Damita Jo (album)
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''Damita Jo'' is the eighth studio album by American singer
Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...
. It was released on March 30, 2004, by
Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
. The album takes its title from Jackson's middle name. Its music incorporates
pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
, electro,
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
, and hip hop styles, in addition to R&B. Its concept is based on Jackson's alternate personalities, exploring themes involving intimacy, monogamy, love, and dance. Its production is derived from producers including Dallas Austin,
Scott Storch Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973) is an American record producer and songwriter. He started off as a keyboardist for the group the Roots. Early life Storch was born on Long Island, New York. He was raised in South Florida and Phila ...
, BAG & Arnthor,
Arnthor Birgisson Arnthor Birgisson (Icelandic: Arnþór Birgisson, born 12 February 1976 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic-Swedish songwriter and producer. Arnþór moved to Sweden in 1978 at age two and lives in Stockholm. Information As young Arnþ ...
,
Rich Harrison Richard Christopher Harrison (born 1979) is an American record producer and songwriter from Washington, D.C., specializing in R&B and hip hop music. The winner of a Grammy Award, Harrison is well known for producing songs such as "Get Right" ...
,
Télépopmusik Télépopmusik is a French electronic music trio, composed of Fabrice Dumont (bassist of the pop band Autour de Lucie), Stephan Haeri (also known as "2 square" for his solo projects), and Christophe Hetier (also known as "DJ Antipop"). History ...
, Just Blaze, and
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
; in addition to Jackson and
Jam & Lewis James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/ pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...
. The album was recorded over 18 months, the longest span of time Jackson had spent on a project. Jackson sought to find producers who identified with her emotions, intending "hard-hitting
dance music Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded danc ...
". Producers declared it "a really sexy record" which was bold, fun, and positive. Multiple personae portrayed include the obstinate "Damita Jo" and lascivious "Strawberry Bounce". Jackson stated that they were "another way to express and expose a deeper part of me", comparing her writing process to that of a novelist; inventing characters with independent personalities. Jackson claimed that the aforementioned characters "absolutely" live inside of her, stating it "feels wonderful" to release them. Prior to its completion, Jackson performed a medley of hits at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. The performance ended in Jackson's breast being
exposed Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to: News sources * Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism * ''The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website Film and TV Film * ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film * ''Exposed'' (1932 ...
by surprise guest
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
. Conglomerates involved with the broadcast who received massive fines by the
U.S. Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...
(FCC), including
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and CBS, and subsidiaries
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
and Infinity Broadcasting, enforced a blacklist of Jackson's singles and music videos, although Timberlake was unaffected. The album received generally favorable reviews. Jackson replied to critics focusing on the album's suggestive content and the Super Bowl incident in place of the music itself, stating she was "fascinated" by these interpretations, expressing concern for society's need to often place others within a specific sexual category. It garnered Jackson's second highest first-week sales in the US, and was certified platinum. ''Damita Jo'' sold over two million copies worldwide. It received a
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album. Jackson was awarded several career accolades throughout its promotion. The album spawned four singles: "
Just a Little While "Just a Little While" is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released as the lead single from her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). Written by Jackson and Dallas Austin, the song is a reflection of Jackson's new-found ha ...
", " I Want You", "
All Nite (Don't Stop) "All Nite (Don't Stop)" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). It was written and produced by Jackson and Swedish duo Bag & Arnthor (consisting of Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgis ...
" and " R&B Junkie".


Background and development

Prior to recording, Jackson experienced massive success with '' All for You'' (2001). Lead single " All for You" peaked at number one for seven weeks in the United States, becoming the biggest hit of the year, and attained success internationally. The entertainer embarked on the
All for You Tour The All for You Tour was the fourth concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson, in support of her seventh studio album '' All for You'' (2001). The show was designed by Mark Fisher and Jackson. It was originally scheduled to start in ...
, which garnered over twelve million viewers upon its broadcast on television network
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
. Jackson had also recorded the unreleased theme for the film ''
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
''. Jackson's personal life became a subject of media attention; in particular her rumored romances with actor Matthew McConaughey, recording artist
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
, and producer Jermaine Dupri. Jackson had considered postponing music for other career plans, but ultimately decided to record a new album. Jackson attempted several new musical styles; lyrically exploring her sexuality more explicitly and freely. A central theme of split personalities is incorporated within the content of several songs. Jackson stated "It shows the different sides of me, the different characters that I feel that I display at different moments in my life" .."I am divulging myself a little more on this album, and it's definitely much more intimate. That's another side of myself that people have seen, but not to this level." Comparing the process of producing to directing, Jackson searched for "sensitive people who can technically express what I'm going through emotionally" while seeking new collaborators.
Jimmy Jam Jimmy may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy * ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma * ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...
added: "Her albums are always what she's thinking at the moment." "Her thoughts may change six months from now. Her biggest thing is to be honest with her fans. Whatever stuff she wants to talk about, it's coming from her heart." Dallas Austin said "she always shows what's going on with her life through her records, reveals the phase she's in with her life and brings out that experience." Jackson's representative Stephen Huvane stated "Personally, she's not comfortable with being Janet in public ..When she's performing, that's a different thing. We always planned that when the album came out, we would do the proper promotion." Producer Jimmy Jam commented: "Between albums she likes to go live life, recharge her batteries and be able to share her experiences. It not only raises her artistic level, she's able to talk about things she's going through – and other people can relate. That's one of the things that allows her to connect truly with the fans." Alternate identities presented include "Damita Jo", an aggressive persona mentioned during the album's title track and "Sexhibition", and "Strawberry", a lascivious performer who emerges on "Strawberry Bounce".
Speaking about the personae, Jackson said "She's another way to express and expose a deeper part of me." "Damita Jo" is "a lot harsher, and quick to put you in your place. She doesn't sit and ponder about stuff, where I'll go, 'Should I or shouldn't I?' She's tougher than I am. Then there's Strawberry. She's the most sexual of them all, the wildest." '' Blender (magazine), Blender'' magazine commented the latter identity represents "a time when she doesn't need to be the polite, professional Janet, and can turn into raw, unrestrained Strawberry." Jackson added "It's not an everyday indulgence. Not even every week. But every now and then I like playing around in that mode." Jackson said the characters "absolutely" live inside of her, exclaiming "it feels wonderful" to release them. The concept is further explored in "Looking for Love", in which Jackson says every individual is composed of "many people rolled into one", unified by a similar motive of seeking love, companionship, or identity.


Recording and production

For ''Damita Jo'', Jackson worked with producers such as
Télépopmusik Télépopmusik is a French electronic music trio, composed of Fabrice Dumont (bassist of the pop band Autour de Lucie), Stephan Haeri (also known as "2 square" for his solo projects), and Christophe Hetier (also known as "DJ Antipop"). History ...
, Dallas Austin, BAG & Arnthor,
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
,
Scott Storch Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973) is an American record producer and songwriter. He started off as a keyboardist for the group the Roots. Early life Storch was born on Long Island, New York. He was raised in South Florida and Phila ...
, and Babyface. The record saw Jackson liberated from recording exclusively with Jam & Lewis; which she had attempted upon recording with
Rockwilder Dana Stinson (born February 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Rockwilder, is an American hip hop record producer and rapper. A long term friend of Def Jam rapper Redman, Rockwilder got his start producing for East Coast hip hop artists ...
and
The Neptunes The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music videos, ...
for '' All for You''. Jackson composed and co-produced all of the album's songs with the exception of two; writing with Cathy Dennis,
Shelly Poole Michelle Lena "Shelly" Poole (born 20 March 1972, in Barking, London, England) is an English songwriter and singer. Career Shelly Poole is the daughter of the 1960s recording artist Brian Poole, of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. With her sister ...
, INOJ, and then-upcoming artists
Sean Garrett Garrett Robin Hamler, known professionally as Sean Garrett, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is responsible for a series of chart-topping compositions, most notably Usher's " Yeah!" which ranks second on the ''Billboa ...
and John Legend. The album's early direction focused primarily on
house music House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by Disc jockey, DJs and music producers from Chicago metropolitan area, Chicago' ...
and
electroclash Electroclash (also known as synthcore, retro-electro, tech-pop, nouveau disco, and the new new wave) is a genre of music that fuses 1980s electro, new wave and synth-pop Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) ...
. Planned collaborations with the
Basement Jaxx Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe. The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first rose to popularity in the underground house scene ...
, The DFA, and Richard X were announced, although the latter two did not come to fruition. Jimmy Jam stated, "It's kind of all over the place. We have some kind of up tempo
dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
things, we have some funky
down tempo Downtempo (or downbeat) is a broad label for electronic music that features an atmospheric sound and slower beats than would typically be found in dance music. Closely related to ambient music but with greater emphasis on rhythm, the style may b ...
things, a couple of real sensual ballads." Jon Platt, then-vice president of
Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
, commented, "The second half of the album was very easy once me and Janet got to know each other, and found the songs that really were true to her and that she can sing with conviction." An early report stated Jackson desired the record to be "edgy and experimental". Additional sessions with
The Neptunes The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music videos, ...
,
Rich Harrison Richard Christopher Harrison (born 1979) is an American record producer and songwriter from Washington, D.C., specializing in R&B and hip hop music. The winner of a Grammy Award, Harrison is well known for producing songs such as "Get Right" ...
,
Guy Chambers Guy Antony Chambers (born 12 January 1963) is an English songwriter, musician and record producer, best known for his work with Robbie Williams. Education Chambers attended Quarry Bank Comprehensive School sixth form in Liverpool. From 18, h ...
, Dre & Vidal, and
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took place, but were not included on the final release. The album took eighteen months to complete, the longest Jackson had spent recording an album. Its initial stages of "hard-hitting dance music" were inspired by
Zero 7 Zero 7 are an English musical duo consisting of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. They began as studio engineers and in 1997 formed the group Zero 7. Their debut album, '' Simple Things'', was released in 2001 in which their song "Destiny" stayed ...
and
Télépopmusik Télépopmusik is a French electronic music trio, composed of Fabrice Dumont (bassist of the pop band Autour de Lucie), Stephan Haeri (also known as "2 square" for his solo projects), and Christophe Hetier (also known as "DJ Antipop"). History ...
, who later produced the album's interludes. "Some of the songs have a definite sort of
ambient Ambient or Ambiance or Ambience may refer to: Music and sound * Ambience (sound recording), also known as atmospheres or backgrounds * Ambient music, a genre of music that puts an emphasis on tone and atmosphere * ''Ambient'' (album), by Moby * ...
quality to them," said producer Jimmy Jam. Jam added "There's some house stuff, which there always is n her albums" "There is going to be some more guitar-flavored things" .."happy up-tempo songs, the very funky tunes, the very sensual, sexy ballads." Dallas Austin considered it "easily the most sexy thing she's done." "To me, this is her ''
Dirty Mind ''Dirty Mind'' is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Prince. It was released on October 8, 1980, by Warner Bros. Records and produced entirely by Prince at his home studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota e ...
''," Austin explained. "It's a really sexy record, but not in a sensual way. It's bold, it's fun, it's really positive. Nobody's sad, nobody's mad. It's just really fun songs where she happens to be talking frankly about sex." The sensual direction originated from the aura Jackson exuded to Austin while recording. "Guys won't know what to do with themselves after this," said Austin, laughing at the prospect. "It's one of the best records she's made." Then-newcomer
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
exclaimed his sessions with Jackson were "unbelievable", having previously expressed desire to collaborate. Songwriter
Sean Garrett Garrett Robin Hamler, known professionally as Sean Garrett, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is responsible for a series of chart-topping compositions, most notably Usher's " Yeah!" which ranks second on the ''Billboa ...
described being "starstruck", calling the session an "essential" part of his early career. "I thought working with Janet would change my life and it definitely did. ..She was one of those people that I really wanted to work with."
Anders Bagge Sven Anders Bagge (; born 16 January 1968) is a Swedish composer, lyricist, musician and record producer and partner with Peer Åström. The two songwriters / producers are known as Bagge & Peer. Bagge is also one of jury members for the TV4 sin ...
of BAG & Arnthor commented "That's my dream, she's the one I would give anything to work with. The ultimate female artist,"
Arnthor Birgisson Arnthor Birgisson (Icelandic: Arnþór Birgisson, born 12 February 1976 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic-Swedish songwriter and producer. Arnþór moved to Sweden in 1978 at age two and lives in Stockholm. Information As young Arnþ ...
adding, "let's just say we will definitely be prepared if and when that happens." Several collaborations were considered during the album's recording sessions, including duets with
Pink Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
and
Gwen Stefani Gwen Renée Stefani (; born October 3, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer and actress. She is a co-founder, lead vocalist, and the primary songwriter of the band No Doubt, whose singles include "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs ...
, who summoned Jackson's main producers
Jam & Lewis James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/ pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...
for '' Love.Angel.Music.Baby'' during the same period ''Damita Jo'' was recorded. Jackson and
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
planned to record a duet for the soundtrack of the film '' Shark Tale''. Producers Jam and Lewis, who had recently worked with Beyoncé for '' The Fighting Temptations'' soundtrack, commented "Obviously we'd love to have the involvement of Janet and Beyonce. ..They've already expressed interest." A report of Beyoncé wanting to use Jackson's vocals for
Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...
's fourth album '' Destiny Fulfilled'' later surfaced. Prior to Jackson's Super Bowl performance incident, Jackson and
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
discussed potentially recording a duet for the album, as well as a rumored collaboration for a Quincy Jones album, though neither came to fruition. A sequel to prior duet "
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" with
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
titled "
We've Had Enough "We've Had Enough" is a song by the Chicago-based punk rock band Alkaline Trio, released as the first single from their 2003 album ''Good Mourning''. "We've Had Enough" was released to radio on May 20, 2003. It was the band's first single to cha ...
" was reported for Michael's forthcoming studio album shortly after the album's release, produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Jackson was approached to record a cover of " Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" with English boy band
Blue Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when obs ...
, but could not proceed due to scheduling conflicts. A re-release intended to include six new tracks was reportedly planned. During a radio interview, entertainment producer Jonathan Murray was rumored to confirm additional details, saying a collaboration with
Usher Usher may refer to: Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place: * Usher (occupation) ** Church usher ** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony ** Fiel ...
was initially planned after Jackson had met with him in
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. Murray was also rumored to reveal some of the new tracks would be produced by Jermaine Dupri in addition to Lil Jon, who confirmed working with Jackson on entertainment channel E! in July. It was scheduled for the fourth quarter of the year, however, the concept was seemingly canceled and plans were withdrawn. Jackson worked with several producers not featured on the album, including the
Basement Jaxx Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe. The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first rose to popularity in the underground house scene ...
,
The Neptunes The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music videos, ...
,
Rich Harrison Richard Christopher Harrison (born 1979) is an American record producer and songwriter from Washington, D.C., specializing in R&B and hip hop music. The winner of a Grammy Award, Harrison is well known for producing songs such as "Get Right" ...
, Just Blaze,
Channel 7 Channel 7 or TV7 may refer to: Television networks, channels and stations ;Algeria *TV7 (Algerian TV channel) ; Argentina *Channel 7 (Argentina), a government-owned Argentine TV station * Channel 7 – Bahía Blanca, an Argentine TV station in Bue ...
,
Guy Chambers Guy Antony Chambers (born 12 January 1963) is an English songwriter, musician and record producer, best known for his work with Robbie Williams. Education Chambers attended Quarry Bank Comprehensive School sixth form in Liverpool. From 18, h ...
, Dre & Vidal,
Makeba Riddick Makeba Riddick-Woods (also known as "Girl Wonder") is an American singer-songwriter who has been active since 2005. She is originally from West Baltimore, Maryland, US. Currently she is managed by Jay-Z's record label and production house, Ro ...
, Nisan Stewart, and
Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
; as well as rumored sessions with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Additional songs with Dallas Austin, Télépopmusik, and Jam & Lewis were also not used. Sessions with The DFA, Richard X,
Daniel Bedingfield Daniel John Bedingfield (born 3 December 1979) is a New Zealand-British singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is the eldest brother of fellow singers Natasha Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle. He was a judge on '' The X Factor New Z ...
, Mario Winans, and Diddy were planned but did not take place. Several unused songs have since
leaked A leak is a way (usually an opening) for fluid to escape a container or fluid-containing system, such as a tank or a ship's hull, through which the contents of the container can escape or outside matter can enter the container. Leaks are usuall ...
onto the internet. Two songs produced by Rich Harrison titled "Pops Up!" and "Speed it Up (Put it On Me)" were leaked along with " Love Me", a newly recorded urban remix of "Just a Little While" produced by Just Blaze. The latter two appeared on a Japan bootleg vinyl. Other outtakes include "Could this Be Love", appearing on unofficial Russian pressings following "Like You Don't Love Me" and later used in the production of
Usher Usher may refer to: Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place: * Usher (occupation) ** Church usher ** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony ** Fiel ...
's " Truth Hurts", and "Ruff", produced by The Neptunes. Jackson considered including "Ruff" on her tenth album ''
Discipline Discipline refers to rule following behavior, to regulate, order, control and authority. It may also refer to punishment. Discipline is used to create habits, routines, and automatic mechanisms such as blind obedience. It may be inflicted on ot ...
''. New Janet track to be titled 'Ruff' Two other demos produced with Harrison titled "Clap Your Hands" and "What Can I Say" also leaked. In December 2013, several demos were released via
Tumblr Tumblr (stylized as tumblr; pronounced "tumbler") is an American microblogging and social networking website founded by David Karp in 2007 and currently owned by Automattic. The service allows users to post multimedia and other content to a sho ...
; including demos of "SloLove" with an unused acoustic bridge and ending, and extended version with an instrumental breakdown and acoustic midsection, as well as demos of "All Nite (Don't Stop)" and "Put Your Hands On" with slightly altered production. Three unused songs produced with Dallas Austin are titled "Lucky Again", "Let it Go", and "If You Want Me To". An unused song titled "Almond Joy" was written with Nisan Stewart and likely produced with Missy Elliott. Jackson considered writing a song about the Super Bowl incident to express her concerns.


Music and lyrics

The album's lyrical content is divided between themes of love and romance, while also discussing lust and monogamous intimacy. An underlying theme of alternate personalities is explored, with Jackson's substitute personae "Damita Jo" and "Strawberry" appearing on several songs. Jackson explained the album shows several sides of her personality, as well as a "more private side"; saying "The album is about love ...Damita Jo is one of the characters that lives inside of me." A producer stated Jackson had done "a lot of the writing and co-production", conceptualizing "a balance of a lot of different sides of Janet's personality." After Jackson's controversial Super Bowl performance incident, Jackson was urged to remove or tone down the suggestive lyrics of several songs, but resisted pressure to do so. "A lot of people had concerns and wanted me to take certain songs off the album, but I refused, because in doing so I wouldn't be who I am," said Jackson. "I'm not going to change, and that's fine. Either they like it, or they don't." Spliced between several songs are "mystifying" interludes consisting of brief autobiographical soliloquies regarding relaxation,
astrology Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of Celestial o ...
, and
Karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...
; in which Jackson attempts to intimately communicate her inner thoughts with the listener. Commenting on the album's themes Jackson said; The album's opening monologue, "Looking for Love", serves as a prelude to the album's content of romance and passion. Jackson deciphers society's unification within the desire for affection in a breathy tone over a spatial and "dreamy" electronic backing: "So many different characters live within us – all looking for love." The florid discourse was considered "quasi spiritual" and "deeply sensual". The second song, "Damita Jo", is composed of hip-hop and brittle
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
. The instrumentation includes bells,
cat call Street harassment is a form of harassment, primarily sexual harassment that consists of unwanted sexualised comments, provocative gestures, honking, wolf-whistlings, indecent exposures, stalking, persistent sexual advances, and touching by str ...
s, and
rap Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
inflected scratches, with "shyly sexual" vocals. Thematically, Jackson focuses on being misunderstood in the media, in "Do you think that I'm that person you watch on T.V.?", and the concept of a hidden personality. The song's "tricked-out" lyrics feature Jackson reflecting her different moods, in "sexy, quiet, shy, but down for a good time", and describe her alter persona, in "Miss Jackson don't, but Damita sure would." "Sexhibition" is an electro-
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
song composed of "cleverly crafted" verbal puns, delivered with "saucy assertiveness". The song opens with rattling
tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల ...
s and stuttering guitars. In the lyrics, Jackson again sings from the point of view of "Damita Jo", in "intermittent vocal bubbles" to discuss the pleasures she intends to provide. Jackson states "Relax, it's just sex", at the song's closing. The fourth track, "Strawberry Bounce", depicts Jackson method acting a sensual display as alter ego "Strawberry". Characterizing herself as a one-woman gentleman's club, Jackson asks her partner to "Let me be your playground". The song morphs a sample of
Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
's
vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
into its instrumentation of chimes, snapping rhythms, and synthesizers. Fusing new-school hip-hop with pop, Jackson sings "watch the way I pump it, the way it works is gonna keep you comin'", in a feverish pant. Jackson's looped chorus hook, and the song's "tasty" beat, were described to compose an "insanely catchy number", which merits repeats and "begs to be remixed, flipped, and stripped". "My Baby" is a mid-tempo love song depicting a sonic valentine to Jackson's fiancé. The song features gentle acoustic guitars and shuffling percussion, and guest vocals from
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
, over "breezy" and "laidback" production. Jackson delivers the chorus in a reassuring manner; described as a "sotto voce purr". "The Islands" is a spoken-word segment in which Jackson confesses her admiration for the island of
Anguilla Anguilla ( ) is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. The territo ...
, the beach, and tropical humidity. The interlude segues into "Spending time With You", a contemporary "slow jam". Lyrically, the song captures Jackson in a moment of love. Jackson speaks about evenings relaxing in prior said location in brief interlude, "Magic Hour", which transitions to "Island Life". In "Island Life", described as "pure seduction", Jackson refers to herself and a companion in an exotic paradise in a
lilting Lilting is a form of traditional singing common in the Goidelic speaking areas of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Mann. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as ''diddling'' (generally in England and Scotland), ''mouth music ...
vocal: "Island in the sun, just you and I will go/Ride into the wave like echo." Its instrumentation contains throbbing bass and light concoctions of
Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
-influenced music and ragga pop. "
All Nite (Don't Stop) "All Nite (Don't Stop)" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). It was written and produced by Jackson and Swedish duo Bag & Arnthor (consisting of Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgis ...
", the album's third single, contains elements of
electropop Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
and
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
; incorporated with varied-instrumentation, including
samba Samba (), also known as samba urbano carioca (''urban Carioca samba'') or simply samba carioca (''Carioca samba''), is a Brazilian music genre that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Havin ...
,
grime Grime may refer to: * Dirt, in the form of black, ingrained dust * Grime (music genre), a genre of music * ''Grime'' (album), a 2001 album by Iniquity * ''Grime'' (video game), a 2021 Metroidvania video game * "Grime", a 2022 song by Dallas Wood ...
, and
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
percussion. The song talks about enjoying leisure time dancing at a club through lyrical metaphors: "Shake it 'til you're shaking the floor/Pop it like you're popping a cork/Don't stop, don't stop." The "ultra-sexy" song was, according to a review, primed to "fill dancefloors around the globe with its sultry groove and shocking lyrics." Eleventh track " R&B Junkie" has a "retro" feel consisting of 1980s
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
,
dance-pop Dance-pop is a popular music subgenre that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit radio. Developing from a ...
, and upbeat synths. It transforms a brief sample from Evelyn King into a new composition, considered a likely candidate for a summer club hit. The song's positive vibe was described as a sonic "
ambrosia In the ancient Greek myths, ''ambrosia'' (, grc, ἀμβροσία 'immortality'), the food or drink of the Greek gods, is often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it. It was brought to the gods in Olympus ...
". " I Want You" is a classic pop ballad influenced by
Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
music of the 1950s and 1970s. The song's instrumentation includes a chime-studded texture, violins, heavy drums, and a girl-group arrangement over production described as an "electronic reconstruction". The "retro" song was likened to the music of Karen Carpenter, and has a "swooning charm". "Like You Don't Love Me" blends guitars and heavy bass with youthful vocals and a repeated chorus littered throughout. The lyrics talk about feeling neglected sexually, with Jackson encouraging her partner to role play as if they were not in a monogomous relationship: "You need to make love to me/Like you don't love me ..Do me like you wanna do them other girls." The song ends with a spoken reprise of the album's title track's chorus. The ballad "Thinkin' 'Bout My Ex" continues the album's transition into a distinctly slower tempo. Backed by acoustic guitars, Jackson displays humanity in the song's topic of longing for a former companion while in a new relationship. Jackson apologizes to her current partner: "When I'm holding you late at night/I'm thinkin' about my ex ..And I know sorry doesn't mend your broken heart." The song's theme was considered "heartening" and a "crucial" culpability. "Warmth" is described as an "aural journey" in which Jackson performs oral sex on her partner while in a moving vehicle. Jackson again displays method acting; providing descriptive details of the event over swirling ambient guitars. Whispers and moans are heard, as Jackson compliments her companion, and performs with authority over the track's minimal "bass thump": "Just like the water from the shore/Let your rain pour ..But nothing can compare to the warmth of my mouth." Jackson sings over the light sound of rain and thunder, representing climax and ecstasy. Jackson later clarified "There ''was'' something in my mouth" as it was recorded. Grouped together in an "oral suite", the erotic tone continues on "Moist"; in which Jackson is on the receiving end of pleasure. The theme of "uncontrived" lust and soft vocals were compared to prior hit "
Any Time, Any Place "Any Time, Any Place" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her fifth studio album, ''Janet'' (1993). It was written and produced by Jackson along with production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and released as the album's fifth single ...
". Brief interlude "It All Comes Down to Love" sees Jackson describing love as truthful, honest, undeniable, sincere, and unforgettable. "Truly" is a love song with a stripped down and quiet production, backed by light guitars and strings. Jackson's vocal delivery was described as "beautiful". Interlude "The One" accompanies Jackson's final monologue of romance with flourishes of
electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...
. "SloLove" is a
deep house Deep house is a subgenre of house music that originated in the 1980s, initially fusing elements of Chicago house with the lush chords of 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music. Its origins are attributed to the early recordings of Larry Heard ( ...
-influenced dance song with elements of
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
. Jackson talks about experiencing an intimate moment over a long period of time. In interlude "Country", Jackson speaks about her various nicknames and origin of her middle name while a country guitar twang is played. The album's final track is lead single "
Just a Little While "Just a Little While" is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released as the lead single from her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). Written by Jackson and Dallas Austin, the song is a reflection of Jackson's new-found ha ...
", which opens with funk guitars and transitions into uptempo pop-rock. Jackson blends carnal and "dirty" intentions with innocent desires, and longs to be intimate with her partner again: "Can't stop thinking about the things we do/And how it feels making love to you .You know I'll take it anywhere/That you wanna go right now/Just love me for a little while." The song has been described as "push-button rock & roll" and the album's "most interesting, and energetic moment", although its placement as the last track was considered "odd". The Japanese edition of the album contains two bonus tracks–"I'm Here" and "Put Your Hands On". In "I'm Here", Jackson convinces a companion she'll never abandon them and stops them from expressing negative thoughts: " I don't wanna hear you say/Your wall stands tall of stone/Because love harassed you with pain/You feel you'll grow old alone ..Someone wanting to love you deeply/Won't you let me?" In "Put Your Hands On", Jackson sings of aligning with her lover's energy over a midtempo house beat.


Title and artwork

''Damita Jo'' was titled after Jackson's middle name and one of her alternative personae shown on the album, which Jackson described as a "tougher" version of herself. Jackson previously desired to record an album which was a "complete departure" from what she is known for and title it after her middle name, but was convinced to use the title for the album by producer Dallas Austin. The title was initially used as self-acceptance, saying "My mother made up "Damita." I presumed "Jo" was for
Joseph Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...
, my father, even though I later learned it wasn't. Because he was emotionally withdrawn, I was never comfortable using it. For years I didn't. Now I love being called Jo. I've come to the point where I'm trying to accept – even embrace – everything that has happened to me. I believe that without acceptance there's no serenity." Jackson appears topless on the album's cover, visually representing the album's intimate and sensual theme. Jackson's representative commented "She just wanted a simple and youthful picture that she felt people would like. It's beautiful, soft. So far, fans love it", adding "web sites have been going crazy". The cover was shot by Andrew McPherson.


Release and promotion

''Damita Jo'' was released on March 30, 2004, by
Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
; explicit and clean editions were released simultaneously. The album is Jackson's second to bear a Parental Advisory label, the first being '' All for You''. The clean edition is heavily censored, removing all explicit and sexual content and omitting two songs entirely–"Warmth" and "Moist". Censoring is most notable in "Sexhibition" (which was retitled "Exhibition"), "All Nite (Don't Stop)" (in which several lines had been removed), and "Like You Don't Love Me" (where most of the chorus was omitted). Prior to its promotion, Jackson performed a medley of " All for You", " Rhythm Nation", and "
The Knowledge Taxicabs are regulated throughout the United Kingdom, but the regulation of taxicabs in London is especially rigorous with regard to mechanical integrity and driver knowledge. An official report observed that: "Little however is known about ...
" at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. Surprise guest
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
arrived to perform a duet version of "
Rock Your Body "Rock Your Body" is a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake from his debut studio album, '' Justified'' (2002). The Neptunes (consisting of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams) wrote and produced the song. The song features backgroun ...
", which ended in Jackson's breast being accidentally exposed. The incident resulted in the
U.S. Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...
enforcing massive fines on conglomerates involved with the broadcast, including CBS,
Viacom Viacom, an abbreviation of Video and Audio Communications, may refer to: * Viacom (1952–2006), a former American media conglomerate * Viacom (2005–2019), a former company spun off from the original Viacom * Viacom18, a joint venture between Par ...
, and
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
, who then
blacklisted Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist (or black list) of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list. If someone is on a blacklist, t ...
Jackson on many radio formats and music channels worldwide as a result. In March 2004, Jackson performed "Just a Little While" on various shows; including ''
Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British Record chart, music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show ...
'', '' CD:UK'', ''
Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
'', and ''Les Années Tubes''. Jackson appeared on ''
The Late Show with David Letterman The ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the The Late Show (franchise), ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by ...
'', and ''
106 & Park ''106 & Park'' is an American hip hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that was broadcast on weekdays at 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT on BET; it aired on a one-day delay on BET International. It was the network's highest- rated ...
''. In Canada, Jackson performed "Just a Little While", "I Want You", and "All Nite (Don't Stop)" on '' Much on Demand'', subsequently performing "All Nite (Don't Stop)" on '' Canada AM'' and ''
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that first aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009. It resumed production on March 1, 2010 and ended on February 6, 2014. The fourth incarnation of the ...
''. Jackson made an in-store appearance and signing at the
HMV Sunrise Records and Entertainment, trading as HMV (for His Master's Voice), is a British music and entertainment retailer, currently operating exclusively in the United Kingdom. The first HMV-branded store was opened by the Gramophone Company ...
music store in Harlem, New York. On March 31, 2004, Jackson performed "All Nite (Don't Stop)" and "I Want You" on ''
Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. Th ...
'', and later on '' On Air with Ryan Seacrest''. Jackson performed "All Nite (Don't Stop)" and "Strawberry Bounce" on ''
Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...
''; also participating in several skits. The episode was nominated for a
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
. Jackson recorded a live performance for
MSN MSN (meaning Microsoft Network) is a web portal and related collection of Internet services and apps for Windows and mobile devices, provided by Microsoft and launched on August 24, 1995, alongside the release of Windows 95. The Microsoft Net ...
, and performed "All Nite (Don't Stop)" and "All for You" at the annual Wango Tango concert. Various celebrities attended the album's release party, including photographer Patrick Demarchelier, actress
Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Dee Lohan ( ; born July 2, 1986) is an American actress and singer. Born in New York City and raised on Long Island, Lohan was signed to Ford Models at the age of three. Having appeared as a regular on the television soap opera '' An ...
, music executive
L.A. Reid Antonio Marquis "L.A." Reid (born June 7, 1956) is an American record executive, A&R representative, and record producer. He is the founder and served as co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment. He also previously served as the chairman and CEO of Ep ...
, and musicians Courtney Love,
Hoobastank Hoobastank (sometimes stylized as h∞bastank, and originally known as Hoobustank) is an American rock band formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, by lead vocalist Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist ...
,
Isaac Hanson Hanson is an American pop band from Tulsa, Oklahoma, formed by brothers Isaac Hanson (guitar, vocals, bass, piano), Taylor Hanson (keyboards, vocals, percussion), and Zac Hanson (drums, vocals, piano). Supporting members include Dimitrius Co ...
,
Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul". She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...
, Ja Rule, Angie Stone, Ice-T, and Brian McKnight. Other attendees included
Coco Austin Nicole Natalie Marrow ( Austin; born March 17, 1979), NOTE: Archived version specifies: "the couple dated a few months and then was married in January 2002." commonly known as Coco Austin, Coco, Coco Marie Austin, Coco Marie, and Coco-T, is an A ...
, Al Sharpton, Wendy Williams, Elisabeth Röhm,
Matt Serletic Matthew Michael Serletic II (born 1970 or 1971) is an American record producer, songwriter, and music executive. Career As a teenager, Serletic joined a band with members of Collective Soul, a group for which he would later produce. Serletic h ...
,
Lennox Lewis Lennox Claudius Lewis (born 2 September 1965) is a former professional boxer and boxing commentator who competed from 1989 to 2003. He is a three-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time lineal champion, and the last heavyweight to hold ...
, the Z100 staff, Dan Abrams,
Lady Bunny Lady Bunny, originally known as "Bunny Hickory Dickory Dock" (born Jon Ingle, August 13, 1962), is an American drag queen, nightclub DJ, actor, comedian, and event organizer. She is the founder of the annual Wigstock event, as well as an occasion ...
,
Jai Rodriguez Jai Rodriguez is an American actor and musician best known as the culture guide on the Bravo network's Emmy-winning American reality television program ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy''. He has also co-authored a book with the other ''Queer ...
, Betsey Johnson, and
Padma Lakshmi Padma Parvati Lakshmi (; born September 1, 1970) is an Indian-born American author, activist, actress, model, philanthropist, and television host. She has hosted the cooking competition program ''Top Chef'' on Bravo continuously since season 2 ( ...
, among others. Gift bags for ''Virgin Records Presents Damita Jo: A Celebration with Janet Jackson'' included nearly $18,000 in merchandise, a membership to an exclusive gym and double-sided tape to keep clothing in place to avoid a wardrobe malfunction. Jackson was presented a diamond Damita Jo nameplate necklace by label Virgin Records for the album's release. Jackson taped a performance of "Just a Little While" for ''
Hey! Hey! Hey! ''Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ'' was a Japanese music variety show on Fuji Television hosted by the comedy duo Downtown, which consists of Hitoshi Matsumoto and Masatoshi Hamada. It is a very popular show with comical hosts who like to pick on thei ...
'' and made an unannounced appearance at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards Japan to perform "All Nite (Don't Stop)". Jackson was awarded the "Inspiration Award" at the ceremony. Following this, Jackson traveled to Australia to appear on
Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...
and '' Rove Live''.
Jonathan Ross Jonathan Stephen Ross (born 17 November 1960) is an English broadcaster, film critic, comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He presented the BBC One chat show ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' during the 2000s, hosted his own radio show on ...
interviewed Jackson upon her return to the United Kingdom; later performing several songs at Italy's
Festivalbar The Festivalbar was an Italian singing competition that took place in the most important Italian squares during summer, such as the Piazza del Duomo, Catania or Piazza Bra, Verona. The first edition took place in 1964 and was broadcast by RAI. ...
. In France, Jackson performed on '' Tout le monde en parle'' and ''Hit Machine'' on June 3, 2004, before performing on
Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British Record chart, music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show ...
, as well as Denmark's ''Bercy Anniversary Show'' and ''Gala Xacobeo'' in Spain. Upon returning to the United States, Jackson performed a medley of "All Nite (Don't Stop)" and "R&B Junkie" at the BET Awards 2004. Jackson made surprise performances of "All Nite (Don't Stop)" and " Together Again" at New York's Gay Pride March. Jackson appeared at several award shows throughout the campaign, but was barred from attending the
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
and
MTV Video Music Awards The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...
following the Super Bowl incident. Later that year, Jackson released video compilation '' From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos''. Jackson had initially confirmed a world tour in support of ''Damita Jo'', stating: "I want to do something different, I have a few ideas and hopefully the fans will embrace it." The first date was planned for September 17, 2004. It was initially postponed due to Jackson focusing on the
presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The pre ...
occurring within the same time period, commenting "we desperately need a
Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...
as president"; as well as blacklisting from major companies regarding fines following Jackson's Super Bowl halftime show incident. After the election period, Jackson was approached to record her next studio album ''
20 Y.O. ''20 Y.O.'' is the ninth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. It was released on September 20, 2006, by Virgin Records. Its title makes reference to her third studio album ''Control'' (1986), and is a commemoration to its twentieth ann ...
'' and postponed all plans for touring. One of the tour's several planned opening acts was Mario Winans, known for the hit " I Don't Wanna Know" with
Enya Enya Patricia Brennan (; ga, Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin; born 17 May 1961), known professionally by the mononym Enya, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician known for modern Celtic music. She is the best-selling Irish solo arti ...
. Janet would later perform songs from ''Damita Jo'' during her
State of the World Tour The State of the World Tour was the eighth concert tour by American singer Janet Jackson. Launched in promotion of her eleventh studio album ''Unbreakable'' (2015), the tour is produced by Live Nation and is under the creative direction of Gil ...
, such as "Spending Time with You" and "Island Life".


Singles

Jackson released a promotional single "
Janet Megamix 04 "Janet Megamix 04" is a megamix produced by DJ Chris Cox (DJ), Chris Cox, released on December 11, 2003 to promote Jackson's upcoming Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, February 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. Song information The Chris Cox-produc ...
" prior to the album's release. Three commercial singles were released from ''Damita Jo'', although all were affected by the airplay and music channel blacklist following Jackson's controversial Super Bowl incident. "
Just a Little While "Just a Little While" is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released as the lead single from her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). Written by Jackson and Dallas Austin, the song is a reflection of Jackson's new-found ha ...
" was released as the lead single on February 2, 2004, after a premature leak. "Just a Little While" received highly positive reviews from critics, who felt its elements of
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
and
dance music Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded danc ...
would ensure success. Its airplay increased over five-hundred percent on its release, achieving "sizeable" downloads, but suffered when Jackson's blacklist was commenced by major radio broadcasters who were fined after Jackson's Super Bowl incident, affecting its performance worldwide. It reached number forty-five and within the top twenty in airplay in the United States, being her lowest peaking lead single since "
Come Give Your Love to Me "Come Give Your Love to Me" is the second single from Janet Jackson's self-titled debut album '' Janet Jackson'' (1982). The song was written by Glen Barbee and Charmaine Sylvers. It peaked at number fifty-eight on the U.S. pop chart, seventeen ...
" over twenty years prior, though it peaked atop the
Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...
chart. It held the top position for five weeks in Japan and was the year's second biggest international hit; also reaching number two in Belgium, three in Canada, and six in Spain. It also reached top ten in Hungary and top twenty in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Italy. The "UK Radio Edit" replaces guitars with synths and electronic beats. A re-recorded urban remix titled "Love Me" was produced by Just Blaze, initially planned for selected radio formats, but was withdrawn upon the radio boycott. Music executives had shown interest in several potential singles, including "Sexhibition", "Island Life", "Thinkin' 'Bout My Ex", and "My Baby", which Jackson said was "a nice problem to have". Jackson considered "
All Nite (Don't Stop) "All Nite (Don't Stop)" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). It was written and produced by Jackson and Swedish duo Bag & Arnthor (consisting of Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgis ...
", "My Baby", or " R&B Junkie" as the album's lead before selecting "Just a Little While". "I Want You" was released on April 5, 2004. The blacklist persisted to affect the single's performances, as it peaked at number fifty-seven on the Hot 100 and the top twenty of the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart. "I Want You" reached the top twenty in the United Kingdom, but was released as a double single with "All Nite (Don't Stop)" internationally, making it ineligible to chart in most markets. It was certified platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) and received a
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nomination. "
All Nite (Don't Stop) "All Nite (Don't Stop)" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). It was written and produced by Jackson and Swedish duo Bag & Arnthor (consisting of Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgis ...
" was issued as the album's third single on May 29, 2004. It received favorable reviews for its innovation and fusion of various musical styles. In a similar fashion, its airplay was affected by Jackson's blacklist. It charted on the
Mainstream Top 40 Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/contemporary hit radio, CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played o ...
at number thirty-three in July 2004, also charting within twelve other territories due to high single sales, notably reaching the top twenty in the United Kingdom, and top twenty-five in Australia, Belgium, and Romania. "All Nite (Don't Stop)" reached number one the Dance Club Songs chart, later declared "one of the biggest records this year in several different scenes" despite the airplay boycott due to its popularity. ''
Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...
'' initially confirmed the fourth single to be "My Baby", a collaboration with
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
. On December 30, 2004, promotional single " R&B Junkie" became the album's fourth and final single. It was not regarded as an official single and did not have a music video or promotion. However, it received positive reviews and reached number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. In April 2004, the album's title track and "My Baby" charted on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart without being released as singles, peaking at number seventeen and nine, respectively.


Critical reception

Upon its release, ''Damita Jo'' received positive to mixed reviews from most music critics. The album holds an
average In ordinary language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a list of numbers, usually the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers are in the list (the arithmetic mean). For example, the average of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 7, ...
score of 53 based on 13 reviews on
Metacritic Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
. Jesse Washington of ''
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
'' commended ''Damita Jo'' as "sinfully appealing" and "infectious", saying "relaxation is the last thing on her agenda with this sinfully appealing concoction of infectious beats and scandalous lyrics." Washington added, "Such content isn't unusual in today's pop culture landscape, where cable TV's raunch is stealing viewers and awards from broadcast networks and ''
the Cat in the Hat ''The Cat in the Hat'' is a 1957 children's book written and illustrated by the American author Theodor Geisel, using the pen name Dr. Seuss. The story centers on a tall anthropomorphic cat who wears a red and white-striped top hat and a red bow ...
'' tells dirty jokes on movie screens." Jackson's voice was considered "sweet and frosting-light" among the record's "excellent tunes", specifying "We look for her to entertain us with excellent videos, saturate the radio with catchy tunes, and move our bodies in the club. ''Damita Jo''" has the goods to do exactly that." ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
'' rated the album three out of four stars, saying Jackson "isn't sweating it musically" despite negative publicity. The critique said Jackson "freely pursues her sexual and love fantasies", noting "If she ever seemed tentative in her erotic explorations in the past, she's completely self-assured here. ..This is a happy, loving Jackson, as prone to romantic walks on the beach as to roadside quickies." Its premise of split personae was considered "a bit complicated", but clarified "that's who Damita Jo is". Jackson's new collaborators were said to induce a "freshening" effect while maintaining familiarity. Rating it four out of five stars, '' Blender (magazine), Blender'' critic Ann Powers stated the album is "Artfully structured, unapologetically explicit, ''Damita Jo'' is erotica at its friendliest and most well-balanced. This hour-plus of Tantric flow even erases the memory of Jackson's clunky Super Bowl breast-baring." Powers added "Her lyrics, though hardly avoiding familiar sex talk, meld common exhibitionism with convincing intimacies. ..Jackson brings bliss back to a subject that too many dirty-mouthed hotties have made tedious through overexposure." The album was also considered a "soul-baring, bedroom-eyed record" which was "swimming in pop hooks". Alexis Petridis of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' rated ''Damita Jo'' four out of five stars, saying "''Damita Jo's'' opening salvo is an object lesson in keeping things concise. Four tracks, each barely three minutes long, go hurtling past in a head-spinning blur of snapping rhythms, buzzing synthesized noise and oddly disconnected samples: cut-up vocals and glockenspiel on Strawberry Bounce, rattling tablas on Sexhibition. Elsewhere, there are impossibly lithe basslines - notably on All Nite (Don't Stop) and I Want You, an intriguing electronic reconstruction of an early 1970s soul ballad." Petridis heralded the record as "not only inventive, but brilliantly constructed", with nagging hooks and "explosive" choruses. Calling pop a "singles genre", Power's said "''Damita Jo'' strike rate is remarkably high. It's triumphant stuff." Warner Bros. Publications declared the album "flirty, sensual, hot pop" in "traditional Janet style", adding "The slow grooves blend together and the seductive vocals express passion."
Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
of ''
The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...
'' said "''Damita Jo'' starts off bold - But as the album proceeds it gets realer, mostly whispered softcore by the second half even when it's love songs per se. Call me immature, but I figure there's never enough good sex in the world. In a culture inundated with dirty pornos, ''Damita Jo'' is good sex." Giving it three out of five stars, Sal Cinquemani of ''
Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York ...
'' criticized ''Damita Jo'' saying it featured "a slew of the gooey, structureless sex ballads that have become Janet's staple." Cinquemani also called the songs "Like You Don't Love Me" and "Moist" "two of the album's best." ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' rated it a 'C+' saying "The tracks, many produced by her longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, have the sumptuous, homogenized creaminess we've come to expect from her." Angus Batey of
Yahoo! Music UK Yahoo! Music was a brand under which Yahoo! provided a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming. Previously, users with Yahoo! accounts could gain access to hundreds ...
gave it four out of ten stars, saying "Numerous explanatory spoken word asides seek to reassure us that Janet, as she approaches 40, is seeking love rather than reveling in lust." However, he called " R&B Junkie" "a delicious throwback, like a glorious 'Rhythm Nation'", " I Want You" "a peculiar post-modern waltz with a '40s supper club vibe, being the ear-catcher", and "
All Nite (Don't Stop) "All Nite (Don't Stop)" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). It was written and produced by Jackson and Swedish duo Bag & Arnthor (consisting of Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgis ...
" "another precision-tooled winner, with Jackson using an almost ethereal higher-pitched vocal delivery."
Neil Strauss Neil Darrow Strauss, also known by the pen names Style and Chris Powles, is an American author, journalist and ghostwriter. He is best known for his book '' The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists'', in which he describes his ...
of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' gave the album two out of five stars, saying ''Damita Jo'' "smacks of trying too hard. ..the truth is that Jackson is just trying to humanize herself, as she did so well on her breakthrough 1986 album, ''
Control Control may refer to: Basic meanings Economics and business * Control (management), an element of management * Control, an element of management accounting * Comptroller (or controller), a senior financial officer in an organization * Controlling ...
'' ..Jackson has had eighteen years of monster hits, so it's hard to fault her instincts. ..but there's too much of Jackson's moistness to wade through to get to ''Damita Jo's'' solid ground."
Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
of
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
said "while sex indisputably fuels much great pop music, it isn't an inherently fascinating topic for pop music – as with anything, it all depends on the artist. ..''Damita Jo'' proves that she was merely flirting with modesty, since it's as explicit as pop music gets." Ian Wade of BBC Music had mixed feelings, saying that "While there's nothing outwardly bad about ''Damita Jo'', at 22 tracks over 65 minutes, your attention does start to wander and you almost forget it's playing. But after a third or fourth listen, the slick grooves of "Spending Time With You" and "Island Life" gain more identity. ..Damita Jo heralds no real major leap forward, but it's no pig's ear either. A bit of editing and a couple of killer dance tracks would've made it even better."


