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.
Young Love
Janet Jackson Lyrics
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Young love
Young love
Young love
I may be young, but I'm not foolish
I can tell real love from a game
Not gonna let you use me
Young love
Ring around the roses
Young love
Searching for a heart so true
Young love
A pocket full of posies
Young love
It all adds up to me and you
I traded all my childish treasures
For a burning love so true
It's gonna be my first time around
Heartbreak's high game
Love shake you down
Young love
Ring around the roses
Young love
Searching for a heart so true
Young love
A pocket full of posies
Young love
It all adds up to me and you
Young love
Ring around the roses
Young love
Searching for a heart so true
Young love
A pocket full of posies
Young love
It all adds up to me and you
Young love
Hey, love
Young love
Young love
Young love
Young love (hey, love)
Young love
Young love
I may be young, but I'm not foolish (young love)
I can tell real love from a game (young love)
I'm not gon'let you use me (young love)
Heartbreak playmates, say it's not the same
Young love
Ring around the roses
Young love
Searching for a heart so true
Young love
A pocket full of posies
Young love
It all adds up to me and you
Young love (hey, love)
Young love (hey, hey)
Young love
Young love (hey, love)
Young love
Ring around the roses
Young love
Searching for a heart so true
Young love
A pocket full of posies
Young love
It all adds up to me and you
Young love
Hey, love
Young love, ooh, ooh
Young love
Yeah
Young love
Searching for a heart so true
Young love
A pocket full of posies
Young love
It all adds up to me and you
Young love (da, di-di-di, da-da-da, da-di-di-di-da-da)
Young love (di-di, da-da-da, da-di-di-di-da-da-da)
Young love (da, di-di, da-da-da, da-di-di-di-da-da-da)
Young love (da-da-di-di, da-da)
Young love (da, di-di-di, da-da-da, da-di-di-di-da-da)
Young love (da, di-di-di, da-da-da, da-di-di-di-da-da)
The song "Young Love" by Janet Jackson talks about a young girl who has experienced enough in life to differentiate between true love and a mere game. She emphasizes that she is not willing to be used by anyone to play games when it comes to matters of the heart. The girl states clearly that she knows what true love is and that she will wait for it. The title "Young Love" depicts a sense of innocence and, at the same time, critical learning moments.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of finding genuine love that is not just superficial or based on material things. The phrase "ring around the roses" is a reference to a children's game, which further emphasizes the innocence and youthfulness in the song. The pocketful of posies also highlights how the girl is willing to give up material things which cannot buy true love.
The song's overall message is that young love might be exciting and playful, but it is essential to understand true love to avoid heartbreak. Janet Jackson expresses her views on love, displaying her maturity despite her young age. She encourages people to recognize and cherish true love when they find it.
Line by Line Meaning
I may be young, but I'm not foolish
Despite my youth, I possess wisdom beyond my years
I can tell real love from a game
I can distinguish genuine love from insincere romantic pursuits
I'm not gonna let you use me
I refuse to allow myself to be taken advantage of in a relationship
Heartbreak play mates, say it's not the same
Those who play with others' emotions in relationships deny the damage they inflict
Young love, ring around the roses
Inexperienced love, like the children's game, can be fraught with pitfalls and heartache
Young love, searchin' for a heart so true
Youthful love often involves a quest for a genuine connection with someone
Young love, a pocket full of posies
Young love can be fleeting and temporary, like flowers that soon wither away
Young love, all adds up to me and you
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, our youthful love will endure
I traded all my childish treasures
I willingly gave up my childhood mementos in exchange for a genuine, sincere love
For a burnin' love so true
I exchanged the flimsy, meaningless things of youth for a fervent, authentic love
It's gonna be my first time around
This will be my first experience with love
Heartbreak's high game, love shake you down
Heartbreak can be a brutal experience, one that shakes a person to their core
Lyrics © MUSIC & MEDIA INT'L, INC.
Written by: Angela Winbush, Rene Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind