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.
Velvet Rope
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To feel that we belong
Come with me inside
Inside my velvet rope
We have a special need
To feel that we belong
Come with me inside
We all wanna feel special
This special need
That's within us
Brings out the best
Yet worst in us
Follow the passion
That's within you
Living the truth
Will set you free
We have a special need
To feel that we belong
Come with me inside (come with me, come with me)
Inside my velvet rope
We have a special (have a) need (special need)
To feel that we belong (feel we, feel we, feel wee)
Come with me inside
Inside my velvet rope
Put others down
To fill us up
Oppressing me
Will oppress you
Outside leave judgement
Outside, leave hate
One love's the answer
You'll find in you
We have a special (have a) need (special need)
To feel that we belong (belong, belong)
Come with me inside (come with me, come with me)
Inside my velvet rope
We have a special need
To feel that we belong
Come with me inside
Inside my velvet rope
The lyrics to Janet Jackson's "Velvet Rope" explore the human need for acceptance and belonging. Janet clearly highlights that we all have a special need to feel part of something, to be accepted and loved. She invites the listener to come inside her "velvet rope," which acts as a metaphor for an exclusive space where people can feel accepted by one another without fear of judgment or criticism.
Throughout the song, Janet emphasizes that the special need to belong within us can bring out both the best and the worst in us. People will do things that others deem unacceptable or inflammatory, just to feel accepted by a group. However, Janet advises listeners to follow the passion within oneself, stating that living truthfully will set you free from the fear of judgment and oppression.
Janet recognizes that people sometimes put others down to feel better about themselves, but points out that this kind of behavior only leads to more oppression for everyone. She implores listeners to leave judgment and hate outside and embrace "one love" as the answer to feeling like they belong.
Overall, "Velvet Rope" speaks to the human experience of needing acceptance and belonging while highlighting the dangers of turning to unhealthy behavior to fit in with others. It is a powerful message delivered through an emotive and catchy song.
Line by Line Meaning
We have a special need
As humans, we crave a sense of belonging
To feel that we belong
We desire acceptance and validation from others
Come with me inside
Join me on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance
Inside my velvet rope
Become a part of the exclusive and safe space where we can express ourselves freely
This special need
Our longing for connection
That's within us
Inherent in our human nature
Brings out the best
Encourages us to be our authentic selves
Yet worst in us
Can also cause us to compete and put others down to feel superior
Follow the passion
Embrace your true desires and interests
That's within you
The fire that fuels your ambitions is inside you
Living the truth
Being honest with ourselves and others leads to greater fulfillment
Will set you free-ee-ee
Authenticity is liberating and empowering
Put others down
Tearing others down to feel better about ourselves
To fill us up
Temporary satisfaction from diminishing others
Oppressing me
Oppressing one person will ultimately oppress us all
Will oppress you
The consequences of our actions will affect us in the long run
Outside leave judgement
Release the need to criticize others
Outside leave hate
Abandon negative and hostile attitudes towards others
One love's the answer
Love and acceptance of all people is the solution to our problems
You'll find in you-oo-oo
This love and acceptance starts with ourselves
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Samuel Iii Harris, Trevor Charles Horn, Janet Jackson, Terry Steven Lewis, Malcolm Mclaren, Mike Oldfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind