20 Y.O.

Untitled

20 Y.O. is the ninth studio album by American R&B/pop singer Janet Jackson released by Virgin Records on September 20, 2006 (see 2006 in music) in Japan, on September 22 worldwide, and on September 26 in Canada and the United States. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with nearly 300,000 copies sold in its first week, making it Jackson's eighth consecutive top 3 debut and second consecutive number two album debut. It is also Jackson's eighth consecutive platinum album. On December 7, 2006 the album earned Jackson a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album. To date, the album has sold over 1,000,000 copies in the United States; the album was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Worldwide, the album has shipped over 2.5 million copies.

Background

After the infamous Super Bowl XXXVIII incident, Jackson released her 2004 album, Damita Jo. The added media exposure led to a high chart debut, but no hit singles, due to lack of radio support. Jackson, deciding to step away from the spotlight, announced in late 2004 that she intended to start work on a new album project in the coming year. It would involve her boyfriend - record producer Jermaine Dupri, who was commissioned to executive produce the project - in addition to a roster of other hit producers. Jackson wanted to create a modern record, while returning to the music and sound that made her famous: dance, in the vein of Jackson's hit album, Control. Jackson was keen to get back to both R&B and dance, but with an emphasis on dance.

While much of the album was recorded in Jermaine Dupri's Atlanta recording studio in order to fully capture the Control sound and vibe, Janet again invited producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to also work on the project in Los Angeles. Jackson also entered the recording studio with Kwame, Kanye West, and Track Starz, but none of the songs written with them made the final track listing.

Executive produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Jermaine Dupri, the concept of 20 Y.O., whose title makes reference to her 1986 hit and landmark album, Control (since 2006 will be the twentieth anniversary of Control's release), is largely taking the sound of the past and mixing it with the modern-day present. The addition of producer Jermaine Dupri, quotes Jackson as saying, "It's an edge, an attitude, an exciting vibe that's assertive. It's about taking charge. It says, "Here I am. I'm coming on. Musically, I have it. You want it. And I'm giving it to you."

20 Y.O. completes Jackson's multi-album deal with Virgin Records. Jackson is currently in negotiations with The Island Def Jam Music Group's L. A. Reid.

Singles

• So Excited
• With U
• Call On Me
• Enjoy

Track listing

1. "20 (Intro)" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis) – 0:52
2. "So Excited" (featuring Khia) (Jackson, Dupri, Phillips, Austin, Harris, Lewis, Chambers, Hancock, Benhorn, Laswell) – 3:13
3. "Show Me" (Jackson, Dupri, Seal, Austin, Harris, Lewis) – 3:38
4. "Get It Out Me" (Jackson, Dupri, Seal, Austin, Harris, Lewis) – 3:04
5. "Do It 2 Me" (Jackson, Dupri, Russell, Austin) – 4:05
6. "This Body" (Jackson, Dupri, Phillips, Austin, Harris, Lewis) – 4:10
7. "20 Part 2 (Interlude)" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis) – 0:27
8. "With U" (Jackson, Dupri, Austin, Seal, Harris, Lewis) – 5:08
9. "Call on Me (Janet Jackson song)|Call on Me" (with Nelly) (Austin, Harris, Lewis, Phillips, Dupri, Haynes) – 3:24
10. "20 Part 3 (Interlude)" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis) – 0:28
11. "Daybreak" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Austin) – 4:20
12. "Enjoy" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Avila, Avila) – 4:30
13. "20 Part 4 (Interlude)" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis) – 0:43
14. "Take Care" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis) – 5:43
15. "Love 2 Love" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Austin) – 5:03
16. "20 Part 5 (Outro)" (Jackson, Harris, Lewis) – 1:03

iTunes exclusive

17. Video - Call On Me – 4:00
18. Digital Booklet-20 Y.O.

Japanese edition

17. "Days Go By" – 4:16

Unreleased

• "Weekend" (Web release only)
• "Clap Your Hands"
• "Stuck Inside the Groove"
• "You Crossed The Line"

Packaging and editions

File:Covers20yo.jpg

4 winning entries of "Design Me" contest.

"Design Me" Cover Contest winner, Matthew Zeghibe, With Janet Jackson, and Guest, at the release of "20 Y.O." Virgin Megastore, NYC (2006)

• The Deluxe Edition contains the 20 Y.O. CD, special packaging, a bonus DVD ("Janet: 20 Y.O.: The Project", featuring behind the scenes of photoshoots, Janet rehearsing and recording the album, dancer auditions, and making of the "Call on Me" music video) and a 48-page full-color booklet.
• The normal CD version will have the four different "Design Me" covers featuring cover artwork designed by fans (only available in the US).
• The Japanese edition of the CD contains two bonus tracks -- "Roll Witchu" and "Days Go By".
• The Deluxe Japanese Edition contains the two bonus tracks -- "Roll Witchu" and "Days Go By" on the 20 Y.O. CD, special packaging, a bonus DVD ("Janet: 20 Y.O.: The Project", featuring behind the scenes of photoshoots, Janet rehearsing and recording the album, dancer auditions, and making of the "Call on Me" music video), a 48-page full-color booklet and a fold out insert with Japanese translation of the lyrics and a review.

Jermaine Dupri confirmed that a duet between Jackson and Mariah Carey will happen for the album. Dupri went onto say that the said duet would be featured on the repackaged version of 20 Y.O.

Promotion

• On May 1, 2006, a web-only song called "Weekend" was made available to fans to download via Janet's official web site. The song was a remake of the classic "Lookout Weekend", a 1984 single by Debbie Deb.

• In July 2006, Janet did some early press in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., most notably speaking at an XM Satellite Radio conference. Janet next embarked on a European press junket, (which included stops in London and Berlin), to talk about her new album, answering questions from the press, as well as meeting fans.

• A contest for fans to create an album cover image for 20 Y.O., was announced on July 18, 2006, through Yahoo!. Fans were able to create and submit their own album cover design, with four winners being chosen by Jackson herself. The first million copies of the album are published with these fan-created covers. The concept of the contest was to create an image that best celebrates Janet's past 20 years. Images that span over 20 years of Jackson's career were made available for download for use in creating the design.[1] The winners were featured in a October issue of Us Weekly. In addition to their art making the cover of the album, each winner received a trip to New York City to join Janet in promotion.

• In the lead up to the album's release, Jackson shot covers for Us, VIBE, Giant, W, FHM, Jezebel, OK!, Ebony, King, Sophisticates Black Hair, Movieline/Hollywood Life, Hype Hair, Men's Fitness, Vanity Fair Italy, Unleashed, Upscale, 944, Out, and In Touch. With all these magazine covers, she even has a song on her album called "This Body" which is about a guy buying a magazine with a hot girl on the cover and taking "her" home. Early cover stories focused on Janet's recent weight loss, her relationship with producer Jermaine Dupri, her new album, and turning 40. Her Us Magazine cover became the biggest selling issue in the magazine's history. Jackson's Vibe issue also grabbed headlines with her bikini-clad August cover.

• The album was made available for pre-order on iTunes beginning August 28, 2006. The single, "So Excited", was available for immediate download with the pre-order purchase of 20 Y.O..

• The entertainment news shows Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood were granted exclusive access to shoot behind the scenes footage of Jackson as she made preparations for her new album.

• The videos from this album were not seen on MTV initially, but were seen on VH1 and BET. This is because Virgin initially did not sign a promotional contract for MTV. Because of this, Jackson spent considerable time promoting the album on BET, filming behind-the-scenes specials of the making of her music videos and even showing up on various shows on the network, including 106 & Park. This helped Jackson tap into the Urban market. There has since been a small promotional contract for MTV.

• Exclusive tracks from 20 Y.O. were premiered to listeners on XM Satellite Radio's "XM Hit List", in September, closer to the album's release, along with exclusive interviews with Janet. Janet also did a series of interviews for Sirius Satellite Radio, which aired in September 2006.

• Jackson gave a performance of "Nasty" and premiered, "So Excited" to the public in France, at the NRJ Back To School Concerts.

• Jackson gave and filmed a sit down interview, as well as a live performance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in early September 2006; the interview aired on Monday, September 25, 2006. Following Jackson's appearance, Janet's performance of "Nasty" became the #1 most downloaded music video on YouTube with almost 25,000 views in 24 hours.

• Producer Jermaine Dupri began updating fans personally via Jackson's official site's message board. Jackson herself set up a Myspace account, with new music, videos, even answering fans personally. On September 14, 2006, Janet premiered her Myspace reality show. The videos document Janet behind the scenes working on her new album, and videos, as well as personal message from Janet herself. Janet updates the site with a new video every so often, giving fans exclusive insight to what she's working on. There have been so far a total of nine episodes.

• On September 23-26, VH1 Soul aired Jackson's video collection beginning with Dream Street and concluding with "So Excited". Although the videos were not aired in chronological order, the albums were. Jackson was also interviewed and asked questions.

