the “kids” (her dancers) and the rest of the team responsible for the show.

“I’m very family-oriented so there’s that connection that has to be there first,” Jackson said. “There’s such a wonderful group of people. Every tour I’ve done the group has gotten better and better. This is the closest group I’ve ever had.”

So pumped! Got my LA tix today. 6th row for Oakland. Can't wait!!! Bummed no LL in my citites though...

Yep, I was really cool until a couple of days ago... but now I also can't wait...

no Portugal!

Even Madonna does us!

°°°She's still trying to come over to Europe... so hang in there... I can't take the chance though and have to see her in the states!

Edit: In case you are referring to the above dates... those are my personal dates... don't mix that up with the Rock witchu dates!
[Edited 9/4/08 15:11pm]

PatrickS77 said:

Kylie's even doing Peru and Chile!

^^Yeah, I was surprised about Kylie... didn't know anyone would know her down there!

PatrickS77 said:

She's massive outside the US.

MikeMatronik said:

Yeah, I know about Europe and Australia... but I thought that's about it! Good, to see that she's doing well... I saw her in may!

PatrickS77 said:

I'd love to see her also. I think she's superior to madonna in terms of live quality.

Hmm... I've seen them both this year and I wouldn't say that... she kinda copies Madonna in a lot of stuff... Madonna is more hands on in terms of the show... she gets down and joins here dancers... whilst Kylie is more above the dancers and doesn't really takes part that much... if you know what I mean!

But as a person, Kylie comes across more likeable on stage! More hearty, more warm.... Madonna's kinda a distant bitch... there was only one instance where she really seemed nice... when she, after she finished her number on the b-stage, walked back to the main stage, a friend and me kinda nodded/motioned at her, kinda 'said' hi and she smiled back at us... in that moment she seemed like a person, in the rest of the the show she kinda seemed more like a machine, but I guess that's part of her appeal!

That said, I liked both shows!

PatrickS77 said:

Thank the lords of Kobol for the DVDs.

I loved more the kylie's Intimate & Live tour than all of madonna's tours post Girlie Show.

It was simply Kylie, a band of middle aged men and 2 gay dancers and almost all the songs of the masterpiece that his the impossible princess lp.


Loved the entire Decon era Kylie.

MikeMatronik said:

Oooh, Galactica!


LOL okay... I only know the Showgirl/White Diamond DVD and the new show....
[Edited 9/4/08 15:41pm]

PatrickS77 said:

LOL okay... I only know the Showgirl/White Diamond DVD and the new show....[/quote]

The Clash?? Interesting choice! She's lovely though! And no... we are not totally off topic!

PatrickS77 said:

Madonna fucks her audience, Kylie makes love to them.

ehuffnsd said:

Yeah, I guess that sums it up!

Looks like I'm going....


but my mother bought the tix so I'm going with her

bboy87 said:

Still in the velvet rope closet?

MikeMatronik said:

Jokes? That's why she's not going to Portgual! HAHAHAHA!

MikeMatronik said:

Not at all. She's "massive" in Australia and the UK, but the rest, she was popular in the Fever era, that's it.

I am not going to waste my time to see this "version" of Janet. I have seen her twice, The Velvet Rope", and the "Janet" tours. That's before she started this whispering shit. I am not going to pay all of that money just to hear somebody whisper sing.....I mean does the cost of the ticket include a close caption option?