In this series of videos, we go deep into the years of private
politics between Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.
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If you've missed it, check out part two
where we investigated the motivations behind Janet's breakout album 'Control'
and her family's reaction to its incredible success.
Now A&M records biggest selling artist, it was initially thought
that Janet Jackson would build on the momentum she was able to generate
with control by heading back into the studio to record a new set
of hits and then take those on the road as part of a musical tour.
However, since music from Michael's much anticipated follow up album to Thriller
were likely to dominate airwaves for the next year or two,
Janet decided to take her time so to avoid
sibling battles in the charts and further comparisons with her brother.
The hiatus also allowed her to untangle herself from her father's management
and seek a new plan of attack in the pursuit for pop dominance.
Quote, People said she's just riding
on the coattails of her brother or she's just a flash in the pan,
or she's only successful because of Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam or
Paula Abdul or she's Michael's sister or whatever.
That really bothered me.
It's the same with Michael.
I remember the time he only got one major Grammy nomination for 'Off the Wall',
he was so disappointed. You watch,
I'll show them.
When Michael had 'Thriller', I said, God, I wish that were me.
I was so happy for him,
but I'd love to break his record.
Rather than attempt to recycle her previous successes,
Janet set her sights higher. To shed her pop puppet image and break new ground
in an attempt to broaden the confines of mainstream pop music.
Ambitious in her premise,
Janet's next record would address social conscious issues involving homelessness,
violent crime, teen pregnancies, poverty and racial conflict.
The result being 'Rhythm Nation 1814',
a well thought out complex product with a serious side that continued
the singer's bid to be perceived as more than an industry fluke.
Upon its release,
Jackson told Essence magazine that she has set up a board of directors in film,
finance, music and legal experts to give her guidance at monthly meetings. Quote,
I ask them, am I seeing the big picture? Are my goals realistic?
Am I moving in a good direction?
Even though I'm the one who finally decides I require a wide range of opinion.
Driven by ambition,
Janet had taken on the role of CEO in her pop destiny. With each aspect of her career
having its own expert attached to ensure its success.
And successful it was.
'Rhythm Nation 1814' became the best selling
album of 1990 in the United States and sold over 12 million copies worldwide.
Breaking records as the only album
in the history of Billboard Hot 100 singles chart to have seven singles peak
within the top five, with four of those reaching the top position.
During the project, Janet not only flexed
her commercial muscles, but showcased her ingenuity in dance,
performance, creativity and cemented her status as a sex symbol.
With the release of her
'Love Will Never Do Without You' video. Shot by renowned fashion photographer Herb Ritts.
Much like how Michael dominated
music awards in 1984, winning eight Grammys. His 24 year old sister had her
hands equally as full with eight Billboard Awards for her Rhythm Nation
1814 album. Winning the year's number one rhythm and blues artist, R&B albums
artist, R&B singles artist and Hot 100 singles artist.
That same year, Janet achieved another
life ambition by winning her first Grammy Award for best long form music
video for her 30 minute Rhythm Nation 1814 film, which consisted of the videos
for 'Miss You Much', 'The Knowledge' and 'Rhythm Nation'.
An award she beat out
her brother Michael's high budget epic 'Moonwalker'.
Costing over 22 million dollars of his own money and including highly innovative
videos for 'Smooth Criminal' and 'Leave Me Alone'.
Janet was shocked to have won for her much
more modest project, but still very happy with the honor.
Although he wasn't thrilled that his records were being broken by his baby
sister, Michael admired her mounting successes and confessed that he enjoyed her
music, admitting that he would spend hours dancing freestyle to her tracks.
The records industrial new jack swing
and crashing street sound effects would go on to inspire the King of Pop's later
recordings that appeared on his next album, 'Dangerous'.
Not shy to take advantage of their high profile family connection,
Michael even asked Janet to collaborate with him on a song for the record,
but Janet turned him down.
Admitting that even after her many accomplishments,
she still feared that such a collaboration would be seen as her writing on Michael's
legendary coattails.
Despite how she saw herself, in the eyes of music executives.
Janet Jackson was now one
of the industry's hottest commodities, as demonstrated when she, in March 1991,
signed a record breaking forty million dollar three album deal. Moving from A&M
to Virgin Records. Making her the world's highest paid music artist ever.
Not to be outdone by his baby sister,
her brother Michael announced his own unprecedented deal
with Sony Music Entertainment just days later. Quote, We're married to him now,
said Sony President Michael P Schulhof. As instead of signing with Sony as simply
a recording artist, Jackson negotiated a much more intertwined
partnership that had the potential to spawn sales of over a billion dollars.
