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Janet Jackson announces new album, tour

A look back at Blade’s 2006 interview with music icon

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Janet Jackson, gay news, Washington Blade
Janet Jackson, gay news, Washington Blade

Janet Jackson announced plans for a new album and world tour on Saturday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

In a video message posted Saturday — her 49th birthday — Janet Jackson announced plans for a new album and world tour.

“I promised you’d hear it from my lips, and now you will,” she says in the video. “This year: new music; new world tour; a new movement. I’ve been listening. Let’s keep the conversation going.”

She added the hashtag #ConversationsInACafe, which some have speculated is the title of the upcoming album.

Jackson has long been an LGBT favorite, winning GLAAD awards and other accolades for her pro-LGBT themes and extensive work in HIV/AIDS philanthropy.

Back in 2006, Jackson sat down with the Blade for an exclusive interview in which she talked about her support for marriage equality and much more. While the world awaits new material, let’s revisit that 2006 interview.

Sept. 29, 2006:

 

We’re ‘So Excited’

 

Gay icon Janet Jackson talks about new album, same-sex marriage — and Madonna

 

By KEVIN NAFF

Without Janet Jackson, no one would be one-two stepping to Ciara or celebrating Beyonce’s B’Day. And Mouseketeer Justin Timberlake — who has shamelessly appropriated the Jackson family’s moves for years — would be dancing in theme park musical productions instead of bringing sexy back.

After inspiring a league of imitators during 20 years in the music business, Jackson releases her ninth studio album this week, “20 Y.O.,” a wonderfully self-referential return to the top of her game and a nod to the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking 1986 album “Control.”

In the midst of a whirlwind media tour to promote the album, which has included a stop on Oprah’s couch and a “Today” show appearance, Jackson granted the Blade an exclusive interview this week in which she talked about the album, the MTV boycott of her videos, her gay fans and even Madonna.

Although Jackson has always said she writes songs about what’s happening in her life, there is no mention on “20 Y.O.” of the Super Bowl controversy or her brother Michael’s acquittal on child molestation charges.

“I got all of that out of my system,” she says in explaining the decision not to reflect on those events. “That’s not what I’m feeling right now. I wrote about [those controversies] but I didn’t choose to put it out there on the album.”

In 2004, for the first time since the 1980s, a Janet Jackson album failed to hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The commercially disappointing “Damita Jo” opened at No. 2 and went on to sell about one million copies. Despite the lackluster response to that album, Jackson says she’s not feeling pressure to hit No. 1 with “20 Y.O.”

“It’s more important for the record company than for me,” she says. “I just want to bring happiness to people. Of course you want it to be successful, but I really just want to bring a smile to people’s faces.”

One factor that will impact sales of the new album is video exposure. Although BET and VH1 have been playing the first two singles, “Call on Me” and “So Excited,” MTV appears to be boycotting all things Janet.

MTV, which named Jackson its inaugural “Icon” award winner in 2001, produced the infamous half-time show in which Jackson’s breast was exposed. But MTV’s anger over the incident apparently doesn’t extend to Timberlake, whose new single is in heavy rotation. Jackson says she’s heard that MTV has disrespected her fans, but she brushes off the snub.

“The fans get upset and talk about boycotting [MTV],” she says. “It is what it is, but I’m not losing sleep over it. I appreciate the love and support the fans have shown me.”

To reach those fans in the absence of MTV support, Jackson and her promotions team have waged an aggressive web promotion campaign that includes a revamped official website, janet-jackson.com, and a new MySpace site that includes an exclusive video diary. She teased fans earlier this year with the online-only release of a cover of Debbie Deb’s 1980s song “Lookout Weekend.”

Janet clearly recognizes that many of those fans she’s reaching out to are gay. She clarified that she has never been involved in a gay relationship herself, but that she has many gay friends, several of whom are dancers in her upcoming tour.

She says she doesn’t understand why so many people oppose same-sex marriage, “We’re all human and we all fall in love, so why should our sexual preference matter?”

There are no wild innovations or dramatic departures on “20 Y.O.,” but the album is chock full of hits. There is no dead weight on this record, as on “Damita Jo.”

This time out, with help from longtime beau and hit maker Jermaine Dupri and producers and co-writers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson delivers a string of well-crafted tunes. “There’s something to be said for not saying anything,” she says in the introduction to the album. “I want to keep it light. I want to have fun.”

And fun is what she delivers, especially for dance music fans. The album opens with a series of five sure-fire club-banging hits, starting with the current single, “So Excited.” Despite lyrics like, “I’ll open my spot for you, anytime you want me to,” Jackson has ratcheted down the vulgarity this time out. She’s still freaky, but the 40-year-old Janet sounds more mature and confident than she has in the recent past.

Dirty Southern rapper Khia (of “My Neck, My Back” infamy) guests on “So Excited,” which is followed by four more fast-paced songs: “Show Me,” “Get It Out Me,” “Do It 2 Me” and “This Body,” featuring a rollicking guitar riff that recalls “Rhythm Nation” hit “Black Cat.”

In fact, the album is full of sly samples from Jackson’s extensive back catalogue. Listen carefully, and you’ll hear snippets from “Rhythm Nation,” “I Get Lonely” and other previous Jackson hits as she looks back on 20 years in music.

After the opening barrage of infectious beats, Jackson slows things to a mid-tempo groove with songs like “With U” and “Call on Me,” a duet with Nelly that hit No. 1on Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop chart.

The interludes that Jackson is known for interspersing on her albums are spare this time, with just three short breaks plus an intro and outro. The interludes succeed in preparing the listener for what’s to come and transitioning between the faster, mid-tempo and slower ballad tracks.

Jackson’s persona has always included the over-the-top diva as well as the vulnerable and shy side, which she successfully mines on “Take Care,” a whispering, smooth ballad.

Among the standouts — and there are many — “Do It 2 Me” and “Daybreak” really shine.

“Enjoy” is classic, upbeat Janet, reminiscent of “Runaway” and “Escapade.” She coos, “Livin’ every day like it’s my last/ I refuse to be stuck in the past/People acting like machines/cause they’re scared to live their dreams, no not me.”

Jackson says her gay fans have another treat yet to come. She promises a song called “Clap Your Hands” will be a big hit with the gay club crowd. The song isn’t on the version of “20 Y.O.” released this week, but is coming on a future re-release of the album, along with a possible duet with Mariah Carey, which Jackson says is still in the works.

Asked if she would ever consider a duet with longtime chart rival and fellow gay-favorite Madonna, Jackson says she hasn’t thought about it.

“No one’s ever asked me that,” she says, adding that she and Madonna have never actually met. “Isn’t that surprising?”

She declined to speculate about how many singles to expect from the album, saying, “it’s up to the market,” but did confirm that she will launch a world tour in March.

“I’m sure we’ll stop in Washington,” she says, adding that the show will include a mixture of new and old hits. “I don’t like going to a show where all they perform is the new album.”

After the tour, Jackson says she has no idea what’s next for her professionally, but she would like to pursue film roles.

“I’d like to have a family and I’m getting older,” she says. “I don’t know what’s next, I’m as much in the dark as you are.”

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Music & Concerts

Musical icons and newer stars to rock D.C. this spring

Brandi Carlile, Bad Bunny, Nicki Minaj, and more headed our way

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Brandi Carlile plays the Anthem this month.

Bands and solo artists of all different genres are visiting D.C. this spring. Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight will team up to perform at the Wolf Trap in June, and girl in red will play at the Anthem in April. Some artists and bands aren’t paying a visit until the summer, like Janet Jackson and Usher, but there are still plenty of acts to see as the weather warms up. 

MARCH 

Brandi Carlile plays at the Anthem on March 21; Arlo Parks will perform at 9:30 Club on March 23; Girlschool will take the stage at Blackcat on March 28.

APRIL 

Nicki Minaj stops in D.C. at Capital One Arena as part of her North American tour on April 1; Bad Bunny plays at Capital One Arena on April 9 as part of his Most Wanted tour; girl in red performs at the Anthem on April 20 and 21; Brandy Clark plays at the Birchmere on April 25; Laufey comes to town to play at the Anthem on April 25 and 26. 

MAY 

Belle and Sebastian play at the Anthem on May 2; Chastity Belt performs at Blackcat on May 4; Madeleine Peyroux stops at the Birchmere on May 5; The Decemberists play at the Anthem on May 10; the rock band Mannequin Pussy performs at the Atlantis on May 17 and 18; Hozier plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on May 17 as part of the Unreal Unearth tour. 

JUNE 

Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight will sing soulful melodies at Wolf Trap on June 8; Joe Jackson performs at the Lincoln Theatre on June 10; the Pixies and Modest Mouse are teaming up to play at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 14; Maggie Rogers plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 16 as part of The Don’t Forget Me tour; Brittany Howard headlines the Out & About Festival at Wolf Trap on June 22; Sarah McLachlan plays at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 27; Alanis Morissette performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 29 and 30

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Music & Concerts

Grammys: Queer women and their sisters took down the house

Taylor Swift won Album of the Year

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When the late, great Ruth Bader Ginsburg was asked when there will be enough women on the Supreme Court, her answer was simple: Nine. She stated: “I say when there are nine, people are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.” RBG did not attend the Grammy’s last night, but her spirit sure did. Women, at long last, dominated, ruled and killed the night.

Cher, in song a decade ago, declared that “this is a woman’s world,” but there was little evidence that was true, Grammy, and entertainment awards, speaking. In 2018, the Grammys were heavily criticized for lack of female representation across all categories and organizers’ response was for women to “step up.”

Be careful what you wish for boys.

The biggest star of the 2024 Grammys was the collective power of women. They made history, they claimed legacy and they danced and lip sang to each other’s work. Standing victorious was Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, SZA (the most nominated person of the year), Lainey Wilson, Karol G, boygenius, Kylie Minogue and Victoria Monét. Oh, yes, and powerhouse Taylor Swift, the superstar from whom Fox News cowers in fear, made history to become the first performer of any gender to win four Best Album of the Year trophies.