• On September 27, 2006, Jermaine Dupri, Usher, Rev. Al Sharpton, Nina Sky, Ludacris, Eric West, Beth Ostrosky Johnta Austin, Finesse Mitchell and Gibril Wilson were among those who showed up for the albums release party in New York City. [2] [3] [4]

• Several retail outlets in the United States are giving away various free items with the purchase of 20 Y.O.. The stores and items are listed below and come with both the regular version and the deluxe version.[5]
  • Target will offer a "Tour Edition" of the album, which will give customers access to preferred seating (up to four concert tickets) at Janet's upcoming 2007 World Tour.
  • Best Buy: Purchase of album comes with code to download four exclusive tracks, which are all remixes of "Call On Me".
  • Wal-mart: Purchase of album comes with code to download one exclusive track. According to Wal-Mart's website they will offer a special edition that will include a remix of "Call on Me" and an exclusive bonus video.
  • Circuit City: Purchase of album comes with code to download the Full Phat Mix of "Call On Me."
  • FYE: Purchase of album comes with a free lithograph of the album cover photo. Limited quantities available.

• Janet held an album signing in Times Square at the Virgin Megastore on September 26, 2006, the album's release date.

• Jackson performed live on the Today Show as part of their Concert Series, on September 29, 2006.

• In October 2006, Jackson traveled to Japan in late October to promote the album.

• In November 2006, Jackson returned to the US and appeared and performed on numerous television shows, (Ellen, Tyra, Jimmy Kimmel), promoting the album.

• On December 4, 2006, Jackson opened the 2006 Billboard Music Awards with a medley of The Pleasure Principle and the remix to So Excited.

Singles

• The album's first single, "Call on Me", was released to radio on June 19. The song peaked at number 25 on Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number one on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart mid-September 2006, following a limited commercial release single.

• The second single, "So Excited", premiered on So So Def Radio on Atlanta radio station V-103 on August 19, 2006, and was made available via Myspace on August 21, 2006. "So Excited" contains samples from Herbie Hancock's "Rockit", and features rapper Khia. The song peaked at number 90 on the Billboard Top 100, where it spent three weeks jumping in and out of the chart. It reached number 34 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart. It is most successful in Billboard's Hot Dance Tracks Chart, where was marked as a "pacesetter" and became Janet's seventeenth number one and thirtieth top ten single on that chart.

• The third single to North America is "With U", which was released to radio on December 11 and 12, 2006, debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart at number 74, and has since risen to number 65. The third single to international markets is "Enjoy".

Reviews

• Rolling Stone gave the album 2 stars saying: "The title of Janet Jackson's latest album refers to the two decades since she released her breakthrough, Control, with hits like "Nasty" and "What Have You Done for Me Lately." If we were her, we wouldn't make the comparison." Rolling Stone also compares the song "Call On Me" (a duet with Nelly) to Nelly's 2002 hit "Dilemma" (a duet between him and Kelly Rowland).

• USA Today gave the album 3 out of 5 stars saying "Janet still has the bounce — and the abs — to go at it with other singers barely as old as her career. It comes down to whether people still care now that the angst is gone."

• The New York Times gave a positive review: "On 20 Years Old, Janet is as crafty and poised as ever. Her flirtations are still a pleasure, but an overly familiar one. She’s done these same slinky moves too often to surprise listeners now."

• Newsday gave the album a grade of "A-". Newsday has said of the album: "Jackson may not want to dwell in that past, either. After all, 20 Y.O. shows that her future could be even better."

Credits

• Executive producers: Jermaine Dupri, Janet Jackson for JDJ Entertainment, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for Flyte Tyme Productions, Inc.
• Exclusive Management by Johnny Wright and Kenneth Clear for Wright Clear Management
• JDJ Entertainment: Jaime Mendoza
• Personal Assistant to Janet: Terri Harris
• Legal Representation: Don Passman, ESQ.
• Album Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood
• Album Coordinator: Diane McDonald
• Production Coordinator for Flyte Tyme: Vida Sparks
• Sample Clearances: Danny Zook for Alien Music Services
• Album Packaging/Art Direction: Benjamin Ward for The Document Group
• Photography: James White
• Styling: Andrea Lieberman
• Hair Styling: Janet Zeitoun
• Makeup: Fran Cooper

Charts

Chart	Position
U.S. Billboard Top R&B Hip Hop Albums	1
Singapore	1
United World Chart	2
U.S. Billboard 200	2 (platinum)
U.S. Billboard Comprehensive Albums	2
Canadian R&B Top 50	2
U.S. Billboard Top Digital Albums	3
Canada	4
Japan	7 (gold)
Australian Urban Albums	7
U.S. Billboard Top Internet Albums	7
Taiwanese International Albums Chart	9
UK R&B Albums	14
Italy	21
Belgium (Wallonie)	22
Greece (International Albums Chart)	24
France	32
Holland	34
Switzerland	35
European TOP 100	43
Germany	46
Australia	55
Sweden	57
UK	63
Belgium (Flanders)	67
Poland	72
Ireland	87