Accolades


Commercial performance

''Damita Jo'' achieved moderate commercial success, and was considered a "disappointment" in the media compared to Jackson's previous efforts. It sold 381,000 copies during its first week of release in the United States, debuting at number two on ''Billboard'' 200 behind
Usher Usher may refer to: Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place: * Usher (occupation) ** Church usher ** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony ** Fiel ...
's '' Confessions''. The album received a platinum certification from the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) within two months of release, on May 27, 2004.
It was Jackson's first album not to reach number one in the U.S. since '' Dream Street (Janet Jackson album), Dream Street'' in 1984. ''Damita Jo'' has sold 1,002,000 copies in the US. In Canada, it debuted at number seven with sales of 9,100 units, and at number ten in Japan with 27,510 copies sold. It was certified platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) and gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for sales of 100,000 copies in each country. The album also reached number thirty-two on the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...
, and was certified silver by the
British Phonographic Industry British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the British recorded music industry's Trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards, the Classic BRIT Awards, National Album Day, is home to the Mercury Prize, and co-owns the Official Charts Company with th ...
(BPI) on April 2, 2004, denoting shipments in excess of 60,000 copies. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association Singapore (RIAS) in June 2004, and also peaked within the top twenty of Australia. It was the 15th best selling international album in South Korea, with 9,256 copies sold. In total, ''Damita Jo'' has sold in excess of 2.4 million copies worldwide. Jackson's radio and music channel blacklist from major entertainment conglomerates massively affected the album's performance. Prior to the Super Bowl incident, ''Damita Jo'' was predicted to outsell predecessor '' All for You'', which was certified double-platinum in US. ''
Metro Weekly ''Metro Weekly'' is a free weekly magazine for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Washington, D.C., United States. It was first published on May 5, 1994. ''Metro Weekly'' includes national and local news, interviews w ...
'' likened the album's performance to
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
's '' American Life'', saying after Madonna released the "biggest flop of her career", "It's doubtful Jackson planned the Super Bowl stunt to be quite the reveal it was. She also didn't count on the backlash, a backlash that has actually caused her the same fate as Madonna: public apathy to her music." Ernest Hardy of ''
LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin, who served as president and editor until 1991. Voice Media Group sold the paper in late 2017 to Semanal Media LLC, whose paren ...
'' observed its first-week sales to be "far stronger than those of recent releases by
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
, Britney, Whitney or
J-Lo Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...
."
Edna Gundersen Edna Gundersen is an American journalist who was a longtime music writer and critic for ''USA Today''. Gundersen grew up in El Paso, Texas. She attained a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at El Paso and then wrote features and en ...
of ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
'' also said "''Jo'' outpaced recent debuts by Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera." ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' commented; "The album is even sleeker and sexier than its predecessor, '' All for You'', and in saner times, that would be enough to ensure its success." Jackson stated: "Of course everyone wants to sell records and be number one. And I think that's important. But for a lot of artists today, it's all about the money as opposed to the art. What happened to artists creating this wonderful body of music that touches people and changes their lives?" In response to boycotted promotion, Jackson stated: "A lot of people said they didn't even know the project was out, and I think that had a lot to do with the response. Yet a lot of fans in Europe came up to me saying they absolutely felt it was my best album. There were all kinds of reactions to the album, and there was obviously a lot of drama surrounding that album as well." Productions deadlines also caused Jackson to rush, saying "Deadlines are hard for me; I don't like being forced to do things when you know you're not ready; when you're on the right path but you know you haven't gotten to the place you want to be."


Controversy

Following Jackson's controversial Super Bowl halftime show performance incident, conglomerates involved with the broadcast were heavily fined by the
U.S. Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...
(FCC) and taken to
Supreme Court of the United States The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...
for several years. In retaliation,
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, owner of Super Bowl broadcaster CBS,
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
, and the radio station group Infinity Broadcasting, enforced a blacklist of Jackson's singles and music videos on their properties. The boycott was placed into effect prior to the release of ''Damita Jo'', continuing throughout the course of Jackson's following two albums ''
20 Y.O. ''20 Y.O.'' is the ninth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. It was released on September 20, 2006, by Virgin Records. Its title makes reference to her third studio album ''Control'' (1986), and is a commemoration to its twentieth ann ...
'' and ''
Discipline Discipline refers to rule following behavior, to regulate, order, control and authority. It may also refer to punishment. Discipline is used to create habits, routines, and automatic mechanisms such as blind obedience. It may be inflicted on ot ...
''.
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...
, who performed with Jackson during the incident, did not receive the same treatment. Glenn Gamboa of ''
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...
'' stated "Unfortunately, it's not clear whether these songs will get heard," saying after the incident, "Jackson has been put in the pop culture penalty box. The result is that despite some initial backing for "Just a Little While," radio and TV support for her music has withered, as the conglomerates worry about angering the FCC and Congress" in fear of receiving fines for supporting Jackson. The excerpt added ""I Want You," for example, would have been an across-the-board smash pre-Nipplegate." A report uncovered Jackson to be "unfairly blackballed on pop radio stations and blacklisted on video shows", concluding "the "powers that be" are out to ruin her." Lead single "Just a Little While" quickly became the most added and played song on pop formats, increasing nearly five-hundred percent in airplay and garnering "sizeable" downloads. It received positive reception, however, its performance massively shifted when the blacklist was commenced; virtually disappearing from airplay. The boycott drew attention from critics when providing commentary on the album. Langston Wertz Jr. of ''
The Charlotte Observer ''The Charlotte Observer'' is an American English-language newspaper serving Charlotte, North Carolina, and its metro area. The Observer was founded in 1886. As of 2020, it has the second-largest circulation of any newspaper in the Carolinas. I ...
'' commented the incident made Jackson the "most female artists of all time" in the media, adding "radio wouldn't play it and MTV wouldn't play her videos for "I Want You" and "All Nite," two songs that would've been out-of-the-park hits at any other point in Jackson's career." ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' noted "The three singles it spawned were blacklisted by pop radio—they were also the albums biggest highlights—the electronic guitar studded "Just a Little While,"
Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
-influenced "I Want You" and the funky, heavily dance orientated "All Nite (Don't Stop)." Allan Raible of
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expressed "had the Super Bowl incident not happened, I have a feeling the rock-edged "Just a Little While" and the
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
assisted "Strawberry Bounce" would have been enough to make the album more of a success." Additionally, Doug Rule of '' The Metro Weekly'' revealed "the best tracks on ''Damita Jo'' are likely to be barred from commercial airtime" due to the blacklist, adding "in the case of first single "Just A Little While," never really get past go" as a result. Music channels owned by Viacom, including MTV and VH1, refused to air Jackson's videos or only aired them in minor rotation following the incident, stated to be "a major catalyst" in the album's performance. ''
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
'' stated "MTV's "Spanking New" videos in heavy rotation include a gyrating, cleavage-baring
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
Naughty Girl"">Naughty Girl (Beyonce Knowles song)">Naughty Girl"and a bleeped-out
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
with his group
D12 D12 (an initialism for The Dirty Dozen) was an American hip hop collective from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1996, the group achieved mainstream success with its lineup of ''de facto'' leader Eminem, Proof, Bizarre, Mr. Porter, Kuniva and Swift ...
My Band"">My_Band.html" ;"title="My Band">My Band" Yet the Just a Little While">sedate new video from Janet Jackson—a fixture on the cable channel for almost two decades and its first "MTV Icon"—has been absent from its playlist. Meanwhile, Jackson's name had barely been mentioned on MTV—unusual for a superstar whose previous projects have typically gotten heavy promotion." Jackson's collaborator Jimmy Jam commented "You can probably read between the lines with MTV. ..I would guess that if MTV wanted to play it, they would, but this is just speculation on my part. It certainly could raise a few questions if you have an investigative mind." Jam also commented, "It's tough to click with audiences when you don't get support from the major media outlets. ..It's interesting because the video was sent to Viacom – but somehow MTV didn't eceive it" Gossip blogger Roger Friedman of
Fox News The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owne ...
ridiculed the decision, stating "One thing is certain, however: Janet is being scapegoated for her Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction." ..Imagine that MTV, where illiteracy and lewdness thrive most of the day, would banish Janet's new video because of her "reputation." Who are they trying to kid? Of course, MTV is a corporate cousin of CBS, where the original snafu happened. But that's just a coincidence!"


