The Velvet Rope

"Velvet Rope" redirects here. For the velvet-style rope line, see rope line.
The Velvet Rope
Studio album by Janet Jackson
Released October 7, 1997
Recorded January – July 1997[1]
Flyte Tyme Studios
(Edina, Minnesota)
Hit Factory Studios
(New York, New York City)
Record Plant Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length
  • 75:23
Label Virgin
Producer
Janet Jackson chronology
Design of a Decade: 1986–1996
(1995)		 The Velvet Rope
(1997)		 All for You
(2001)
Singles from The Velvet Rope
  1. "Got 'til It's Gone"
    Released: September 22, 1997
  2. "Together Again"
    Released: December 2, 1997
  3. "I Get Lonely"
    Released: February 26, 1998
  4. "Go Deep"
    Released: June 15, 1998
  5. "You"
    Released: September 3, 1998
  6. "Every Time"
    Released: November 17, 1998

The Velvet Rope is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson. The album was released on October 7, 1997 through Virgin Records America.[2] Following the release of her first greatest hits compilation Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 (1995), Jackson's recording contract with Virgin was up for renewal, making her the subject of a high-profile bidding war among parties including Sony Music, The Walt Disney Company, and Time Warner. She ultimately chose to renew her contract with Virgin for an unprecedented $80 million, making her the world's highest paid musical act for the second time in her career. She unveiled a new image, flaunting vibrant red hair, multiple tattoos, and acquiring facial and body piercings. She also abandoned her surname, releasing material solely under her first name.

Upon experiencing an emotional breakdown, Jackson began facing a long-term case of depression, steaming from childhood and adolescent traumas, including body dysmorphia, anorexia and self-harm. She in turn developed her new record as a concept album, using introspection as its theme. Its title is a metaphor for emotional boundaries, as well as an allusion to an individual's need to feel special. Its lyrics address subject matter such as depression, self-worth, social networking, homophobia and domestic violence. It also encompasses themes of sexuality, including BDSM, masturbation, sexual orientation and same-sex relationships. Due to its sexually explicit content, the album reinforced Jackson's public image as a sex symbol and as one of the most erotic vocalists of the 1990s. Its incorporation of social issues regarding sexual orientation also established her reputation as a gay icon and received a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music.

The record was co-written and co-produced by Jackson, her then-husband René Elizondo, Jr., Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with additional contributions by various songwriters. Songs on the album also include British violinist Vanessa-Mae, Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell and American rapper Q-Tip as featured artists. Its composition fuses various genres, including pop, R&B, trip hop, folk, jazz, rock and electronic music. Considered to be Jackson's most mature recording, it is regarded as a template for pop artists transitioning to a darker or rebellious sound and as a precursor to the development of alternative R&B. Referred to as her magnum opus, The Velvet Rope has been subject to critical acclaim and is included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The album peaked within the top five positions of the majority of the global record charts it entered. In the United States, it became Jackson's fourth consecutive album to top the Billboard 200. Certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), it has sold over three million copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan and an estimated ten million copies worldwide. Of the six singles released from the project, "Got 'til It's Gone" won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Music Video, "Together Again" became one of the best-selling singles worldwide and "I Get Lonely" became Jackson's 18th consecutive top ten hit, making her the only female artist in the history of the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart to achieve that feat. The Velvet Rope Tour in support of the album drew critical acclaim for its theatricality, as well as controversy for its depictions of domestic violence and bondage.

Background

Jackson's first compilation album, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996, was released in 1995. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.[3] The lead single, "Runaway", became the first song by a female artist to debut within the top ten of the Hot 100, reaching number three.[4][5] Design of a Decade 1986/1996 was certified double platinum by the RIAA and sold ten million copies worldwide.[6] Following the release, Jackson had fulfilled her duties and contract with Virgin Records. Upon fulfilling her contract with Virgin Records, Jackson was subject to an industry bidding war between various parties, including Sony Music, Time Warner, and The Walt Disney Company, who attempted to sign her jointly with PolyGram. Jackson renewed her contract with Virgin for $80 million, signing the largest recording contract in history for the second time.[7] The contract established her as the then-highest paid recording artist in history, surpassing the recording industry's then-unparalleled $60 million contracts earned by Michael Jackson and Madonna.[8][9][10]

Writing and development

"I had my ways of hiding my pain. Laughing when there was nothing to laugh at. Smiling when there wasn't anything to smile about. That was just my way of getting through life. Pretending like everything was okay. I guess I did it so well that I really began to believe it. I fooled myself. Using my escapism's was my thing to not feel my pain—whatever would numb the pain."

— Janet on the repression of various traumas throughout her adolescence.[11]

During her Janet World Tour, Jackson experienced an emotional breakdown, stemming from self-hatred, childhood humiliation, self-harm, and distorted body image.[12] She stated, "I was very, very sad. Very down. I couldn't get up sometimes. There were times when I felt very hopeless and helpless, and I felt like walls were kind of closing in on me.. like you can't escape".[13][14] She questioned her career path, feeling pressured by the demands of the entertainment industry, saying, "People look at you differently, as if you're not human."[15] Abbie Kearse of MTV responded, "You're creating a person who might not really be you, but you've created this fantasy woman, so when it's time to get back to business, it's like 'I've got to go back to that world.'"[11] Jackson expressed concern for how she could portray an object of fantasy, feeling as if she could no longer fulfill her own desires.[16]

