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.
Livin' in a World
Janet Jackson Lyrics
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They are born with spirits so innocent
'Til we teach them how to hate
Add to the world's confusion
We teach our kids rules
That we don't adhere to ourselves
Right or wrong
The people we learn from
Forge the ideas we become
Living in a world they didn't make
Living in a world that's filled with hate
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Living in a world they didn't make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children
Children grow to become our young adults
Problems of the world
They must learn how to confront
Doing drugs and joining gangs to rebel
Colors show they belong
To the social override
'Cause they're living in a space
They feel out of place
Living in a world they didn't make
Living in a world that's filled with hate
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Living in a world they didn't make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children (how much can they take?)
Living in a world they didn't make
Living in a world that's filled with hate
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Living in a world they didn't make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children (how much can they take?)
Children of the world
They are born so innocent
How much can they take?
Living in a world they didn't make (save the babies)
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes (save the babies, save the babies)
This just in
At least five people are dead and thirty others wounded
After a gunman opened fire on a California school playground
And then killed himself, apparently the gunman
Armed with an automatic rifle
Shot the kids during their recess time
The lyrics of Janet Jackson's "Livin' in a World" speak to the struggles and challenges that children face as they grow up in a world shaped by the behaviors and decisions of adults. The song addresses the ways in which adults can unknowingly perpetuate a cycle of hate and confusion, passing on negative behaviors and attitudes to the next generation.
The opening lines of the song establish the theme of generational cycles, highlighting the importance of the role that children play in shaping the future. Through their innocence and purity, children represent a beacon of hope and potential for a better world. However, as they grow up, they are subjected to the negative influences of the adult world, learning to hate and discriminate as a result of the examples set by those around them.
The second verse expands upon this theme, exploring the challenges faced by young adults as they navigate the complex and often overwhelming problems of the world. The pressures of fitting in and finding a sense of belonging can lead to destructive behaviors like drug use and gang activity, perpetuating a cycle of violence and negativity.
Overall, "Livin' in a World" is a powerful commentary on the importance of breaking free from negative generational cycles, and the role that adults can play in shaping a brighter future for the next generation.
Line by Line Meaning
Children are called the future of an adult world
Children are the future because they will grow up to become the adults that run the world.
They are born with spirits so innocent
Children are born with innocent spirits because they know nothing of the world's problems or complexities.
'Til we teach them how to hate
Until adults teach children how to hate, they are not exposed to the harsh realities of the world.
Add to the world's confusion
Teaching children to hate adds to the confusion and turmoil of the world.
We teach our kids rules
That we don't adhere to ourselves
Adults teach children rules, but sometimes fail to follow those rules themselves.
Right or wrong
What examples can they take?
If adults do not set good examples, children are left with no clear moral guidance.
The people we learn from
Forge the ideas we become
The people who teach us when we are young help shape the ideas and beliefs we hold as adults.
Living in a world they didn't make
Children inherit the world created by adults without having played a role in shaping it.
Living in a world that's filled with hate
Children are growing up in a world where hate and violence are prevalent.
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Children observe grown-ups breaking rules that they expect children to follow.
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
Children end up suffering the consequences of mistakes made by adults.
How much of this madness can they take
Children are subject to so much madness in the world that it is often difficult to process or comprehend.
Children grow to become our young adults
Problems of the world
They must learn how to confront
As children grow up, they inevitably face the problems of the world and must learn how to confront them.
Doing drugs and joining gangs to rebel
Colors show they belong
To the social override
'Cause they're living in a space
They feel out of place
Some children turn to negative influences like drugs and gangs to rebel against a world that they feel does not include or accept them.
Save the babies
In the face of tragedy, we must remember to protect the youngest and most innocent members of society.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Samuel Harris, Terry Steven Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind