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.
Top Heavy Remix
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at his body
Shakin' that thing
Like I never did see
Got a nice package alright
Guess I'm gonna have to ride it tonight
Guess I'm gonna have to ride it tonight
All for you
All for you if you say you need it
All for you if you gotta have it
All for you make a move
All for you
I see you staring out the corner of my eye
You seem uneasy want to approach
Throw me a line
But then something inside you grabs you says who am I
I know exactly cuz it happens with all the guys
So you do what you gonna do
Come on and talk to me
Promise you won't even have an attitude
I'll let you sit right next to me
Don't join the list of other fools
That ain't the way to be
Yes, it's cool
Yes, I'm in the mood
Intimidations got that mind
Can't be afraid or keep me waiting too long
Before you know it
I'll be outta here I'll be gone
Don't try to be all clever, cute, or even shy
Don't have to work that hard
Just be useful and let that be your guide
So you do what you gonna do
Come on and talk to me
Promise you won't even have an attitude
I'll let you sit right next to me
Don't join the list with all the other fools
That ain't the way to be
Yes, it's cool
Yes, I'm in the mood
Intimidations got that mind
All for you
Tell me you're the only one
Soon we'll be having fun
Come over here and get some
In Janet Jackson's song All For You Remix, she showcases confidence and assertiveness as she sings about being at a party with her friends and noticing a man who catches her eye. She describes his body and how he is dancing, and she decides that she wants him for herself. She so boldly claims that she will "ride it tonight" and she repeats "all for you" to emphasize her determination to have him.
However, amidst her own confidence, Janet also notices the man's hesitation to approach her. She addresses this by encouraging him to come talk to her and promising him that she won't have an attitude. She encourages him to simply be himself and not try to be someone he's not, and she repeats that she is in the mood for him.
Overall, the song showcases Janet's independence and self-assurance as she pursues the man she desires, but it also emphasizes the importance of communication and authenticity in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
All my girls at the party
Janet Jackson is surrounded by friends at a party.
Look at his body
She is checking out a guy with an attractive physique.
Shakin' that thing
The guy is dancing to the music, seductively moving his body.
Like I never did see
Janet is impressed by his moves and has not seen anything like it before.
Got a nice package alright
The guy has physical attributes that Janet finds attractive.
Guess I'm gonna have to ride it tonight
Janet is considering engaging in sexual activity with this guy.
All for you
Janet is willing to give herself to the guy she finds attractive.
If you really want it
She is allowing the guy to make the first move if he desires her too.
I see you staring out the corner of my eye
Janet has noticed the guy looking at her but he appears hesitant to make a move.
You seem uneasy want to approach
The guy appears unsure of how to approach Janet, perhaps intimidated by her.
Throw me a line
Janet is giving the guy a hint or invitation to come talk to her.
But then something inside you grabs you says who am I
The guy starts to doubt himself and questions if he is worthy of Janet's attention.
I know exactly cuz it happens with all the guys
Janet recognizes that many men feel intimidated by her and doubts their worthiness of approaching her.
So you do what you gonna do
Janet is encouraging the guy to be confident and make his move rather than continue to hesitate.
Come on and talk to me
She wants the guy to come over and start a conversation with her.
Promise you won't even have an attitude
She wants the guy to be relaxed and natural in their conversation without any negative vibes.
I'll let you sit right next to me
Janet is inviting the guy to sit beside her and get closer to her.
Don't join the list of other fools
Janet has high standards and does not want the guy to act foolishly or disrespectfully towards her.
That ain't the way to be
She is telling the guy that he needs to act with respect and maturity if he wants to pursue her.
Yes, it's cool
Janet is indicating that she is open to the possibility of the guy becoming involved with her.
Yes, I'm in the mood
Janet is feeling receptive and in the right mindset for a potential romantic encounter.
Intimidations got that mind
The guy's intimidation is affecting his ability to approach Janet and make a move.
Can't be afraid or keep me waiting too long
Janet is expressing that she will not wait around for someone who is too scared or hesitant to make a move.
Before you know it, I'll be outta here I'll be gone
If the guy does not make a move soon enough, Janet is suggesting that she might lose interest or move on from the situation.
Don't try to be all clever, cute, or even shy
Janet values authenticity and wants the guy to be himself without any affectations or pretension.
Don't have to work that hard
She wants the guy to feel comfortable in their conversation and not feel like he has to force anything.
Just be useful and let that be your guide
Janet is suggesting that the guy should focus on making himself helpful or useful to her in some way.
Tell me you're the only one
Janet wants to hear from the guy that he is interested in her exclusively.
Soon we'll be having fun
Janet is anticipating a fun and enjoyable time with the guy if he shows interest in her.
Come over here and get some
Janet is inviting the guy to come closer and be intimate with her.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FERNANDO LAMAS SAUNDERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind