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.
China Love
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La-di-da-da
Hey, yeah, hey, ohh
The energy I see, the silence that you speak
The lust within my dreams and what it says to me
This full heart of mine, you just can't empty
How pleasant life will be, China love
As the sun retires, our love will transpire
Make love to me, China love
I see the sunshine when I look into your eyes
They speak of worlds gone by, we loved another time
My heart was empty 'til you came to be
(Baby, come inside of me)
So come and lay with me, China love (China love, China love)
How pleasant life will be, China love (ohh, China love)
As the sun retires, our love will transpire
Make love to me, China love
China love
China love
(Baby, come inside of me)
So come and lay with me, China love (China love, China love)
How pleasant life will be, China love (ohh, China love)
As the sun retires, our love will transpire
(Baby, come inside of me)
So come and lay with me, China love (China love, China love)
How pleasant life will be, China love (ohh, China love)
As the sun retires, our love will transpire
Make love to me, China love
Make love to me, China love
Make love to me, China love
(China love)
The lyrics of Janet Jackson's song China Love speak to the powerful connection between two people who seem to be from different worlds. When Jackson sings "The energy I see, the silence that you speak," she is expressing her ability to pick up on the unspoken emotions and intensity that exists between her and her partner. She continues to describe the "lust within my dreams," which suggests that their connection runs deep and is not just physical in nature. This is reinforced when she sings "This full heart of mine, you just can't empty," indicating that despite any potential obstacles, she is fully committed to this relationship.
The chorus of the song, which repeatedly implores "China love, come lay with me," further emphasizes the passion and longing that exists between the two lovers. The term "China love" itself is left somewhat open to interpretation, but it could be interpreted as a metaphor for a love that is exotic, distant, and perhaps even somewhat mysterious. Jackson goes on to talk about how "the sun retires" as they make love, positioning this relationship as something that is intimate and private, something that happens away from the prying eyes of the world.
Overall, the lyrics of China Love are about the power of a deep and passionate connection between two people who may not necessarily seem to belong together. It is about the ways in which we can find common ground and share something special with someone who, on the surface, may seem to come from a completely different world.
Line by Line Meaning
The energy I see
I see a vibrant and positive force in you that draws me closer.
The silence that you speak
I hear the unspoken words in your silence, and it speaks volumes to me.
The lust within my dreams
I have intense desires and longings for you that I often dream about.
And what it says to me
These dreams communicate to me how much I want and crave your love.
This full heart of mine
I have a heart overflowing with love, and you can't take that away from me.
You just can't empty
No matter what happens, you can't take away the love in my heart.
So come lay with me
Let's be intimate and connect physically.
China love
Our love is special and unique, like the beauty of China.
How pleasant life will be
Being with you makes life so much brighter and more enjoyable.
As the sun retires
As the day comes to an end and the sun sets, our love will blossom.
Our love will transpire
Our love will come to fruition and grow stronger over time.
Make love to me
Let's express our love physically and emotionally.
Lyrics © JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Harris Iii, Terry Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind