Janet Jackson Interview
What does "20 Y.O." stand for?
20 yrs old – it’s the anniversary of the 'Control' album which was released 20 years ago in 1986 and I didn't want to let that moment pass by without celebrating. Not just musically did it mean a great deal to me but what it stood for and where I was in my life and as a young adult and what I was going through it meant a great deal to me and that's also one of the reasons I wanted to celebrate the 'Control' album. And me working with Jimmy and Terry for the first time was that project - the 'Control' album.
What did the 'Control' album mean for your career?
I was young, I was 19 when I made the album, 20 during the middle of the release, and I was very shy, very sheltered. I made a lot of changes in my life I was a young adult I had been married and the marriage was annulled a little after a year of being together. I’d experienced things that at least I felt a lot of young adults my age hadn’t and I wanted to share those experiences with the world and there were many times that I felt very alone and I just wanted other kids to know they’re not alone and it is ok to feel these feelings. And that I think at the time they’re natural and that we’re suppose to go through this type of stuff, but I was moving out and being on my own and that was frightening. Especially being the baby of the family for my parents is was frightening. But it was a step that I was ready to take, and just a lot of different things happening in my life at that time, Finding my path, my dreams and my goals. And wanted to see them come to fruition and making a step toward them coming to fruition. And also a really big thing for me was firing my father who had been manager up until then and that was really tough for me to do. So it’s a lot of different things that are all very personal for me.
What does '20 Y.O.' tell us about Janet Jackson?
Where I am now in my life, I always write about life experiences, and it's not a socially conscience album. Some people thought that maybe I should tap upon a few issues; I didn’t want to do that. I know I want a little bit of escapism with what’s going on in the world today, and I think there are others that feel as I do, so I just have to follow my heart and go with what my gut tells me to do. And I’m in a happy space, it’s up, its fun, its light, even though there are issues, certain issues, nothing really really heavy, but certain issues, nice issues though, talking about with a young adult. This album is light and I wanted it to be that. I wanted to bring smiles to people’s faces, not concern and not to be thought provoking in that way.
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About Petrol Records
A New Janet Delivers Us a New Album
