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.
Hold Back The Tears
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But there's nothing that I can do
Things are so bad
You forget every word I've spoken to you
Love is when it touches you down inside
Why are you looking for somewhere to hide?
You've gotta hold back the tears
Maybe there could be someone who cares for you
You've gotta hold back the tears
You don't have to say never
Love will come to those who are prepared
To give it back
Time will never be on your side
Listen, it could be your only chance to survive
This love is waiting to call you home
Don't weep, you'll never be on your own
You've gotta hold back the tears
Soon you will discover
Maybe there could be someone who cares for you
You've gotta hold back the tears
You don't have to say never
Love will come to those who are prepared
To give it back
This is all you're ever gonna be
Well, is it all worthwhile?
There's so much that I want you to see
It could be all worthwhile
You've gotta hold back the tears
Soon you will discover
Maybe there could be someone who cares for you
You've gotta hold back the tears
You don't have to say never
Love will come to those who are prepared
You've gotta hold back the tears
Soon you will discover
Maybe there could be someone who cares for you
You've gotta hold back the tears
Hold Back The Tears by Janet Jackson appears to be a song about lost love and heartbreak. The song sounds mournful and sorrowful, reflecting the sad emotions of a lover who has lost the person they love most. Janet Jackson croons, "So sad, but there's nothing that I can do / Things are so bad, forget every word I've spoken to you." She seems resigned to fate and powerless in the face of her heartbreak.
The chorus of the song seems like a call to hold back the tears and to move on from one's heartbreak. In the lines "Don't have to say never, love will come to those who are prepared," she encourages the broken-hearted to have hope that someone new will love and appreciate them someday. She recognizes that even as time continues, waiting to be with the right person is worth it; "This love is waiting to call you home / Don't read you'll ever be on your own."
In the end, the song seems to be offering some words of consolation to people who are heartbroken, encouraging them to be strong and hold back the tears. It preaches the importance of hope and the fact that love will come to those who wait.
Line by Line Meaning
So sad, but there's nothin' that I can do
I am feeling regretful but I am helpless in this situation.
Things are so bad, forget every word I've spoken to you
This situation has deteriorated, and I ask that you disregard everything I have said previously.
Love is when it touches you down inside
True love resonates deeply within one's soul.
Why really are you lookin' for somewhere to hide
What is the real reason you are avoiding confronting your emotions?
You've gotta hold back the tears
It's essential to resist breaking down emotionally.
Soon you will discover maybe there could be someone who cares for you
Don't lose hope. Someone who loves and cares for you may appear soon.
Don't have to say never, love will come to those who are prepared
It's important to remain open-minded and optimistic about the possibility of finding love.
Time will never be on your side
The clock is always ticking, and time is not something we can control.
Listen, could be your only chance to survive
Pay attention to what's happening, as it may be crucial for your survival or well-being.
This love is waiting to call you home
There is a strong love that's waiting to welcome you with open arms.
Don't read you'll ever be on your own
You will never be completely alone. There will always be someone who cares for you.
To give it back
To reciprocate the love and care that one is given.
This is all you're ever gonna be
This is your reality, and there is no changing it.
Well, is it all worth while
Is this situation and your current state of being really worth it?
There's so much that I want you to see
There's so much beauty and positivity in life that you haven't experienced yet.
It could be all worth while
Despite the difficulties and hardships, the end result may be well worth it.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Christopher Eaton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind