The Velvet Rope World Tour

The Velvet Rope World Tour
Tour Book Cover
Tour by Janet Jackson
Associated album	The Velvet Rope
Start date	April 16, 1998
End date	January 30, 1999
Legs	6
Shows	61 in North America 33 in Europe 3 in Africa 26 in Pacific 120 total
Janet Jackson tour chronology
Janet. World Tour (1993-95) The Velvet Rope World Tour (1998-99) All for You Tour (2001)

The Velvet Rope World Tour is the third concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. Launched in support of her sixth studio album The Velvet Rope (1997), the tour embarked on an international trek that included Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

Due to the fact The Velvet Rope contained autobiographical themes, Jackson developed the tour's concert setting as storybook, allowing spectators to cross her "velvet rope" and experience her life story through the evolution of her musical career. As with Jackson's previous tours, the intense choreography and complex production of her concerts drew frequent comparison to Broadway theatre. While a number of reviews reported her stage presence was as exceptional as ever, a number of critics also noted improvement in her vocal capability.

To promote the tour, a live special, The Velvet Rope: Live in Madison Square Garden was aired on HBO, which drew over 15 million viewers. The special won an Emmy Award from four nominations. It was later released on video cassette, DVD, and Laserdisc entitled The Velvet Rope Tour – Live in Concert.

Contents 1 Development 2 Concert synopsis 3 Critical reception 4 Set list 5 Tour dates 6 The band 7 The Dancers 8 Crew and Personnel 9 Opening Acts 10 Commercial reception 11 References 12 External links

Development

Jackson developed the tour as an audiovisual storybook, sharing her life experience through the evolution of her music. Catherine McHugh of Entertainment Design reports: "Part of the reason Janet Jackson titled her latest record The Velvet Rope was to criticize barriers that separate different classes in society. So from the beginning of her show, Jackson strives to prove her accessibility to her audience. The spectacular opening presents Jackson's life—at least professionally—as an open book."^[1] The stage for the tour was designed by Mark Fisher.^[1] Fisher explained: "Each different scene in the show would be akin to turning the pages in this book, and all the albums that she'd done in the past—Control, Rhythm Nation, janet.—would be represented."^[1]

Concert synopsis

At the beginning of the concert, burgundy curtains accented by golden tassels are drawn apart exposing behind it an enormous book. It is covered by an equally large quilt with the words "The Velvet Rope" embossed on it. A dancer, portraying a master of ceremonies, opens the book, which is revealed to be an LED screen. Images dance across the screen until they explode and the screen splits, revealing Jackson behind it. She is subsequently lowered by elevator onto the main stage and the book stand on which the LED screen is removed, leaving the screen hanging in place. It then moves automatically to the back of the stage followed by the band and dancers appearing onstage.^[1]

Critical reception

Paul Sexton of The Times who reviewed Jackson opening concert at the Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands, compared her two-hour performance to that of Broadway theatre, calling it "an audiovisual banquet."^[2] According to the Birmingham Post the concert at the NEC Arena was an accomplishment.^[3] As the concert began "[a]fter the impatient fans had worked themselves into a frenzy, Janet finally arrived amid a barrage of space-age pyro-technics. Of course, at an event such as this, the overall spectacle is as important as the music itself. In true Jackson tradition, the costumes and choreography in this show made for theatre of the highest order."^[3] Her vocal performance was also complimented, as Let's Wait Awhile and "Again", "both showcased Janet's ability to belt out heartfelt, if slightly soppy ballads."^[3]

In reviewing her concert at the MCI Center in Washington DC, Richard Harrington of The Washington Post commented: "Jackson looked fabulous, danced fabulous, sang as close to fabulous as she ever has and in the end provided a fabulous two hours of entertainment that was equal parts rock concert, Las Vegas revue and Broadway musical."^[4] Steve Jones of USA Today remarked: "Janet Jackson had a sellout crowd for the kickoff of her first U.S. tour in four years, and she blew the fans away with imaginative staging and sheer exuberance."^[5] Critic J.D. Considine noted that "[o]n albums, Jackson's sound isn't defined by her voice so much as by the way her voice is framed by the lush, propulsive production of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. No surprise, then, that her concert took a similar approach, treating Jackson's voice as just one component in the overall spectacle ... But even though Jackson showed strength from time to time—her singing on "Black Cat" was commanding enough to hold its own against the wailing electric guitar—she's hardly a vocal powerhouse."^[6]

Natasha Kassulke of the Wisconsin State Journal commented: "The concert captured the scope of Jackson's talent from songwriter to singer, producer, actress, dancer and fashion diva."^[7] Similarly, Gemma Tarlach of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel observed: "A tiny dynamo of constant motion, Jackson strutted, slunk and grooved her way from one end of the stage to the other ... Her voice, sometimes thin and girlish on her albums, sounded fuller and more powerful than ever. Michael's baby sister? Nope, the commander of her own rhythm nation, in complete control. The show was as much a feast visually as musically."^[8] Pop music critic Kevin Johnson called The Velvet Rope World Tour "one of the flashiest on the concert scene."^[9]

Elizabeth Aird, who reviewed her concert at GM Place wrote: "If there's a show sexier and more polished than Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope extravaganza, it's only on Broadway ... Saturday night's show at GM Place was two hours of thrills pumped out by Jackson, her never-say-die dancers and her powerful band."^[10] Similarly Los Angeles Times music critic Robert Hilburn remarked that "[t]here is so much of the ambition and glamour of a Broadway musical in Janet Jackson's new Velvet Rope tour that it's only fitting that the concert program credits her as the show's 'creator and director'."^[11] Like other critics, Hilburn writes that Jackson at times appears to be lost in her own production, "[y]et there were several moments in the show when Jackson stepped beyond the production values and touched us in a way the best pop performers have done over the years. From the playfulness of the fairy tale staging of "Escapade" to the artful musical stretch of "Got 'Til It's Gone" (the marvelous track she built around a sample of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi") to the intimacy of her soul-searching "Special," Jackson has put a personal stamp on this show that humanizes not only the music but also the performer too."^[11]

James Sullivan of the San Francisco Chronicle observed her concert at the new arena "offered a career retrospective, punctuated by new material, periodic video diversions and fireworks. Equal parts Prince and Madonna, the show was a lot like an '80s flashback, though to its credit Jackson's eight-piece band—bass, guitar, drums and percussion, two keyboardists and two backup singers—added some inventive layering to her older hits."^[12] Charles Passy of the Palm Beach Post reported that Jackson's show at the Coral Sky Amphitheatre emphasized style over substance. He comments her "two-hour set was about half hormones—and half pyrotechnics. Without much in the way of a voice, she has sold her persona throughout her career. And as that persona has evolved from girlish teenager to sexually sophisticated woman, her albums—and tours—have provided a road map."^[13] Jet magazine reported: "With wit, sass, dance and a whole lot of sex appeal, Janet turns her song and dance fest into one of the major musical events of the year. In fact, it has become the must-see concert of the year."^[14] Christine Robertson of the Evening Post, who reviewed Jackson's concert at the Queens Wharf Events Centre in Wellington, New Zealand, commented: "The sleek choreography and superb dance spectacle saw Jackson seldom take a breath from one set to the next—her control of the stage complete. Most of the time she plunged into two decades of hits which give her the right to stand her ground among the Jackson musical dynasty."^[15]

Set list

1. "Video Introduction" (contains elements from "Someday is Tonight", "Rhythm Nation", "Livin' in a World (They Didn't Make)", "Special", "Escapade", "Black Cat")
2. "Velet Rope"
3. "If"
4. "You"
5. "Every Time" ¹
6. "Let's Wait Awhile"
7. "Again"
8. Control Medley:
   • "Control
   • "The Pleasure Principle"
   • "What Have You Done for Me Lately"
   • "Nasty" (contains elements from "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See")
9. "Throb"
10. Medley:
    • "Escapade
    • "When I Think of You"
    • "Miss You Much"
    • "Runaway"
    • "Whoops Now²
    • "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"
11. "Alright"
12. "I Get Lonely"
13. "Any Time, Any Place" (Instrumental Interlude)
14. "Rope Burn"
15. "Black Cat" ³
16. "What About" ³
17. "Rhythm Nation"
18. "Special"
19. "That's the Way Love Goes"
20. "Got 'Til It's Gone"

Encore

21. "Go Deep⁴
22. "Together Again

¹ Only performed in the final performance in Tokyo, Japan
² Performed only on the European shows
³ Cut at some shows including Oakland, CA
⁴ Added to the setlist halfway through the European leg of the tour

Additional Notes

• The Velvet Rope Tour kicked off in The Netherlands at Ahoy Rotterdam later in June she came back for her biggest show in Gelredome in Arnhem

• The Velvet Rope Tour visited 5 continents, the most for any Janet tour. It gave Janet the opportunity to perform for her fans in many European countries, including Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The European leg was a complete sell-out. Then the tour moved to North America before flying to South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

• The tour closed in Honolulu, Hawaii at the sold out Aloha Stadium. The stadium's original capacity of 35,000 for a concert has to be expanded to 38,000 to accommodate additional ticket demands. This made Janet the only artist in the stadium's history to fill the venue over its intended capacity. Janet still holds the record for most attended concert for one night at the Aloha Stadium.^[16]

• The broadcast of The Velvet Rope Tour garnered numerous award nominations, including an astounding 13 Emmy Awards nods.

• The tour grossed $32.5 million in the US, and $78 million worldwide (equivalent roughly to $133 million in 2008).

• Estimated worldwide attendance at 1.6 million.

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
Europe
April 16, 1998	Rotterdam	Netherlands	Ahoy Rotterdam
April 17, 1998
April 19, 1998	Ghent	Belgium	Flanders Expo
April 29, 1998	Paris	France	Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
May 1, 1998	Munich	Germany	Olympiahalle
May 3, 1998	Vienna	Austria	Stadthalle
May 5, 1998	Milan	Italy	Forum
May 7, 1998	Stuttgart	Germany	Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle
May 8, 1998	Frankfurt		Festhalle
May 9, 1998	Leipzig		Messehalle
May 11, 1998	Copenhagen	Denmark	Forum
May 13, 1998	Turku	Finland	Turkuhalli
May 15, 1998	Oslo	Norway	Oslo Spektrum
May 16, 1998	Stockholm	Sweden	Stockholm Globe Arena
May 19, 1998	Berlin	Germany	Velodrom
May 20, 1998	Dortmund		Westfalenhalle 1
May 22, 1998	Zurich	Switzerland	Hallenstadion
May 24, 1998	Toulon	France	Zenith Omega
May 26, 1998	Lyon		Halle Tony Garnier
May 27, 1998	Ghent	Belgium	Flanders Expo
May 29, 1998	Birmingham	United Kingdom	NEC Arena
May 30, 1998	Newcastle		Telewest Arena
May 31, 1998	Manchester		Nynex Arena
June 3, 1998	Glasgow		SECC
June 4, 1998	Sheffield		Sheffield Arena
June 6, 1998	London		Wembley Arena
June 7, 1998
June 9, 1998	Arnhem	Netherlands	Gelredome
June 11, 1998	Hamburg	Germany	Alsterdorfer Sporthalle
June 12, 1998
June 14, 1998	Nurnburg		Frankenhalle (Canceled)
June 16, 1998	Paris	France	Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
June 17, 1998	London	United Kingdom	Wembley Arena
North America
July 9, 1998	Washington, D.C.	United States	MCI Center
July 11, 1998	Cleveland		Gund Arena
July 12, 1998	Cincinnati		The Crown
July 14, 1998	Grand Rapids		Van Andel Arena
July 15, 1998	Moline		MARK of the Quad Cities
July 17, 1998	Detroit		Joe Louis Arena
July 18, 1998
July 22, 1998	Camden		Blockbuster Sony E-Center
July 24, 1998	Rosemont		Rosemont Horizon
July 25, 1998
July 28, 1998	Milwaukee		Bradley Center
July 29, 1998	Minneapolis		Target Center
July 31, 1998	Maryland Heights		Riverport Amphitheatre
August 1, 1998	Kansas City		Kemper Arena
August 3, 1998	Denver		McNichols Sports Arena
August 5, 1998	West Valley City		E Center
August 8, 1998	Vancouver	Canada	General Motors Place
August 11, 1998	Portland	United States	Rose Garden Arena
August 13, 1998	Oakland		The Arena in Oakland
August 14, 1998	Sacramento		ARCO Arena
August 16, 1998	Mountain View		Shoreline Amphitheatre
August 20, 1998	Inglewood		Great Western Forum
August 23, 1998	Anaheim		Arrowhead Pond
August 24, 1998	Fresno		Selland Arena
August 26, 1998	Phoenix		America West Arena
August 28, 1998	San Diego		San Diego Sports Arena
August 29, 1998	Paradise		MGM Grand Garden Arena
September 3, 1998	Greenville		BI-LO Center
September 4, 1998	Charlotte		Blockbuster Pavilion
September 5, 1998	Nashville		Nashville Arena
September 7, 1998	Dallas		Starplex Amphitheatre
September 9, 1998	San Antonio		Alamodome
September 11, 1998	West Palm Beach		Coral Sky Amphitheater
September 12, 1998	Tampa		Ice Palace
September 15, 1998	Orlando		Orlando Arena
September 16, 1998	Atlanta		Lakewood Amphitheatre
September 18, 1998	Boston		FleetCenter
September 19, 1998	Atlantic City		Mark G. Etess Arena
September 21, 1998	Bristow		Nissan Pavilion
September 22, 1998	Burgettstown		Starlake Amphitheater
September 24, 1998	Columbus		Polaris Amphitheater
September 26, 1998	Rochester		Blue Cross Arena
September 27, 1998	Ottawa	Canada	Corel Centre
September 29, 1998	Toronto		SkyDome
September 30, 1998	Montreal		Molson Centre
October 2, 1998	Worcester	United States	Worcester Centrum
October 4, 1998	Hartford		Hartford Civic Center
October 5, 1998	University Park		Bryce Jordan Center
October 6, 1998	East Rutherford		Continental Airlines Arena
October 10, 1998	New York City		Madison Square Garden
October 11, 1998
October 14, 1998	Baltimore		Baltimore Arena
October 16, 1998	Rosemont		Rosemont Horizon
October 18, 1998	Auburn Hills		The Palace of Auburn Hills
October 20, 1998	Raleigh		Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
October 21, 1998	Virginia Beach		GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater
October 25, 1998	Atlantic City		Mark G. Etess Arena
October 27, 1998	Memphis		Pyramid Arena
October 28, 1998	New Orleans		Louisiana Superdome
October 30, 1998	The Woodlands		C.W. Mitchell Pavilion
October 31, 1998
Africa
November 14, 1998	Cape Town	South Africa	Green Point Stadium
November 19, 1998	Durban		Kings Park Stadium
November 21, 1998	Johannesburg		Ellis Park Stadium
Oceania
November 27, 1998	Christchurch	New Zealand	WestpacTrust Centre
November 28, 1998
November 30, 1998	Wellington		Queens Wharf Events Centre
December 1, 1998
December 3, 1998
December 5, 1998	Auckland		Ericsson Stadium
December 7, 1998	Brisbane	Australia	Entertainment Centre
December 9, 1998	Sydney		Entertainment Centre
December 10, 1998	Newcastle		Entertainment Centre
December 12, 1998	Sydney		Entertainment Centre
December 13, 1998
December 15, 1998	Melbourne		Melbourne Park
December 17, 1998
December 20, 1998	Adelaide		Entertainment Centre
Asia
January 12, 1999	Tokyo	Japan	Nippon Budokan
January 13, 1999
January 14, 1999
January 16, 1999	Osaka		Osaka-jo Hall
January 17, 1999
January 19, 1999
January 20, 1999
January 21, 1999	Nagoya		Nagoya Rainbow Hall
January 23, 1999	Hamamatsu		Hamamatsu Arena
January 25, 1999	Tokyo		Nippon Budokan
January 26, 1999
North America
January 30, 1999	Honolulu	United States	Aloha Stadium

The band

• Musical Director: Rex Salas
• Drums: John Roberts
• Keyboards: Rex Salas and Darrel Smith
• Percussion: Terry Santiel
• Guitar: David Barry
• Bass: Sam Sims
• Background Vocals: Stacy Campbell and Rebecca Valadez

The Dancers

• Tina Landon (choreographer)
• Kelly Konno
• Gil Duldulao, Jr*
• Michael Andrews
• Tyce Diorio
• Teresa Espinosa (Swing Dancer)
• Shawnette Heard
• Nikki Pantenburg
• Robert Vinson

Crew and Personnel

Tour crew:^[17]

• Set designer: Mark Fisher
• Lighting designer: Roy Bennett
• Lighting programmer: Gary Westcott
• FOH sound engineer: Rob "Cubby" Colby
• Monitor engineer: Peter Buess
• Lighting technician : Lee Gipson
• Sound technicians: David Moncrieffe, Francesco Sgambellone
• Video director: George Elizondo
• Production manager: Chris Lamb
• Production director: Dave Russell
• Production assistant: Aimee Moreau
• Lighting director: Guy Forrester
• Tour coordinator: Rusty Hooker
• Tour managers: Dave Russell, Jaime Mendoza
• Stage manager: Anthony Giordano
• Lighting crew chief: Clay Brakeley
• Vari-Lite technician: John "Big Nose" Bedell
• Icon technician: Ken Delvo
• Lighting technicians: Robert Fry, Robert Braccia, William Cherrington, John Lovegrove
• Electrician: John Zajone
• Head rigger: Thomas Thompson
• Rigger: Charles Melton
• Head carpenter: Frank Carra
• Carpenters: Robert Mullin, Peter Turchyn, Anthony Whitehead, Timothy Shanahan
• Video crew chief: Gerald McReynolds
• Video engineer: Jon Huntington
• Camera operators: Redo Jackson, David Sykes, Mark Stutsman, Giles Conte
• Video technician: Neil Broome
• Pyro technician: Robert Hood
• Costume designers: Helen Hiatt; David Cardona for Bowman Cardona; Constance Jolcuvar
• Head wardrobe: Bonnie Fleslan
• Wardrobe: Leanne Doescher, Tony Villanueva
• Lighting: Light & Sound Design/Nick Jackson; Vari-Lite/Lee Frankham
• Sound: Showco/Robin Magruder and M.L. Procise
• Set construction: Tait Towers/Michael Tait and Winky Fairorth
• Inflatables: Air Artists/Rob Harries, Brilliant Stages/Charlie Kail
• Backdrops: P.W. Stage Productions/David Perry
• Video: BCC Video/Danny O'Bryen
• Pyrotechnics: Associated Pyrotechnicians/Francis Pilkerton
• Power: Showpower/John Campion

Opening Acts

Europe

• Another Level

North America

• Usher (July 9 - October 11)
• N Sync (October 14 - October 28)

South Africa

• Lynden David Hall
• Boom Shaka
• Dr. Victor & the Rasta Rebels

Pacific

• Che Fu - New Zealand
• Boyz II Men - New Zealand (Auckland show only)
• Human Nature - Australia
• 98 Degrees - Hawaii

Commercial reception

The tour's premier concert at the Joe Louis Arena sold-out within three hours, causing Jackson to add a second showing for a later date.^[18] The tour grossed over 33 million dollars in the United States alone.^[19]