""We are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our beliefs. We are like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision, pushing toward a world rid of color-lines"

Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, released 23 years ago today, stormed onto the music scene three years after the groundbreaking success of her Control album, and further solidified her place in pop history. Bucking the record company's wishes for her to do a sequel to Control, Janet chose instead to create an album that dealt with the social injustices that plague not only our nation, but the world at large. Inspired by various news reports on CNN, as well as social ills such as racism, homelessness, the 1989 Cleveland School massacre in Stockton, California, and our nation's growing illiteracy issues, she re-teamed with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to create a record that would go on to become a massive critical and commercial success--an album that still holds the same relevancy today concerning the state of the world as it did 23 years ago. The idea was to create a nation that was free of bigotry and hate. As Janet stated: "I thought it would be great if we could create our own nation ... one that would have a positive message and that everyone would be free to join." The album's mantra was of unity. To create a world where there were no color lines and boundaries. Where everyone was equal. The creed was Music, Poetry, Dance and Unity. The artwork was stark black and white. The use of "1814" in the title was a bit of a mystery until Janet explained that not only was 1814 the year that Frances Scott Key wrote the national anthem, but "R" is the 18th letter in the alphabet an "N" is the 14th. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 proved that Janet was no one-hit album wonder, and that she was becoming a fashion icon among young women.

Seven singles were released from the album Four of them went to #1, and all of the singles peaked within the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100--an achievement no other single album achieved before or has achieved since. It garnered 3 Hot 100 #1s in 3 separate calendar years, and went on to become the biggest selling album of 1990, netting Janet a record 15 Billboard awards in one night, a feat which helped her to become the artist with the most ever Billboard award wins--male or female.

Janet holding some of the 15 awards she won at the 1990 Billbaord Music Awards

with Spike Lee, brother Randy and Whitney Houston at a UNCF event--1990

in front of her platinum RN records

receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990

A film short was produced as a way to promote the album. Janet and her team collaborated with film and music video director Dominic Sena to create a mini-movie that told the tale of two young men with a common love of music, but with two drastically different paths in life. The project cost approximately $1.6 million to produce, and was filmed clandestinely in various locales around Los Angeles, including the Bradbury Building seen in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner". Director Sena remarked, "Her brother Michael came by one day, but it was purely on a personal level. He didn't come onto the set. He saw some rough cuts of what we were doing and remarked that he liked them, but he never interfered. He knew this was Janet's project." The Rhythm Nation film short went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Music Video - Long Form.

Janet toured the world with Rhythm Nation. It was her first world tour, and it would go on to set records as the fastest sellout of Japan's Tokyo Dome and as the biggest debut world tour by any artist in history--a record it still retains. The show began on March 1, 1990 in Miami, Florida, and ended 8 months later in Japan (she also played one night in Brazil at the Morumbi Stadium in Sao Paulo for 30,000 people). Grossing $28 million in the United States alone, the tour ranked number five among the best-selling of 1990 within the US, making Janet the only female artist to place within the top ten. Worldwide, the show grossed nearly $65 million.

The very first show of the RN tour was a dress rehearsal. Janet surprised the people of Pensacola, Florida with a concert that was announced only one day in advance. The $10 tickets, limited to a four per-person, didn't go on sale until the morning of the concert. All 7,600 tickets were sold within three hours. Another 1,000 tickets were given to local charities. During this time, Janet also helped to establish the Rhythm Nation Scholarship, an award that aided many young people in furthering their education.

The musical director for the tour was R&B artist Chuckii Booker, and the show was conceived by Janet, her choreographer Anthony Thomas, Roy Bennett (husband to former Prince protege Brenda Bennett) stage manager Chris Tervit, production manager Benny Collins.

Janet's stark military look during the era became a part of pop culture. Her look of tight black pants, military jackets, a black cap and ponytail would go on to be copied and paid tribute to in film, TV and music, as well as by fans.

Kim Fields dressed as a RN-era Janet in an episode of "Living Single"

Keri Hilson paid tribute to the RN video in her "Pretty Girl Rock" video

RN "Hello Kitty"

RN novelty

Fan dressed in RN garb

impersonator dressed as a RN-era Janet

fan wearing a RN tour jacket

RN-era comic book

Britney Spears performs "Black Cat" in concert

The militant opening of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" video drew comparisons to Janet's "Rhythm Nation" video

British artist Peter Andre said his "Defender" video was directly inspired by the "Rhythm Nation" video

Usher, P!nk and Mya paid tribute to Janet at her MTV Icon special

P!nk covered "Rhythm Nation" for last year's "Happy Feet 2" film

Actress Kat Graham covered two RN singles in this mash-up

The comedy sketch series "In Living Color" spoofed the RN video and Whitney Houston simultaneously with the "Rhythmless Nation" sketch

Rickey Vincent, author of Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One (1996) commented about Janet: "Her 1989 Rhythm Nation album was the boldest and most successful pop attempt to combine social commentary, celebration, and state-of-the-art dance funk since her brother Michael's efforts to be Bad."

There was speculation that Janet's brother Michael's personal record label, MJJ Music (a joint-venture between himself and Sony Music Entertainment) would have signed her as its premier artist; he reportedly intended to name the label Nation Records as a tribute to her, but the copyright had already existed. She instead went on to negotiate a $32 million dollar contract with Virgin Records in 1991—at the time, the largest recording contract in history. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine commented that her success "found Janet eclipsing her big brother for the first time—as she would continue to do for more than a decade." In July 2008, Entertainment Weekly magazine placed Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 at number 54 in their list of Top 100 Best Albums of the past 25 years. The album is also ranked number 275 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

best janet era

It definitely makes me the most nostalgic

I didn't know about the era when it was happening unless she was played and I didn't know who it was, so I can't say I have that though it takes me back to the second half of the 90's when I started getting into her.

This is my favorite Janet album and era as well. Everything was on point about this era. I also think this is Janets most influential era as an artist overall. She as well as her estate should release an album that celebrates the album when it turns 25.... its highly influential and definitly deserves that treatment.

SEANMAN said:

""We are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our beliefs. We are like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision, pushing toward a world rid of color-lines"

Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, released 23 years ago today, stormed onto the music scene three years after the groundbreaking success of her Control album, and further solidified her place in pop history. Bucking the record company's wishes for her to do a sequel to Control, Janet chose instead to create an album that dealt with the social injustices that plague not only our nation, but the world at large. Inspired by various news reports on CNN, as well as social ills such as racism, homelessness, the 1989 Cleveland School massacre in Stockton, California, and our nation's growing illiteracy issues, she re-teamed with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to create a record that would go on to become a massive critical and commercial success--an album that still holds the same relevancy today concerning the state of the world as it did 23 years ago. The idea was to create a nation that was free of bigotry and hate. As Janet stated: "I thought it would be great if we could create our own nation ... one that would have a positive message and that everyone would be free to join." The album's mantra was of unity. To create a world where there were no color lines and boundaries. Where everyone was equal. The creed was Music, Poetry, Dance and Unity. The artwork was stark black and white. The use of "1814" in the title was a bit of a mystery until Janet explained that not only was 1814 the year that Frances Scott Key wrote the national anthem, but "R" is the 18th letter in the alphabet an "N" is the 14th. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 proved that Janet was no one-hit album wonder, and that she was becoming a fashion icon among young women.

Seven singles were released from the album Four of them went to #1, and all of the singles peaked within the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100--an achievement no other single album achieved before or has achieved since. It garnered 3 Hot 100 #1s in 3 separate calendar years, and went on to become the biggest selling album of 1990, netting Janet a record 15 Billboard awards in one night, a feat which helped her to become the artist with the most ever Billboard award wins--male or female.

Janet holding some of the 15 awards she won at the 1990 Billbaord Music Awards

with Spike Lee, brother Randy and Whitney Houston at a UNCF event--1990

in front of her platinum RN records

receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990

A film short was produced as a way to promote the album. Janet and her team collaborated with film and music video director Dominic Sena to create a mini-movie that told the tale of two young men with a common love of music, but with two drastically different paths in life. The project cost approximately $1.6 million to produce, and was filmed clandestinely in various locales around Los Angeles, including the Bradbury Building seen in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner". Director Sena remarked, "Her brother Michael came by one day, but it was purely on a personal level. He didn't come onto the set. He saw some rough cuts of what we were doing and remarked that he liked them, but he never interfered. He knew this was Janet's project." The Rhythm Nation film short went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Music Video - Long Form.

Janet toured the world with Rhythm Nation. It was her first world tour, and it would go on to set records as the fastest sellout of Japan's Tokyo Dome and as the biggest debut world tour by any artist in history--a record it still retains. The show began on March 1, 1990 in Miami, Florida, and ended 8 months later in Japan (she also played one night in Brazil at the Morumbi Stadium in Sao Paulo for 30,000 people). Grossing $28 million in the United States alone, the tour ranked number five among the best-selling of 1990 within the US, making Janet the only female artist to place within the top ten. Worldwide, the show grossed nearly $65 million.

The very first show of the RN tour was a dress rehearsal. Janet surprised the people of Pensacola, Florida with a concert that was announced only one day in advance. The $10 tickets, limited to a four per-person, didn't go on sale until the morning of the concert. All 7,600 tickets were sold within three hours. Another 1,000 tickets were given to local charities. During this time, Janet also helped to establish the Rhythm Nation Scholarship, an award that aided many young people in furthering their education.

The musical director for the tour was R&B artist Chuckii Booker, and the show was conceived by Janet, her choreographer Anthony Thomas, Roy Bennett (husband to former Prince protege Brenda Bennett) stage manager Chris Tervit, production manager Benny Collins.

Janet's stark military look during the era became a part of pop culture. Her look of tight black pants, military jackets, a black cap and ponytail would go on to be copied and paid tribute to in film, TV and music, as well as by fans.

