Got 'til It's Gone

"Got 'til It's Gone"
Song

"Got 'til It's Gone" is a song by American R&B/pop singer Janet Jackson.

Song information

Released internationally on September 22, 1997 (excpet in the U.S.), it was the Grammy Award-winning first single from Janet Jackson's sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). It is rumored to be produced by hip hop collective The Ummah (Q-Tip, J Dilla, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad) as contested many times by the fans of the late producer J Dilla. In an interview, J Dilla himself stated that he, Q-Tip, and Muhammad produced the original after Jackson met Q-Tip on the set of Poetic Justice. He also remixed the song (titled Ummah Jay Dee's Revenge Mix).

This song is notable for its use of a sample from Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi", which originally appeared on her 1970 album, Ladies of the Canyon. British singer Des'ree would later sue Jackson, saying her 1991 single "Feel So High", from her album Mind Adventures, was sampled on this song. Subsequent releases that feature the track credit Des'ree for co-writing.

Chart performance

The song received airplay in the U.S., where it did not see a commercial release, and peaked in the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, not being eligible to chart on the general Hot 100 (sales and airplay combined). It also reached the top five on the R&B/Hip Hop charts. "Got Til It's Gone" was a hit in Europe reaching the top 20 in most countries and the top ten in Australia. It reached number one in Japan and South Africa.

Music video

The video was shot by Mark Romanek in Los Angeles. It takes place during the time of Apartheid in South Africa and Jackson portrays a lounge singer. Inspired by a blend of '60s and '70s African and African American cultures, the video depicts people free and having a good time living life. Supermodel Alek Wek appeared in the video. It won a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 1998. The video is featured on the limited bonus-DVD edition of 2001's All for You as well as the 2004 video compilation From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos and Jackson's official YouTube channel http://youtube.com/janetjacksonvideos.

Track listings and formats

EU CD Single (VSCDE 1666)

1. Radio Edit - 3:39
2. Mellow Mix - 5:11

EU Maxi-CD Single (7243 8 94600 2 5)

U.K. CD Single (VSCDG 1666)

Japanese Promo CD Single (VJCP-12070)

1. Radio Edit - 3:39
2. Mellow Mix - 5:11
3. Nellee Hooper Master Mix 4:18
4. Mellow Mix Edit - 3:51
5. Album Version - 4:00

EU Cassette Single (VSC 1666)

1. Radio Edit - 3:39
2. Mellow Mix - 5:11
3. Mellow Mix Edit - 3:51

UK 12" Promo Vinyl (VSTDJ 1666)

1. Mellow Mix - 5:11
2. Mellow Mix Edit - 3:51
3. Album Version - 4:00
4. Instrumental - 4:49

UK 2 x 12" Promo Vinyl (VSTXDJ 1666)

UK 2 x 12" Vinyl (VSTX 1666)

1. Def Club Mix - 10:53
2. Armand Van Helden Speedy Garage Mix - 9:11
3. Def The Bass Mix - 9:12
4. Def Instrumental - 8:44
5. Armand Van Helden Bonus Beats - 5:05

UK 12" Vinyl (VST 1666)

1. Album Version - 4:00
2. Instrumental - 4:49
3. Mellow Mix - 5:11
4. Nellee Hooper Master Mix 4:18

US 12" Promo Vinyl (SPRO-12732)

1. Radio Edit - 3:39
2. No Q-Tip - 3:51
3. No Rap - 3:38
4. Instrumental - 4:49
5. Album Version - 4:00

US 2 x 12" Promo Vinyl (SPRO-12768)

1. Def Club Mix - 10:53
2. Def Radio Mix - 3:18
3. Armand Van Helden Speedy Garage Mix - 9:11
4. Nellee Hooper Master Mix) (4:19)
5. Mellow Mix - 5:10
6. Ummah's Uptown Saturday Night Mix - 4:23
7. Original Extended Version - 5:31
8. Ummah Jay Dee's Revenge Mix - 3:45
9. Instrumental - 4:49

Canadian Promo CD Single (CDPROJANCAAV)

1. Mellow Mix - 5:11
2. Nellee Hooper Master Mix 4:18

Charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	10
Ö3 Austria Top 40	21
Belgian Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders)	23
Belgian Ultratop 40 Singles (Wallonia)	29
Canadian Singles Chart	10
Dutch Top 40	6
Finnish Singles Chart	17
French Singles Chart	11
German Singles Chart	17
Irish Singles Chart	16
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	4
Norwegian VG-lista	13
Swedish Singles Chart	6
Swiss Singles Chart	11
UK Singles Chart	6
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay	36
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay	3
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	6
U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40	13

Official remixes

• Album Version – 4:01
• Radio Edit – 3:39
• No Q-Tip – 3:56
• No Rap – 3:43
• Instrumental – 4:54
• Original Extended Version – 5:31
• Mellow Mix – 5:11/Jimmy Jam Mellow Mix – 5:10
• Mellow Mix Edit – 3:52
• Nellee Hooper Master Mix – 4:19
• Nellee Hooper Remix (Edited Master) – 4.04
• Ummah Jay Dee's Revenge Mix – 3:45
• Ummah's Uptown Saturday Night Mix – 4:23
• Armand Van Helden Bonus Beats – 5:05
• Armand Van Helden Speedy Garagez Mix – 9:08
• Def Club Mix – 10:54
• Def Club Mix UK Edit – 5:12
• Def Instrumental – 8:44
• Def Radio Mix – 3:18
• Def The Bass Mix – 9:12
• Morales My Club Mix – 7:48
• Morales Drum & Beats Remix – 3:52
• Morales Drum, Bass & Beats Remix – 11:43
• Morales Classic Club Mix – 8:48
• Morales Classic Club Mix w/ Intro – 10:11
• Morales Classic Club Radio Mix – 3:54