Impact and legacy

''Damita Jo'' was the first of Jackson's albums in the SoundScan era to miss reaching number one on the ''Billboard'' 200. However, it made Jackson the first female artist to have six consecutive studio albums debut within the number one or two position. Due to various blacklisting, the album is often considered to not have received proper recognition. ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...
'' included ''Damita Jo'' among "120 Essential Pop Albums", commenting the "luscious lost 2004 classic is like dining on a seven-course meal melted marshmallows"; also remarked to be "criminally underrated". The album's accolades including a
Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...
nomination for " Best Contemporary R&B Album", and rank among '' Blender's'' "50 Greatest Albums" and
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's "30 Hottest Naked Album Covers of All Time" in 2013. Jesse Washington of ''
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
'' commended Jackson's output to remain "consistently good" and "eclipsing
Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian an ...
's"; praising Jackson as equal to peer
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
's: "For creating pop confections that you can grind to on the dance floor ..Jackson remains up there with Madonna as one of the best ever. She's still relevant and compelling 22 years after her first album, and will probably remain so long after her right breast is forgotten." Spence D. of
IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
declared; "There's no question that Jackson has the personality, the sensuality, and the voice to keep her at the top of the pop diva hierarchy." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
likened the album to a "low-key make-out record" in the tradition of ''
The Velvet Rope ''The Velvet Rope'' is the sixth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. The album was released on October 7, 1997, through Virgin Records. Prior to its release, she renegotiated her contract with Virgin for US$80 million, the largest rec ...
'', praising its "strong rhythmic or melodic hooks." ''
LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin, who served as president and editor until 1991. Voice Media Group sold the paper in late 2017 to Semanal Media LLC, whose paren ...
'' declared it "better than most reviews and word-of-mouth would have you believe", and "at least a minor-chord "F-you" victory to the wolves nipping at Janet's tits." Bob Smithouser of '' Plugged In'' considered the album's "bouncy rhythms, playful vocals and slick production values" to ultimately "draw countless teens into her tacky web of nymphomania." Tom Moon of
The Inquirer ''The Inquirer'' (stylized as TheINQUIRER) was a British technology tabloid website founded by Mike Magee after his departure from ''The Register'' (of which he was one of the founding members) in 2001. In 2006 the site was acquired by Dutch ...
stated, "''Damita Jo'' will undoubtedly blaze new trails for artists seeking fame via salacious outlandishness." Kalefa Sanneh of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' stated: "Ms. Jackson long ago established herself as one of the greatest and most consistent performers ..– she hasn't released a dud album in 20 years," adding ''Damita Jo'' "continues that streak". Sanneh concluded, "Jackson has spent the better part of two decades using that whispery voice and that shy smile to keep some small part of herself hidden, even when she seems to be exposing herself. Maybe that's why she can still cause such a fuss. And maybe that's also how she's managed to last so long." Neil Strauss of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' called the album "all things to all pop fans", ranging from "whiffs of classic Eighties Janet, teeny-bopper pop, a
Nelly Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. (born November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He embarked on his music career with the hip hop group St. Lunatics in 1993 and signed to Universal ...
impression, old-school funk, push-button rock & roll, even a little country & western." Mikael Wood of ''
The City Paper ''The City Paper'' (also known as ''The Nashville City Paper'') is a free, weekly newspaper that serves Nashville, Tennessee opened November 1, 2000. The newspaper will reopened under new ownership of Nashville News on January 1, 2021 ''The C ...
'' declared it Jackson's "most sonically sumptuous album" and an "explosion of finely finessed sound". ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' praised its balance between "assembly-line product" and innovation in "more inspired commercial pop". Its production was said to span "decades of pop-music romance" by ''Blender'', ranging from the "Motown sound" to "hip-hop's latest throwback beats". Wood defended Jackson's lyrical content: "the album's songs aren't any more moralistic than those by the frequently philandering male stars who get away with exposing their nipples all the time." However, Wood deciphered the album to be "more about love than lust", likened to "a nuzzle on the ear" and familiar comfort. Cromelin observed Jackson's vocal inflections to convincingly deliver "serviceable personas"; ranging from "haughty stripper to a wide-eyed kid who loves long walks on the beach." The album's vocal production received prominent recognition. Jackson's layered "breathy harmonies", built upon "little countermelodies" and overdubbed "nonverbal asides", were considered an inventive technique; providing a "plush romance". Jackson's approach to "shrouded" harmonies were also thought to produce intimacy and comfort; which "makes even a relatively raw number like "Sexhibition" feel like a private moment between you and the owner of history's most downloaded breast." ''
LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin, who served as president and editor until 1991. Voice Media Group sold the paper in late 2017 to Semanal Media LLC, whose paren ...
'' called Jackson's multilayered vocals her "calling card and primary weapon", backed by the album's lyrics as metaphorical "bullets".
Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
regarded the "synth-dance" productions enhanced by "sensual background murmurs". Its vocals were described as "lovely" and "quite graceful", containing an "unassuming flutter and grit"; ultimately displaying a progression, saying "Jackson has grown into her voice along with the rest of her body." Several critics observed the theme of ''Damita Jo'' to subsequently influence artists using similar concepts of alternate identities within album campaigns, regarding Jackson as the trendsetter in which singers "declare themselves in possession of multiple personalities".
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
' ''
Britney Jean ''Britney Jean'' is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Britney Spears. It was released on November 29, 2013, by RCA Records. The album is Spears's second eponymous record after '' Britney'' (2001), though the album's name refe ...
'' was observed to be titled with influence from ''Damita Jo''.
ABC News Radio ABC News Radio is the news radio service of ABC Audio, a division of ABC News in the United States. Formerly known as ABC Radio News, ABC News Radio feeds, through Skyview Networks, five minute newscasts on the hour and news briefs at half-pas ...
stated "taking a page from Janet Jackson's 2004 album, ''Damita Jo'', Britney Spears has combined her first and middle names – Britney Jean – to come up with the title for her much-anticipated eighth studio album." Spears stated alternate persona Britney Jean lives inside her, in a similar means to Jackson expressing "Damita Jo is one of the characters that lives inside of me," also appearing topless on its cover.
Logo A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents as in a wordma ...
's '' TheBacklot'' considered Spears' "How I Roll", appearing on ''
Femme Fatale A ''femme fatale'' ( or ; ), sometimes called a maneater or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype of ...
'', to be influenced by the ''Damita Jo'' track "Strawberry Bounce". Spears was photographed listening to ''Damita Jo'' in April 2008 and included its title track in a playlist for
iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...
, saying "I love to dance to this song. It has such a good beat to it." Spears played "
All Nite (Don't Stop) "All Nite (Don't Stop)" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). It was written and produced by Jackson and Swedish duo Bag & Arnthor (consisting of Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgis ...
" for the audience prior to each show on The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour, including it among her favorite songs for '' The X Factor'' publication ''X Magazine'' in 2010. Upon
Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Known for her influence on modern pop music and her Camp (style), campy style, she has been ...
referencing Jackson's Super Bowl incident in the music video for "
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" is a song by American singer Katy Perry from her third studio album, '' Teenage Dream''. The song was produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin, who also co-wrote the song with Perry and Bonnie McKee. Perry stated that s ...
", Perry's alternate persona "Kathy Beth Terry" was likened to Jackson's "Damita Jo". Several critics observed
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
's persona "Sasha Fierce" and '' I Am... Sasha Fierce'' album to be influenced by ''Damita Jo''. ''
The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'' stated "When Janet Jackson released the album ''Damita Jo'' after the Super Bowl nipple furore, she told us that "Damita Jo is one of the characters that lives inside of me". And now Beyonce wants us to know that this album ... reflects how: "I have someone else that takes over when it's time for me to work and when I'm on stage, this alter ego that I've created kind of protects me and who I really am." '' The Courant'' commented "her musical forebear Janet Jackson is occasionally known as Damita Jo, so why shouldn't Beyonce have an alter-ego, too?". The rear artwork of
Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...
's '' Rebirth'' drew comparisons to Jackson's ''Damita Jo'' album cover, depicting Lopez topless in a similar pose amidst a white backdrop. Critics cited "
Just a Little While "Just a Little While" is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released as the lead single from her eighth studio album, '' Damita Jo'' (2004). Written by Jackson and Dallas Austin, the song is a reflection of Jackson's new-found ha ...
" to influence
Crystal Kay is a Japanese singer, songwriter, actress and radio host. After releasing her first single, "Eternal Memories" (1999), Crystal Kay gained fame for her third studio album, '' Almost Seventeen'' (2002), which debuted at number 2 on the Japanese ...
's "Busy Doing Nothing" and
Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...
's "Cherry Pie". ''
The Washington Times ''The Washington Times'' is an American conservative daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., that covers general interest topics with a particular emphasis on national politics. Its broadsheet daily edition is distributed throughout ...
'' likened
Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...
's " Like I Never Left", a duet with Akon, to being inspired by Jackson's "My Baby", which featured
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
compared the erotic tone of Jill Scott's " Crown Royal" to the album's suggestive content. Furthermore,
Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, she lived much of he ...
released a remix of the album's title track. In '' People Magazine'', Christina Aguilera stated "''Damita Jo'' is a good album. I love that album. Janet never stops giving you what you want. She's an artist that will always be regarded as one of the best. Like
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
, she's reinvented herself a lot and kept a connection with her audience. The whole Super Bowl thing ruined her reputation with the media and pretentious prudes, but who cares about them? She's still doing her thing." Actress
Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Dee Lohan ( ; born July 2, 1986) is an American actress and singer. Born in New York City and raised on Long Island, Lohan was signed to Ford Models at the age of three. Having appeared as a regular on the television soap opera '' An ...
said she remained fit while filming '' Mean Girls'' by dancing to Jackson's ''Damita Jo'' album. Lohan had also attended the album's release party.


