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.
Whatll I Do
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey who'll take care of me now
If you leave I can't make it
Darlin' please don't you put me down
'Cause what'll I do for satisfaction
If you take away your heart
What'll I do for satisfaction
Oh what'll I do
I can't take no more of missin' you
I don't know just what I'm gonna do
How can I have another
You don't know just what you mean to me
What'll I do for satisfaction
If you take away, away your heart
What'll I do for satisfaction
When my nights start to getting' long
Boy I love you
Want to hold you
Your love's strong that's no lie
And I hate, I hate to put to down
But if you, If you leave me now
You won't want, want me hangin' around
"Cause What'll I do for satisfaction
When that funny feelin' gone
Oh I need you now
Janet Jackson's "What'll I Do" is a song that explores the theme of loss and heartbreak in a relationship. Janet's lyrics elicit the feelings of confusion, sadness, and desperation one might experience when they realize that their relationship is starting to fall apart. In the song, Jackson is begging her partner not to leave her, as she is unsure of what she will do if they do.
The opening lines of the song, "What'll I do for satisfaction, honey who'll take care of me now" sets the tone for a desperate plea for companionship. She then goes on to ask, "What'll I do for satisfaction if you take away your heart." Jackson is grappling with the idea that her partner is considering leaving her, and she is pleading with them not to. Her desire for their love and affection is palpable as she says, "Boy, I love you, want to hold you, your love's strong that's no lie."
The song's title "What'll I Do" and its repeated chorus line “what’ll I do for satisfaction when that funny funny feeling is gone” are reflective of the conflicting emotions Jackson feels about the impending breakup. She doesn't know how she will move on without her partner or deal with the dissatisfaction that comes after the life-changing event. Overall, the song has poignant, relatable lyrics that touch on universal themes of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
What'll I do for satisfaction
The singer is questioning how she will fulfill her desires and needs if her lover leaves her.
Honey who'll take care of me now
The singer wonders who will support and care for her now that her lover is leaving.
If you leave I can't make it
The singer admits that she cannot cope or survive if her lover leaves her.
Darlin' please don't you put me down
The singer pleads with her lover not to break her heart and leave her feeling inferior.
'Cause what'll I do for satisfaction
The singer reiterates her concern about how she will be fulfilled without the love of her partner.
If you take away your heart
The singer expresses that without her lover's love and affection, she will be left feeling empty and unsatisfied.
When that funny funny feelin's gone
The singer explains that without the excitement and joy of her lover's presence, she will feel lost and unfulfilled.
I can't take no more of missin' you
The singer declares that she cannot endure the pain of missing her lover anymore.
I don't know just what I'm gonna do
The singer admits that she doesn't know how to move on or what her next steps are if her lover leaves her.
How can I have another
The singer questions how she can find love or even be with another person after being hurt by her lover.
You don't know just what you mean to me
The singer expresses that her lover may not realize how deeply she cares for and values him.
When my nights start to getting' long
The singer anticipates feeling lonely and sad during the night without her lover.
Boy I love you
The singer confesses her love for her partner.
Want to hold you
The singer desires physical affection from her partner.
Your love's strong that's no lie
The singer acknowledges and appreciates the strength of her lover's love for her.
And I hate, I hate to put you down
The singer expresses her reluctance to criticize or reject her lover.
But if you, If you leave me now
The singer acknowledges that her lover is considering leaving her.
You won't want, want me hangin' around
The singer believes that if her lover leaves her, he will not want her to be a part of his life anymore.
Oh I need you now
The singer passionately states that she cannot live or be happy without her lover.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN LEE CROPPER, JOE SHAMWELL, JANET JACKSON, KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@Willowpeytonx
The Janet tour looked amazing. The introduction of her metamorphosis, her sexy side, her long curly hair being flipped and whipped, and all the incredible new energetic songs from the Janet album, new dance moves, as well as all the previous hits from her last era
@JUST1CE22
Will Murphy Yes you nailed it, my favorite era
@potatobanana9358
i wish i had hair like her 😭
@RockinDaBoombox
It was her Virgin Tour era. Madonna reference. Janet was at her sexiest. I can’t believe we still don’t have this tour on DVD.
@yckfides5613
For those wondering why the Janet. Tour hasn't been released in any home video format:
Back in the early 90s, Pioneer was pushing really hard to make the Laserdisc a profitable format; to accomplish this, they got ahold of the distribution rights of many music tours (The Blond Ambition and Janet. being two of the most popular ones) to release them exclusively.
While some of them were indeed released, a big portion of the tours never saw the light of the day (Janet. Tour being one of them). To this very day, the Pioneer contracts are still active, meaning they still have the distribution rights on home video; meaning no other company is able to release them unless a negotation happens or the artists/record labels attempt to buy the rights back from them.
@khuziwesithole6719
I really wish she did more rock like this, the energy is so amazing I loved this!!
@groove.mp4
she has plenty of rock tracks but i wish she’d do a whole album of them
@khuziwesithole6719
@@groove.mp4 I only know of this one and Black Cat. Which other tracks does she have?
@groove.mp4
@@khuziwesithole6719 trust a try, what about (nu metal), just a little while (pop rock), you (trip hop)
then there’s other songs like rhythm nation and “if” that have rock elements. and also, i kinda see “this time” as an opera/rock track.
and if you like what’ll i do, search up the dave navarro mix of it from the janet.remixed album. its hard rock. it’s on australian DSPs only, so you might need to search it on youtube.
@piotrkucharski7797
I don't know why it wasn't more successful but I think it's one of the best songs from "Janet" album