( By: Latifah Muhammad for CL )
Janet Jackson can do no wrong. Well at least in my book. After releasing her tenth album earlier this year (Discipline) she’s decided to give the fans a little bit more with the start of her first tour in seven years, Rock Witchu starting in September. Ms. Jackson spoke with Concrete Loop to give us the details on what we can expect from the tour.
“My true goal is to try at least do every single that I’ve ever had. So, I’ve got to figure out a way to fit this in two hours, and yet give them enough of each song so that they don’t feel hungry for more of that song in particular.” She said.
Discipline was released in February of this year, and debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, but is looking to be a mild success in term of units sold. In a time where everyone in the music industry sites the changing music market for less than stellar sales Janet revealed a rift between herself and her current record label Island/Def Jam.
“The label and myself haven’t quite seen eye-to-eye since the feedback single. So, this kind of basically stopped all promotion. To be quite honest, it just completely stopped all promotion whatsoever on the album. So, I don’t think you’re going to hear another single off of this album.”
Yet Janet doesn’t hold any negative feelings towards her current label deciding to forge on with the Rock Witchu tour and putting out a new book entitled Me. The literary work covers parts of Janet that people don’t know much about. Yes we’ve seen her at different weights but we’ve never really known the real story behind it. Hopefully this book will not only clear things up (for all that want to know) but inspire fans as well.
For more info and dates about the ‘Rock Witchu’ Tour, check out Live Nation.
im proud of janet.
amazingly she still looks like the little girl Penny in this picture
I might check her show out if she goes to Detroit, cause I know she’s not going to stop in Cleveland. I hope her tix aren’t like $200…
I got my tickets for her HOUSTON $how!
I’ll be sitting on the floor………….HaHa
It was obvious from the very beginning that Discipline would not do well. I think a concert with all her singles though, especially the first 10 to 15 years, which is remarkable I must say, will do very well. I think Janet should follow the trend of great sports legends…leave when you are at the top of your game. She is now leaving a track record of like 2 or 3 albums with miniscule sales, and really putting a damper on all that she has accomplished. She is blessed to also be a talented AND successful actress, therefore I think at this point she should stick to that. Because her music is becoming a joke and she looks really corny in her 40′s still trying to promote her music on MTV and BET. If the music is to be a natural success it will sell regardless.
………………… I can’t believe how Def Jam stopped all pf JJ promotion that is why
………………… she going on tour I don’t believe her to many labels pump money into
………………… the wrong artist *coughs Rihanna* not that I think JJ sounds any
…………………better but she is legend and deserves respect Mariah has had like
………………… three singles and I hate her cd.
I love Janet, but that Feedback single was crap. I knew something was going on with this album. I didn’t hear much about it after that first crappy single that sounds like Brittney Spears. Janet needs to leave the music industry all together. The popular music now is all crap. Do your own thing.
Cant wait for the tour! Janet
I totally agree w/#6
—-Janet can get it, yo!!!!
I really wanna go to see her tour. The last one I saw was Velvet Rope Tour and it was amazing.
I know the tour will be a huge success like other legends who go on tour. She knows how to put on a show and has influenced the shows of people out today. I had no issue with the last album.
The tour will probably be fantastic. She always puts on a good show. People should rally should leave quit trying to write her off. If she wants to continue to do her thing, let her. Music fans of other genres embrace icons like Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Cher. Fans of R&B music should od the same instead of acting like nerds equating Sound Scan sales to relevancy. I’m glad legends like her and Prince ignore the haters and continue to do what they love to do.
*Excuse my typos in the 2nd sentence of my post. lol
As far as Janet’s music being a joke, I’m one who will say differently. The Discipline CD was a very good one. The thing is: once people have their opinions and their minds made up about a particular artists, then you get what you get. As far as album sales are concerned, no artists are pushing really big numbers these days because of the continuing practice of internet leaks. I’ve say said before and now will be no different, if people can get something for free, why pay for it. Millions have the CD, it’s just that millions to pay for it. So I blame the record label because they have the authority to control leaks to internet. Many of the critics on here and similar sites have not even listen to the CD, it’s all based on their personal opinions of her that would explain the assininity of the some of the comments. Entertainers like Janet and Michael are rare and we certainly don’t see that level of performing in today’s artists.
Ok, then Janet. Let them know what’s really up!
I will be going to see the Rock Witchu Tour as soon as it hits Atlanta! I can’t wait: like Janet or not, her tours are always the ish, and no one tops them!!!!!
@14 I agree with you 100%. I also think it’s pathethic that so called Black people have willingly joined what I call a “black ball” of Janet’s music since the Super Bowl wardrobe malfuction.
Janet is a true legend and STILL puts out great music which everyone would know if they would only think for themselves!!!
Got my pre-sale Fan-Club seats already and I can’t wait to see her in Dallas, NYC, and Atlanta!!!! No matter the less than stellar sales as of late, she’s a LEGEND and paved the way for MANY that blatantly state she was an inspiration… Beyonce, Ciara, Christina, Kelly… The list goes on as they all pay homage and have stated that Janet is part of the reason they themselves try to be creative and revolutionize… Hands down I’ll support Janet in her time of need… We’re too quick to GIVE UP ON PEOPLE just because they don’t give us what we feel they should… I’m standing by Janet… If America can OVER-LOOK JUSTIN TIMBERFAKES blatant dealings in the whole nipplegate fiasco then why hasn’t Janet still been forgiven by tons of radio stations who used to fully support her? He played a part in it but apologized and was given the green light… Janet refused to apologize, yet made a statement and she was blackballed… DO WHAT U DO JDJ… You’re #1 JAN-ADDICT WILL BE SUPPORTING U TO THE LIMIT!!!
I will go on to say that Janet has a hard time accepting the fact that the GLORY DAYS are over. Leave the game with your head held high. She’s better at acting anyways in my opinion. She doesn’t have the best vocals anyways. This is my opinion and I feel that she will never sell like she used to be cause her talent is only limited to just stage perfomance. But when it comes down to the vocal arrangement of her music it is just not there. Her best songs were recorded in the 90′s. I do admire her drive, but it’s time for her to sit down. Plan and simple.
I dont know why Def Jam would cease promotion of the album because of a difference of opinions over the next single…Its obvious it should be LUV tho but anyway, I think the main reason for Janet’s lackluster album sales is because…and everyone knows it….the Superbowl incident…statistics definitely show it. All For You (2001) was a smash hit along with each of the other 3 studio albums before then, then Superbowl 2004 hits, MTV bans Ms Jackson and the three studio albums afterward have extremely low sales. All three albums pushed great singles but no sales…Its ridicuolous how one accident changed her entire career…But i admire Janet for perservering and pushing through.
I’ll be at the ATL show!!! To everyone that hasn’t seen a Janet show, you have not seen a show. It’s a shame how folks have dismissed Janet, she is the real deal. And Discipline is a hot album despite the sales. I can’t wait to see what she is going to bring to the stage this time.
The hate for Janet is proof of how people today don’t think for themselves. How in the hell can you write off JANER JACKSON, better yet MICHAEL JACKSON? Everybody pop star you see today is a clone of them, yet we dog them. I for surely will be going to Janet’s concert, her All for You tour was awesome, and I hope she comes with something totally unexpected like performing one of her older songs like “SAY YOU DO” or “YOUNG LOVE”. By the way, if any of Janet’s colleagues are reading it’ll make her hardcore fans if she did a song off of her first album. I mean my head would pop off!
I got my NJ tix!!! I NEED OCTOBER 17TH TO GET HERE ASAP! Thanks.
s SHE LOOKS A LITTLE HEAVY BUT STILL GOOD THAT WILL ALL CHANGE WHEN SHE GOES ON TOUR.
Can’t wait to see this woman on tour. She’s amazing!!!
I couldn’t believe my ears when I saw heard her on the damn Bust it Baby remix! I was like wtf?! This woman is a legend. She’s been around for years and she’s on this garbage?! Idk if I will see her on tour cuz I have a feeling that she will charge an arm and a leg.
way to go #16
I think that for Janet to be doing her thing 20 years straight, she is lucky. To remain popular on the radio and video circuits for that long is a blessing. It’s like this: you have legends like Aretha, Chaka, Patti, and the like. They were legends of their time and still will be. However, these women are not popular in today’s music circuit and they still have fans. I don’t think that Janet is losing steam at all; she, like Aretha, Chaka, and Patti, and her fanbase are getting older!
People still respect Janet, no doubt, but once you get older your music tailors to your fans instead of the usual mainstream audience. That’s what Rihanna, Ciara, Beyonce, and the rest of those girls are for.
