Go Deep

Not to be confused with Going Deep.
For the baseball term, see Glossary of baseball (G).
"Go Deep"
Single by Janet Jackson
from the album The Velvet Rope
Released June 15, 1998
Format CD single, 7" single, 12" single
Recorded March–June 1997
Genre R&B · funk
Length 4:42
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, René Elizondo, Jr.
Producer(s) Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Janet Jackson singles chronology
"I Get Lonely"
(1998)		 "Go Deep"
(1998)		 "Luv Me, Luv Me"
(1998)

"Go Deep" is a song by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson from her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). It was written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with additional writing by René Elizondo, Jr. The song was released as the fourth single from the album on June 15, 1998, by Virgin Records. An R&B song with funk elements, "Go Deep" lyrically talks about Jackson's desire to cruise a club, get a man and take him home to make the man "scream and moan". Official remixes for the song were released, featuring Missy Elliott, Teddy Riley and Timbaland.

"Go Deep" received mixed reviews by music critics, who found the song irresistible, while others called it tedious. Commercially it fared well worldwide, peaking within the top twenty in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, while being successful on the US Hot Dance Club Play, reaching number one. A music video directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris decipts Ty Hodges having a daydream with Jackson giving a party in his house after his parents had left town for the weekend. The singer performed the song on the 1998 The Velvet Rope Tour and as a dedication at the Manila stop during the Number Ones: Up Close and Personal tour in 2011.

Background and composition

During her Janet World Tour, Jackson experienced an emotional breakdown, stemming from self-hatred, childhood humiliation, physical abuse, and distorted body image.[1] 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."[2][3] 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."[4] 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.'"[5] Jackson expressed concern for how she could portray an object of fantasy, feeling as if she could no longer fulfill her own desires.[6] While talking to one of her fanclubs, Jackson stated,

"Dancing is therapy. I love writing and singing songs that make you move, lift your mood and take you out of yourself. There are times when I call up my friends and say, 'Hey, we gotta go dancing tonight.' We Go Deep is about getting ready and getting down. Tripping out on pure fun".[7]

"Go Deep" was written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with additional writing by René Elizondo, Jr. Lyrically, the song talks about Jackson's desire to cruise a club, get a man, drag him home and do him, with her insisting, "Gotta take him home/When I get him alone/I'll make him scream and moan".[8][9] Musically, it is a pop song with funk elements.[10] It was described by Billboard as a "danceable track with deep, syncopated beats" with a "pulsive erotic groover", with her vocals performed in a "girlish breathiness".[11][12][13] Official remixes for the song were released, featuring Missy Elliott, Teddy Riley and Timbaland.[10]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard called "Go Deep" "irresistible".[10] Daryl Easlea from BBC found the song "sleek, slippery".[14] The Daily Vault gave a negative review for the song, calling it "tedious" and further commenting that it "doesn't have that drive to make it a good club number it's supposed to be".[15]

Chart performance

Although "Go Deep" was released as an international single, it received radio airplay in the U.S. and had success as a club single, peaking at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart in early August 1998. The single entered and peaked at number thirteen on the UK Singles Chart in June 1998 and spent five weeks on the chart. It also charted inside the top forty in most other European countries and Australia, but fared better in the US and Canada. A hip hop remix by producer Timbaland also contributed to the song's success at U.S. urban stations.

Music video

In the single's music video—directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and released in July 1998, Ty Hodges makes a cameo appearance as a teen boy whose parents have left town for the weekend. The doorbell suddenly rings and it turns out to be Jackson and her dancers, who are asked to be let in. Jackson and company invite more friends over and a large house party ensues. The video climaxes with the young boy realizing it was all an elaborate daydream with his favorite singer. It appears on the DVD edition of 2001's All for You as well as the 2004 video compilation From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos.[16][17]

Live performances

Jackson performed "Go Deep" during her Manila show, dedicated specially to the city, on her 2011 Number Ones: Up Close and Personal tour.[18]

Track listings

European CD single (724389515220)[19]
  1. Jam & Lewis Radio Edit – 3:30
  2. Jam & Lewis Extended Album Mix – 5:32
US 12" promo single (VSTDJ 1680)[20]
  1. Masters at Work Thunder Mix – 9:07
  2. Masters at Work Bonus Beats – 4:01
  3. Masters at Work Spiritual Flute Mix – 10:53
  4. Masters at Work Vocal Deep Disco Dub – 8:12
  5. Masters at Work Alternative Mix – 8:28
U.S. double 12" remix promo single (7087 6 13165 1 3)[21]
  1. Masters at Work Thunder Mix – 9:07
  2. Masters at Work Thunder Radio Edit – 3:43
  3. Masters at Work Spiritual Flute Mix – 10:53
  4. Masters at Work Bonus Beats – 4:01
  5. Roni Size Remix – 7:25
  6. Masters at Work Vocal Deep Disco Dub – 8:32
  7. Jam & Lewis extended album mix – 5:35
  8. Masters at Work Downtempo Mix – 5:19
U.S. promo CD 1 (DPRO-13165)[22]
  1. Jam & Lewis radio edit – 3:30
  2. Album version – 4:54
  3. Jam & Lewis extended album mix – 5:35
  4. Masters at Work Downtempo Mix – 5:19
  5. Masters at Work radio edit – 3:43
  6. Call Out Hook (Jam & Lewis radio edit) – 0:17
U.S. promo CD 2 (DPRO-13172)[23]
  1. Timbaland Mix featuring Missy Elliott Edit – 4:03
  2. Timbaland Mix featuring Missy Elliott Remix – 5:33
  3. Teddy Riley Nation Remix (clean version) – 5:43
  4. T.R. Funk Mix – 5:39
  5. Call Out Hook (Missy Edit) – 0:17
  6. Call Out Hook (Teddy Riley Nation Remix) – 0:17
UK 12" promo single (VISA 1680)[24]
  1. Jam & Lewis radio edit – 3:30
  2. Timbaland radio edit – 4.05
UK 12" remix promo single (VSTXDJ 1680)[25]
  1. Roni Size Remix – 7:25
  2. Roni Size Remix Instrumental – 7:25
UK 12" single (VST 1680)[26]
  1. Masters at Work Thunder Mix – 9:07
  2. Jam & Lewis extended album mix – 5:32
  3. Timbaland Mix featuring Missy Elliott Remix – 5.33
UK 12" remix single (7243 8 95152 6 8)[27]
  1. Masters at Work Alternative Mix – 8:32
  2. Masters at Work Downtempo Mix – 5:19
  3. T.R Funk Mix – 5:39
  4. Roni Size Remix – 7:25
UK CD single (VSCDT 1680)[28]
European CD single (7243 8 95151 2 1)[29]
Japanese CD single (VJCP-12103)[30]
  1. Album version – 4:42
  2. T.R Funk Mix – 5:39
  3. Roni Size Remix – 7:25
  4. Masters at Work Alternative Mix – 8:32
  5. Masters at Work Downtempo Mix – 5:19

Charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[31] 39
Canadian Singles Chart[32] 9
Dutch Top 40[33] 38
European Hot 100 Singles[34] 28
French Singles Chart[31] 22
German Singles Chart[35] 72
New Zealand Singles Chart[31] 13
UK Singles Chart[36] 13
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay[37] 28
U.S. Billboard Pop Songs[32] 12
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40[32] 8
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay[38] 11
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[32] 1

References

  1. ↑ "Janet Jackson". Pond, Steve (Us Magazine). 1998.
  2. ↑ "07 - May - 2001 - EW Mobile". Entertainment Weekly. May 7, 2001. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Janet Discusses Depression With "Newsweek" - MTV". MTV News Staff. MTV News. November 11, 1997. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ Janet's Back. Smith, Danyel (Vibe). November 1997. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Janet". Randolph, Laura B. (Ebony). December 1997. p. 158.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to Planet Janet". Jane (Colon, Suzan). October 1998.
  7. ↑ Archived May 15, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ http://observer.com/1997/10/janet-jackson-gets-nasty-on-the-velvet-rope/#ixzz37JtrWuDg
  9. ↑ http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,289747,00.html
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Billboard 13 jun. 1998, p. 23, at Google Books
  11. ↑ "Love Can Get Complicated (Ouch!)". New York Times. October 7, 1997.
  12. ↑ Billboard 6 sep. 1997, p. 121, at Google Books
  13. ↑ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, p. 411, at Google Books
  14. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/pnhf
  15. ↑ http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=342
  16. ↑ "Janet Jackson-From Janet To Damita Jo: The Videos (2004)". Quickflix. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Janet Jackson: All For You - Limited Edition CD/DVD (2001)". DVD MG. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  18. ↑ http://www.pep.ph/celeb/23822/janet-jackson-to-go-deep-in-manila-on-february-4/1/1
  19. ↑ Janet Jackson Go Deep Europe 5" CD SINGLE (200120)
  20. ↑ Janet Jackson - Go Deep
  21. ↑ Janet* - Go Deep (Remixes)
  22. ↑ Janet Jackson Go Deep USA Promo 5" CD SINGLE (117469)
  23. ↑ Janet Jackson Go Deep USA Promo 5" CD SINGLE (118182)
  24. ↑ Janet Jackson - Go Deep
  25. ↑ Janet Jackson - Go Deep (Roni Size Remix)
  26. ↑ Janet Jackson - Go Deep
  27. ↑ Janet Jackson - Go Deep
  28. ↑ Janet Jackson - Go Deep
  29. ↑ Janet Jackson - Go Deep
  30. ↑ Janet Jackson Go Deep Japan 5" CD SINGLE (213304)
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 "Janet Jackson – Go Deep – swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 "The Velvet Rope > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  33. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26 – 1998". Radio 538 (in Dutch). Top 40. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  34. ↑ "Chart Data: Janet Jackson". mariah-charts.com. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  35. ↑ "Musicline.de – Janet Jackson – Go Deep". Media Control (in German). Musicline.de. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  36. ↑ "Chart Stats – Janet Jackson – Go Deep". The Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  37. ↑ "Hot 100 Airplay – Chart Listing For The Week Of Oct 10 1998". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  38. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay – Chart Listing For The Week Of Jul 25 1998". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 5, 2008.

External links