Number Ones, Up Close And Personal
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Number Ones, Up Close and Personal World Tour was the sixth
concert tour A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often, concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific ...
by American recording artist
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 choreogr ...
. It showcased her sophomore compilation album, '' Number Ones'' and visited Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. Jackson traveled to thirty-five different cities selected by fans, one chosen for each of her number one hits. The tour took an organic and intimate approach, excluding the elaborate theatrics and pyrotechnics her concerts have become infamous for, focusing on her musicality and choreography. Jackson explained the tour to be "different from anything I have ever done", adding, "These concerts are not about special effects. This is a love affair between me and those of you who have supported me and my work for all these years." Jackson dedicated an individual song to the audience during every show to commemorate each city. The show's intimate aura was praised among critics, many commending Jackson's showmanship in contrast to her more recent contemporaries. The majority of the tour had completely sold out, notably two shows in
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, Australia, which sold out within fifteen minutes, in addition to Los Angeles, which sold in under ten minutes, and three shows in London. The tour achieved several attendance records, among the most attended concerts in the Reliant Stadium's history and top selling shows of the year in the Philippines. It had also broken the gross for a single performance at a venue located in Tampa, Florida, surpassing a record previously held by
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey ( ; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Songbird Supreme" by ''Guinness World Records'', Carey is known for her five-octave voc ...
. Private shows were held in Singapore, Shanghai, London, and Hertfordshire, the latter venue compensating Jackson a substantial amount to perform. An exclusive concert was also held at the Liaisons Au Louvre II Charity Gala in Paris, France, making Jackson the first female pop artist in history to perform at the I. M. Pei glass pyramid. Professional footage of shows in Singapore and London were filmed but have not been released. Entertainers such as
Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic versatility, and Cultural impact of Taylor Swift, cultural impact, Swift is one of the Best selling artists, w ...
,
Joe Jonas Joseph Adam Jonas (born August 15, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He rose to fame as a member of the pop rock band the Jonas Brothers, alongside his brothers Kevin Jonas, Kevin and Nick Jonas, Nick. The group released their ...
,
Siti Nurhaliza Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin (Jawi script, Jawi: سيتي نورهاليزا بنت تارودين, ; born 11 January 1979) is a renowned Malaysian singer, songwriter, and actress, celebrated for her significant contributions to the music and ...
,
Rachel Stevens Rachel Lauren Stevens (born 9 April 1978) is an English singer and actress. She has been a member of the pop group S Club, which was active from 1998 to 2003, and has reformed once again since 2023. She released her solo debut studio album ''F ...
, Park Jung-Min, and British boy band JLS were reported to attend the tour. Selected dates of the tour's first North American leg from March to April 2011 had ranked forty-fifth in
Pollstar ''Pollstar'' is a trade publication for the concert and live music industry. The publication was purchased by Oak View Group, a venue consultancy founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff, in July 2017. ''Pollstar'' holds an annual award ce ...
's Top 50 Worldwide Tours, earning $16 million. At the end of 2011, the tour placed 62nd on Pollstar's "Top 100 Worldwide Tours", earning $26.5 million from 71 shows worldwide.


Background

Several years prior, Jackson embarked on her first tour in nearly seven years, the Rock Witchu Tour. It faced adversities due to an illness revealed as severe
vertigo Vertigo is a condition in which a person has the sensation that they are moving, or that objects around them are moving, when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, perspira ...
, which had also affected several promotional appearances during the release of her eighth studio album, ''
Discipline Discipline is the self-control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed, and the ability to keep working at something that is difficult. Disciplinarians believe that such self-control is of the utmost importance and enforce a ...
''. Jackson planned to tour Asia during that time, however, dates were postponed due to the 2009 economic crisis. Jackson intended to tour in support of her '' Number Ones'' album but was halted by numerous circumstances, including filming '' Why Did I Get Married Too?'' and ''
For Colored Girls ''For Colored Girls'' is a 2010 American drama film adapted from Ntozake Shange's 1975 original choreopoem '' for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf''. Written, directed and co-produced by Tyler Perry, the film ...
''. At the same time, she penned her first book, '' True You'' and suffered the death of her brother,
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 Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
. In 2010, Jackson returned to performing at the
Essence Music Festival The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is the largest African-American culture and music event in the US. The annual music festival started in 1995 in New Orleans, Louisiana to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ''Essence (magazine), Essence'' magazine. ...
in
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
,
Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
. Jackson's performance was praised by both media and spectators, also breaking
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
's attendance record at the
Louisiana Superdome Caesars Superdome (originally Louisiana Superdome and formerly Mercedes-Benz Superdome), commonly known as the Superdome, is a domed multi-purpose stadium in the Southern United States, southern United States, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. ...
. Upon performing a private concert at New York's
Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...
, she became inspired to tour with an intimate show. In November, Jackson posted a video on her official website announcing details of her upcoming tour. She deemed it the "largest world tour I've ever done" while revealing its concept of an intimate gathering with fans. She exclusively performed her catalog of number ones hits from charts such as '' Billboard's''
Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100, also known as simply the Hot 100, is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), o ...
, Top 40 Mainstream,
R&B Songs Hot R&B Songs is a chart released weekly by ''Billboard'' in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular R&B songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations, digital download sales and streaming data. It was establis ...
, and
Hot Dance Club Songs The Dance Club Songs (also known as National Disco Action, Hot Dance/Disco Club Play, and Hot Dance Club Play) was a chart published weekly between 1976 and 2020 by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. It used club disc jockeys set list ...
, as well as Japan's
Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that ...
, Canadian Singles, and various international charts in Europe and Australia. Jackson performed in 35 cities, each show offering something different in terms of her performance. Fans were to vote on cities via her official website. She honored 20 people who performed service in their community with the "20 Under 20" contest and dedicated one hit to each city during every show. In December, Jackson announced the first date in
Wan Chai Wan Chai (Traditional Chinese characters, Chinese: 灣仔) is located in the western part of Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is bounded by Canal Road, Hong Kong, Canal Road to the east, Arsenal St ...
, Hong Kong. In April, Jackson extended the tour's North American and European legs into the fall due to massive sellouts. She also extended the tour into Australia, Africa, and South America. The tour was sponsored by
Universal Music Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum ...
and fashion label Blackglama.


Development

Jackson desired to perform an organic show without the use of theatrics and pyrotechnics, selecting venues allowing her to be intimate with fans. It focused on Jackson's artistry through singing and choreography, using an "
unplugged Unplugged may refer to: *Acoustic music, music not produced through electronic means * "Unplugged" (B.A.P song), 2014 * "Unplugged" (''Modern Family''), a 2010 episode of ''Modern Family'' Albums and EPs * ''Unplugged'' (5'nizza album), 2002 * '' ...
" concept. Jackson explained, "I was in New York performing private showat
Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...
. It was so much fun to look into the audience and see the eyes, smiles and energy of each person. I was singing and dancing and all I could think was, 'This is how I will perform my next tour'. Up close and personal. Giving my fans something we hadn't shared before." The show is divided into multiple segments, each focusing on a specific theme within the song's lyrical content to express an individual storyline. Jackson stated, "I am always looking to grow as an artist. When creating this tour, I wanted to tell a specific story in each section of the show. I am having fun looking at these songs and seeing what I can do with them and let them inspire me." Various costume and set list changes were made frequently throughout the tour, saying "I am a very creative person, so I love to experiment. ..I have changed some of the costumes, added songs and videos to the line up. I love to create so it has been a lot of fun." Jackson did many meet and greets with fans and allowed them to give specific input into the show. Regarding their contributions, Jackson said, "I am so fortunate that my fans, no matter where they are, are so loyal. They give me so much love and I am excited to return mine to them."


Concert synopsis

The tour took an intimate and organic approach, focusing on Jackson's musicality and showmanship in dedication to her fans. Each segment focuses on a different theme based on the song's lyrical content. The show began with a video introduction of Jackson explaining its concept. After this, a music video of the individual song dedicated to the current city is shown. She enters from the back of the audience flaunting a "
scythe A scythe (, rhyming with ''writhe'') is an agriculture, agricultural hand-tool for mowing grass or Harvest, harvesting Crop, crops. It was historically used to cut down or reaping, reap edible grain, grains before they underwent the process of ...
-edged" haircut in a grey catsuit to perform opening number " The Pleasure Principle", moving throughout the venue's centerpiece while interacting with the crowd. Upon reaching the stage, she performed " Control", " What Have You Done for Me Lately", and "
Feedback Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause and effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to ''feed back'' into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handle ...
" before transitioning to " You Want This", " Alright", and " Miss You Much" replicating each song's signature dance moves. Jackson smashes her way into " Nasty" ending the first part of the show. A film reel of highlights from Jackson's acting career was played during a brief interlude, including scenes from ''
Good Times ''Good Times'' is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans (actor), Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was televis ...
'', ''
Poetic Justice Poetic justice, also called poetic irony, is a literary device with which ultimately virtue is rewarded and misdeeds are punished. In modern literature, it is often accompanied by an ironic twist of fate related to the character's own action, h ...
'', '' The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps'', and '' Why Did I Get Married Too?''. She reappeared in a diamond-encrusted lavender gown and sat on a stool in center stage to perform several unplugged ballads. The set began with "
Nothing Nothing, no-thing, or no thing is the complete absence of ''anything'', as the opposite of ''something'' and an antithesis of everything. The concept of nothing has been a matter of philosophical debate since at least the 5th century BCE. Ea ...
" and " Come Back to Me" before closing with " Let's Wait Awhile" and " Again", briefly pausing to allow the audience to sing several verses in their entirety. "Janet's Image", a second video montage consisting of Jackson's most iconic photographs is shown before she returned in a sleeveless black vest. The third set focused on upbeat love songs, beginning with " Doesn't Really Matter" and leading into " Love Will Never Do (Without You)", " When I Think of You", and " All for You." After a slight pause, she sang " That's the Way Love Goes." The band played an instrumental version of "What About" during a costume break. Upon emerging, Jackson segued through a rock-influenced portion in a black jacket, performing "
Black Cat A black cat is a Cat, domestic cat with black fur. They may be a specific Purebred, breed, or a common domestic cat of no particular or mixed breed. Most black cats have golden iris (anatomy), irises due to their high melanin pigment content. Bl ...
" and " If", emulating its music video's iconic choreography. The set closed with " Scream" and "
Rhythm Nation "Rhythm Nation" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, released as the second single from her fourth studio album, '' Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814'' (1989). It was written and produced by Jackson, in collaboration with Jimmy Jam and ...
." Following a final intermission, Jackson and her dancers reappeared in matching white outfits for the show's encore. Her then-most recent number one hit " Make Me" lead the set. followed by the show's finale, " Together Again." Throughout the song, childhood images of her 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 Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
appeared on screens in tribute to his death. The show ended with Jackson speaking to the crowd and waving goodbye as she exits the stage. " All Nite (Don't Stop)", " Runaway", " Call on Me", " I Get Lonely", "
Diamonds Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is tasteless, odourless, strong, brittle solid, colourless in pure form, a poor conductor of electricity, and insol ...
", " The Best Things in Life Are Free", " Throb", " Go Deep" and "When We Oooo" were performed on selected dates.


Critical reception

The tour was met with positive reviews. ''
The Jakarta Post ''The Jakarta Post'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Indonesia. The paper is owned by PT Bina Media Tenggara and based in the nation's capital, Jakarta. ''The Jakarta Post'' started as a collaboration between four Indonesian media ...
'' wrote Jackson put together "a well-crafted performance, peppered with cool and familiar choreographies combined with an impressive multimedia backdrop." Serene Goh of ''
The Straits Times ''The Straits Times'' (also known informally by its abbreviation ''ST'') is a Singaporean daily English-language newspaper owned by the SPH Media Trust. Established on 15 July 1845, it is the most-widely circulated newspaper in the country and ...
'' wrote, "She was theatrical before
Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her image reinventions and versatility across the entertainment industry, she is an influ ...
, racy before
Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress. One of the List of music artists by net worth, wealthiest musicians in the world, List of awards and nominations received by Rihanna, her vario ...
and bootylicious before
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
 ... Jackson, now 44, brought to the stage a different sensibility, a pared-down set, fewer back-up dancers and less distraction." Amy Verner of ''
The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...
'' stated Jackson "proved that she no longer needs elaborate stage sets or pyrotechnics to captivate her fans." Verner concluded, "Seeing Jackson in concert is less about her vocal range than her command of countless choreographed moves to catchy songs that you find you know the words to. She's in her element performing live, transitioning smoothly from fierce and aggressive to sweet and giggly." Saeed Saeed of '' The National'' praised it as "a masterclass in how to deliver a pop performance", delivering a mixture of "fan favourites and new material." The "fast moving and slickly produced" show was thought to demonstrate her longevity, "reflecting her eclectic muse from pop, R&B to rock and dance." Joe Lawler of the '' DesMoines Register'' called the show "a Janet Jackson sampler", adding "Ms. Jackson clearly knows how to work a crowd, and they showered her with affection." Lawler emphasized, "A number of artists have been tagged with the honorific "Queen of Pop" title over the years, but Jackson's longevity and body of work make it clear that she is worthy of it." Vaughn Schoonmaker of
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stated "Often imitated, never duplicated, Janet Jackson's outbursts of meticulous choreography, sassy exclamations and smoldering gazes into the audience kept them on their feet for the entire two-hour set... we can expect to see this singing and dancing pop legend shine far into the future." Brad Wete of ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' praised Jackson's "crisp choreography" and vocals as "strong all evening", ranging from "both feathery and gruff." Wete added, "Statistically, the fact that she's one of the most successful artists of the last 25 years is unquestionable. She's in a class with
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
, though not mentioned as much." of ''
Chicago Sun-Times The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily nonprofit newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has long held the second largest circulation among Chicago newspaper ...
'' observed the tour's set list suggested "a total that once again equals international megastar." Liz Tracy of ''
Miami New Times The ''Miami New Times'' is a newspaper published in Miami, Florida, United States, and distributed every Thursday. It primarily serves the Miami metropolitan area, and is headquartered in Miami's Wynwood Art District. Overview It was acquired ...
'' called Jackson "as strong and feminine as ever", contrasting with her "soft-spoken, seemingly genteel" persona offstage, becoming "a sassy little powerhouse who is every straight (and gay) man's wet dream." Tracy concluded, "Jackson needn't prove herself. She is a 35-hit wonder who has stayed sexy yet powerful, smart yet vulnerable. Baby-faced, industry-perfect pop stars will grow old whether or not they grow up. Jackson is the example of how to do it with grace even when things go horribly wrong." Jane Stevenson of ''
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'' called the show "a scaled-down, fast-paced, crowd-pleasing, wall-to-wall hits package", heralding its medleys, "sexy, glamorous costumes", and choreographed dance moves. Annabel Ross of Australia's ''
The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'' called the tour "a walloping reminder of just how many hits she's produced, jamming 30-odd chart-topping singles into two hours." Ross added, "Jackson's trailblazing talent – she still dances circles around Beyoncé and Britney – deserves to be celebrated in its own right." In a review for Sydney's ''Everguide'', Ross praised the show as "one of the best pop performances I’ve ever seen", commending its "substance and stripped-back style." Jackson was noted to abandon her sex-driven image, performing with "agy-defying ease and energy." Jackson's voice was heralded as "nothing to sniff at – that pristine, unmistakable Jackson coo never faltered as she tore through hit after hit." In comparison to her recent contemporaries, Ross stated, "There was no hatching out of eggs, no fandangled props and light shows – just good old-fashioned song and dance from one of the best movers in the business.
Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress. One of the List of music artists by net worth, wealthiest musicians in the world, List of awards and nominations received by Rihanna, her vario ...
, Beyoncé, Britney – they ain’t got nothin’ on Damita Jo." The excerpt concluded, "Thank you, Janet, for being one of the best pop entertainers of the last century. Beyoncé et al. have some massive shoes to fill if they want to rock a show like you did last night – at any age." James Reed of ''
The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...