Kim Fields dressed as a RN-era Janet in an episode of "Living Single"

Keri Hilson paid tribute to the RN video in her "Pretty Girl Rock" video

RN "Hello Kitty"

RN novelty

Fan dressed in RN garb

impersonator dressed as a RN-era Janet

fan wearing a RN tour jacket

RN-era comic book

Britney Spears performs "Black Cat" in concert

The militant opening of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" video drew comparisons to Janet's "Rhythm Nation" video

British artist Peter Andre said his "Defender" video was directly inspired by the "Rhythm Nation" video

Usher, P!nk and Mya paid tribute to Janet at her MTV Icon special

P!nk covered "Rhythm Nation" for last year's "Happy Feet 2" film

Actress Kat Graham covered two RN singles in this mash-up

The comedy sketch series "In Living Color" spoofed the RN video and Whitney Houston simultaneously with the "Rhythmless Nation" sketch

Rickey Vincent, author of Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One (1996) commented about Janet: "Her 1989 Rhythm Nation album was the boldest and most successful pop attempt to combine social commentary, celebration, and state-of-the-art dance funk since her brother Michael's efforts to be Bad."

There was speculation that Janet's brother Michael's personal record label, MJJ Music (a joint-venture between himself and Sony Music Entertainment) would have signed her as its premier artist; he reportedly intended to name the label Nation Records as a tribute to her, but the copyright had already existed. She instead went on to negotiate a $32 million dollar contract with Virgin Records in 1991—at the time, the largest recording contract in history. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine commented that her success "found Janet eclipsing her big brother for the first time—as she would continue to do for more than a decade." In July 2008, Entertainment Weekly magazine placed Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 at number 54 in their list of Top 100 Best Albums of the past 25 years. The album is also ranked number 275 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

The best album that any female artist has released in the past 23 years......one of the greatest releases ever in the history of music

the best artistic release Janet Jackson ever created

in 1989-1990. Rhythm Nation 1814 (always love to say the full title) stood as the best album in the United States, best album on the planet...

when I first heard that album from beginning to end...I was absolutely floored......

Janet Jackson went full throttle with that album....

I was so proud of her....she made a statement w/that record

STATE OF THE WORLD...made me teary eyed whenever I'd listen to it.....

her voice complimented the music flawlessly for the entire album

Her best album and my fav of hers. IMO, this was her peak.

Mmmmm..... I would agree that this is the best POP album from a female POP star in over the last 20 years and if not the best definitly top 10. Alot of the political themes and funky/new jack swing production along with iconic choregraphy is just something that cant be repeated and hasnt by another female. Everything was right about this era. Its unfornuate this era is very underrated currently.

I really wish Janet would go back to making music like this kinda sad to see how once upon a time a political thought provoking artist turn so generic in later years.

[Edited 9/19/12 21:30pm]

WOW, I LOVER HER EVEN MORE NOW!!!! I really love janet b/c she made an album that talked about the state of the world and not a lot of artist do that.

mjscarousal said:

Mmmmm..... I would agree that this is the best POP album from a female POP star in over the last 20 years and if not the best definitly top 10. Alot of the political themes and funky/new jack swing production along with iconic choregraphy is just something that cant be repeated and hasnt by another female. Everything was right about this era. Its unfornuate this era is very underrated currently.

I really wish Janet would go back to making music like this kinda sad to see how once upon a time a political thought provoking artist turn so generic in later years.

[Edited 9/19/12 21:30pm]

The reason why such a thought provoking artist turn so "generic"

because the pop ascension movement has distorted everything in sight

it has obliterated culture, blew it right off the map, the very element that is needed to develop consciousness

that's why Rhythm Nation is underappreciated, because consciousness has been supplanted by political correctness, whereas, if the industry would not have been victimized by the pop ascension movement of the late 80s, consciousness would be more rule than the exception

it's no coincidence we no longer hear music on the airwaves that carry the kind of message Rhythm Nation called for

more and more are longing for music to return back to the way it was, but the way it was took decades to cultivate

music lost its way because the greatest illusion ever unleashed made got a hold of it, and exploited it for mass consumption and once it taps into your soul, you lose your center, you lose your base and it can happen to anyone

that's why they say "music is where the heart is"

as the industry and videos promoted more sexual explicit content, many artists felt they needed to adapt to sustain their careers, because they realized culture had been exploited, and when culture is rooted out, creativity stagnates

and I'm sure allot of the decisions that have been made by many female artists coming down the pike since the late 90s, you could tell they really didn't want to do it, but felt that's what they had to do to be successful

don't take long to destroy a good thing

RHYTHM NATION was a great moment in time.....it was great to experience it

[Edited 9/19/12 22:10pm]

Janet sticky.

Where?

Thanks for that - some new facts to me

And I thought I knew everything about Janet.

