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.
Tonight's the Night
Janet Jackson Lyrics
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Stay away from my window
Stay away from my backdoor to
Disconnect the telephone line
Relax, baby, and draw that blind
Kick off your shoes and sit right down
Let me pour you a good long drink
Ooh, baby, don't you hesitate
Tonight's the night
It's gonna be alright
'Cause I love you, girl
Ain't nobody gonna stop us now
Come on, angel, my heart's on fire
Don't deny this one desire
You'd be a fool to stop this tide
Spread your wings and let me come inside 'cause
Tonight's the night
It's gonna be alright
'Cause I love you, girl
Ain't nobody gonna stop us now
(Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight's the night
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight's the night
Tonight's the night
Tonight's the night
Tonight's the night
Don't say a word, my virgin child
Just let your inhibitions run wild
The secret is about to unfold
Upstairs before the night's too old 'cause
Tonight's the night (tonight's the night)
It's gonna be alright
'Cause I love you, girl
Ain't nobody gonna stop us now
(Tonight, tonight's the night)
Tonight's the night (tonight's the night)
It's gonna be alright (tonight's the night)
'Cause I love you, boy
Ain't nobody gonna stop us now
This is so special
Tonight's the night
Don't be afraid
You know I'm gonna make it alright
Tonight's the night
Don't be afraid
I'm gonna make things alright
Tonight's the night
Don't be afraid
You know I'm gonna make it alright
Tonight's the night
Don't be afraid
I'm gonna make things alright
Tonight's the night
Don't be afraid
Please don't leave, I don't wanna be left all alone
The lyrics to Janet Jackson's song, "Tonight's the Night," are a seductive invitation to a lover. The singer urges their partner to stay away from prying eyes and let their inhibitions run wild. The song is a passionate plea for intimacy, with lyrics like "Spread your wings and let me come inside" and "Upstairs before the night's too old." The singer reassures their partner that everything will be alright and that no one will stop them from being together. The repetition of "tonight's the night" in the chorus creates a sense of urgency and anticipation, as if the singer can hardly wait for their lover to join them.
The lyrics of "Tonight's the Night" are a celebration of intimacy and desire. The singer urges their partner to let go of their inhibitions and come to them, promising that everything will be alright. The song is a powerful expression of love and passion, with lyrics that are both erotic and tender. The repetition of "don't be afraid" in the final verses of the song suggests that the singer is trying to reassure their partner that they will not be judged or rejected for giving in to their desires. Overall, the song is a bold and sensual invitation to indulge in the thrill of physical intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Stay away from my window
Do not try to watch me or get too close to me without my consent
Stay away from my backdoor to
Do not try to enter my personal space without my permission
Disconnect the telephone line
Let us have complete privacy and not be interrupted by outside forces
Relax baby and draw that blind
Let's make ourselves comfortable and shut out the outside world for the moment
Kick off your shoes and sit right down
Let's take our time and make ourselves at home
Loosen up that pretty french gown
Let's not worry about formalities and be comfortable in our own skin
Let me pour you a good long drink
Let me take care of you and help you relax
Ooh baby don't you hesitate 'cause
Don't hold back and let yourself be free with me
Tonight's the night
This is the moment we have both been waiting for
It's gonna be alright
We can trust each other and everything will work out
'Cause I love you girl
I have strong feelings for you and this is an expression of that love
Ain't nobody gonna stop us now
There is no one in the world who can keep us from being together tonight
Come on angel my hearts on fire
I am deeply passionate and emotional about being with you
Don't deny your man's desire
I know what I want and I am expressing my needs to you
You'd be a fool to stop this tide
If we don't follow our instincts and desires, we will regret it forever
Spread your wings and let me come inside, 'cause
Open yourself up to me and allow me to be intimate with you
Don't say a word, my virgin child
Let's communicate through our actions and emotions rather than words
Just let your inhibitions run wild
Let yourself go and experience everything you've been keeping bottled up
The secret is about to unfold
We are about to experience something special and magical together
Upstairs before the night's to old, 'cause
Let's not waste any time and make the most of this moment while we still have it
Don't be afraid
Trust in me and in yourself, we can handle whatever comes our way
I want to make things alright
I care about you and want to make sure you feel comfortable and happy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rod Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind