The Velvet Rope
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| The Velvet Rope | |||||
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| Studio album by Janet | |||||
| Released | October 6, 1997 (Europe) October 7, 1997 (U.S.) |
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| Recorded | 1996–1997 | ||||
| Genre | R&B, pop, alternative, soul, funk | ||||
| Length | 75:23 (main edition) 78:50 (edition with bonus track) |
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| Label | Virgin | ||||
| Producer | Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
| Janet chronology | |||||
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| Alternate cover | |||||
Australian tour edition cover
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| Singles from The Velvet Rope | |||||
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The Velvet Rope is the Grammy Award-winning sixth studio album by American R&B/pop singer Janet Jackson, released on October 7, 1997 (see 1997 in music). Though it is Jackson's most critically-acclaimed record, the album achieved softer commercial success than its predecessor janet. (1993). Nevertheless, it still sold ten million copies worldwide. In 2003, the album was ranked number 256 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[1]
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[edit] Album information
The Velvet Rope came after a four-year gap from Jackson's previous release janet. The album deals with her depression and disillusionment with celebrity. Surrounded by controversy, it found Jackson expounding on the implied sexuality of the previous record by incorporating sexually explicit themes. These acts are also depicted in booklet photos, including pictures of Jackson blindfolded or with her hands tied behind her back while lying on a bed. The album's title and title track, featuring acclaimed classical violinist Vanessa-Mae, has a triple meaning; it references the rope used to hold back fans when a celebrity is present, which to Jackson was also a metaphor for an individual's need to feel special by putting oneself in a private place. It also refers to the rope used during sadomasochistic bondage.
Jackson explores other themes, such as lesbianism and bisexuality (on her cover of Rod Stewart's 1976 hit "Tonight's the Night"), male homosexuality (on "Free Xone"), and phone sex (on spoken interlude "Speaker Phone"). The concept of honesty is also explored in "You", a minor single which became controversial after it was suggested that the subject was her brother, Michael Jackson. Due to the content of the album, it was banned in Singapore.[2]
[edit] Commercial reception
The Velvet Rope predictably debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 Albums. The set shifted 202,000 copies in its opening week in America, but went on there to sell 3.6 million copies and achieved a 3× platinum certification by the RIAA.[3]
The lead single "Got 'Til It's Gone" featured a sample from Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi", and was a radio success but was unable to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, possibly because there was no American commercial CD single release. The song also featured vocals by rapper Q-Tip.
The second single, "Together Again", was a huge dance club and radio hit. The success of the song spawned various versions of the track; unlike normal remixes, these were actual re-recordings with totally different musical styles and alternate vocals. "I Get Lonely" entered the charts at number three securing another hit for Jackson. Other singles from the album included "Go Deep" and "Every Time". Neither were major chart successes on par with Jackson's previous hits, although "Go Deep" reached the top spot on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. Like many of Jackson's albums, the album is filled with non-musical interludes.
A coinciding tour called The Velvet Rope Tour covered the globe in promotion of the album. The European leg of the tour was extremely successful, playing thirty-two sold-out concerts.
[edit] Track listing
- "Interlude: Twisted Elegance" (Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, René Elizondo, Jr.) – 0:41
- "Velvet Rope" 1 (featuring Vanessa-Mae) (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, Malcolm McLaren, Trevor Horn, Mike Oldfield) – 4:55
- "You" 2 (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, Harold Brown, Thomas Sylvester Allen, Morris Dickerson, Howard Scott, Leroy Jordan, Lee Oskar, Charles Miller) – 4:42
- "Got 'Til It's Gone" 3 (featuring Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell) (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, Joni Mitchell, Kamaal Ibn Fareed) – 4:01
- "Interlude: Speaker Phone" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 0:54
- "My Need" 4 (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, Marilyn McLeod, Pam Sawyer, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson) – 3:44
- "Interlude: Fasten Your Seatbelts" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 0:19
- "Go Deep" 5 (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 4:42
- "Free Xone" 6 (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, James Brown, Billy Buttier, Archie Bell, Michael Hepburn) – 4:57
- "Interlude: Memory" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 0:04
- "Together Again" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 5:01
- "Interlude: Online" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 0:19
- "Empty" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 4:32
- "Interlude: Full" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 0:12
- "What About" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 4:24
- "Every Time" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 4:17
- "Tonight's the Night" (Rod Stewart) – 5:07
- "I Get Lonely" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 5:17
- "Rope Burn" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 4:15
- "Anything" 7 (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 4:54
- "Interlude: Sad" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 0:10
- "Special"/"Can't Be Stopped" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 7:55
1 Contains a sample of West Street Mob's "Mosquito (Aka Hobo Scratch)" written by Malcolm McLaren and Trevor Horn; and "Tubular Bells" written and performed by Mike Oldfield.
2 Contains a sample of War's "The Cisco Kid" written by Harold Brown, Thomas Sylvester Allen, Morris Dickerson, Howard Scott, Leroy Jordan, Lee Oskar, and Charles Miller.
3 Contains a sample of "Big Yellow Taxi" written and performed by Joni Mitchell.
4 Contains a sample of Diana Ross' "Love Hangover" written by Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer; and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "You're All I Need to Get By" written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.
5 Contains a sample of One Way's "Cutie Pie" written by Terence Dudley, Gregory Green, Al Hudson, Glenda Hudson, Jonathan Meadows, George Morgan, and Dave Roberson.
6 Contains a sample of Lyn Collins' "Think (About It)" written by James Brown; Archie Bell & the Drells' "Tighten Up" written by Billy Buttier and Archie Bell; and Pleasure's "Joyous" written by Michael Hepburn.
7 Contains a sample of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "Wake Up Everybody" written by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, and Victor Carstarphen.
[edit] Japanese edition
- "Special" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 3:22
- "God's Stepchild"/"Can't Be Stopped" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo) – 7:53
[edit] Australian tour/special edition bonus disc
- "Got 'Til It's Gone" (Armand Van Helden Bonus Beats) – 5:05
- "Together Again" (Tony Humphries 12" Edit Mix) – 10:00
- "I Get Lonely" (Janet vs. Jason - The Club Remix) – 8:45 [8:10 is imprinted but the Version takes 8:40 and is actually The Remix Sessions Pt. 2]
- "Go Deep" (Vocal Deep Disco Dub) – 8:15
- "Every Time" (Jam & Lewis Disco Remix) – 4:10
[edit] Charts
| Chart | Peak[4][5] | Certification[4] | Sales[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | 10,000,000 | ||
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 1 | 3x Platinum | 3,600,000 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 2 | ||
| Europe | 5 | 2xPlatinum | 2,500,000 |
| France | 5 | Platinum | 300,000 |
| U.K. | 6 | Platinum | 300,000 |
| Canada | 2 | 3x Platinum[6] | 300,000 |
| Germany | 5 | Platinum | 800,000 |
| Japan | 1 | 2x Platinum | 600,000 |
| Australia | 4 | 2x Platinum | 140,000 |
| South Africa | 1 | 2x Platinum | 100,000 |
| Switzerland | 5 | Platinum | 50,000 |
| Denmark | 1 | 2x Platinum | |
| Philippines | 1 | 3x Platinum | 120,000 |
| Taiwan | 1 | 2x Platinum | 40,000 |
| Norway | 4 | Platinum | |
| Sweden | 4 | Platinum | 80,000 |
| Austria | 9 | Platinum | |
| Italy | 8 | Platinum | 175,000 |
| Finland | 9 | Platinum | 20,000 |
| Hungary | 10[7] | Platinum |
[edit] Awards
American Music Award
- Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
Grammy Award
- Best Music Video, Short Form ("Got Til It's Gone")
Billboard Music Award
- Top R&B Female Artist of the Year
Soul Train Music Award
- Lena Horne Award for Outstanding Career Achievement
Blockbuster Entertainment Award
- Favorite R&B Female Artist
GLAAD Media Award
- Outstanding Album ("The Velvet Rope")
MTV Europe Music Award
- Best Female Artist
VH-1 Fashion Award
- Most Stylish Music Video ("Got Til It's Gone")
BMI Pop Awards
- Most Played Song: I Get Lonely
- Most Played Song: Together Again
Danish Music Awards
- International Album of the Year: The Velvet Rope
- International Single of the Year: Got 'Til It's Gone
- International Female Solo Artist of the Year
World Music Awards
- Legend Award for Outstanding Contribution to Pop & R&B Music
[edit] References
- ^ The Velvet Rope. 256. Rolling Stone (2003-11-01). Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
- ^ Singapore upholds Janet Jackson ban. BBC News (June 5, 2001). Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
- ^ The Velvet Rope. Chart History. Craving Janet. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
- ^ a b c Janet – Worldwide Album Sales. mjjcharts.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
- ^ Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope (Album). Official Swiss Charts. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
- ^ Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). Searchable database.
- ^ MAHASZ archive. Searchable database (Hungarian).
| Preceded by You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs by LeAnn Rimes |
U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album October 25, 1997 |
Succeeded by You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs by LeAnn Rimes |
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