Janet has been around the world and back, and I’m proud.
I will be at her tour in Atlanta tho!!!
way to go #16
who cares if she dont sale mills of records !! does that mean she should stop what she has a passion for !! h$ll NO!! DO YOUR THANG JANET!!
Janet is an Icon, but she does need to bow out gracefully, her vocals are not that good, but she is a great performer, she needs to go into other venues like the acting or maybe mentoring or judging performers, and she looks kinda fat in this picture, what happened to her hair. Anyway still love ya Janet!
I agree with what Charlamange on the Wendy Williams show I believe sometime last week. Wendy was doing a story about Alicia Keys having slept with Swizz Beats and Swizz Beats wife calling Alicia Keys for sleepin with her husband. So Charlamagne was like “say what you want but Alicia is a genius, she’s on her own PLANET. There are only four artists that are on their own PLANET. Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey….AND JANET JACKSON IS THE UNIVERSE CUZ THEY ALL HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY HER. SO THEY ARE ALL ON THEIR OWN PLANETS BUT THEY EXISTING IN JANET’S UNIVERSE.”
And regardless of whether she gets the credit or not it is very true. People are quick to write Janet off, but I mean so what if her last three album didn’t sell major numbers, she still had songs from those albums reach Number One on the dance charts, they still debuted in the Top 2 spots on Billboard, Call On Me was number One for a couple of weeks on the R&B Charts, she still had Number One videos with Call On Me and So Excited and can still perform like no other. I mean when Diana Ross releases a new album and it doesn’t sell large numbers I hear nobody saying she should just quit and stop releasing albums cause they don’t sell, when Stevie Wonder releases albums and they don’t sell large numbers I hear nobody talking about he’s done and should give it up. Yeah maybe Janet ran into a snag after the Superbowl, but so what, who are we to tell somebody they should give up something they love doing? And besides who stays number one forever? Probably the main reason Janet isn’t where she used to be, is because everybody is already doing what she started, which is again why she is the Universe.
To Janet I say do what feels right, for you, girl…what is genuine to you…Go with that, you’ll never lose
Keep Smilin’!
I
i’ll definitely catch her on tour…can’t really say her music sucks particularly more than anyboey else like people try to make it seem… cause MARIAH AND USHER’S CD’S BOTH SUCK ASS rite now to me personally…lol….KNOW JANET IS GON GIVE A HELL OF A SHOW THO
I cosign with no. 16, well said, they never tell Madonna to go and sit down, she’s 50 and has 2 kids! only these people on here and other blacks that believe Rihanna and Beyonce are the sh**!! If you don’t like her (J’s) music don’t listen!!!!!!!!!!!
Who this new chick writing for CL?
——-Latifah Muhammad?
——-Angel aren’t you going to introduce us?
——Did I miss something?
Say that shit #’s 29 & 32!! That’s what i’m talking about!
Janet should go ahead and do what she does, HOWEVER, I think a lot of people lost some respect for her despite percieved lackluster album. Only because, she still presents herself as a late tween or chick in her 20s. She had that calendar where she was half naked and I definitely don’t want to see a 40 year old black woman of her status doing that. She still seeks entirely too much attention for her physique. At 40, I would have wanted her to come with music showing depth and character, minus all the beyonce-esq booty shaking and scanty clothes. Grow up!
Janet Jackson is way before my time but I still respect the impact she has had on music. “Pleasure Principle” is one of my favorite videos of all time and “I Get So Lonely” is on repeat on my Ipod. I do think she should chill on making new albums so consistently and just tour. She has already cemented her place in music so there is really no need to put out a new album every 2-3 years because her music just doesn’t connect with the masses like it used to, plus touring is where the money would be anyway. Who in their right mind wouldn’t pay to see Janet Jackson live…maybe even do a Vegas show.
Janet coming to Houston in October and I most def will be there!
Janet is an Icon and Legend no doubt – but instead of continuing her trend of leading the pack she got caught up in the pack. She started trying to “keep up” with the latest singers instead of realizing she was already ahead – actually in a different lane altogether.
And yes that SuperBowl fiasco had a lot to do with her position, but the real deal was that whole “malfunction” was not necessary in the first place – it had so place in the show – it was desperate. Do your dance – sing your song and let your TALENT speak for you.
She still has it, but you have to understand and accept when the game has changed and how you need to adjust to stay on point….. And the bust it baby remix ain’t it.
