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.
Discipline
Janet Jackson Lyrics
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I touched myself, even though you told me not to
You commanded me to wait for you (I tried)
But I can smell you on my sheets
Taste you on my skin so vividly
Daddy I disobeyed you
Now I want you to come punish me
Don't hold back
I've been very bad
Make me cry
Got to make me cry
Babe, I need some discipline 2nite
Don't hold back
I've been very bad
Make me cry
Got to make me cry
Babe
I misbehaved
And my punishment should fit my crime
Tie me to something
Take off all my clothes
Daddy I want you to take you're time (I'm scared)
My heart is beatin fast
Shiver as you grab my neck
Baby, blindfold me daddy
Is better when I don't know what to expect
Babe, I need some discipline 2nite
Don't hold back
I've been very bad
Make me cry
Got to make me cry
Babe, I need some discipline 2nite
Don't hold back
I've been very bad
Make me cry
Got to make me cry
Babe
Did I upset you daddy
Take out you're frustrations on me
Did I make you mad
Take out you're frustrations on me
You be the teacher, I'll be the student
Tell me to do it, and I will do it
I'm under you're command
You be the teacher, I'll be the student
Tell me to do it, and I will do it
Babe, I need some discipline 2nite
Don't hold back
I've been very bad
Make me cry
Got to make me cry
Babe, I need some discipline 2nite
Don't hold back
I've been very bad
Make me cry
Got to make me cry
Babe
The lyrics of Janet Jackson's "Discipline" express the desire for punishment and control in a sexual context. The singer acknowledges that she has "misbehaved" and done things she knows she shouldn't, such as touching herself when told not to. This speaks to the idea of discipline as a form of pleasure, the act of being punished for disobedience is arousing for the singer. She expresses a desire for her partner or "daddy" to "punish" her, by tying her up and taking off her clothes. The lyrics also suggest a power dynamic between the submissive narrator and her dominant partner, with him controlling her actions and her wanting to please him.
The repetition of the phrase "make me cry" throughout the song highlights the idea that pain, whether physical or emotional, is pleasurable for the singer in the context of a controlled sexual encounter. The use of the word "discipline" also reinforces the idea of control and punishment, implying that the singer craves structure and boundaries within her sexual relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of "Discipline" speak to the complex interplay between pleasure and pain, control and submission in a BDSM context.
Line by Line Meaning
I misbehaved, done some things I know I shouldn't do
I have not followed the rules and did something I was told not to.
I touched myself, even though you told me not to
I engaged in sexual behavior alone despite being warned against it.
You commanded me to wait for you (I tried)
I was asked to wait for you, but it was difficult.
But I can smell you on my sheets
Your scent lingers on my bedding.
Taste you on my skin so vividly
I can still feel your touch on my skin.
Daddy I disobeyed you
I went against your instructions, Daddy.
Now I want you to come punish me
I want you to discipline me now.
Babe, I need some discipline 2nite
I require your guidance and correction tonight.
Don't hold back
Don't be afraid to be strict with me.
I've been very bad
I have acted poorly.
Make me cry
Discipline me harshly enough to make me cry.
Got to make me cry
It's essential to discipline me to the point of tears.
And my punishment should fit my crime
My penalty should be appropriate to my wrongdoing.
Tie me to something
Restrict me in some way.
Take off all my clothes
I want to be fully exposed and vulnerable.
Daddy I want you to take you're time (I'm scared)
Daddy, please take things slowly, but I'm also frightened.
My heart is beatin fast
My heartbeat quickens in anticipation.
Shiver as you grab my neck
I tremble with fear and anticipation when you grip my neck.
Baby, blindfold me daddy
Please blindfold me, Daddy.
Is better when I don't know what to expect
I prefer not to anticipate what will happen next.
Did I upset you daddy
Did I offend you, Daddy?
Take out you're frustrations on me
Please take your frustrations out on me.
Did I make you mad
Did I anger you?
You be the teacher, I'll be the student
You will guide me, and I will learn from you.
Tell me to do it, and I will do it
I will do whatever you ask of me.
I'm under you're command
I'm following your orders.
Babe, I need some discipline 2nite
I require your guidance and correction tonight.
Don't hold back
Don't be afraid to be strict with me.
I've been very bad
I have acted poorly.
Make me cry
Discipline me harshly enough to make me cry.
Got to make me cry
It's essential to discipline me to the point of tears.
Babe
An affectionate term to call one's partner.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JASON GREENHALGH, FEMI OLASEHINDE, PAUL SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind