Soulbounce: "A History Of Janet Jackson’s 10 Best Dance Videos"

[SonofBaldwin]

A History Of Janet Jackson’s 10 Best Dance Videos

J.Ly

August 31, 2015 | 2:00 pm

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The music video is the art form that since MTV’s debut in 1981 lets average musicians quickly achieve superstardom. But it’s also a way that legends extend their artistic legacy. Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna and Aerosmith are among the icons in this medium, but another larger-than-life star — and the undisputed queen of the dance music video — is Janet Jackson.

Though some of Miss Jackson’s clips have been conceptual, she’s starred in many of the most memorable and inspirational dance videos. Working with (and sometimes launching the careers of) the likes of Paula Abdul, Anthony Thomas, Tina Landon and Gil Duldulao, Janet scored three "Best Choreography in a Video" awards at the MTV VMAs between 1987 and 1990, for "Nasty," "The Pleasure Principle" and "Rhythm Nation." Add a 1995 win for the Michael Jackson duet "Scream" and she becomes the most awarded artist in the category.

Here, SoulBounce takes a look at some of Janet’s best dance videos. Routines alone or few-second breakdowns aren’t enough to chart on this tally — we’re recognizing those videos that feature fancy footwork and high-powered hand movements throughout nearly their entirety. So sit back and try to keep still as we count ‘em. 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 ...

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[Mr. Wonder]

Nasty (1986)

 

Choreographer: Paula Abdul

The track that gave us “No my first name ain’t Baby / It’s Janet, Miss Jackson if you’re nasty” also provided a Broadway-style battle of the sexes. Within the clip, Janet took on sexism and all-around no-good men with her weapons of choice: funky eight-counts carefully crafted by former Laker Girl Paula Abdul. Though the toughs antagonizing Janet were more ballet than B-boy, they did little to hinder their sometimes aggressive pursuits within the video. But Miss Jackson was strong, regularly quick-stepping into expressive and energized rebukes of their come-ons and demanding respect — on their own turf, no less, after “backflipping” into a movie screen and, obviously, the movie itself. That may be one of the sillier elements of this short flick, but it otherwise packed a punch with its choreographed charisma.

 

The Pleasure Principle (1987)

 

Choreographer: Barry Lather

As Janet’s second video to win best choreography at the MTV Video Music Awards, “The Pleasure Principle” is also iconic for its style. Not just her form-fitting pair of Guess jeans with a matching jacket, but the knee pads, tight-knotted tee, Band-Aid and wristband. The outfit suggested early on that there’s going to be some athleticism showcased in “The Pleasure Principle” and it didn’t take long before she delivered. Janet nearly trademarked a number moves thanks to her expert-level execution of feats such as kicking down the mic stand, the run-jump onto the chair, the sharp silhouette striking against the backlighting and that often-imitated scene with the broken mirror. This is the video fans point to to suggest that “Janet did it first,” but it’s also one of the few times she grooved without a partner or an entourage.Mya and Tinashe are among the starlets who have paid tribute to the choreography of Barry Lather, who is said to have earned the job after knocking it out of the park with Janet’sAmerican Music Awards and GRAMMYs performances in 1987.

[Mr. Wonder]

Miss You Much (1989)

 

Choreographer: Anthony Thomas

Minds were blown when “Miss You Much” dropped ahead of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814. The lead single set the tone for what was to come with a black-and-white video, on-point choreography and the introduction of Janet’s Rhythm Nation Dancers — a crew capable of tackling any eight-count with finesse. But before we discuss the chair sequence, “Miss You Much” seemed to be the first video that found Janet confidently grooving without the intense focus seen on her face in many of the Control-era clips, instead becoming one with the music, and proudly standing front and center during the extended showcases of the tune’s detailed series of steps. Now, that chair sequence: Why it’s not regularly connected to the rest of the video is questionable, because it is the proverbial icing on the cake that left viewers in awe — and maybe trying to replicate it with their own furniture.

 

Rhythm Nation (1989)

 

Choreographers: Janet Jackson and Anthony Thomas

The title track from Janet’s fourth studio album — deservedly hailed as one of her signature pieces of work and also a standard of the music video genre. The dystopian classic has been inspiring careers, copycats and styles for more than 25 years and, during that time, has encouraged many to burn some calories. Diving deep into the realm of dance, “Rhythm Nation” barely came up for air, with slick editing cramming in of-the-moment movements (The Running Man, y’all) and paradigm-setting, military-inspired precision. And good luck trying to pick a highlight within this clip: Is it the swinging nunchucks? The “Rhythm Nation Twins”? The solo breakdowns? That fly sequence that fills out the video’s final 30 seconds? It’s too difficult to choose and even harder to turn away from the intriguing steps that are so cohesive to the video’s theme. Jackson and Anthony Thomas easily scored the 1990 VMA Moonman for best choreography with “Rhythm Nation,” securing a place in pop culture history, as well as mapping the blueprint for all of Janet’s — and many other artists' — dance-featuring videos that followed.

