The tenth and youngest child of the Jackson family, she began her career with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, and Fame. After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third and fourth studio albums Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music.
In 1991, Jackson signed the first of two record-breaking multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest-paid artists in the industry. Prior to her first studio project with Virgin, she appeared in her first of several lead film roles in Poetic Justice (1993). Her two studio albums which followed, Janet (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997), saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol. These records, along with their promotional music videos and live performances in concert tours, branded Jackson as one of the world's most erotic performers, garnering both criticism and praise. By the end of the 1990s, she was named by Billboard magazine as the second most successful recording artist of the decade after Mariah Carey. The release of her seventh studio album All for You in 2001 coincided with a celebration of her impact on the recording industry as the subject of the inaugural MTV Icon special.
The backlash from the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy resulted in an industry blacklisting under the direction of Les Moonves, then-CEO of CBS Corporation. Jackson subsequently experienced reduced radio airplay, televised promotion and sales figures from that point forward. After parting ways with Virgin Records, she released her tenth studio album Discipline (2008), her first and only album with Island Records. In 2015, she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label, Rhythm Nation and released her eleventh studio album Unbreakable the same year. Since then she has continued to release music as an independent artist.
Having sold over 100 million records, Jackson is one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has amassed an extensive catalog, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "That's the Way Love Goes", "Together Again", and "All for You"; she holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with 18. She is also the only artist in the history of the chart to have seven commercial singles from one album (Rhythm Nation 1814) peak within the top five positions. In 2008, Billboard placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". In December 2016, the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist after Madonna. One of the world's most awarded artists, her accolades include five Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, eleven American Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and eight Guinness World Records entries. In 2019, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jackson has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers and credited with elevating a standard of sound, showmanship and sex appeal expected of pop stars.
Be A Good Boy
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And put this on
Firstly, the lyrics of Janet Jackson's "Be A Good Boy" refer to a woman's expectation from men in a patriarchal society. The lines "Be a good boy And put this on" suggest that women have an upper hand and power over men, and they can manipulate them into doing anything. It could also be seen as a general remark to men to conform and behave as expected by society. The line could be interpreted as a woman giving a man a piece of clothing, indicating that she has control over what he wears and hence his appearance.
The song could also be interpreted as a warning to men who fail to behave well, and the line "be a good boy" could be an admonition. At the same time, it could be interpreted as a demand for submission and obedience from men. The song's repetitive nature implies that the message is straightforward and explicit; the tone matches this straightforwardness, with its short, punchy phrases and a decreased emphasis on melody.
In conclusion, the lyrics of "Be a Good Boy" by Janet Jackson could be understood as a critique of the expectations placed on men in society as well as a woman's societal superiority. Regardless of the interpretation, the tone, and repetition of lyrics is a powerful statement, underscoring the meaning behind the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Be a good boy
Conform to expected behavior and societal norms, particularly in regard to gender roles
And put this on
Wear the clothing or costume assigned to you, which may not align with your personal style or comfort level
Contributed by Alice L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.