I might get stomped on but I think Control holds up better. To me the RN singles sound very 1989-90 with the exception of Love Will Never Do. She looked great, the whole project was a massive success but I don't really listen to this music much. The Control singles are way more classic and timeless.

mynameisnotsusan said:

I might get stomped on but I think Control holds up better. To me the RN singles sound very 1989-90 with the exception of Love Will Never Do. She looked great, the whole project was a massive success but I don't really listen to this music much. The Control singles are way more classic and timeless.

I hear what you're saying cause I thought something like that months ago. Control is organic and leaves you craving for more, and RN is janet going into overdrive putting it all out there at once. Both albums sound like they are from their respective times for sure though Control was considered fresh cause of being her breakthrough

mynameisnotsusan said:

I might get stomped on but I think Control holds up better. To me the RN singles sound very 1989-90 with the exception of Love Will Never Do. She looked great, the whole project was a massive success but I don't really listen to this music much. The Control singles are way more classic and timeless.

Some of the best twelve inch single ever IMO.

I think out of all the jacksons, I own the most singles from the RN project, followed by Dangerous and Bad.

alphastreet said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

I might get stomped on but I think Control holds up better. To me the RN singles sound very 1989-90 with the exception of Love Will Never Do. She looked great, the whole project was a massive success but I don't really listen to this music much. The Control singles are way more classic and timeless.

I hear what you're saying cause I thought something like that months ago. Control is organic and leaves you craving for more, and RN is janet going into overdrive putting it all out there at once. Both albums sound like they are from their respective times for sure though Control was considered fresh cause of being her breakthrough

Control is definitly more timeless.... I hear those singles ALL the time on the radio... I never hear any singles from RN play on the radio... NEVER....

Control is definitly more timeless but RN is more influential. I hear more artists site RN as an influence out of any of her other projects and RN clearly has influenced alot of the current artists today in their performances..... Brittany, Beyonce etc.

One thing about Brittany that I DO like is that she sites her influences and is not afraid to say where she gets her ideas from....on the other hand Beyawancee wants to foolishly portray she comes up with these ideas that were long instilled in the industry before she was even born....

That whole Ring the Alarm choregraphy was completely ripped off from Janets Rhythm Nation performance on her VR tour.... did Beyonce site her as an influence? No......

pretty sad J doesnt get any credit currently for alot of what these useless mediocre non creative artists today rip off from her.

mjscarousal said:

alphastreet said:

I hear what you're saying cause I thought something like that months ago. Control is organic and leaves you craving for more, and RN is janet going into overdrive putting it all out there at once. Both albums sound like they are from their respective times for sure though Control was considered fresh cause of being her breakthrough

Control is definitly more timeless.... I hear those singles ALL the time on the radio... I never hear any singles from RN play on the radio... NEVER....

Control is definitly more timeless but RN is more influential. I hear more artists site RN as an influence out of any of her other projects and RN clearly has influenced alot of the current artists today in their performances..... Brittany, Beyonce etc.

One thing about Brittany that I DO like is that she sites her influences and is not afraid to say where she gets her ideas from....on the other hand Beyawancee wants to foolishly portray she comes up with these ideas that were long instilled in the industry before she was even born....

That whole Ring the Alarm choregraphy was completely ripped off from Janets Rhythm Nation performance on her VR tour.... did Beyonce site her as an influence? No......

pretty sad J doesnt get any credit currently for alot of what these useless mediocre non creative artists today rip off from her.

I was also going to say I hear Control songs more if ever from janet on the radio, I only hear Escapade once in a blue moon from RN. I find Britney likes a lot of the same artists we all do and it shows in her work. Beyonce always cited MJ though (and believes she's him but that's another thread altogether haha) and I know he did that routine on Dangerous though it looks like the RN routine though he stated that Janet took the idea he had for Captain EO (and some of it made it onto Captain EO), so maybe it's indirect cause I remember Destiny's Child liking Janet years ago, especially Kelly and Michelle

alphastreet said:

mjscarousal said:

Control is definitly more timeless.... I hear those singles ALL the time on the radio... I never hear any singles from RN play on the radio... NEVER....

Control is definitly more timeless but RN is more influential. I hear more artists site RN as an influence out of any of her other projects and RN clearly has influenced alot of the current artists today in their performances..... Brittany, Beyonce etc.

One thing about Brittany that I DO like is that she sites her influences and is not afraid to say where she gets her ideas from....on the other hand Beyawancee wants to foolishly portray she comes up with these ideas that were long instilled in the industry before she was even born....

That whole Ring the Alarm choregraphy was completely ripped off from Janets Rhythm Nation performance on her VR tour.... did Beyonce site her as an influence? No......

pretty sad J doesnt get any credit currently for alot of what these useless mediocre non creative artists today rip off from her.

I was also going to say I hear Control songs more if ever from janet on the radio, I only hear Escapade once in a blue moon from RN. I find Britney likes a lot of the same artists we all do and it shows in her work. Beyonce always cited MJ though (and believes she's him but that's another thread altogether haha) and I know he did that routine on Dangerous though it looks like the RN routine though he stated that Janet took the idea he had for Captain EO (and some of it made it onto Captain EO), so maybe it's indirect cause I remember Destiny's Child liking Janet years ago, especially Kelly and Michelle

Your right....but everything seemed more heavily inspired by the Rhythm Nation era.. to the movements all the way down to the outfits it is very possible that she could have gotten it from the Dangerous performance but I automatically thought of Rhythm Nation when I saw her do it.. not to mention it was a very poor rendition, she is a horrible dancer.

Kelly/Michelle seem to really admire Janet and like her. Beyonce has cited MJ in the past but she didnt site Janet specifically for that performance OR even Michael when its clear she got the idea from them even though I still honestly think more so Janet.

I know Janet took RN idea from Michael for Captain EO but Im just stating that Janet has alot of influence today in alot of these female performances and she never gets credit. I hardly ever hear anyone say they were influence or inspired by something Janet did BESIDES Brittany. I remember Aaliyah saying she was inspired by her thats it though.

And your right Beyonce foolishly believe she is MJ Crazy bitch

Shes too full of her self to ever admit to being influence by Janet.

Because she thinks she is just this creative innovative authentic God given talent artist that started everything when most of what she does was already being done and alot better way before she was even born

Thumbs up for this great album, but it's actually the videos and the looks that make it most memorable to me.

Scorp said:

mjscarousal said:

Mmmmm..... I would agree that this is the best POP album from a female POP star in over the last 20 years and if not the best definitly top 10. Alot of the political themes and funky/new jack swing production along with iconic choregraphy is just something that cant be repeated and hasnt by another female. Everything was right about this era. Its unfornuate this era is very underrated currently.

I really wish Janet would go back to making music like this kinda sad to see how once upon a time a political thought provoking artist turn so generic in later years.

[Edited 9/19/12 21:30pm]

The reason why such a thought provoking artist turn so "generic"

because the pop ascension movement has distorted everything in sight

it has obliterated culture, blew it right off the map, the very element that is needed to develop consciousness

that's why Rhythm Nation is underappreciated, because consciousness has been supplanted by political correctness, whereas, if the industry would not have been victimized by the pop ascension movement of the late 80s, consciousness would be more rule than the exception

it's no coincidence we no longer hear music on the airwaves that carry the kind of message Rhythm Nation called for

more and more are longing for music to return back to the way it was, but the way it was took decades to cultivate

music lost its way because the greatest illusion ever unleashed made got a hold of it, and exploited it for mass consumption and once it taps into your soul, you lose your center, you lose your base and it can happen to anyone

that's why they say "music is where the heart is"

as the industry and videos promoted more sexual explicit content, many artists felt they needed to adapt to sustain their careers, because they realized culture had been exploited, and when culture is rooted out, creativity stagnates

and I'm sure allot of the decisions that have been made by many female artists coming down the pike since the late 90s, you could tell they really didn't want to do it, but felt that's what they had to do to be successful

don't take long to destroy a good thing

RHYTHM NATION was a great moment in time.....it was great to experience it

[Edited 9/19/12 22:10pm]

Excellently put.

[Edited 9/20/12 15:31pm]

mjscarousal said:

alphastreet said:

I was also going to say I hear Control songs more if ever from janet on the radio, I only hear Escapade once in a blue moon from RN. I find Britney likes a lot of the same artists we all do and it shows in her work. Beyonce always cited MJ though (and believes she's him but that's another thread altogether haha) and I know he did that routine on Dangerous though it looks like the RN routine though he stated that Janet took the idea he had for Captain EO (and some of it made it onto Captain EO), so maybe it's indirect cause I remember Destiny's Child liking Janet years ago, especially Kelly and Michelle

Your right....but everything seemed more heavily inspired by the Rhythm Nation era.. to the movements all the way down to the outfits it is very possible that she could have gotten it from the Dangerous performance but I automatically thought of Rhythm Nation when I saw her do it.. not to mention it was a very poor rendition, she is a horrible dancer.

Kelly/Michelle seem to really admire Janet and like her. Beyonce has cited MJ in the past but she didnt site Janet specifically for that performance OR even Michael when its clear she got the idea from them even though I still honestly think more so Janet.

I know Janet took RN idea from Michael for Captain EO but Im just stating that Janet has alot of influence today in alot of these female performances and she never gets credit. I hardly ever hear anyone say they were influence or inspired by something Janet did BESIDES Brittany. I remember Aaliyah saying she was inspired by her thats it though.

And your right Beyonce foolishly believe she is MJ Crazy bitch

Shes too full of her self to ever admit to being influence by Janet.

Because she thinks she is just this creative innovative authentic God given talent artist that started everything when most of what she does was already being done and alot better way before she was even born

Yeah britney was always sweet though I cannot stand her voice most of the time....a lot of people on the mtv icon special referenced janet as an idol from pink to mya to usher to n sync. In recent years, I remember Ne Yo mentioning her as an influence, and in that UK special on her, some other recent artists too though I can't recall who. Lady Gaga cited her too. MJ gets way more credit though

Beyonce did an interview in Canada where for a few minutes she was spazzing about mj and then went I loooove michael jackson, I AM michael jackson, but it was in the DC days and I wasn't jealous, I just got excited cause she was acting like me and that time I was used to guys being fans of MJ more and felt that around the female mj fans I knew, I was holding back or more reserved cause I felt I could only either stay quiet or get soooo hyper and scare people off, no middle ground for me. But yeah later on, I think she took herself too seriously though she is very talented.

[Edited 9/20/12 16:22pm]

alphastreet said:

mjscarousal said:

Your right....but everything seemed more heavily inspired by the Rhythm Nation era.. to the movements all the way down to the outfits it is very possible that she could have gotten it from the Dangerous performance but I automatically thought of Rhythm Nation when I saw her do it.. not to mention it was a very poor rendition, she is a horrible dancer.

Kelly/Michelle seem to really admire Janet and like her. Beyonce has cited MJ in the past but she didnt site Janet specifically for that performance OR even Michael when its clear she got the idea from them even though I still honestly think more so Janet.

I know Janet took RN idea from Michael for Captain EO but Im just stating that Janet has alot of influence today in alot of these female performances and she never gets credit. I hardly ever hear anyone say they were influence or inspired by something Janet did BESIDES Brittany. I remember Aaliyah saying she was inspired by her thats it though.

And your right Beyonce foolishly believe she is MJ Crazy bitch

Shes too full of her self to ever admit to being influence by Janet.

Because she thinks she is just this creative innovative authentic God given talent artist that started everything when most of what she does was already being done and alot better way before she was even born

Yeah britney was always sweet though I cannot stand her voice most of the time....a lot of people on the mtv icon special referenced janet as an idol from pink to mya to usher to n sync. In recent years, I remember Ne Yo mentioning her as an influence, and in that UK special on her, some other recent artists too though I can't recall who. Lady Gaga cited her too. MJ gets way more credit though

Beyonce did an interview in Canada where for a few minutes she was spazzing about mj and then went I loooove michael jackson, I AM michael jackson, but it was in the DC days and I wasn't jealous, I just got excited cause she was acting like me and that time I was used to guys being fans of MJ more and felt that around the female mj fans I knew, I was holding back or more reserved cause I felt I could only either stay quiet or get soooo hyper and scare people off, no middle ground for me. But yeah later on, I think she took herself too seriously though she is very talented.

[Edited 9/20/12 16:22pm]

She isnt very talented.... she just has talent which can be easily duplicated the same with Gaga and the rest of them and I know Michael is more influential than Janet I just think sometimes she could get a little more credit.

Beyonce seems to be opportunistic when it comes to acknowledging her so called influences. At the BET awards she called Whitney her angel but has never cited her as an influence .... alot of what she says is just bullshit talk

I never heard her as a solo artist site Janet has an influence for anything and she clearly ripped off Rhythm Nation.

[Edited 9/20/12 19:49pm]

mjscarousal said:

alphastreet said:

Yeah britney was always sweet though I cannot stand her voice most of the time....a lot of people on the mtv icon special referenced janet as an idol from pink to mya to usher to n sync. In recent years, I remember Ne Yo mentioning her as an influence, and in that UK special on her, some other recent artists too though I can't recall who. Lady Gaga cited her too. MJ gets way more credit though

Beyonce did an interview in Canada where for a few minutes she was spazzing about mj and then went I loooove michael jackson, I AM michael jackson, but it was in the DC days and I wasn't jealous, I just got excited cause she was acting like me and that time I was used to guys being fans of MJ more and felt that around the female mj fans I knew, I was holding back or more reserved cause I felt I could only either stay quiet or get soooo hyper and scare people off, no middle ground for me. But yeah later on, I think she took herself too seriously though she is very talented.

[Edited 9/20/12 16:22pm]

She isnt very talented.... she just has talent which can be easily duplicated and I know Michael is more influential than Janet I just think sometimes she could get a little more credit.

I agree with that first part, I don't agree with her being blown up like she's great since there have been better artists, but she still has good music though I pick and choose what I do like. Michael definitely would have wanted Janet to get credit too though also competitive, he did dance to her music after all....

alphastreet said:

mjscarousal said:

She isnt very talented.... she just has talent which can be easily duplicated and I know Michael is more influential than Janet I just think sometimes she could get a little more credit.

I agree with that first part, I don't agree with her being blown up like she's great since there have been better artists, but she still has good music though I pick and choose what I do like. Michael definitely would have wanted Janet to get credit too though also competitive, he did dance to her music after all....

I have heard Gaga talk about Janet though and I think she complimented the Pleasure Principle song. I just get turned off by these artists that have been in the game shorter than 20 years thinking their to good to acknowledge the real legends they copy off of or are inspired by...

Here's my review of this, my 3rd favorite album ever:

By 1989, Janet Jackson had made a name for herself with the overwhelming success of 1986's mega-hit Control. Nevertheless, Janet was still viewed as Michael's little sister. Indeed, Control proved to be such a mission statement that it seemed a tough act to follow- many were left wondering if Miss Jackson would be a one-album wonder. However, Rhythm Nation 1814 somehow managed to top its predecessor and launched Janet into megastardom.

Rather than produce a retread of the themes that made Control such a smash, Janet would take many risks on the "1814 Project", deciding to shift gears and turn the focus outward onto the world surrounding her. Consequently, the album serves as a platform for Janet to address her concerns with the world, but perhaps surprisingly given her background, she manages to do so without sounding too preachy or out of touch. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are once again on board to cast her message atop some highly danceable, hook-filled and state of the art tracks. Whatever the reason, Rhythm Nation 1814 is truly an "album experience", bolstered by sonic and thematic unity, seven cracking singles and a short film filled with iconic imagery.

In truth, the album plays like a finely sequenced greatest hits record. Proving that her commercial success was no fluke in the fall of 1989, "Miss You Much" burst forth with hard-hitting funk fresh from the Minneapolis Sound tree. Janet rides the song's multiple hooks with a commanding attitude that is nonetheless still welcoming. Following in its footsteps is the title track, a towering new jack swing banger that would garner the most attention. ”Rhythm Nation” synthesized Janet’s inclination for funk (thanks to a Sly Stone sample), her dance expertise (culminating in the iconic choreography that would go on to become her trademark) and her socially conscious message promoting unity in the face of sundry societal divisors, which would garner her praise from critics and scores of inspired fans struggling through the plight of the 80s. In the spring of 1990, ”Escapade” proved to be pure pop confection- a perfect slice of ear candy celebrating the universal need for a reprieve from the 9-to-5. ”Alright”, with its street-wise groove and feel-good message of the enduring power of real friendship, featured a truly epic video paying tribute to a decadently clad in yellow Cab Calloway within the framework of a celebration of 1930s urban life. Slowing things down, ”Come Back to Me” reveals Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as masters of late 80s balladry, and Janet delivers an ethereal, honest, and understated vocal that underpins the true yearning aimed for within the song. Showcasing the diversity of the album, ”Black Cat” was written solely by Janet and roars through the speakers as a hard rock stomper. As a 10-year old who got his kicks out of hair metal (Mötley Crüe was a real favorite!), this marriage of Janet’s street-but-sweet consciousness and the over-the-top rock bombast was my absolute favorite, as Janet warns her lover of the impending danger of his involvement in a gang. Finally, in early 1991, ”Love Will Never Do (Without You)” saw the ever-reserved Janet let her hair down and reveal herself as the truly sexy woman she was. Her ensuing career may have diminished the impact that such a thing had at the time, but prior to this video, Janet was always clad to the max in full-length suits, so it felt like a genuine epiphany at the time of a woman growing into her own. Over the space of a year and a half, these singles serve as a chronicle of Janet's personal journey growing up and a benchmark for popular music of the time.

Although anchored by a solid succession of hits, Rhythm Nation 1814 features five other strong songs. As collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis noted at the time, Janet could have very easily gotten by with a 10-track album called Escapade that featured typical pop fodder of the day, but she insisted on putting her message out on the forefront. My favorite track on the album is “State of the World”, an of-the-time glimpse into the difficulties facing so many people in the 80s, including a poverty-stricken teen mother and a homeless boy on the verge of suicide. Elsewhere, ”The Knowledge” chugs along to some sparse funk and encourages its listeners to further their education, being "the one thing we all need in life", while ”Livin’ in a World (They Didn’t Make)” is a desperate call to us all to strive to make the world better for children- a simple message to be sure, but a genuine one, as is evidenced by her heartfelt vocals. Near the end of the album are two excellent examples of R&B slow jams of the late 80s: the morose "Lonely", which echoes solitude while also managing to be inviting, and the closer "Someday Tonight", one of the album's highlights that serves as an appropriate sequel to Control's "Let's Wait Awhile". Peppered throughout the album are a series of interludes, which although commonplace today, were rather new and innovative and 1989. Due to their brevity, they merely preface and provide context for the songs rather than serve as a distraction from them.

Rhythm Nation 1814 is the preeminent collaboration between Janet and her tried-and-true team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. While the album definitely sounds as if it came from 1989, it still packs a great punch and Janet injects each song with enough personality to make it memorable. If Control had chronicled Janet’s personal call for independence and established her as an artist in her own right, Rhythm Nation 1814 expounded upon her views of the world and cemented her legacy as a bona fide superstar, breaking several records.

It was the biggest selling album in the United States in 1990. Each of its seven singles cracked the Top 5 in the United States, a record that no other album has matched. It spawned four number 1 singles, including one in each of 1989, 1990 and 1991, becoming the first (and only) album to have a number 1 single in three separate years. The Rhythm Nation Tour launched in support of the album would prove to be the most successful debut tour of all time.

If this alone is not enough to cement its status as a benchmark album, the fact that it proved inspirational to thousands of people struggling to get by will ensure that it is remembered fondly. Unlike so many pop stars today with their token charities and obligatory PC messages, Janet actually took a risk by imbuing her messages into the actual content of the album, making her a heroine to many, including me. Simple and naïve as they may be, they are the ponderings of an idealist 23-year old woman concerned about the world around her and optimistic about the efficacy of her actions. I suppose the fact that I also tend to have my head in the clouds and am an eternal optimist endears the album to me as it does, but the youthful exhuberance and optimism here is as appropriate as it is infectious. Dare it say it- Rhythm Nation 1814 is late 80s pop’s landmark in the lineage of socially conscious predecessors such as What’s Goin’ On, There’s a Riot Goin’ On and Stevie Wonder’s 70s work.

While the ensuing albums would be commerical juggernauts in their own right, it was with Rhythm Nation 1814 that Janet Jackson cemented her legend. Under the wing of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Janet harvested a truly landmark album in the history of music. The black and white videos. The key earring. The militaristic choreography. Those industrial beats and irresistible funk grooves. This is Janet Jackson's bread and butter. And all of this at the age of 23.

Rhythm Nation 1814 was one of the first albums I ever owned, and it has remained vital to me throughout the past 20 years. As time progressed, my initial star-struck fanaticism was replaced by a mere appreciation of the finely crafted pop gems and the boldness and guileless altruism with which they were delivered. It’s become a cliché to announce that an album has “changed your life”, so to speak, but this album really did change mine. It helped to educate me in music and ideals, and I would definitely be a lesser person without its place in the world. For me, it's one of those rare albums that becomes such a personal pillar that its impact extends well beyond the duration of the songs therein, so much that I carry a copy of it around with me everywhere I go. Through all of life’s peaks and valleys over the past two decades, I’m still happy to enlist in the utopia she proposes. I won’t let my eyes deceive me.

Though it's my favourite janet album and paved the way for artists today like we discussed, I really don't think it's recognized by people who weren't old enough to remember or weren't born, despite being the best selling of 1990, same with radio. I see people remember can't touch this, ice ice baby, madonna's songs, roxette, and other artists way more from 1990. And I know I've brought it up but though I knew of other big artists, I honestly didn't know about janet yet either in 1990 but knew about michael, but I was also really young so that could be why, and there is the possibility she was played and I just missed it or didn't know who it was, cause I did have family who liked her, I just missed it.

alphastreet said:

Though it's my favourite janet album and paved the way for artists today like we discussed, I really don't think it's recognized by people who weren't old enough to remember or weren't born, despite being the best selling of 1990, same with radio. I see people remember can't touch this, ice ice baby, madonna's songs, roxette, and other artists way more from 1990. And I know I've brought it up but though I knew of other big artists, I honestly didn't know about janet yet either in 1990 but knew about michael, but I was also really young so that could be why, and there is the possibility she was played and I just missed it or didn't know who it was, cause I did have family who liked her, I just missed it.

Despite winning alot of awards etc, I think currently it doesnt get that much attention because it was a political album. Most political albums never get credit... so the more popular songs/dance songs like Madonna, Mariah and so forth get more attention. Michaels History doesnt get NOTHING but it was the pinapple of his artisitic creative efforts and once again it was a political album. Most political albums dont get the rightful attention it deserves. I think the ONLY one is Marvin Gaye's, "Whats Going On"

mjscarousal said:

alphastreet said:

Though it's my favourite janet album and paved the way for artists today like we discussed, I really don't think it's recognized by people who weren't old enough to remember or weren't born, despite being the best selling of 1990, same with radio. I see people remember can't touch this, ice ice baby, madonna's songs, roxette, and other artists way more from 1990. And I know I've brought it up but though I knew of other big artists, I honestly didn't know about janet yet either in 1990 but knew about michael, but I was also really young so that could be why, and there is the possibility she was played and I just missed it or didn't know who it was, cause I did have family who liked her, I just missed it.

Despite winning alot of awards etc, I think currently it doesnt get that much attention because it was a political album. Most political albums never get credit... so the more popular songs/dance songs like Madonna, Mariah and so forth get more attention. Michaels History doesnt get NOTHING but it was the pinapple of his artisitic creative efforts and once again it was a political album. Most political albums dont get the rightful attention it deserves. I think the ONLY one is Marvin Gaye's, "Whats Going On"

I think maybe males were taken more seriously than females. We Are The World, Man In the Mirror, Black or White were all taken seriously for years before and after death, but also hits from artists like Phil Collins, u2, Bruce Springsteen and themes coming up in hip hop music emerging at the time of 1814 were taken more seriously, Janet was a part of that movement. I agree she did break records though, but in the end, mc hammer, vanilla ice and madonna went diamond with their albums that year, she never did.