The 500 - #277 - Rhythm Nation 1814 - Janet Jackson

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #277

Album Title: Rhythm Nation 1814

Artist: Janet Jackson

Genre: Pop, R&B, New Jack Swing

Recorded: Flyte Time (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Released: September, 1989

My age at release: 24

How familiar was I with it before this week: Quite

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at #339 (dropping 63 places since 2012)

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Black Cat

Janet Jackson was the tenth-born and youngest member of the famous Jackson family. Born in 1966, she was16 years younger than the oldest member, Maureen and her mega-famous brother, Michael, was eight years her senior. In fact, Michael was already performing with his four brothers in The Jackson 5 in 1964, two years before Janet was born.

Promotional poster & photo from Jackson 5 (1965)

Janet made her entertainment debut in 1976, appearing on the weekly variety television program, The Jacksons, with her multi-talented family. She went on to appear in many other television roles in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, including Diff’rent Strokes, The Love Boat and Fame. However, it was the program Good Times that brought her to my attention.

Janet Jackson in varous television roles (70s & 80s)

Good Times was an American situational comedy that ran from 1974 until 1979. Developed by legendary producer Norman Lear (All In The Family, Sandford & Son, One Day At A Time, The Jeffersons), it was a spin-off from another Lear project, Maude.

Norman Lear Television Programs from the 70s

Good Times aired during when my friends and I were discovering, and ravenously devouring, prime time television (ages 8-14). The previous evening's television was the “water-cooler topic” at my school playground and being out of the loop on the latest plots, dialogue and catch-phrases of ‘70s TV could socially isolate you, making you a pop-culture pariah. By today’s metric, missing a new episode of popular television would be the equivalent to being oblivious to the latest viral TikTok trend or lacking knowledge of the hippest meme lingo.

“Meme man” with stocks intentionally misspelled was required knowledge
among my 7th graders a few years ago. (Know Your Meme history here)

Good Times was a dramatic comedy (dramedy) set in a poor, black housing project in inner-city Chicago. The series centred on the Evans’ family who collaborated to overcome the social challenges faced by many African American families in the 1970s – poverty, job loss, inflation, crime, gang activity, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and drug use.

The Evans Family from Good Times 

Janet Jackson joined the cast in Season Five (1977), playing the role of Millicent “Penny” Gordon, an abused girl who was abandoned by her mother and, eventually, adopted by the Evans’. The addition of adorable, 11-year-old Jackson as a sympathetic character was intended to re-energize the show following the departures of veteran actors John Amos (James Evans) and Esther Rolle (Florida Evans).

Jackson as Millicent "Penny" Gordon

Introducing a new, cute and younger child to a cast is often called “The Cousin Oliver Strategy”. The term references the addition of cousin Oliver to the cast of The Brady Bunch in their fifth season. In both cases, by bringing in (Cousin Oliver and the adopted Penny Gordon), series producers were hoping to reverse declining ratings and connect each series with a younger audience.

Cousin Oliver (centre) between the two youngest Brady kids

In both cases, the casting was short-lived and both series were cancelled within two years. I was never a fan of Cousin Oliver, but I really liked Jackson’s Penny – not just the precocious, funny, sympathetic character, but also Jackson who was charming and pretty. Granted, I was 12 going on 13, I think I had a crush on nearly every female aged 12-30 on television.

Rhythm Nation 1814 exploded onto the music scene in fall of 1989. It was Jackson’s fourth studio album but only the second since she became an adult and wrested control of her artistic image and sound from her manipulative, abusive and controlling father, Joe. Three years earlier, Janet had teamed up with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to release her third studio album, Control, an unconventional record that fused R&B, rap, funk, disco and synthesized percussion. The aptly named Control was a massive success, going to the top of multiple charts and selling 10 million copies worldwide.

Album cover for Control (1986)

For obvious reasons, record executives hoped that Rhythm Nation 1814 would simply replicate the chart-busting formula of Control and the seven hit-singles it generated. However Jackson and producers Jam and Lewis had different plans. Much like the storylines on Good Times, Jackson's fourth project a concept album with overarching themes of social justice and equality weaved throughout. Jackson drew inspiration from the tragedies of poverty, racism and substance abuse in contemporary news stories, and presented the sociopolitical utopia of a "Rhythm Nation" as an alternative.

Chorus of Rhythm Nation - the second single from the album

When asked about the concept of a Rhythm Nation, Jackson said: "I thought it would be great if we could create our own nation." She added that it would be "one that would have a positive message and that everyone would be free to join." She based the idea on the prevalence of various youth groups and organizations that are formed as a means of creating a common identity. The number "1814" represents the year the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, was written. Some noticed that "R" (Rhythm) and "N" (Nation) are the eighteenth and fourteenth letters of the alphabet, though Jackson said this was a happy coincidence. (Pity, I would totally have taken credit for that bit of cleverness).

Jackson in the Rhythm Nation video

The video that accompanied the title track was a critical and commercial juggernaut and can be seen here. Shot in black and white, it featured 23-year-old Jackson decked out in stylistic, unisex military garb performing a mesmerizing choreographed dance sequence in what is best described as a post-apocalyptic warehouse setting. 

The video went on to receive two MTV video music awards for “Best Video” and “Best Choreography”, as well as a Grammy for “Best Long Form Video”. It is also cited as an influence by numerous contemporary artists, including Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Pink and Rihanna.

Rhythm Nation video

Rhythm Nation 1814 also received numerous award nominations and, because it dominated the charts from August, 1989, to March, 1991, it was the first album to produce number one hits on the chart in three calendar years. Jackson also became the first woman to be nominated for a Producer of the Year award by The Grammy Awards committee.

Jackson cleaned up at the 1990 Billboard Music Awards

I did not purchase this record, but it was omnipresent for two years and certainly part of the soundtrack of my life in my early twenties. At the time, I was 24 and investigating a career as a restaurant manager. A cassette version of RN-1814 was a staple on the kitchen sound system, especially early in the morning when the prep-team was hard at work. Revisiting it this week was a delight. I was amazed at the number of lyrics I still knew from memory. It also reinforced my sentiment that, despite Michael’s massive global fame and impressive musical catalogue, Janet is still my favourite Jackson. After all, adolescent crushes have staying power.

Thanks for reading -- all the blogs can be found here (just scroll down).