In the throng of these powerful women stand a number of both LGBTQ advocates and queer identifying artists. Cyrus has identified as pansexual, SZA has said lesbian rumors “ain’t wrong,” Phoebe Bridgers (winner of four trophies during the night, most of any artist) is lesbian, Monét is bi and Eilish likes women but doesn’t want to talk about it. Plus, ask any queer person about Swift or Minogue and you are likely to get a love-gush.

Women power was not just owned by the lady award winners. There were the ladies and then there were the Legends. The first Legend to appear was a surprise. Country singer Luke Combs has a cross-generational hit this year with a cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” When originally released, the song was embraced as a lesbian anthem. When performing “Fast Car,” surprise, there was Chapman herself, singing the duet with Combs. The rendition was stunning, sentimental and historic.

Chapman, like many of the night’s female dignitaries, has not been public with her sexuality. Author Alice Walker has spoken of the two of them being lovers, however.

The legend among legends of the night, however, was the one and only Joni Mitchell. Not gay herself, she embodies the concept of an LGBTQ icon, and was accompanied by the very out Brandi Carlile on stage. On her website, Mitchell’s statement to the LGBTQ community reads, “The trick is if you listen to that music and you see me, you’re not getting anything out of it. If you listen to that music and you see yourself, it will probably make you cry and you’ll learn something about yourself and now you’re getting something out of it.”

Mitchell performed her longtime classic “Both Sides Now.” The emotion, insight and delivery from the now 80-year old artist, survivor of an aneurism, was nothing short of profound. (To fully appreciate the nuance time can bring, check out the YouTube video of a Swift lookalike Mitchell singing the same song to Mama Cass and Mary Travers in 1969.) In this latest rendition, Mitchell clearly had an impact on Meryl Streep who was sitting in the audience. Talk about the arc of female talent and power.

That arc extended from a today’s lady, Cyrus, to legend Celine Dion as well. Cyrus declared Dion as one of her icons and inspirations early in the evening. Dion appeared, graceful and looking healthy, to present the final, and historic, award of the night at the end of the show.

Legends did not even need to be living to have had an effect on the night. Tributes to Tina Turner and Sinead O’Conner by Oprah, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor and Annie Lennox respectively, proved that not even death could stop these women. As Lennox has musically and famously put it, “Sisters are doing it for themselves.”

Even the content of performances by today’s legends-in-the-making spoke to feminine power. Eilish was honored for, and performed “What Was I Made For?,” a haunting and searching song that speaks to the soul of womanhood and redefinition in today’s fight for gender rights and expression, while Dua Lipa laid down the gauntlet for mind blowing performance with her rendition of “Houdini” at the top of the show, Cyrus asserted the power of her anthem “Flowers” and pretty much stole the show.

Cyrus had not performed the song on television before, and only three times publicly. She declared in her intro that she was thrilled over the business numbers the song garnered, but she refused to let them define her. As she sang the hit, she scolded the audience, “you guys act like you don’t know the words to this song.” Soon the woman power of the room was singing along with her, from Swift to Oprah.

They can buy themselves flowers from now on. They don’t need anyone else. Cyrus made that point with the mic drop to cap all mic drops, “And I just won my first Grammy!” she declared as she danced off stage.

Even the squirmiest moment of the night still did not diminish the light of women power, and in fact, underscored it. During his acceptance of the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z had a bone to pick with the Grammy voters. He called out the irony that his wife Beyoncé had won more Grammys than any other human, but had never won the Best Album of the Year. Yeah, what’s with that?

But then, it brought additional context ultimately to the fact that the winner of the most Grammys individually … is a woman. And to the fact that the winner of the most Best Album of the Year awards … is a woman.

Hopefully this was the night that the Grammys “got it.” Women are the epicenter of The Creative Force.

Will the other entertainment awards get it soon as well? We can hope.

Most importantly, in a political world where women’s healthcare is under siege. Will the American voters get it?

A little known band named Little Mix put it this way in their 2019 song “A Woman’s World.”

“If you can’t see that it’s gotta change
Only want the body but not the brains
If you really think that’s the way it works
You ain’t lived in a woman’s world

Just look at how far that we’ve got
And don’t think that we’ll ever stop…”

From Grammy’s mouth to the world’s ear.

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Music & Concerts

Janet Jackson returning to D.C, Baltimore

‘Together Again Tour’ comes to Capital One Arena, CFG Bank Arena

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Janet Jackson is coming back to D.C. this summer.

Pop icon Janet Jackson announced this week an extension of her 2023 “Together Again Tour.” A new leg of the tour will bring Jackson back to the area for two shows, one at D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Friday, July 12 and another at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena on Saturday, July 13.  

Tickets are on sale now via TicketMaster. LiveNation announced the 2023 leg of the tour consisted of 36 shows, each of which was sold out. The 2024 leg has 35 stops planned so far; R&B star Nelly will open for Jackson on the new leg. 

Jackson made the tour announcement Tuesday on social media: “Hey u guys! By popular demand, we’re bringing the Together Again Tour back to North America this summer with special guest Nelly! It’ll be so much fun!”

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