In self-analysis, Jackson uncovered vital details regarding her past, saying, "Certain things may happen, and you just dismiss them instead of stopping and saying, "Why am I feeling this way? Why am I acting out in this way?"[11] She had suppressed various traumas throughout her adolescence and early adulthood, using evasion tactics to prevent thoughts from surfacing.[11] She also recalled feeling unaccepted and ostracized for her skin color.[17] She was persistently haunted by a memory of a school teacher intensely scolding her, causing her classmates to erupt in laughter.[18] "Oh, God, it sounds so stupid. But being a kid you're just so frightened... I never talked about it, so it stayed with me all those years. I felt not deserving, not good enough... that's still the way I feel about myself sometimes", she declared.[11][18] As a child, she managed discomfort by speaking to her animals, later turning to overeating as an anesthetic, causing fluctuations in weight.[18] Jackson said, "I began to realize that whenever something really painful was going on, I would eat, and that's how I would run away from it. But I would just be creating another problem in another area instead of just dealing with that pain".[11]

Photographer Ellen von Unwerth (pictured) attempted to capture Jackson's emotional pain within the album's imagery.[19]

Jackson developed body dysmorphia as a response to ridicule, stating, "I'd look in the mirror and hate myself. I'd sit and cry. It was so hard for me to look at myself and find something that I liked. Not just physically, but something that was good in me."[20] She also inflicted self-harm, banging her head against the wall when feeling unattractive.[21] She traced her fragility to her abusive marriage to recording artist James DeBarge when she was 16 years old.[11] Jackson recalled, "It all has to do with very low self esteem. Especially going into a relationship like that very young... someone telling you things like, 'no one is ever going to want you again, you should be happy here with me.'"[17] Attempting to alter his behavior and drug addiction, she explained, "I learned the hard way that you can't change a person."[22] Recalling her divorce, she revealed, "There came a point when I finally said, 'You know what? I just don't care what happens.' I had to do what I wanted to but had been too afraid to. And at that point I didn't care if I got my brains beat out. I just went ahead and did it. And I got my ass kicked for it. But I'm happy that I did it, or I don't think I would be here today."[11]

Her self-hatred accelerated into raging cycles of bulimia and anorexia, repressing the issue until questioned.[20] Jackson said, "people say to me: `Okay, you've got to start eating more. You're too thin.' But when you look in the mirror, you see something totally different."[20] She continued, "I had swung so far in one direction, I never thought I could swing so far in the other. You're losing weight and getting smaller, and I'd still say to myself I could afford to lose a little more."[20] However, she refused professional guidance, reluctant to examination.[20] She briefly saw a psychologist before an encounter with a spiritual guru, who aided her emotional recovery. Jackson recounted, "we went to this very spiritual place in the desert... That's where I met him, this cowboy. He's in his fifties, and he's full of wisdom. He's an older man who has experienced a great deal, and he used to be in the music industry, on a smaller scale. He even understood that side of my life."[12][15][23] She also began using coffee enemas to remove "sad cells", leading to media scrutiny.[18][24] The trauma lead to a brief duration of sexual questioning, saying "Am I curious? I think every girl has wondered."[20] Jackson culminated the experiences into the album's subject matter, recording over two years.[12]

Recording

Record Plant is one of the studios the album was recorded at.

The album was produced by Jackson with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, as well as René Elizondo, Jr.. Its initial stages began following her janet. World Tour, recording intermittently over two years.[12] The process stalled due to various issues facing Jackson, including depression, body dysmorphia, anorexia, and self-hatred.[12] As a result, Jackson spontaneously canceled sessions, appearing constantly troubled, as Jam commented, "That was a tough album to make for her. There were times when she would not show up at the studio for five or six days in a row."[1][13]

She returned to the studio in January 1997, embarking on a six-and-a-half month recording process.[1] Its production was adjusted towards Jackson's lyrics and vocal suggestions, using an altered technique from prior sessions.[25] Attempting to push pop music in an alternate direction, the record was described as "a triumph of the spirit, a declaration of joy and healing that comes from examining the past while energizing the present, [...] exploring the mysteries of sexuality even as it addresses the problems of prejudice."[26]

“ "Singing these songs has meant digging up pain that I buried a long time ago. It's been hard and sometimes confusing, but I've had to do it. I've been burying pain my whole life. It's like kicking dirt under the carpet. At some point there's so much dirt you start to choke. Well, I've been choking. My therapy came in writing these songs. Then I had the find the courage to sing them or else suffer the consequences — a permanent case of the blues." — Janet explaining the concept and the writing of The Velvet Rope.[27] ”

Music and lyrics

The Velvet Rope consists of sixteen songs and seven interludes; experimenting with various genres and darker themes.[26] The album fused pop with various genres, including R&B, electronic, trip hop, jazz, and folk music.[28] Jackson stated:

“ "We've all driven by premieres or nightclubs, and seen the rope separating those who can enter and those who can't. Well, there's also a velvet rope we have inside us, keeping others from knowing our feelings. In The Velvet Rope, I'm trying to expose and explore those feelings. I'm inviting you inside my velvet rope. I have a need to feel special, and so do you. We share a burning need to belong. During my life, I've been on both sides of the rope. At times, especially during my childhood, I felt left out and alone. At times I felt misunderstood. Times when I ran into the backyard to confide in our dogs. Through them, I felt like I was talking to God. But no human heard those feelings expressed. They stay buried in my past. But the truth has to come out, and, for me, the truth the takes the form of a song."[29] ”

Jackson described the release as her most personal work, developed throughout her entire lifetime. She explained, "I never looked deeply at the pain from my past, never tried to understand that pain and work it through. It was a journey I had avoided. But one I now had to face."[26] Robert Hilburn added, "Jackson found a universal symbol to use in exploring issues of insecurity and self-worth. At some point, everyone is on the wrong side of the velvet rope, excluded because of race, social status, age or some other division."[30] Jackson regarded commercial success as a secondary consideration,[25] commenting, "I needed to express who I was and what I'd learned. I found out who I really was... If that can inspire people who hear this album to do the same, I'd rather have that than the biggest selling album in the world."[31]

Themes
"Free Xone"
"Free Xone" incorporates funk and electronic music as Jackson protests homophobia, saying, "I contrast sexual prejudice with the freedom of being who you are."[32]
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"What About"
Jackson confronts domestic violence over a hard rock instrumental, stating "if we're going to get on with our lives, the pain has to [be] faced. And the result can be explosive anger."[33]
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The album gained media attention for its explicit themes and exploration of homosexuality, suggested as a "queer-studies thesis."[34][35][36] Singapore law officials banned the album due to its lyrics supporting homosexuality.[37] "Free Xone" speaks of gay, lesbian and bisexual pairings, as Jackson protests discrimination.[32] "Together Again" recalls a departed friend lost to AIDS.[35] Her cover of "Tonight's the Night" suggests losing her virginity to another woman, also alluding to bisexuality.[36] Media attention lead Rod Stewart to announce "that's an original song by Janet Jackson" when performed in concerts.[38] In response to criticism, Jackson said, "I have a lot of gay friends, men and women, and that's why I did it. I knew people would say I was gay, and I didn't care."[20] She also stated, "I caught a lot of hell for that... religious groups have been upset with me for certain songs on the album, but it’s not going to stop me from writing what I feel inside."[39] Media reports of Jackson involved in intimate relationships with dancers Tina Landon and Shawnette Heard surfaced following its release, although denied.[40]

The album's "most startling" song was considered "What About," in which Jackson violently confronts domestic abuse.[41] Jackson stated, "I think it's important to let others know that certain things that you may have experienced in your life, and that they're not alone, and that you understand what they're going through, and that they can make it through."[42] Joel Lyans included it among "The New Soundtrack of Social Consciousness," writing, "Here, Janet does what she does best: demonstrates a coy and shy demeanor before ripping into a confident and empowered voice for those who are afraid to speak up and speak out about a situation that plagues millions of women."[43] Several media reports related its theme with President Bill Clinton's infidelity to Hillary Clinton with Monica Lewinsky.[38] Jackson clarified it to be about her own experience, saying, "President Clinton? People have said that to me. They say 'this is his song'," comparing the situation with her song "This Time" inaccurately related to O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson due to its subject matter.[38]

Jackson's progression into advanced erotic content was criticized, though she defended her material.[44] J.D. Considine praised Jackson's focus on intercourse "as if it were simply a fact of life," noting her concern with "the emotional component of sex, rather than the act itself."[35]

Songs
"Empty"
"Empty" speaks of anonymous relationships via social networking.[45] Jackson said, "I think about people whose only connection to other people is through a computer. I wonder what kind of reality that creates, and what kind of romantic frustrations it produces."[46]
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In "Twisted Elegance," Jackson speaks over piano and white noise. Its composition addressed the "emotional and sexual politics of relationships," restraints of depression, self-esteem, domestic violence, homosexuality, AIDS, and sadomasochism.[28][47] It transitions into the title track, progressing from rapid electronica into a mid-tempo techno structure.[48] It incorporates The Exorcist theme "Tubular Bells" as Jackson explains "a velvet rope we have inside us, keeping others from knowing our feelings," closing with a violin solo by Vanessa-Mae.[29] "You" incorporates "deep-down funk" and trip hop, as Jackson distorts her voice in a low range during a challenge of self-scrutiny.[41][49] "Got 'til It's Gone" is an alternative pop and trip hop song, featuring folk singer Joni Mitchell and rapper Q-Tip.[50] Jackson speaks of vulnerability and regret in a "depressive sobriety."[41] Interlude "Speakerphone" consists of Jackson beginning to masturbate before a phone conversation with dancer Shawnette Heard. "My Need" is a mid-tempo hip-hop song tackling self-obsession and unbridled lust.[51] Interlude "Fasten Your Seatbelts" portrays Jackson and her dancers mimicking Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and All About Eve. "Go Deep" combines dance-pop and G-funk, performed in a "girlish breathiness."[41][52]

"Free Xone" incorporates "slamming funk" with drum and bass, derived from "scratching, sampling, honey rapping, break beats and electronic accents."[53][54] Jackson described it "about homophobia and the pain it causes."[32] "Together Again" is an uptempo house and dance-pop song; considered a "modern post-disco meditation on the beauty of dance and eternal grace of romantic bonding."[55] Interlude "Online" features Jackson typing as a dial-up internet connection is heard. "Empty" is an electronic ballad incorporating trip hop, propelled by a "jittery, mellowed-out jungly beat."[53][54] Its lyrics speak of the void felt through social network relationships, empathizing with those searching for acceptance via the internet.[46] "What About" confronts Jackson's experiences with domestic violence.[42] Over flamenco guitars, she recalls a former companion proposing before violently transitioning into hard rock.[54] "Every Time" is a piano ballad documenting Jackson's fear of love, examining an apprehensive side of romance.[56]