 

The Knowledge (1989)

 

Choreographer: Anthony Thomas

A little casual vandalism never hurt anyone’s reputation, right? Just ask Janet’s big brother. While Janet fought prejudice, ignorance, bigotry and illiteracy in “The Knowledge,” she cracked more than a few windows, knocked over paint cans and probably broke some rules by kicking open the rooftop door to make her grand entrance. But it was all with a purpose in this clip, which is part of the long-form Rhythm Nation music video-movie that meshes it together with “Miss You Much” and “Rhythm Nation.” That mission was to educate for a better day and she schools us by jamming solo before being joined by three of the Rhythm Nation Dancers to hoof it out for social justice. The stone-cold jam is one of Michael Jackson’s favorites, with him proclaiming it “really just makes me crazy, makes me wild”when he danced to it for inspiration. No doubt this video helped influence that.

[Mr. Wonder]

If (1993)

 

Choreographer: Tina Landon

Aside from the quip “It’s Janet, Miss Jackson if you’re nasty,” nothing works fans into a frenzy more than the rockin’ first chords of janet.’s second single, “If.” That’s because they know they’re going to see that dance over a cleverly inserted sample of Diana Ross and The Supremes’ “Someday We’ll Be Together.” Tina Landon tested dancers’ technique with this one, first enticing viewers with slinky, seductive moves that grabbed viewers’ attention moments before the lady dancers started grabbing their male counterparts’ crotches. But the lust-filled display also featured intricate transitions and formations along with chest rubs and suggestive head thrusting. Perhaps because of the taboo nature of the latter two, thataforementioned dance — a breakdown so tight, complex and visually interesting — became the centerpiece of an all-dance version of the video. As a testament to how weird MTV was in the mid-’90s, somehow “If” was not honored with the best choreography VMA, which was instead given to Salt-N-Pepa’s En Vogue-featuring “Whatta Man.” We’re not hating on those ladies, but credit should have been given to Landon (and maybe rumored associates Omar Lopez and Keith Williams, too?).

 

All for You (2001)

 

Choreographers: Shawnette Heard, Marty Kudelka and Roger Lee

Would you, could you, on a beach? Would you, could you, in the streets? “All for You”showcased Janet dancing in a number of unusual circumstances, including on a train platform (though, depending on where you reside, witnessing said activity isn’t uncommon at all) and, at one point, barefoot. But the lighthearted nature of her No. 1 hit made it all seem OK, as the smile-inducing track paid homage to the art of flirting. And the fluid movement’s of Janet’s all-female dance crew were dead serious, marked by precise kicks, synchronized sways and pop-tastic, “all together now” shimmies. During the 2001 MTV Icon tribute show, after a number of presentations from a now-noteworthy group of relative upstarts, the queen and her look-alikes from the past took to the stage to remind those in attendance exactly why she was receiving the award, finishing off the unforgettable performance with a breakdown set to All for You filler track, “You Ain’t Right.”

 

All Nite (Don’t Stop) (2004)

 

Choreographer: Gil Duldulao

Admittedly, "All Nite (Don't Stop)" seemed frenetic and thrown together. But if you paid close enough attention, a nicely stitched-together pattern of movements followed throughout the clip, despite some of the scenes seemingly not fitting together. Within the flashlight-lit views we're given, Janet and her crew implemented funk into subtle steps and swipes before packing a punch into pelvic thrusts, booty bounces and serious stamps that punctuated Gil Duldulao's "dance on everything" movements. Taken together in a big-picture/Broadway lens, "All Nite" is visually one of Janet's most complex routines, but is pulled off with casual ease.

 

[Mr. Wonder]

So Excited (2006)

 

Choreographer: Gil Duldulao

2004’s Nipplegate seemed to derail Janet’s music endeavors throughout the rest of the aughts, but she poked fun at the scandal with the risque clip for “So Excited.” Though the dance moves were fresh, flowy and full of Janet’s standard funk, the video’s moves seemed to be eclipsed by nudity — or at least suggestions of it. Jackson’s wardrobe kept disappearing and reappearing thanks to computer animation. Risque all around, especially with some of those “Any Time, Any Place” moments, the 20 Y.O. single also has the distinction of reflecting that odd moment in time where — thanks to questionable sampling —Khia, Jermaine Dupri and Janet joined forces.

 

Rock With U (2008)

 

Choreographer: Gil Duldulao

The clip from 2008’s Discipline featured the feel of a continuous shot, which transitioned from one room to the next in a futuristic nightclub and only stopped to give quick glimpses at Gil Duldulao’s choreography. The flow was as fluid as they came, with Janet working the floor with horizontal and vertical routines. She nearly glided over the electronic dance music-inspired and subdued pulsating thump of the Ne-Yo, Eric Stamile and Jermaine Dupri-penned “Rock With U,” floating from one formation to the next along with the supportive and swirling cluster of dancers. Though European-inspired, “Rock With U” found most of its success in North America and served as the namesake of her Rock Witchu Tour.