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.
Theory
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My little, my lil' theory here.
Okay, so we could either stop now,
And start at either 11 or 12, or, I love you
For that Jimmy, or we could continue now.
That was a pretty awesome idea, huh?
The lyrics in Janet Jackson's song Theory are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. The lines suggest that someone named Jimmy was playing something (presumably music) and that the singer has a theory they want to share, but they are not sure if Jimmy can hear them. The singer proposes starting at either 11 or 12, which could refer to a clock or a musical scale. They also express love and gratitude towards Jimmy for something they did, although it is not clear what that was. The singer then suggests continuing with the theory, and praises themselves for coming up with a good idea.
The meaning of these lyrics is not entirely clear, but one possible interpretation is that the singer is talking about a musical collaboration with Jimmy. They may have been jamming or practicing together, and the singer has an idea for how to structure the music. The numbers 11 and 12 could refer to different keys or chord progressions that they could explore. The singer's love for Jimmy could indicate that they are grateful for his talent and support.
Overall, Theory is a song that celebrates the creative process and the joy of making music with others. The lyrics are playful and poetic, leaving plenty of room for interpretation and imagination.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Jimmy was playing, so I bet he didn't hear me.
Jimmy was most likely focused on playing and did not hear what I said.
My little, my lil' theory here.
I have a small idea or thought.
Okay, so we could either stop now,
We have two options: we can either pause what we are doing now or continue.
And start at either 11 or 12, or, I love you
If we stop now, we can either start again at 11 or 12 or I appreciate the suggestion Jimmy made.
For that Jimmy, or we could continue now.
I appreciate Jimmy's input, but we can also choose to keep going.
That was a pretty awesome idea, huh?
I think Jimmy's suggestion was good and I appreciate his contribution.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES HARRIS III, JAMES SAMUEL III HARRIS, JANET DAMITA JO JACKSON, TERRY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lynette Price
Her 1st husband was James Debarge, 2nd husband was Rene Elizondo
Akia Thornhill
Janet didn't stay too long with James. She left because of his drug addiction
Ray Jones
True she told him after they got married and he ran that why he said that his family had custody of the baby.. the child is of age almost about 40 today. On her own now...
The Truth Show
Thank You so much!
Tanya Stanley
And when ur in the lime light ur life is an open book
Detroit Skidrow
I know Janet,she is an amazing Spirit 💋
Tanya Stanley
They were normal family they went through some things that most black families do only thing they were in the lime light
Ray Jones
It was ok she more likely than she skipped a lot and it was out of order but she said she wante it to tell her story I think it's because of her mother... I didn't believe a whole lot of her story. It was ok anyway..
Ray Jones
I don't believe her because James said that there was a baby?
Indra Taylor
🙌🏿❤️👑