Velvet Rope

One of my first 'official' concerts was Janet Jackson. And you wouldn't know who was opening. But Janet was the main attraction. She's always been my favorite Jackson, btw. I liked Michael, but Janet was the ish. She still is the OG. I think that most contemporary female acts owe her a debt of gratitude because she set the blueprint for women entertainers. The concert we attended was absolutely mind-blowing to little old me. I had never seen anything like it. We got there very early, of course. It was July and we all crowded together in an old red Honda without air conditioning to drive to Cleveland. We had cash for the merch and the drinks and were more than ready to dance the night away. And we did. Little did I know at that time that I would be back to Cleveland and work there for four years many years after this concert.

The feeling of being in a 'grown up' setting, doing something you have only seen people do in movies or TV is always surreal. When you're young everything is too bright, too loud, too new. So is seeing someone you've always admired  in a live setting. Janet is not a tall person, but on stage she is bigger than life. She does not have Whitney's pipes, but can that girl ENTERTAIN. And she did it, thoroughly that night. Those moves! We can still see Janet's moves in almost any female performer on stage today. 

I remember the huge LED screens, the wardrobe, the dancers. I remember she did If and Miss you Much and Rhythm Nation. She did Got 'til it's Gone and That's the Way Love Goes and we lost our minds. I remember screaming my head off and dancing like a maniac. We were in the nosebleed seats, of course, drinking from giant CocaCola containers and raising hell. I think there was weed and maybe E, but I was high on the music. I've never really needed any enhancements to get me going when there’s music to dance to.

Today is the anniversary of the launch of The Velvet Rope, the name of the record Janet was promoting with that concert. I love that record. I had the CD (remember when Columbia Records would let you buy I don’t know how many CDs for a buck?) and I played it on my little boombox until I thought I was gonna wear it out. All of the songs in that record are a vibe. All of the songs in that record get me into the groove. All of the songs in that record spoke to little queer me. The one I still remember and still gets me verklempt? Together Again. The man that song reminds me of was huge in my life. HUGE. I don't know where he is now or how he is doing. He liked living dangerously, though. So there's no telling. But that IS his song. Hey, Jamie. How's Saint Laurent? How’s London?

So, this post is in honor of that record, and that concert and that time of my life. And that video at the top? That's Miss Jackson today. Looking as flawless as always. Killing it dancing, as always. Getting me in the mood, as always.

It’s always been Janet’s Rhythm Nation. We just live here. 

XOXO

P.S. and here's Janet talking about her iconic videos, natch. It's wall to wall Janet today here at The Day and The Time, Constant Reader. 

I just don't think I could pinpoint which is my fav Janet video. Really. They're all soooo good!