Post by MJcool on Jan 17, 2008 8:20:25 GMT -5
Interview by IAfrica.com:
She may have long ago established herself as one of the most successful divas in the pop music industry, but Janet Jackson still admits that growing up the youngest sister of Michael Jackson was hard.
The last of the nine Jackson children, Janet was only a toddler when her five elder brothers started recording number one hit singles as The Jackson 5, giving her a lot to live up to when she made her debut album in 1982.
"I was still coming out of their shadow, or at least felt I was when I did 'Rhythm Nation'," in 1989, she told AFP in a recent interview. She only felt she had made it with her 1993 album 'Janet', which sold 20 million worldwide.
"Finally when I did 'Janet' I felt, ok I've arrived. I finally made it all by myself to this spot, no coattail hanging, none of that. I felt good about it at that point," she said.
Rich musical education
But growing up in the shadow of The Jackson 5 also gave her a rich musical education from a young age, she says, adding the experience helps explain the variety of music in her albums.
"I was exposed to so many different styles of music and that stemmed from having so many brothers and sisters. Everybody was listening to something different and it all rubbed off on the youngest one for sure," she says.
More than 20 years after releasing her first platinum-selling record, Jackson is hoping her 10th studio album 'Discipline', due out next month, can mark a return to form after her two most recent albums saw disappointing sales.
'Discipline' seems to slide effortlessly from house to pop and more soulful slow tracks. Due out in the United States on 26 February, the album is being billed as classic Janet, mixing dance beats, pop and slow tempo tracks.
"My music's always been mixed like that. The only thing that I didn't do this time around, which I'll probably do on the next album, is to do a rock record," she said.
"There's nothing new that I haven't already done. I know where my lane is. I'm not trying to veer too far off the beaten path," she added.
Reversing a downward trend
The music industry is already predicting the album could reverse a downward trend in Jackson's career that started with the "wardrobe malfunction" that saw her breast being exposed live on television during the 2004 Super Bowl.
But she rejects any idea that the album is a long-awaited comeback, as some in the industry have suggested, saying simply: "I never went anywhere. I think a comeback is when you've been gone and you actually come back."
Even if her last two studio albums '20 Y.O.' in 2006 and 'Damita Jo' in 2004 failed to see the massive success of 'Rhythm Nation 1814' from 1989 and 'Janet' in 1993, both albums still sold more than one million copies worldwide.
"The music business isn't quite doing what it used to. There are certain people that are doing pretty good numbers but still not the kind of numbers we used to do back then," Jackson said.
"If this is the album that takes everything back to the way it used to be that would be great and I'd be excited that it's mine."
In a much better space
Jackson, now 41, admitted a decade ago to suffering from depression, self doubt and having self-esteem issues, something she says is now long behind her.
"I'm in a much, a much better space. I still have my moments when I go back into my little hole but it's never for long. It's never the way that it was and I think we all have days like that."
She talks candidly about picking herself up. "It really starts with myself first and foremost," she explained.
"I had to see myself in a different light for one, to start to like myself, when I didn't before, to learn to love myself, to stop letting myself get into situations in relationships that weren't very healthy for me."
The title track from her 1986 album 'Control' opened with an affirmation stating "it's all about control... control of what I say, control of what I do", but the singer admits that over the years she has loosened her grip.
"I guess being older I've realized that we're not really the ones that are in control. It's truly coming from God. He's the main one that's in control of it all," she says, adding that independence is more important for her.
Strong sense of sexuality
One theme that has remained constant in her albums, and is present in the new record, she says, is a strong sense of her sexuality.
"I think the last album was very sexual too. It just turns out like that. I don't set out to say 'I'm going to make a sexual album.' It just happens that way really."
Jackson says she is constantly approached by people who say their children were conceived to one of her songs, most popularly tracks like 'Velvet Rope', 'Would You Mind', and perhaps most appropriately 'Any Time, Any Place'.
"It makes me feel great because that's what it's all about. It's creating music that moves people and puts them in a certain mood and that's the correct mood that you want them to be in," she said.
She says she hopes 'Discipline', the title track of the new album and a slow soulful hip-grinder with breathy vocals, will follow in that tradition.
Media obsession
But when not being approached by fans, she confides, the pressure of being a public figure can get too much, especially with the media's obsession with celebrities.
"It's definitely worse now than it has been in the past, but I think also a lot of celebrities want it that way," she said.
"I think there are those that really do shy away from it and then there are others that love the attention, so any chance they can get they're not going to try and avoid it. You can avoid it a lot of times," she added.
"But you have moments when you just want to have your down time and kind of be alone and kind of blend in with the rest of the crowd and then somewhere out of nowhere (the paparazzi) come along.
"When you come to a red light, they jump out the car and surround your car and then jump back in their car once the light turns green. It becomes too much at times," she admitted.
"I think there should be certain guidelines, where it can get too dangerous and that's where it has to stop."
She may have long ago established herself as one of the most successful divas in the pop music industry, but Janet Jackson still admits that growing up the youngest sister of Michael Jackson was hard.
The last of the nine Jackson children, Janet was only a toddler when her five elder brothers started recording number one hit singles as The Jackson 5, giving her a lot to live up to when she made her debut album in 1982.
"I was still coming out of their shadow, or at least felt I was when I did 'Rhythm Nation'," in 1989, she told AFP in a recent interview. She only felt she had made it with her 1993 album 'Janet', which sold 20 million worldwide.
"Finally when I did 'Janet' I felt, ok I've arrived. I finally made it all by myself to this spot, no coattail hanging, none of that. I felt good about it at that point," she said.
Rich musical education
But growing up in the shadow of The Jackson 5 also gave her a rich musical education from a young age, she says, adding the experience helps explain the variety of music in her albums.
"I was exposed to so many different styles of music and that stemmed from having so many brothers and sisters. Everybody was listening to something different and it all rubbed off on the youngest one for sure," she says.
More than 20 years after releasing her first platinum-selling record, Jackson is hoping her 10th studio album 'Discipline', due out next month, can mark a return to form after her two most recent albums saw disappointing sales.
'Discipline' seems to slide effortlessly from house to pop and more soulful slow tracks. Due out in the United States on 26 February, the album is being billed as classic Janet, mixing dance beats, pop and slow tempo tracks.
"My music's always been mixed like that. The only thing that I didn't do this time around, which I'll probably do on the next album, is to do a rock record," she said.
"There's nothing new that I haven't already done. I know where my lane is. I'm not trying to veer too far off the beaten path," she added.
Reversing a downward trend
The music industry is already predicting the album could reverse a downward trend in Jackson's career that started with the "wardrobe malfunction" that saw her breast being exposed live on television during the 2004 Super Bowl.
But she rejects any idea that the album is a long-awaited comeback, as some in the industry have suggested, saying simply: "I never went anywhere. I think a comeback is when you've been gone and you actually come back."
Even if her last two studio albums '20 Y.O.' in 2006 and 'Damita Jo' in 2004 failed to see the massive success of 'Rhythm Nation 1814' from 1989 and 'Janet' in 1993, both albums still sold more than one million copies worldwide.
"The music business isn't quite doing what it used to. There are certain people that are doing pretty good numbers but still not the kind of numbers we used to do back then," Jackson said.
"If this is the album that takes everything back to the way it used to be that would be great and I'd be excited that it's mine."
In a much better space
Jackson, now 41, admitted a decade ago to suffering from depression, self doubt and having self-esteem issues, something she says is now long behind her.
"I'm in a much, a much better space. I still have my moments when I go back into my little hole but it's never for long. It's never the way that it was and I think we all have days like that."
She talks candidly about picking herself up. "It really starts with myself first and foremost," she explained.
"I had to see myself in a different light for one, to start to like myself, when I didn't before, to learn to love myself, to stop letting myself get into situations in relationships that weren't very healthy for me."
The title track from her 1986 album 'Control' opened with an affirmation stating "it's all about control... control of what I say, control of what I do", but the singer admits that over the years she has loosened her grip.
"I guess being older I've realized that we're not really the ones that are in control. It's truly coming from God. He's the main one that's in control of it all," she says, adding that independence is more important for her.
Strong sense of sexuality
One theme that has remained constant in her albums, and is present in the new record, she says, is a strong sense of her sexuality.
"I think the last album was very sexual too. It just turns out like that. I don't set out to say 'I'm going to make a sexual album.' It just happens that way really."
Jackson says she is constantly approached by people who say their children were conceived to one of her songs, most popularly tracks like 'Velvet Rope', 'Would You Mind', and perhaps most appropriately 'Any Time, Any Place'.
"It makes me feel great because that's what it's all about. It's creating music that moves people and puts them in a certain mood and that's the correct mood that you want them to be in," she said.
She says she hopes 'Discipline', the title track of the new album and a slow soulful hip-grinder with breathy vocals, will follow in that tradition.
Media obsession
But when not being approached by fans, she confides, the pressure of being a public figure can get too much, especially with the media's obsession with celebrities.
"It's definitely worse now than it has been in the past, but I think also a lot of celebrities want it that way," she said.
"I think there are those that really do shy away from it and then there are others that love the attention, so any chance they can get they're not going to try and avoid it. You can avoid it a lot of times," she added.
"But you have moments when you just want to have your down time and kind of be alone and kind of blend in with the rest of the crowd and then somewhere out of nowhere (the paparazzi) come along.
"When you come to a red light, they jump out the car and surround your car and then jump back in their car once the light turns green. It becomes too much at times," she admitted.
"I think there should be certain guidelines, where it can get too dangerous and that's where it has to stop."