Rhythm Nation

"Rhythm Nation"
Single by Janet Jackson
from the album Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814
B-side	"Rhythm Nation" (Instrumental)
Released	October 23, 1989 (UK) October 24, 1989 (U.S.)
Format	7" single, 12" maxi single
Recorded	January 1989 Flyte Tyme Studios (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Genre	R&B, New jack swing, Funk
Length	5:30
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Producer	Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
Janet Jackson singles chronology
"Miss You Much" (1989) "Rhythm Nation" (1989) "Escapade" (1990)
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 track listing "Interlude: Pledge" (1) "Rhythm Nation" (2) "Interlude: T.V." (3) Design of a Decade 1986/1996 track listing "Black Cat" (11) "Rhythm Nation" (12) "That's the Way Love Goes" (13) Audio sample file info · help

"Rhythm Nation" is the second single from American R&B-pop singer Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989).

Song information

The song became the second of the historic seven top five singles released off the Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 album. Jackson composed the lyrics while Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis composed the music, which featured a sample from Sly & the Family Stone's 1969 song "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)". The song preached racial unity and harmony among nations and in promise of "looking for a better way of life" and a way to stop "social injustice". The song became as famous for its countdown in both the song and the video as it was for its message. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 (behind Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise") and number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs during late 1989 and early 1990.

The song inspired the name of English DJ Trevor Nelson's BBC Radio 1 show "Rhythm Nation". Nelson told Jackson this during their 1998 interview which aired on the same show. The show also spawned several compilation albums under the same name.

Jackson has performed the song on all five of her tours: Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour, janet. Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, and Rock Witchu Tour.

Music video

The famous black-and-white, military-inspired dance video was directed by Dominic Sena. The music video used technology from brother Michael Jackson's Captain EO with his permission. It was the finale in the Rhythm Nation 1814 Film. Famous for its high-octane choreography in an abandoned factory, the video won for Best Choreography and was nominated for Best Dance Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, where Jackson also received the MTV Video Vanguard Award. "Rhythm Nation" ranked thirty-seven on VH1's Greatest 100 Videos and forty-four on MTV: 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made. The video features a young Tyrin Turner. There has been unknown speculation that older brother, Michael, choreographed the video, and rehearsed with his sister, and the dancers. However, this isn't true; the video was choreographed by then-newcomers Anthony Thomas and Terry Bixler.

During MTV's first ever mtvICON in 2001, singers Pink, Mýa, and Usher each paid tribute to Jackson by performing dance moves from Jackson's earlier hits including "Pleasure Principle", "Miss You Much", and "Alright". At the end of the performance they all gathered together and performed "Rhythm Nation".

Awards

Billboard Music Awards:

• 1990 - Director's Award (Black/Rap), "Rhythm Nation"
• 1990 - Billboard/Tanqueray Sterling Music Video Award for Artistic Achievement, "Rhythm Nation"

BMI Pop Awards

• 1990 - "Rhythm Nation"

MTV Video Music Awards

1. 1990 - Best Choreography in a Video, "Rhythm Nation"

Soul Train Awards:

1. 1990 - Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Music Video, "Rhythm Nation"

Official versions and remixes

• Album Version – 5:31
• LP Version – 4:42 (appears on the Japanese maxi CD)
• Design of a Decade US Edit – 5:58
• Design of a Decade International Edit – 4:27
• House Nation Groove – 6:45
• Instrumental – 4:44
• Rhythm Mix – 4:48
• 7" CHR Remix – 4:06
• 7" Edit – 4:28
• 7" House Nation Edit – 4:23
• 7" United Mix Edit – 4:34
• 12" House Nation Mix – 8:07
• 12" United Dub – 6:11
• 12" United Mix – 6:35

Charts

References