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.
Greatest X
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
My momma told me that this could happen to me
That he would grow to be this sexy man
But I just couldn't see
Cause I had my blinders on
I was in my zone
Somehow I turned us all off
And then I met him, and he wasn't you
Then I dropped my head thinkin' what should I do
Oh I
[Chorus]
I loved you, and
You love me
And I just couldn't see tomorrow, baby
And I cared for you
And I didn't see us through
Now I know in my heart you will always be
The greatest x ever
Now I can't do a simple thing like fall asleep
Cause I can't close my eyes
Without a day with you in my dreams, dreams
Sometimes I call you phone just to hear you tone
And I never say nothin'
Wait just a couple of seconds to hear you breathe
And then I'm gone
But he's not like you
Can't help but to hold my head
Thinkin' what did I do
Oh I
[Chorus]
And I know that it's all my fault
And it would be a lie if I said you didn't cross my mind at all
How do I erase from my days that's shaded and blue
All my love's with you, oh
[Chorus]
The greatest x ever
The greatest x ever
The greatest x ever
The greatest x ever
The greatest x ever
The song "Greatest X" by Janet Jackson tells a story of regret and longing for a past love. The lyrics start with Jackson reminiscing about her mother warning her about falling for someone who would become a "sexy man," but she couldn't see it at the time. She then goes on to reflect on how she had her "blinders on" and was in her "zone" with thoughts of the person she loved, but then proceeded to turn off those feelings. Later in the song, Jackson talks about how she can't do anything as simple as falling asleep without thinking of this past love and how she sometimes calls just to hear their voice.
The chorus repeats the phrase "The greatest x ever" and reflects how Jackson's past love will always hold a special place in her heart, despite not seeing things through in their relationship. Jackson recognizes that it's her fault that their love didn't work out, and she acknowledges that the thought of this person still crosses her mind. She wonders how she can erase this person from her life when all her love is still for them.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and heartbreak for a past love that could have been. Jackson's vocals are emotional and add depth to the song's message of regret.
Line by Line Meaning
My momma told me that this could happen to me
My mother warned me that I could fall for someone who seemed perfect for me
That he would grow to be this sexy man
My mother predicted that he would become an attractive man
But I just couldn't see
I was too blinded by my own preconceptions to see it
Cause I had my blinders on
I was ignorant of what was really going on in my own life
I was in my zone
I was focused on myself and not on the bigger picture
And I had the thought of us in my head
I was imagining a future with him
Somehow I turned us all off
I distanced myself from him for reasons beyond my control
And then I met him, and he wasn't you
I met someone else who wasn't the man I thought I was supposed to be with
Then I dropped my head thinkin' what should I do
I felt lost and unsure of how to proceed
I loved you, and
I had deep feelings of love for you
You love me
You had feelings of love for me as well
And I just couldn't see tomorrow, baby
I was so caught up in the present that I didn't consider our future
And I cared for you
I had genuine feelings of care and concern for you
And I didn't see us through
I failed to see our relationship continue into the future
Now I know in my heart you will always be
I have come to realize that you will always hold a special place in my heart
Now I can't do a simple thing like fall asleep
I am having trouble sleeping due to my thoughts of you
Cause I can't close my eyes
I am afraid of what thoughts might come up when I close my eyes
Without a day with you in my dreams, dreams
I often dream of spending time with you
Sometimes I call you phone just to hear you tone
I sometimes call just to hear your voice
And I never say nothin'
I don't actually speak when I call you
Wait just a couple of seconds to hear you breathe
I listen intently for any sound you make on the other end of the line
And then I'm gone
Once I feel like I've heard enough, I quickly hang up
But he's not like you
The person I'm currently with can't compare to you
Can't help but to hold my head
I can't help but feel regretful and sad
Thinkin' what did I do
Wondering about what I could have done differently to make things work out between us
And I know that it's all my fault
I understand that my actions played a role in our relationship not working out
And it would be a lie if I said you didn't cross my mind at all
I can't deny that you are still on my mind
How do I erase from my days that's shaded and blue
I'm struggling to move on from the sadness and regret I feel
All my love's with you, oh
I still deeply love and care for you
The greatest x ever
You will always be the greatest love of my life
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER A. STEWART, TERIUS YOUNGDELL NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sakai Hitomi
Janet Jackson Greatest X Lyrics
[Intro]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 1]
My momma told me that this could happen to me
That he would grow up and be the sexy man
But, oh, I just couldn't see
'Cause I didn't plan this alone, I was in my zone
And had the thought of us in my head
Somehow I turned this all off
And then I met him and he wasn't you
And then I dropped my head, thinking, what should I do?
[Chorus]
Oh I, I loved you, and you loved me
And I just couldn't see tomorrow, baby
And I, cared for you, and I didn't see this through
Now I know in my heart you will always be the greatest ex ever
[Verse 2]
Now when you do a simple thing like fall asleep
Oh, 'cause I can't close my eyes
Without a day with you in my dreams
Sometimes I call your phone just to hear your tone
And I never say nothing, wait just like a couple of seconds
To hear you breathe and then I'm gone
But he's not like you
Can't help but to hold my head again, what did I do?
[Chorus]
Oh, I, I, loved you, and you loved me
And I just couldn't see tomorrow, baby
And I, cared for you and I didn't see this through
Now I know in my heart you will always be the greatest ex ever
[Bridge]
And I know that it's all my fault (all my fault)
And it would be a lie if I said you didn't cross my mind at all
How do I erase my days, they're shaded in blue
All of my love's for you
[Chorus]
Oh, I, I loved you, and you loved me
And I just couldn't see tomorrow, baby
And I, cared for you, and I didn't see this through
Now I know in my heart you will always be the greatest ex ever
And ever, and ever...
The greatest ex ever, and ever, and ever (Repeat until end)
bby_ xoxoriah
I love this song!!!! still listening in 2017
Daina_maria_
this song hits differently <3
Javier Reyes
Love this lady .
Nikolee Williams
This song makes me cry. I so love this song OMG this song is o amazing
Takeshia Harrington
One of my faves
Salonni Rocha Martins
Por que n tem essa música no Spotify aff
Salonni Rocha Martins
@Gabriel Fergon finalmente
Gabriel Fergon
ela finalmente colocou
Zahra Thompson
My wonderful ex Trevor that transformed me in many ways. This song is dedicated to you
Mad About Spice
Underrated