"Tonight's the Night" alludes to sexual anticipation, suggesting a lesbian encounter and potential threesome during its finale.[20] Jackson stated, "The record company tried to talk me out of it because it's directed toward a girl. I love the song the way it is, and it's reality for a lot of people."[57] "I Get Lonely" evokes lush sensuality as Jackson speaks of abandonment over a sparse backing.[58] "Rope Burn" evokes bondage and sadomasochism, as Jackson requests to be tied down and pleasured with candle wax. It was declared "the first R&B trip-hop ballad, retro-fitted with a lazy, jazzy beat and a spare, slap bass-heavy backing track."[54] Jackson regarded it as a "soft instrument of extended pleasure," saying, "The expression of sexual fantasies can be beautiful if there's trust, love and understanding."[20][59] "Anything" is a ballad invoking "feverish dimensions" of satisfaction.[41]

In piano ballad "Special," Jackson speaks to her inner child, spreading the message that "pain is not permanent," but rather, transformed. Jackson said, "Getting back to that child, and giving the child what the child may have missed—the reassurance of a nourishing and accepting a love, a love that says you're special—is hard work. It can be scary but, like the song says, we have to deal with the past to live completely—and freely—in the present."[60] "Can't Be Stopped" speaks of youth victimization, bigotry, and racial unity, "directed at young people who are discouraged or discriminated against... I want them to know that their inner-strength is stronger than the forces against them."[61]

Packaging and title

The Velvet Rope was titled as a metaphor for the emotional barricade preventing others from revealing their innermost thoughts; in comparison to the velvet rope used at film premieres and award shows, prohibiting access from spectators.[29] It also served as a metaphor for the barriers separating different classes of society.[62] It was based on various events throughout her adolescence and early adulthood, resurfacing after attempted escapism.[17]

The album's artwork was photographed by Ellen von Unwerth, with additional photos by Mario Testino.[19] The cover depicts Jackson lowering her head amidst a crimson backdrop, symbolizing remorse.[63] "Janet" is faintly embossed in a pixelated block formation. Jackson stated, "The shot we used on the cover shows me just looking down, and that's what the album was about, looking inward."[19] MTV News regarded the artwork as iconic and an influence on various artists.[64] Its internal artwork depicts Jackson's piercings and tattoos, also displaying her hands tied in bondage and latex attire, exhibiting fetishism.[65] A particular photo of Jackson wearing a latex ensemble with her nipple piercing peering through an opening gained notoriety for its explicit nature.[16] The photo also shows Jackson pricking her body with an ice pick.[16][65]

Upon its release, Jackson unveiled an edgier image, flaunting hennaed red hair and tattoos on her neck, wrist, foot, back, and lower thigh; also acquiring nipple, septum, and labia piercings.[66] The transition was considered to risk alienation, though she was commended as "a master at surprising and shocking her public."[66] Jackson used a variation of the Akan Sankofa symbol throughout its artwork and imagery; representing the motif "You cannot move into the future until you learn from your past."[67] She tattooed the symbol onto her wrist, saying, "[it] appeared on my album The Velvet Rope and it’s very important to me. [...] It’s about going into your past and dealing with it so that you can move forward."[68] Jackson's tattoo artist later stated, "I have a lot of people who fly in from all over the world to get something that has to do with Janet’s sacred tattoos... She’s an inspiration to a lot of people, and when they see something on Janet that helps her be strong, they want that strength as well."[69]

Release and promotion

Main article: The Velvet Rope Tour

Album listening parties were held in London and New York City at the Chrysler Building's Art Deco Cloud Room, reopened after sixty-five years for the event.[70] Entertainers in attendance included Marilyn Manson, Beck, Billy Corgan, Sheryl Crow, Meredith Brooks, Diddy, Naomi Campbell, and Michael Douglas.[71] The music video for "Got 'til It's Gone" premiered during the opening of the MTV Video Music Awards, where Jackson presented an award to Mark Romanek.[72] "Got 'til It's Gone" and "Together Again" were performed on Graines de Star, Des O'Connor, Les Annés Tubes, and Smash Hits Poll Winners Party, as well as in Japan and Australia. She also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. On October 6, Jackson appeared on a live MTV special in Times Square, interacting with fans via the internet.[73] She later appeared on the network's Ultrasound and Biorhythm series.[74][75]

An album signing was held at the Virgin Megastore in New York. Promotional ads for the album depicted various ethnicities running in unison.[76] An album release party was attended by Tia Carrere, Antonio Sabato Jr., Mike Tyson, Julie McCullough, Mossimo Giannulli, and Swedish singer Robyn, among others.[77][78] In December, she performed on Spanish shows Música Sí and Turrón y... cuenta nueva.[79] [80] In January, Jackson opened the American Music Awards, performing the DJ Premier remix of "Together Again".[81] Following single "I Get Lonely" was performed at the TMF Awards and Soul Train Awards, with an acoustic rendition performed on the Rosie O'Donnell Show. In March, she appeared on Larry King Live. Jackson performed a controversial rendition of "What About" at the VH1 Fashion Awards, displaying vignettes of domestic violence.[82]

"Janet's concerts are the pop equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie, with all the explosions, special effects, ersatz sentimentality, gratuitous cleavage and emphasis on spectacle over coherence that the term implies."

— Nicholas Barber of The Independent [83]

Jackson embarked on "The Velvet Rope Tour," visiting Europe, North America, Japan, New Zealand, Africa, and Australia. It used an autobiographical theme derived from elements of Broadway theater.[84] She stated, "To me, being onstage is about entertaining. I know there are people who just walk onstage and give you a show by just doing their music, but I always wanted something extra."[85] She added, "I knew what I wanted everyone to look like, especially for the opening number. I knew what I wanted everyone to wear. I visualized the whole thing."[86] Among the first tours to use LED technology, Mark Fisher stated, "She wanted to have a book opening and herself come out of it. So I finessed that book into the video screen."[84]

Jackson's showmanship was commended by critics, who also praised the show's theatrics and pyrotechnics.[87] Robert Hilburn regarded it to help Jackson "finally get the credit she deserves as an artist," with the show also called "the must-see concert of the year."[85][88] The tour was controversial for its sexuality and portrayal of domestic violence; most notably within performances of "Rope Burn" and "What About."[86] Its advertisements, depicting Jackson in a transparent outfit with her nipple piercing and bikini partially visible, also drew media attention. Several publications refused to publish the ad, while billboards of the image caused traffic accidents in Europe.[89] The tour's HBO broadcast received over 15 million viewers, surpassing the ratings of all four major networks.[90] It won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Special." The final date at Hawaii's Aloha Stadium became the most attended concert in the venue's history.[91] The tour was reported to receive a worldwide attendance of ten million in total.[91]

Commercial performance

The Velvet Rope debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 202,000 copies in its first week.[92][93] It fell to number two in its second week.[94][95] Internationally, the album charted within the top five of numerous countries, including Australia,[96] France,[96] Germany,[97] Norway,[96] Sweden,[96] and the United Kingdom.[98] In Japan, it debuted within the top ten, selling 34,910 copies in its first week.[99] It sold four million copies within its first several months of release.[100] On November 11, the album was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA, denoting 1,000,000 units sold.[101] It was certified double platinum the following year, and triple platinum on January 15, 1999.[101] It sold an additional 420,000 copies through BMG Music Club.[102] In Australia, the album was certified double platinum by the ARIA.[103] It was certified triple platinum in Canada and platinum in Japan, Europe, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and United Kingdom; also receiving a gold certification in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Taiwan.[104] The Velvet Rope has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.[105][106] According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album has sold 3,229,000 copies domestically as of March 2009.[107]

"Got 'til It's Gone" peaked at number 36 on Hot 100 Airplay, twelve on Rhythmic Top 40 and three on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.[108][109] It was ineligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 due to not having a commercial single released. Internationally, it reached the top five in Denmark and New Zealand; top ten in Australia, Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom and top twenty in various countries. "Together Again" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, spending a record of 46 weeks on the chart.[110] It was certified Gold by the RIAA.[111] It reached the top two within Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, France, Germany, and Switzerland, and top five in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, and United Kingdom.[112] "Together Again" is among the biggest selling global singles in history and her highest selling single to date, exceeding six million copies.[113]

"I Get Lonely" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on Hot Dance Single Sales and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, five in the United Kingdom, and fourteen on the European Hot 100.[110] It set a record as her eighteenth consecutive top ten hit on the Hot 100, surpassed only by Elvis Presley and The Beatles.[114][115] "Go Deep" was ineligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, though peaked at number twelve on Pop Songs, eight on Rhythmic Top 40, and number one on Hot Dance Club Play.[116][117] Final release "Every Time" reached the top forty within the Netherlands and New Zealand.[118][119] The success of collaborations "Luv Me, Luv Me" and "What's It Gonna Be?!" each affected the latter two single's performance. "You" was a promotional single in the United Kingdom, being ineligible to chart. "What About" was initially planned for release, while an edit of the title track received limited test airplay.[120] In April 2012, "Rope Burn" charted on Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.[121]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[122]
Robert ChristgauA–[123]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[124]
Entertainment WeeklyA[125]
Los Angeles Times[126]
Rolling Stone[127]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[128]
Slant Magazine[129]
USA Today[130]

The Velvet Rope received universal acclaim from music critics. In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Jon Pareles declared it "her most daring, elaborate and accomplished album," observing songs to "transform themselves as they go, leaping from sharply etched cross-rhythms to lush choruses."[41] Greg Kot regarded it a "soundtrack to a therapy session," while the Los Angeles Times commended its content; addressing "the social, emotional and sexual politics of relationships, peppering the wistful, spirited pop melodies and sinuous R&B rhythms with compelling jazz, folk and techno nuances."[23][28] Elysa Gardner added, "provocative gestures ultimately blend in with the album's larger agenda, which is to encourage more open-minded, free-spirited relationships of all kinds... with hooks this strong and grooves this delicious, Jackson's authority should be of question to no one."[53] MTV News declared it an "interesting step in a new direction" and "long, sometimes strange trip into Jackson’s sensual world."[54] Slant Magazine called it "a richly dark masterwork," illustrating "there is nothing sexier than emotional nakedness."[129] Robert Christgau noted Jackson's vocal cadence, retaining "her magical ability to feign delight."[131] Keith Harris stated it "plumbed introspective depths with intriguing results."[132]

In his review for The Village Voice, Vince Aletti praised its "unusu-ally busy, electronica- spiked soundscape," revealing "the process of psychic reconstruction.".[133] Aletti added, "she combines a pure pop sensibility with ambition, vulnerability, freakishness, and extraordinary savvy. She's--in her inadequate word--special." However, Jackson's "isolating control" was regarded as its "more bracing" material.[133] Entertainment Weekly observed its subject matter of "computer liaisons to bondage and bisexuality," finding the most pervasive theme to be love.[35] Roger Catlin of The Courant noted its aura "washes away her sometimes strident political messages or her attempt to shock with sexuality," adding, "the album shimmers with sensuality, openness and thirst for new adventures, musically and otherwise."[134][135] Len Righi of The Morning Call called it "compelling, as she tackled almost every imaginable social ill and personal problem while still leaving room for freakiness and fun."[136] Jane Dark of City Pages stated it "eludes genre-fication," leaving Janet "in a genre of her own." Alluded to "an eroticon of cybersex, queer positivity, and mild bondage," Dark regarded its production "a sexy motherfucker... abstractly electro tones come and go with sharp attack and sharper decay, appearing out of--and vanishing into--aggressively blank spaces." Jackson's "flawed sweetness" was also acclaimed; concluding, "She's the principle that organizes the noise, and the particle around which songs become pearlescent."[137] USA Today praised her usage of "edgier beats and rawer emotions."[130] AllMusic observed a "hardened, sexually experimental Janet," though disapproved its number of interludes.[122]

Accolades

Jackson was awarded at the American Music Awards and nominated for "Top Pop Artist" at the Billboard Awards, with "I Get Lonely" receiving a Grammy Award nomination and "Together Again" nominated at the MTV Video Music Awards. Internationally, Jackson was nominated for "Best International Female" at the BRIT Awards, winning "Best Foreign Artist" and "Best Foreign Album" at the Danish Music Awards, "Best International Female" at the Norwegian Hit-Awards, "Best Female" at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and "Best International Female" for three consecutive years at the TMF Awards. Jackson was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Pop Music by Prince Albert at the World Music Awards.[138] She was also presented the Lena Horne Lifetime Achievement Award by Maya Angelou at the Lady Soul Train Awards. APLA awarded Jackson for her involvement in AIDS organizations, also receiving a GLAAD Award for "Outstanding Music." VH1 ranked her among "Hollywood's 16 Hottest Celesbians" due to the album's homoerotic content.[139] The Velvet Rope was later included among Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."

Legacy

"Janet's ability to effortlessly present necessary, meaningful messages via classic dance music is legendary. She proved that artists don't have to scream to get a message across. There is a middle ground. Here, she had perfected her mix of provocative, personal, and pertinent."

— Saint Heron on the album's legacy.[45]

The Velvet Rope has been praised for its artistry and sonic evolution, as well as its innovation and display of multiple genres. Billboard commended it as "her most personal and intimate work to date," confronting "domestic abuse, AIDS, and homophobia with her most sexually explicit songs ever."[24] Jackson stated, "That was a crossroads for me: sharing what I'd been going through personally and how I felt about what was happening in the world."[169] She added, "It was about leaving behind the side of me that didn’t like myself very much... learning to accept myself, and it is still work in progress."[68] Kyra Phillips of CNN declared it "difficult and very intimate," exploring "Jackson's darker side, her emotional break down and the secret that shocked the world."[170] Regarding its content, Jackson said, "I’m sure it did alienate a lot of people, but that’s what I was feeling, and I wanted to write about it, so I did."[13] Jackson later stated:

“ "Velvet Rope" is both the highest and lowest point. On a personal level, it was a low point, because I was going through a depression. That was a difficult time for me. At the same time it was my highest point, because I overcame the depression by talking about the crossroads I was at. There were so many things resurfacing that I'd suppressed: stuff from my childhood, stuff from all over the place. I was crazed trying to figure out where it was all coming from and how to deal with it. I could have made a wrong turn and tried to drink and drug it away. But drinking and drugs never appealed to me. I wanted it to stop. Talking it out and creating such an introspective work as "Velvet Rope" helped me do that."[169] ”

Ryam Dombal of Pichfork considered it a pioneer of "the "dark" and/or "mature"" pop album, saying, "the rebel record is now a de rigueur coming-of-age manoeuvre."[171] City Pages called it a "gem" which foresaw "damn near every rhythmic trend of the decade: Timbaland's drum 'n' stutter, quick-stepping house, and walloping slabs of techno."[172] Its innovation was cited as fusing "compelling jazz, folk and techno nuances" with trip hop and contemporary pop.[53] MTV News also noted its "number of stylistic twists you might never associate with such a mainstream diva."[54] In particular, "Empty" was commended for its theme of relationships via social networking, considered a prediction of subsequent technology.[45]

Eve Barlow of NME included it among seven albums considered "Perfect from Start to Finish", stating: "Jackson had already begun pushing the boundaries of sexually explicit pop but it’s The Velvet Rope that cemented her as a free, liberal voice for experimentation." Its blend of "new electro" and trip-hop was thought to "meld seamlessly"; its lyrical content also thought to push society's "judgment calls," breaking free from "the American sweetheart of past LPs."[173] Shayne Lee, author of Erotic Revolutionaries: Black Women, Sexuality, and Popular Culture (2010), wrote that the album and its predecessor "brand[ed] her as one of the most sexually stimulating vocalists of the 1990s."[174] Jessica Skolnik of Vice stated, "I am of the Madonna generation, the Janet generation... The Velvet Rope was an absolute milestone and, in my mid-thirties, is increasingly meaningful to me."[175] Telegram & Gazette stated, "Jackson shows once again that she can compete against any of the lightweight, mega-selling pop divas and hang them out to dry."[176] According to the Los Angeles Times, the album became "more eagerly anticipated" than Michael Jackson's output; taking her "once and for all out of the shadow."[177][178] Sal Cinquemani declared it "Janet's richest work to date", while Brannon Smith heralded it to reveal "her battle with depression, and saw her continue to empower through her pain."[82][179]

Influence

Pitchfork considered the album a pioneer in pop artists attempting the "rebel record," citing Christina Aguilera's Stripped, Kelly Clarkson's My December, and Rihanna's Rated R to follow its "coming-of-age maneuver."[171] Nicole Scherzinger cited it as the inspiration for her sophomore album.[180] Rolling Stone regarded it the template for Beyoncé's self-titled fifth album, particularly in the "melancholy" and "chilly neo-disco" aura of "Blow" and "Mine."[181] Britney Spears' "Lonely" was likened to a "teenage version" of "What About" for its theme, vocals, and chorus.[182] Spears' "Til It's Gone" was cited to contain similar lyrics to "Got 'til It's Gone," while her single "Everytime" was thought to evoke Jackson's "Every Time."[183][184] Rihanna's Rated R drew comparisons for its production and "nakedly autobiographical vibe"; the theme of single "Te Amo" also likened to Jackson's "Tonight's the Night."[185] Rihanna's image throughout its campaign, consisting of red hair and facial peircings, was also compared to Jackson's Velvet Rope imagery.[186] The "burbly electro hooks" and "curled-lip sass" of Rihanna's Talk that Talk was also regarded as "warmed-over Velvet Rope-era Janet Jackson."[187] About.com noted Patrick Stump's Soul Punk to incorporate the album's "musical stylings."[188] MTV News observed its artwork influenced Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Rihanna, while the packaging of Usher's 8701 was also thought to recall its imagery.[64][189] Aubrey O'Day and Irish singer Stephen Gately praised the record,[190] with Swedish singer Sara Lumholdt and Rebecca Onslow calling it their favorite album.[191][192] French singer Piu Piu also called it a primary influence.[193]

Singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick was inspired by the record for her song "Drive."[194]

Drew Millard of Vice stated the album "inadvertently predicts most of the cooler trends in contemporary indie music," saying, "Dam-Funk's bedroom-keyb attack? "Go Deep" did it. "Together Again" is basically the song Disclosure has been shooting for this entire time, and Tom Krell would wrestle an alligator with his bare hands to create a song as chillingly beautiful as "Empty."[195] How to Dress Well cites its "schizophrenic diversity" as the inspiration for the album Total Loss, saying, "She set such an example for trusting yourself, and following that intuition wherever it takes you... she made a fucking sprawling masterpiece with a song from every genre, and it works."[196][197] Merchandise sold at Well's shows feature a quote from interlude "Memory."[198] Indie rock band Wheat used the album as a reference for their sophomore album Hope and Adams, also emulating its production techniques within lead single "Don't I Hold You."[199] Folk rock singer Melissa Ferrick called it "a huge record" which inspired her song "Drive," saying, "Janet Jackson was making these sexual noises on that record and I cannot even describe. [...] I was like "This is unbelievable. Janet Jackson is so ballsy to do this. This is amazing."[194] Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls and folk singer Seth Glier regarded the album as an important life memoir.[200][201] Swedish singer Beatrice Eli stated it "defined her teenage years."[202] Art Nouvea considered Fiona Apple's When the Pawn... to be influenced by the record.[203] FKA Twigs' single "Water Me" and Laura Welsh's "Unravel" were likened to the album, considered to evoke Jackson's "mellower work" at her "most delicate."[204][205] Kingdom's "Bank Head," featuring Kelela, was thought to be influenced by "Empty,"[206] while Kelela and Tink's "Want It" was likened to the album's "most tuneful deep cuts."[207] British singer Jai Paul's "Str8 Outta Mumbai" was regarded to fuse "vintage Bollywood pop" with "Velvet Rope-era Janet."[206]

The Weeknd's Thursday was likened to an attempted "male equivalent" of the record.[208] Kelly Rowland's Talk a Good Game drew comparisons for its revealing theme and production.[209] Rowland's single "Dirty Laundry" was influenced by "What About," while single "Gone", featuring Wiz Khalifa, was inspired by "Got 'til It's Gone."[210][211] TLC's "I'm Good at Being Bad" was inspired by the production and content of Jackson's "What About."[212] Solange's True EP was compared within its production from Dev Hynes.[213] The composition of single "Losing You" was also likened to "Together Again" for its melancholy theme within an "uplifting" dance song.[214] Illangelo's "Clockwork" was also thought to recall the album.[215] In hip-hop, Odd Future collective The Internet were compared to "'‘Velvet Rope'’-era Janet" for their single "Cocaine."[216] Diddy-Dirty Money's Last Train to Paris was thought to incorporate similar production within several songs.[217] Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak was also likened to the album.[218] Jay-Z compared his song "December 4th" to "Got 'til It's Gone" in his memoir, Decoded.[219] Joe Budden sampled the title track in the song "Velvet Rope".[220] In jazz, its singles have been covered by Boney James and Gene Dunlap, with the title track covered by Paul Taylor and "Anything" by Will Downing.[221][222] The album is considered to have influenced the development of alternative R&B, associated with acts such as Frank Ocean, Miguel and others.[223]

Psychologist Alan Downs' book The Velvet Rage was titled after the album and its homosexual content; demonstrating "how to heal the trauma of being a gay man in an uncompromisingly straight world."[224] Transgender activist Janet Mock named herself after Jackson and the album's themes of sexual orientation,[225] stating, "she was so open and raw. She was talking about her sexual fluidity. She was talking about access and elitism with the velvet rope, who gets to come in, who doesn’t. She was talking about domestic violence. All of these things within this album... my mind was blown. I couldn’t believe someone was talking about all of these issues that were paralleling my own life."[226] "Speaker Phone" was referenced by comedian Sandra Bernhard during a monologue in "I'm Still Here... Damn It!".[227] The album was also mentioned in the Family Guy episode, "And the Wiener Is..."[228]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Interlude: Twisted Elegance"     0:41
2. "Velvet Rope" (featuring Vanessa-Mae)
 4:55
3. "You"  
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:42
4. "Got 'til It's Gone" (featuring Joni Mitchell and Q-Tip)
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:01
5. "Interlude: Speaker Phone"     0:54
6. "My Need"  
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 3:44
7. "Interlude: Fasten Your Seatbelts"     0:19
8. "Go Deep"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:42
9. "Free Xone"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • James Brown
  • Billy Buttier
  • Archie Bell
  • Michael Hepburn
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:57
10. "Interlude: Memory"     0:04
11. "Together Again"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 5:01
12. "Interlude: Online"     0:19
13. "Empty"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:32
14. "Interlude: Full"     0:12
15. "What About"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:24
16. "Every Time"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:17
17. "Tonight's the Night"  
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 5:07
18. "I Get Lonely"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 5:17
19. "Rope Burn"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:15
20. "Anything"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:54
21. "Interlude: Sad"     0:10
22. "Special" (Hidden track "Can't Be Stopped" starts at 3:42)
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 7:55
Samples

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[229]

Musicians

  • David Barry – guitar
  • Lee Blaske – string arrangements
  • Jan Chong – violin
  • Carolyn Daws – violin
  • Hanley Daws – violin
  • Glen Donnellen – viola
  • Lynne Erickson – trumpet
  • Charles Gray – viola
  • Alyssa Hanson – vocals
  • Rayvaline Harrell – choir director
  • Shawnette Heard – vocals
  • Camilla Heller – cello
  • Joshua Koestenbaum – cello
  • Kelly Konno – vocals
  • Tina Landon – vocals
  • Brenda Mickens – violin
  • Joni Mitchell – performer
  • Debbie Morrison – vocals
  • Dale Newton – cello
  • Willie R. Norwood – choir director
  • Alice Preves – viola
  • Prof. T. – vocals
  • Q-Tip – rap, performer
  • Myrna Rain – viola
  • Nicholas Raths – guitar
  • Gary Raynor – bass
  • Alexander Richbourg – vocals, drum programming, rhythm arrangements
  • Miko Salone – vocals
  • Mike Scott – guitar
  • Leslie Shank – violin
  • Daryl Skobba – cello
  • Liz Sobieski – violin
  • Mike Sobieski – violin
  • Daria Tedeschi – violin
  • United Children's Choir – choir, chorus
  • Vanessa-Mae – violin, performer
  • James "Big Jim" Wright – organ, keyboards, vocals, rhythm arrangements

Production

  • Flavia Cureteu – design
  • Steve Durkee – assistant engineer
  • Rene Elizondo, Jr. – executive producer
  • Brian Gardner – mastering
  • Steve Gerdes – design
  • Steve Hodge – engineer, mixing
  • Ken Holmen – clarinet, flute, saxophone
  • Janet Jackson – vocals, background vocals, producer, executive producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
  • Jimmy Jam – producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
  • Tim Lauber – engineer, assistant engineer
  • Terry Lewis – producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
  • Michael McCoy – assistant engineer
  • Mike Ozdozzi – mastering assistant
  • Len Peltier – art direction
  • Xavier Smith – assistant engineer
  • Mario Testino – photography
  • Ellen von Unwerth – photography
  • Bradley Yost – assistant engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997–98) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[96] 4
Austrian Albums (IFPI)[96] 9
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[96] 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[96] 14
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[230] 2
Danish Albums (Tracklisten)[231] 1
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[96] 3
European Albums (European Top 100)[232] 4
Finland Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[96] 19
French Albums (SNEP)[96] 5
German Albums (Official Top 100)[97] 5
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[233] 40
Italian Albums (FIMI) 11
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[234] 10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[96] 8
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[96] 4
Scottish Albums (OCC) 18
South African Albums Chart[118] 1
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[235] 10
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[96] 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[96] 5
UK Albums (OCC)[98] 6
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[236] 1
US Billboard 200[230] 1
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[230] 2
US Billboard Catalog Albums[230] 30

Year-end charts

Chart (1997) Position
Australian Albums Chart[237] 42
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[238] 85
US Billboard 200 (SoundScan)[239] 115
Chart (1998) Position
Australian Albums Chart[240] 82
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[241] 43
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[242] 39
Canadian Albums Chart[243] 34
Dutch Albums Chart[244] 20
French Albums Chart[245] 17
Italian Albums Chart[246] 42
Swiss Albums Chart[247] 43
US Billboard 200[248] 27

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[249] 2× Platinum 140,000
Belgium (BEA)[250] Gold 25,000
Canada (Music Canada)[251] 3× Platinum 300,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[239] Gold 25,000
France (SNEP)[252] Platinum 300,000
Germany (BVMI)[253] Gold 250,000
Italy (FIMI)[254] Platinum 100,000
Japan (RIAJ)[255] Platinum 200,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[256] Platinum 100,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[257] Platinum 15,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[258] Platinum 50,000
Sweden (GLF)[259] Gold 40,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[260] Platinum 50,000
Taiwan (RIT)[239] Gold 25,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[261] Platinum 300,000
United States (RIAA)[262] 3× Platinum 3,000,000
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[263] Platinum 1,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

References

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  8. ↑ They don't call it jackpot for nothing. After much speculation, Janet Jackson, 29, clinched a reported four-album, $80 million deal with Virgin Records, making her the music industry's highest-paid performer (over brother Michael and Madonna, who each got $60 million deals in the early '90s) Davidson, Casey (January 26, 1996), "News & Notes", Entertainment Weekly, p. 15
  9. ↑ Farley, Christopher John; Thigpen, David E.; Ressner, Jeffrey (January 29, 1996), "Business: Are they worth all that cash? Janet Jackson's record-breaking $80 million contract could set off a new wave of pop-music megadeals", TIME, p. 54
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