SPOTLIGHT
or someone who has been in the public spotlight all of her life—an entertainment industry vet since the ripe old age of 10 independently and as part of her famous family—Janet Jackson is the epitome of mod-
esty and the first one to shine any illumination away from her myriad of accomplishments. There’s no diva attitude, there are no false pretenses, just a (not-so-surprisingly) sweet woman behind the multitude of number-one singles, albums, tours and the different characters she has embodied on
screen, be them small or large. She first rose to fame on the television series Good Times as Penny Woods, followed by stints on Diff’rent Strokes and
Fame. Her silver screen résumé began with a dramatic turn in 1993’s Poetic Justice, and recently Jackson has been writer/ director Tyler Perry’s go-to actress in projects such as, Why Did I Get Married?, its subsequent sequel, and she most recently delivered a powerful performance in For Colored Girls. Since 1986, the singer has also racked up an impressive roster of hits songs including: “Control,” “Miss You Much,” “That’s
The Way Love Goes,” “All For You,” “So Excited” and “Feedback” . . . to name just a few. She has tackled subject matters, a broad range of socially conscious endeavors, and the many different facets of the
term “sexuality.” Her “Rhythm Nation World Tour,” circa 1990, still holds the distinction of being the most successful debut concert tour by any recording artist. The six-time Grammy-winner is currently in the middle of her “Number Ones, Up Close and Personal Tour,” during which
she performs her catalog of chart toppers. She will also give her fans (who selected some of the cities where Jackson will perform) a chance to see her iconic performance in more intimate settings. It is also a celebration designed to recognize fans of a younger generation as they make their own impact, by being one of her “20 under 20.” Jackson will meet and honor those nominated (again by her fans) for their individual accomplishments within their
respective communities in 20 cities during her tour. This should be no surprise, as she has always been an advocate for acceptance and change, which has also endeared her to the LGBT community. This was clearly illustrated recently with her Public Service Announcement for The Trevor Project’s “It Gets Better” anti-bullying campaign. Even with all of this, she took time out to chat with The Rage Monthly in the midst of her busy performance schedule, about her life, career and her new book True You, in which she discusses her struggle with self-esteem, body image and relationships. The most surprising answer for me, was about the way she feels about the word “icon” as applied to herself. Here’s a hint: No, her first name ain’t baby, its Janet … Ms. Jackson if you’re … humble.
How does it feel to have your music inspire so many people throughout the years? I am so happy to hear that my music has inspired people; I really am. When I go into the studio to record music, I am inspired by whatever is going on in my life at the time, and I hope that people can relate to it.
If you had to pick just one song out of your extensive catalog as a personal favorite , which would it be and why? I couldn’t do that. They are all special to me for different reasons. They each have memories that come to me when I am
singing them.
I like the concept of more intimate-type settings for some of the stops on the “Number Ones, Up Close and Personal Tour.” How did the idea for that and having fans select certain cities for the tour come about? When I was in Europe, there were some fans who were camping out in front of the hotel where I stayed. Every time that I came out, they would ask me when I would be performing in their city. That gave me the idea to ask the fans to help me select the cities where I would bring “Number Ones, Up Close and Personal” to. The response has been incredible! Then I came back to the States to perform a private date in New York at Radio City Music Hall. It was so much fun, I could
see everyone’s faces, and all I could think about was that this was how I wanted to do my next tour. All the venues where I will perform during this tour will be up close and personal. I am looking forward to seeing everyone.
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RAGE monthly | APRIL 2011
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