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She's sampling Carly Simon, praising Destiny's Child, and giving props to Cesaria Evora. The sexiest Jackson on the planet weighs in on her new record, her old husband, and how the "F" word sounds erotic.
by John Norris
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 've been conducting MTV interviews with Janet Jackson since 1989's Rhythm Nation 1814, and in that time, Janet's music has mirrored her personality: increasingly mature, self-assured, reflective, sexy, and playful.
And yet shortly after the conclusion of 1998's Velvet Rope tour, Janet endured what had to be one of the most painful personal chapters in her life: the end of her 13-year personal and professional relationship with (and secret eight-year marriage to) Rene Elizondo Jr., under what were reportedly difficult circumstances. Elizondo has since filed suit against Janet, alleging she has failed to live up to a "property agreement" between the two.
I expected these events to leave Janet wounded, if not shattered. On the contrary, she's emerged with a mostly bright, positive, danceable album called All for You, which boldly asserts the 35-year-old singer's single status, with some tracks as erotic as anything Prince or Madonna have ever recorded. We got into all of those subjects and more when Janet stopped by the MTV studios to talk about her new LP and her new attitude.
John Norris: I don't know if other people have said this, but I was surprised not only that there is a record [this] soon, but that you came out with an upbeat, hopeful, optimistic record following a time that I can only imagine wasn't always the easiest.
Janet Jackson: We have choices and [I believe in] surrounding yourself with positive energy and people. I made the choice in taking that positive path [with] all that I learned from Velvet Rope, [and] applying certain things to this point in my life. It really helped me get through this time. That's why [the album] is so hopeful and optimistic, because that's how I'm feeling.
Norris: I think a lot of people looked at the Janet album and said that was a sexy album and Velvet Rope was more introspective and dealt with some darker places. How would you characterize All for You?
Jackson: It's about love, the different levels of love. It's a very happy album. I'm always writing about what is going on in my life, what I'm feeling at the moment.
Norris: Are you surprised that there's not more bitterness or hard feelings on the record?
Jackson: Am I surprised? Maybe that's a question I should be asking you.
Norris: I'm a little surprised. It's to your credit that you didn't bring that kind of baggage to the project.
Jackson: That's to say if there is bitterness there. There are a couple of things I need to get off my chest, but there's a song called "Son of a Gun" and I think a lot of people are going to think whatever they want. It's about a few people, actually. "Truth" talks more about what went on a little bit and it's more about me talking out loud, thinking out loud, talking about myself.
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