Burnitup!

For other uses, see Burn It Up (disambiguation).
"Burnitup!"
Promotional single by Janet Jackson featuring Missy Elliott from the album Unbreakable
Released September 25, 2015 (2015-09-25)
Format Digital download
Genre R&B
Length 4:09
Label
  • Rhythm Nation
  • BMG
Writer
Producer

"Burnitup!" (stylized as "BURNITUP!") is a song by American singer Janet Jackson featuring rapper Missy Elliott recorded for Jackson's eleventh studio album, Unbreakable (2015).

Background

For "Burnitup!", Jackson invited American rapper Missy Elliott, with whom she had collaborated on "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)" along with Carly Simon, and "The 1", a song from her previous album Discipline (2008).[1][2] Elliott commented, "Working with Janet is unbelievable. Although we are great friends and have been for so long, I am still her biggest fan. Sometimes, I still have to pinch myself when I call her and she picks up the phone or texts me because she is still Janet Jackson! The superstar that I would run to the TV to watch her videos and dance moves, so for me I'm honored to be on any Janet record. I'm humbled whenever she asks because she inspires and continues to inspire me, always!" Jackson responded that it is always great to work with friends, and Elliott was a dear one. It was natural to record a song together for both of them, as they had a great time doing it. The song's producers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, said that "Janet and Missy working together is a case of one plus one equaling 10."[3] The song was first played on MistaJam's BBC Radio 1 show on September 24, 2015, and then released for digital download the day after.[4]

Composition

"Burnitup!" is composed as an uptempo song with electronic beats, with processed vocal samples and "crisp" house drums. The opening of "Burnitup!" warns listeners with a voice shouting "Incoming!", before Elliott starts rapping, and hypes listeners up before Jackson's vocals and makes some kitty-quoting "meow" sounds.[4][5] Jackson then asks "Mr. DJ" to "turn it up" and the crowd to "dance like no-one's watching", while Elliott raps "Make it work, make it work, make it work".[6] Elliott also instructs the listener, rapping "Dis dat jam, now do yo dance"[sic] and giving shout-outs to Jackson, who teases "Just give me that fire and Imma show you how to burn it up".[7][8]

Critical reception

"Burnitup!" received positive reviews from music critics. Billboard's Colin Stutz called it a "club-ready jam".[9] Shenequa Golding from Vibenoted that "Missy infuses her signature personality on the electronic single, while Janet's smooth voices coats the fast-paced track".[10] Alex Hudson of Exclaim commented that Elliott, combined with the song's "thumping electronic swagger and DJ-encouraging melodies", makes it an energetic pop anthem.[4] Francesca Dunn from i-D complimented Jackson's "joyously hooky vocals" which she displayed around the track.[5] Spin magazine's Brennan Carley noted that "heel-nipping track featuring Missy Elliott [who is] in fine form, doing a tongue-twisting verse to usher in Jackson's perfectly aerated harmonizing".[11] Maeve McDermott from USA Today was positive, saying "Ms. Jackson doesn't just make music for the bedroom—Burnitup! seems tailor-made for booming club speakers, all anchored by drill-sergeant rapping from—yes, she's baaaack!—Missy".[12] James Vincent, writer for The Verge, noted that both artists featured on the song have been relatively absent from the music world for a while, and "Burnitup!" shows why it is good to have them back.[13]

Live performance

"Burnitup!" is performed as the opening number on Jackson's 2015–16 Unbreakable World Tour, with Elliott appearing on screens.[14][15]

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[16] 68
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard)[17] 16
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 3
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)[19] 22
US R&B Songs (Billboard)[20] 17

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide September 25, 2015
Digital download
  • Rhythm Nation
  • BMG
 [21][22]

References

  1. ↑ Jacobs, Matthew (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson And Missy Elliott 'BURNITUP!' With Their New Song". The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ Spero, Jesse (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson & Missy Elliot Release 'BURNITUP!'". Access Hollywood. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Zach (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson Drops "BURNITUP!" With Missy Elliott". Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Hudson, Alex (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson "Burnitup!" (ft. Missy Elliott)". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Dunn, Francesca (September 25, 2015). "'burnitup!' janet jackson and missy elliott’s new collaboration is fire". i-D. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  6. ↑ "New Music: Janet Jackson feat. Missy Elliott – ‘BURNITUP!’". Rap-Up. September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  7. ↑ Reed, Ryan (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson Recruits Missy Elliott for Propulsive Song, 'Burnitup!'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ Charlton, Lauretta (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson’s New Single ‘Burnitup!’ Features Missy Elliott and a Whole Lot of Sweat". Vulture.com. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ Stutz, Colin (September 24, 2015). "Janet Jackson Drops Club-Ready 'Burn It Up' With Missy Elliott". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ Golding, Shenequa (September 24, 2015). "Janet Jackson Returns To Her Dance Roots On ‘BURNITUP’ Featuring Missy Elliott". Vibe. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  11. ↑ Carley, Brenan (September 24, 2015). "Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott Scorch Through ‘Burn It Up’". Spin. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ McDermott, Maeve (September 25, 2015). "Listen: Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott 'Burnitup!' on new single". USA Today. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ Vincent, James (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson and Missy Elliot 'BURNITUP!' for new track". Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Janet Jackson: Tour starts with new song featuring Missy Elliott - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly.
  15. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (September 1, 2015). "Janet Jackson Debuts New Song Featuring Missy Elliott at Tour Kickoff". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Janet Jackson feat. Missy Elliott – Burnitup!" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Japan Hot 100". Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  19. ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs". Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  20. ↑ "R&B Songs". Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Burnitup!". Amazon.com. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Unbreakable". iTunes Store. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
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