Collaborating with Sony Music,
Columbia Pictures and Sony Electronic Publishing,
the entertainer was expected to not only record music but to have his hand
in a range of endeavors, including films, television and video gaming.
Already in development was Michael Jackson's first Hollywood star
vehicle, a big budget musical action adventure of his own concept. Written
by those responsible for blockbusters like 'Edward Scissorhands' and 'Beetlejuice',
with sets by Batman's Anton Furst. And directors considered included
the likes of Sir Richard Attenborough, David Lynch, Chris Columbus or Tim Burton.
An ambitious undertaking indicative of Jackson's determination to become
an undeniable force as an actor as well as a visionary in filmmaking.
Ultimately, the project was fruitless for the artist and Michael Jackson was
left unable to fulfill his aspirations to become a serious actor.
Janet Jackson, who also wished to make
an impact on the big screen, was at the same time looking for her break
into film. But was able to do so through less ambitious projects.
As in 1992, Janet secured the lead in her first feature film,
John Singleton's 'Poetic Justice'. Featuring an all black cast,
Singleton wrote the strong female role with Jackson in mind.
In the film, Janet Jackson plays Justice, a hairdresser
from South Central Los Angeles who writes poetry to ease the grief of watching her
boyfriend gunned down in a drive in movie theater.
The rule was serious and stretched her acting capabilities.
Allowing Janet to prove herself on screen and dispel assumptions that, yet again, she
was given the opportunity due to her famous name alone.
Quote, They said It would be easier to do
a musical or comedy because people would accept me easier in those roles,
but I wanted something that mattered to me, said Janet.
Playing a character who had a rough urban upbringing,
Justice's iconic box braids just so
happened to be influenced by her brother, Michael.
As director John Singleton said that at the time of development,
Singleton was shooting the video for Michael Jackson's
'Remember The Time'. Singleton brought over some of the dancers from the shoot to meet
and hang out with Janet, and they all became friends.
Then the director suggested that Janet
should have the same style as the dancers in the video.
And soon after got the same Harlem based hair stylist to come out to Los Angeles
to do the same braids on Janet Jackson for the movie.
However, despite the years Janet Jackson persisted to gain control,
to prove herself and finally make it on her own,
family dramas and constant comparisons continued. With Michael refusing to do
interviews and she being the next highest profile
Jackson, Janet was often enlisted to act as the family's spokesperson.
Whether to pass comment on her sister's Playboy pictorial, a brother's arrest,
her parents marriage or Michael's changing appearance,
Janet felt burdened by all the speculation and media circus that surrounded her whole
family, as well as Michael's increasingly bizarre public persona.
When Michael Jackson decided to break his
silence and speak openly for the first time in a decade to Oprah Winfrey as part
of a live broadcast in 1993, Janet expressed her relief. Quote, I loved it.
People finally got a chance to see him, how human he really is.
It was wonderful.
Janet was especially happy that her brother finally revealed on the show
that he had a skin pigmentation disease that causes discoloration.
Quote, The first thing people ask me
about Michael is why he does that to his skin. Why is it turning white?
She said, quote, I knew, but I couldn't say because I promised
I wouldn't tell when he told me.
I spoke to him on the phone after the show
and said, you have just lifted the biggest burden off my shoulders.
Now everybody knows the truth.
Just weeks after the landmark interview, Janet showered her brother with adulation
in a heartfelt speech during the 1993 Grammys. A ceremony where she was enlisted
to honor him with the coveted Grammy Legend Award.
And they appeared side by side for the first time since her rise to prominence.
Michael rehearsed the song to go along with Janet speech and a retrospective
of his career, but decided on the night to speak instead.
Quote, It feels good to be thought of as a person, not as a personality,
because I don't read all the things written about me.
I wasn't aware that the world thought I was so weird and bizarre.
Touched by the praise he received by the academy, friends and fans alike.
Jackson revealed how he wishes to open
himself to the world and let the public see the real Michael. Quote,
the last few weeks I have been cleansing myself and it's been a rebirth, he said.
As Janet looked on,
she hoped that this moment would act as a catalyst in how her legendary brother
was perceived for the world to accept and understand him and the overwhelming
speculation to stop. With a brand new album, her movie debut and an extensive
worldwide tour all planned for the year ahead.
Janet hoped that this would finally usher
in the emancipation she worked so long for.
Never could she have envisaged what laid ahead.
Thanks for watching, click subscribe and watch out for the next part as we
investigate what reaction Janet had to Michael's allegations,
and the intensifying turmoil in the press. How it all affected her,
as well as how she chose to support her brother during this difficult time.
We'll see you next time.