'' commented, " 44, Jackson looks terrific ... She stayed in step with her dancers, and she was in strong voice and as seductive as ever." However, Reed called the show "a strange animal", questioning several hits being "shoehorned into brisk medleys." Ben Ratliff of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' felt the show's best moments occurred during its third segment, with Jackson "relaxed and athletic", as well as "tension free." Chris Richards of ''
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'' praised the "laserlight precision" of Jackson's "delicate" voice, adding "if you paid to hear Jackson sing, you certainly got that. Not a single word appeared to be lip-synced." Richard also complimented her physically strenuous performance, stating "in a 21st-century popscape where concerts are driven by spectacle, we need to know that beneath all of the sci-fi costumes, strobe lights and
Auto-Tune Auto-Tune is audio processor software released on September 19, 1997, by the American company Antares Audio Technologies. It uses a proprietary device to measure and Pitch correction, correct pitch in music. It operates on different principles ...
, we’re still witnessing a performance by the living, breathing, profusely sweating human being whose name is stamped on the tickets we just emptied our wallets for." Greg Kot of ''
Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
'' praised the "tightly-choreographed greatest hits show" as "the best Janet Jackson performance I’ve covered in 20-plus years." Jackson was thought to portray "the work of a still-vital artist determined to showcase her subtle strengths", considered its most crucial achievement. The show's standout renditions were thought to be " Alright", as Jackson "flung limbs in impossible directions", in addition to " I Get Lonely" and "
Black Cat A black cat is a Cat, domestic cat with black fur. They may be a specific Purebred, breed, or a common domestic cat of no particular or mixed breed. Most black cats have golden iris (anatomy), irises due to their high melanin pigment content. Bl ...
", which showcased Jackson "head-banging with rare violence." Kot commended Jackson's vocals, saying "her delicate touch conveyed an innocence and sweetness not often heard on the pop charts anymore. That's a unique legacy in pop; whereas the charts are often dominated by stridency, Jackson brought sensuality and understatement." Phil Villeneuve of '' FAB Magazine'' likened Jackson's appeal to
Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her image reinventions and versatility across the entertainment industry, she is an influ ...
's, saying "If Gaga is Mother Monster, then Janet Jackson is Mother Lion. The woman defines fierce and she pounced on the stage." In particular, Villeneuve praised "the set list, the woman herself and the venue", noting "pitch-perfect sing-alongs" during the show's ballad segment. Her appearance was considered "what might be her sexiest", saying "she has booty to make your eyes pop and curves to get lost in, but everything was tight, in check and oozing confidence." Villeneuve added her outfits "gave off a dance-sergeant vibe that really worked." The show's frequent dance numbers were thought to display Jackson "at her best", clarifying "these numbers served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." Pocholo Concepción of ''
Philippine Daily Inquirer The ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' (''PDI''), or simply the ''Inquirer'', is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines. Founded in 1985, it is often regarded as the Philippines' newspaper of record. The newspaper is the most awarded broad ...
'' said Jackson "ruled the stage"; her wardrobe giving the impression of a "sci-fi thriller movie." Concepción also praised her "vocal sensitivity" and "unexpected" entrance through the middle of the audience. Victoria Barker of
AsiaOne AsiaOne.com is a Singaporean news and lifestyle website and news aggregator. It is Singapore's first pure play digital content platform, serving readers primarily in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. AsiaOne was launched in 1995 by Singapore ...
said Jackson "commanded attention", praising her rendition of " The Pleasure Principle" as "riveting ... hip-thrusting and gyrating included, drew enthusiastic cheers." Jackson's vocals were also commended; her performance of "Again" called "goosebump-inducing" which "ached gorgeously with just the right amount of emotion." An additional critique called it "an amazingly riveting stage performance" backed by "impeccable" choreography, showcasing tactics thought to "silence even the most fervent of her haters." Gerrick D. Kennedy of the ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' commended Jackson's showmanship, stating "While today's pop landscape of over-the-top divas like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga,
Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists in hist ...
and
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...
have become known for glitzy productions ... She placed the focus of her set squarely on showcasing her voice ... she sang live for the nearly two-hour show, a rarity in today's pop music—and the legendary complex footwork that marked her.. as pop royalty." Aidin Vaziri of the ''
San Francisco Chronicle The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and M. H. de Young, Michael H. ...
'' declared the show affirmed "her legacy as pop royalty", saying, "Jackson threw her body full force into the songs." In reviewing her performance in London, Neil McCormick of ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'' praised Jackson's "retained vocal tone and physical fitness" as "impressive", also saying "her voice still high, soft and girlish, her body curvy but firm and up to the demands of aerobic workout style dance routines." Joanna Chaundy of ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' wrote, "Watching Janet Jackson play such a prestigious venue, one that conveys a sense of intimacy despite its size, is a pleasure in itself." Alexis Petridis of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' said, "Jackson can still sing and dance up a storm", concluding "if she wanted to remind people how commanding a presence she can be, she's done her job."


Commercial reception

The tour's entire box office earnings were not publicly reported, including sales from Europe, Australia, Asia, and its second North American leg. Selected reported dates of the tour's first North American leg from March to April 2011 had ranked forty-fifth in
Pollstar ''Pollstar'' is a trade publication for the concert and live music industry. The publication was purchased by Oak View Group, a venue consultancy founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff, in July 2017. ''Pollstar'' holds an annual award ce ...
's Top 50 Worldwide Tours, earning $16 million. ''
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 advertis ...
'' ranked it fourth among the year's "Hottest Tours."


Accolades and records

Jackson was announced to be the fastest-selling single artist concert of the year. The majority of the tour had completely sold out, including three dates in New York, Chicago, and London, multiple shows in Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney, Washington, D.C. and Atlantic City, as well as single dates in Berlin, Atlanta, Seattle, Santa Barbara, and various others. Jackson also played three sold-out shows at London's
Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272. Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres ...
. Two shows in
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, Australia sold out within fifteen minutes, and Los Angeles had sold in under ten minutes. Upon the tour's announcement, Jackson became the second most-searched item on the internet on multiple search engines. Ninety-six percent of the tour's pre-sale tickets were sold within the first day. The tour achieved several attendance records, including breaking the gross for a single performance at a venue in Tampa, Florida, surpassing a record previously held by
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey ( ; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Songbird Supreme" by ''Guinness World Records'', Carey is known for her five-octave voc ...
. The tour's show at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas was the twentieth most attended concert in the venue's history, being two thousand away from the venue's highest attendance record at the time. Jackson's show at the Santa Barbara Bowl was among the venue's fastest sell-outs, prompting sponsors to add additional cities to the tour. Jackson notably performed for a massive crowd in
Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...
; '' The Khaleej Times'' reporting "thousands of pop fans flocked to the Yas Arena on Thursday night to see the legendary Janet Jackson perform." Jackson was the year's sixth most successful touring act in the Philippines, ahead of artists such as
Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( , born Destiny Hope Cyrus, November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and director. Regarded as a contemporary pop icon, Cyrus has been recognized for her evolving artistry and image reinventions. She is ...
,
Maroon 5 Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine (musician), James Valentine, d ...
,
Bruno Mars Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is known for his three-octave tenor vocal range, live performances, R ...
, and the
Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas are an American musical group formed in Los Angeles in 1995, composed of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo (rapper), Taboo. Fergie (singer), Fergie was a member during the height of their popularity in the 2000s, and ...
. Private shows were held in Singapore, Shanghai, and London. The
Deutsche Bank Deutsche Bank AG (, ) is a Germany, German multinational Investment banking, investment bank and financial services company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, and dual-listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. ...
reportedly compensated Jackson millions to provide a forty-five-minute show for their clients at The Grove in Hertfordshire, England. An exclusive concert was also held at
The Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...
during the Liaisons Au Louvre II Charity Gala event in Paris, France, making Jackson the first female pop singer to perform at the I. M. Pei glass pyramid. Funds from the benefit raised contributions for the restoration of iconic artwork. Director Henri Loyrette stated, "Janet Jackson is one of the world's greatest artistic treasures. Accordingly, we are profoundly honored, and believe it most fitting, that her performance in the Louvre Museum will be yet another masterpiece captured under our glorious glass pyramid." The prior year, Jackson had sold out the
Louisiana Superdome Caesars Superdome (originally Louisiana Superdome and formerly Mercedes-Benz Superdome), commonly known as the Superdome, is a domed multi-purpose stadium in the Southern United States, southern United States, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. ...
while headlining the 2010
Essence Music Festival The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is the largest African-American culture and music event in the US. The annual music festival started in 1995 in New Orleans, Louisiana to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ''Essence (magazine), Essence'' magazine. ...
, breaking
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
's attendance record at the venue. Jackson also caused the Festival's first waiting list, with additional seats sold and erected behind the stage. Entertainers such as
Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic versatility, and Cultural impact of Taylor Swift, cultural impact, Swift is one of the Best selling artists, w ...
,
Rachel Stevens Rachel Lauren Stevens (born 9 April 1978) is an English singer and actress. She has been a member of the pop group S Club, which was active from 1998 to 2003, and has reformed once again since 2023. She released her solo debut studio album ''F ...
,
Siti Nurhaliza Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin (Jawi script, Jawi: سيتي نورهاليزا بنت تارودين, ; born 11 January 1979) is a renowned Malaysian singer, songwriter, and actress, celebrated for her significant contributions to the music and ...
,
Joe Jonas Joseph Adam Jonas (born August 15, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He rose to fame as a member of the pop rock band the Jonas Brothers, alongside his brothers Kevin Jonas, Kevin and Nick Jonas, Nick. The group released their ...
, Park Jung-Min,
Alesha Dixon Alesha Anjanette Dixon (born 7 October 1978) is an English singer, rapper, dancer, television personality, and author. She rose to prominence in the early 2000s as a member of the R&B / UK Garage group Mis-Teeq, who had seven UK top 10 hits, ...
,
Jordin Sparks Jordin Sparks (born December 22, 1989) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame in 2007 after winning the American Idol (season 6), sixth season of ''American Idol'' at age 17, becoming the youngest winner in the series' history. He ...
, Cesar Purisima, and British boy band JLS were reported to attend the tour.


Recordings

Professional footage of two dates filmed at London's
Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272. Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres ...
has not been released. The tour's London show was initially planned to be released to
Vevo Vevo LLC ( , an abbreviation for "Video Evolution", stylized in all caps until 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational video hosting service, best known for providing music videos to YouTube. The service is also available ...
in addition to a possible DVD release. Professional footage of "
Feedback Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause and effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to ''feed back'' into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handle ...
" filmed during a private show at the Hard Rock Hotel in Singapore was uploaded to Jackson's official
YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
channel. In 2020, a production company from Singapore shared footage of the concert on their YouTube channel, marking the first full professionally filmed show to be released in some form of this tour. Not long after, a clip of Janet performing "When We Oooo" from All For You during the Las Vegas stop in April surfaced on Kathy Ireland's Vimeo page.


Set list

This set list is representative of the performance on April 14, 2011. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour. # "Video Introduction" # " The Pleasure Principle" / " Control" / " What Have You Done for Me Lately" # "
Feedback Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause and effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to ''feed back'' into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handle ...
" # " You Want This" # " Alright" # " Miss You Much" # " Nasty" # "Janet's Films" # "
Nothing Nothing, no-thing, or no thing is the complete absence of ''anything'', as the opposite of ''something'' and an antithesis of everything. The concept of nothing has been a matter of philosophical debate since at least the 5th century BCE. Ea ...
" # " Come Back to Me" # " Let's Wait Awhile" # " Again" # "Janet's Images" # " Doesn't Really Matter" # "
Escapade Escapade or Escapades may refer to: Transportation *Beneteau Escapade, a French sailboat design * HMS ''Escapade'', a 1934 Royal Navy destroyer that served in World War II *'' Just Escapade'', an American two-seat kit-built light aircraft Films ...
" / " Love Will Never Do (Without You)" / " When I Think of You" # " All For You" # " All Nite (Don't Stop)" # " That's the Way Love Goes" # " I Get Lonely" # "What About" # "
Black Cat A black cat is a Cat, domestic cat with black fur. They may be a specific Purebred, breed, or a common domestic cat of no particular or mixed breed. Most black cats have golden iris (anatomy), irises due to their high melanin pigment content. Bl ...
" # " If" # " Scream" / "
Rhythm Nation "Rhythm Nation" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, released as the second single from her fourth studio album, '' Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814'' (1989). It was written and produced by Jackson, in collaboration with Jimmy Jam and ...
" ;Encore #
  • "In Complete Darkness" #"
    Diamonds Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is tasteless, odourless, strong, brittle solid, colourless in pure form, a poor conductor of electricity, and insol ...
    " # " The Best Things in Life Are Free" # " Make Me" # " Together Again"


    Shows


    Cancelled shows


    Personnel

    *Show Director: Janet Jackson & Gil Duldulao *Creative Director and Choreographer: Gil Duldulao *Musical Director: Adam Blackstone *Lighting/Video Designer: Vincent Foster *Lighting Director: Tyler Elich *Front of House Engineer: Kyle Hamilton *Monitor Engineer: Michael "Woody" Dunwoody *Personal Trainer: Anthony Martinez *Costume Designer: Robert Henri Behar


    Band

    *Musical Director, Bass: Adam Blackstone *Keyboards: Daniel Jones, Rex Salas *Drums: Brian Frasier Moore *Guitar: Clay Sears, Rick Barry *Bass: Jae Deal *Vocalists: Erin Stevenson, Jill Zadeh, Onitsha Shaw, Tiffany Palmer, Nicole Hurst ;Dancers *Gil Duldulao, Jr., Jillian Meyers, Laurel Thomson, Whyley Yoshimura, James Collins, Ramon Baynes, John-Paul "JP" San Pedro


    Notes


    References


    External links


    Janet's Official Website
    {{DEFAULTSORT:Number Ones: Up Close And Personal Janet Jackson concert tours 2011 concert tours