Um didn’t she leave Virgin over this??? Maybe its not the record labels………
Or maybe it is, how many people have left their labels in just 2008? It’s only June.
I tell ya Def Jam are a bunch of SCUM BAGS, they really are a bunch of fools they did such a lousy job in promoting this album they should have released “Luv” as a second single but LA Reid demanding “Rock with u” to be the second single and look….. it did nothing, i swear a bunch of trained chimps would have done a better job in promoting this album…..smh
Angel…. whos Latifah.Muhammad????
I won my tix off the radio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I gave my tickets, cant wait to see her in NC
I GOT MY TICKETS AND I AM ON THE FLOOR!!
I AM SOOOO PSYCHED FOR THIS CONCERT!!
IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN JANET LIVE…YOU ARE MISSING A SPECIAL TREAT!!
GO OUT AND SUPPORT THE TOUR..YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!
First of all, folks blaming her bad sells on people not buying cds….I beg to differ. You better ask Lil Wayne, who just sold over a million in his first week. Ask Alicia who went 2x platinum in a couple of months. If people like the music enough they will go out and purchase it. That “Feedback” single was crap. The public thought it was crap….which resulted in poor album sales. Why should Def Jam continue to spend money promoting an album than no one is obviously buying?
And like someone else said, didnt she leave Virgin Records because of the same thing? When is she going to start looking in the mirror and blaming herself? She hasnt been able to change with the times, its like she is stuck in the eighties.
And what universe does Janet own? I dont believe that foolishness. Sell some records and will talk about owning a universe. Janet hasnt even been in orbit since the 90′s let alone being the universe for female artist. Lets not overdue it folks…
All record companies want puppets… puppets that are young and foolish and can’t make decisions for themselves… when you think for yourself and you know the in’s and out’s of the business you basically get the short end….. Janet knows her true fans and that’s who she targets she may not have the record sales but her concerts are always sold out in every city and country…those are her true fans…..
I’ve been to every Janet concent in NYC! lol… yup Lady Architect Velvet Rope was hot!! It’s an experience!!
@8BALLER
Def Jam didn’t promote the album from the get go, so how the hell did they expect it to sell, Feedback wasn’t that bad… theres song that are a lot worse than that and they have sold e.g. soulja boys garbage
I hate janet’s music and dont care for her dancing but I LOVE that rock with you song!!!!
I’m a big Janet fan, but I agree her time has passed, just like Madonna’s time has passed as well. It doesn’t matter how hot/young-sounding your music is; people just ain’t checkin for them anymore. I remember when Janet released ‘Design of a Decade’ back in the 90s…that was my SHYT!
On another note, Janet’s gaining weight again…but I’m sure she’ll lose it by the time of the tour.
I must admit, i was skeptical of her new album but after listening to it.. I love it. Eventhough I was skeptical I still gave her a chance becuz Im a Janet Jackson fan and I figured that nothing could be worst than whats already out. I wanted to hear some dance up tempo music and her album did not disappoint at all. I was tired of hearing everyone cry on albums and I love to dance so I gravitated to Janet and haven’t looked back since. It’s good work out music to
I don’t think that Feedback should’ve been the single though. There were some other songs that would’ve made better singles. I think Luv, Roc wit u, and Roller Coaster would’ve been the best singles had she put them out instead of Feedback. But right now Def Jam is going thru a major transition and she has received more attention than some artists who been shelved for years now. I don’t take anything from Janet, nobody can touch her as far as Im concerned.
Right now record companies have reduced itself to an “every man for his/herself” machine. Janet is from the old school and she isn’t used to that. She’s used to record execs and A&R pushing artists’ projects, which they are paid to do and should be doing. But now I think she starting to get her hustle on and push it herself. I think she’s learning to change with the cruddy times of record labels. It’s not the fans, its’ the record companies dropping the ball and the buzz. Janet is learning to pick up the ball and create her own buzz. It’s a good project indeed. I think is shock ppl when they finally learn that their company don’t care nothing about them. If u don’t reform your hustle and elevate urself then they sure as hell won’t, no matter how great u are as an employee or in her case..an performing artist. Good luck Janet! I haven’t attended a concert all year but I think I will check hers out.
It seems like her career has not recovered since the Superbowl fiasco. That really sucks.
Go JJ.
#14 I totally agree with you…