Track listing

;Notes * signifies a co-producer * On clean versions of the album, "Warmth" and "Moist" are not included due to explicit content and "Sexhibition" is re-titled as "Exhibition". * ;Sample credits * "Strawberry Bounce" contains elements from " Can I Get A..." by
Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
featuring
Amil Amil Kahala Whitehead (born September 19, 1973) is an American former rapper and singer. She was prominent in the late 1990s as a Jay-Z protégé, and recorded the single " Can I Get A..." with him for the ''Rush Hour'' soundtrack. Amil's deb ...
and Ja Rule. * "All Nite (Don't Stop)" contains elements from "Hang Up Your Hang Ups" by
Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer. Hancock started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. He shortly thereafter joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he help ...
. * "R&B Junkie" contains elements from " I'm in Love" by Evelyn King. * "I Want You" contains elements of " Close to You" by
B.T. Express B.T. Express (originally named Brooklyn Transit Express) was an American funk/disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on- ...
. * "Put Your Hands On" contains replayed elements from "The Message" written by Edward Fletcher, Sylvia Robinson, Melvin Glover and Clifton Chase.


Personnel

* Janet Jackson – vocals, backing vocals, production * Dallas Austin – beats, keyboards, Line 6 guitar, production * Bobby Ross Avila – bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, Moog lead, nylon guitar, production, Rhodes electric piano * Babyface – instrumentation, production * BAG & Arnthor – arrangement, engineering, production, programming * Miri Ben-Ari – violin, violin arrangement, violin production * Paul Boutin – engineering * Billy Brown – backing vocals * Henrik Brunberg – assistant engineering * Jason Carson – engineering * Fran Cooper – make-up * Ian Cross – engineering * Roger Davies – management * Kevin "KD" Davis – mixing * Freckles – backing vocals *
Brian "Big Bass" Gardner Brian Knapp Gardner, also known as Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, is an American mastering engineer. He has worked on a number of recordings since the mid-1960s, including classic rock, funk, disco, alternative rock, R&B, hip hop, pop punk and dance- ...
– mastering * Jon Gass – mixing * Serban Ghenea – mix assistance * Johnny Gill – guitar * Lee Groves – programming * Cesar Guevara – engineering assistance * Stephan Haeri – mixing * Rob Haggett – programming assistance * Doug Harms – engineering assistance * Terri Harris – personal assistance * Jeri Heiden – art direction, design * Steve Hodge – engineering, mixing, mix engineering * Keenan "Kee Note" Holloway – bass * Kameron Houff – engineering * Kevin Hunter – guitar * Jun Ishizeki – engineering * Iz – bass, co-production, drums, electric guitar, guitar, horn stabs, Moog synthesizer, percussion, scratches *
Jimmy Jam Jimmy may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy * ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma * ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...
– drum programming, drums, keyboards, percussion, production * Glenn Jeffery – guitar * Henrik Jonback – guitar * Goran Kajfes – horn *
Brent Kolatalo Brent Kolatalo is an American Mixing engineer, mixer, record producer, Audio engineer, engineer and songwriter based in New York City. Kolatalo has worked with numerous artists and musicians, including Kanye West, Jay-Z, Eminem, Drake (musician), ...
– engineering assistance * Ken Lewis – instrumentation * Terry Lewis – production * Wayne Scot Lukas – wardrobe * Matt Marrin – mix engineering *
Manny Marroquin Manny Marroquin (born September 21, 1971) is an American mixing engineer.Daley, Dan (May 2005).Manny Marroquin. ''Sound on Sound''. Retrieved February 10, 2007 He has received ten Grammy awards for his professional audio work. Life and career M ...
– mixing * Andrew MacPherson – photography * Glen Nakasako – art direction, design * Big Jon Platt – A&R * Ervin Pope – keyboards * Joni-Ayanna Portee – backing vocals * Magnum Coltrane Price – bass * Tony Reyes – backing vocals, bass, Line 6 guitar * Tim Roberts – mixing assistance * Lindsay Scott – management * Rick Sheppard – engineering, MIDI, sound design * Xavier Smith – engineering assistance *
Mark "Spike" Stent Mark "Spike" Stent (born 3 August 1965) is an English record producer and mixing engineer who has worked with many international artists including Madonna, Marshmello, U2, Beyoncé, Björk, Depeche Mode, Echo & The Bunnymen, Grimes, Ed Sheeran ...
– mixing *
Dana Stinson Dana Stinson (born February 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Rockwilder, is an American hip hop record producer and rapper. A long term friend of Def Jam rapper Redman, Rockwilder got his start producing for East Coast hip hop artists ...
– production *
Scott Storch Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973) is an American record producer and songwriter. He started off as a keyboardist for the group the Roots. Early life Storch was born on Long Island, New York. He was raised in South Florida and Phila ...
– production *
Télépopmusik Télépopmusik is a French electronic music trio, composed of Fabrice Dumont (bassist of the pop band Autour de Lucie), Stephan Haeri (also known as "2 square" for his solo projects), and Christophe Hetier (also known as "DJ Antipop"). History ...
– production * Tony "Prof T" Tolbert – backing vocals * David Treahearn – mixing assistance * Rabeka Tuinei – mixing assistance *
Max Vadukul Max Vadukul (born 2 February 1961, Nairobi, Kenya) is a British photographer who is based in New York City.Bellafante, Ginia."Front Row" ''The New York Times'', 7 November 2000. Retrieved 17 February 2008. He is noted for his art reportageGaller ...
– photography *
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
– vocals, production * Colin Wolfe – bass * Ghian Wright – engineering assistance, mixing assistance * Bradley Yost – engineer assistance * Janet Zeitoun – hair styling, styling


Charts


Weekly charts


Monthly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications and sales


Release history


References


External links


''Damita Jo'' video page at janetjackson.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Damita Jo (Album) 2004 albums Albums produced by Babyface (musician) Albums produced by Dallas Austin Albums produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Albums produced by Kanye West Albums produced by Scott Storch Janet Jackson albums Virgin Records albums