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.
Free Xone
Janet Jackson Lyrics
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Next song?
Hahahahaha
Ohhhh boy
Mama Yoke
That used to be my nickname
He was on a airplane
Said he wasn't too shy
And he seemed real nice
Until he found out he was gay
That's so not mellow
Let's get free. . .
Let's get free
Let's get free
Now make it mellow
Now make it mellow
Freestyle
Xone 1
Boy meets boy
Boy loses boy
Boy gets cute boy back
Girl meets girl
Girl loses girl
Girl gets cute girl back
One rule
No rules
One love
Freexone
Let's get free. . .
Let's get free
Let's get free
Now make it mellow
Now make it mellow
Freestyle
Xone 2
Boy meets girl
Boy loses girl
Boy gets cute girl back
Girl meets boy
Girl loses boy
Girl gets cute girl back
Free to be who you really are
One rule
No rules
One love
Freexone
Let's get free. . .
Let's get free
Let's get free
Let's get let's get let's get free
Let's get free
Now make it mellow
Now make it mellow
Freestyle
Xone 3
Love your sister
Love your brother
Love yourself
Remember
One rule
No rules
One love
Freexone
Freexone
Freexone
One rule
No rules
One love
Freexone
Freexone
Freexone
Freexone
The song "Free Xone" by Janet Jackson seems to be an anthem for freedom, tolerance, and love. The lyrics don't beat around the bush and start with a story about a guy who was friendly to someone on a plane until he found out that the person is gay. The singer goes on to say that such behavior is "not mellow," implying that it's not cool to be judgmental of someone's sexuality. The chorus is a rallying cry to let go of all social norms and be free, whether it's boy meets boy or girl loses girl. The song also acknowledges that things aren't always easy, but that love conquers all. That's what the "Freexone" (Free Zone) is all about - a space without judgement, labels, or discrimination.
Overall, the song encourages everyone to love themselves and each other, no matter who they are. It recognizes that we don't need rules to love and that true love is unconditional. The Xone is a place where everyone is accepted, and everyone is free to be themselves. With its positive message and catchy melody, the song appeals to those who value diversity and inclusivity in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Free. . .
Let's be free from societal norms and expectations.
Next song?
Asks the listener if they are ready for the next song.
Hahahahaha
Janet laughs at something we cannot hear or know about.
Ohhhh boy
Janet reacts to what she said in the previous line.
Mama Yoke
That used to be my nickname
Janet shares that her nickname used to be Mama Yoke.
He was on a airplane
Sittin next to this guy
Said he wasn't too shy
And he seemed real nice
Until he found out he was gay
That's so not mellow
Janet describes someone's behavior on a plane who seemed nice but turned out to be homophobic and thus, not peaceful.
Let's get free. . .
Encourages everyone to be free and accepts others without judgment.
Let's get free
Let's get free
Now make it mellow
Now make it mellow
Continues to assert the need for getting free from the confines of society and asks for peace or calmness to follow.
Freestyle
Xone 1
Boy meets boy
Boy loses boy
Boy gets cute boy back
Girl meets girl
Girl loses girl
Girl gets cute girl back
One rule
No rules
One love
Freexone
Describes different types of relationships between people and emphasizes that there should be no rules in love and everyone should be respected and loved.
Let's get free. . .
Repeats the earlier call to be free from societal norms and expectations.
Let's get free
Let's get free
Now make it mellow
Now make it mellow
Emphasizes the need for free and peaceful living.
Freestyle
Xone 2
Boy meets girl
Boy loses girl
Boy gets cute girl back
Girl meets boy
Girl loses boy
Girl gets cute girl back
Free to be who you really are
One rule
No rules
One love
Freexone
Continues to describe different situations and types of relationships between people and then reiterates that people should be free to be who they want and still accept others, regardless of any societal norms or pressures.
Let's get free. . .
Repeats one more time the call to embrace freedom.
Let's get free
Let's get free
Let's get let's get let's get free
Let's get free
Now make it mellow
Now make it mellow
Again emphasizes the need for calmness and embraces freedom to live as one's true self.
Freestyle
Xone 3
Love your sister
Love your brother
Love yourself
Remember
One rule
No rules
One love
Freexone
Freexone
Freexone
Calls for loving others and oneself, reminding everyone to stay true to themselves and be free of societal pressures.
One rule
No rules
One love
Freexone
Freexone
Freexone
Freexone
Reiterates the earlier message that one rule should be followed: love without imposing any rules on others.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN, BILLY BUTTIER, ARCHIE BELL, MICHAEL HEPBURN, JANET JACKSON, III, JAMES HARRIS, TERRY LEWIS, RAFAEL ELIZONDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind