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Norris: "Son of a Gun" features Carly [Simon] on it, and you have now worked with such a variety of different artists on different records, from Q-Tip to Busta Rhymes. How does that come about? Do you come up with the idea or does [producer] Jimmy [Jam] bring it to you, or...?
Jackson: It goes both ways, but Jimmy came up with this idea to use it as a sample. It wasn't supposed to be a duet, I wasn't going to do any duets on this album [but] once Carly heard it after we recorded it, she wanted to re-sing all her parts and just throw away all the old stuff and write a few lines. And Carly went away and wrote a whole song. But it was great, because it really works. We decided to marry the two. I love it because it's kind of abstract, and she's just awesome, awesome.
Norris: Do you have a wish list [of people] in your head that down the line you might want to collaborate with?
Jackson: I've always loved [Cape Verde singer] Cesaria Evora. I think she's really cool. As far as the new kids, I think Pink is really cool. Aaliyah, she's not quite that new, but I think she's awesome.
Norris: A lot of them turned out for the [MTV tribute to Janet] Icon show, [which] looked like it was a lot of fun.
Jackson: It was. It was a really special moment in my life.
Norris: Having Pink and Mya and those girls out there - of course Christina [Aguilera] and Britney [Spears] have really sort of risen since Velvet Rope - as much respect as those girls give you, are they competition as well?
Jackson: Of course they are. I kinda see everyone as competition. I'm a very competitive person. But I think that's good. Competition is great. And as long as it's friendly and not a malicious thing, then I think it's cool. It's very healthy.
Norris: We talked about some of the tracks like "Son of a Gun," but there are arguably intense, as you call them, "baby-making tracks" on the record as well. Would you say?
Jackson: The most intense? Good God almighty, everyone talks about that. It's really weird. "Would You Mind," the song that I'm sure you're talking about, everybody brings up that song. I feel like I've done things similar to this on previous albums, but why everyone is taking notice of it more now than ever?
Norris: You don't think this one is more explicit just in terms of the language you use? I mean, the F-word, to my knowledge, has never appeared on a Janet record before.
Jackson: Well, that's true. It's funny that you mention that, because most people talk about the word "come," but I've said that before.
Norris: You say, "I didn't even come" [at the end of the song].
Jackson: Again, it's just experiences and writing what I'm feeling.
Norris: I don't know why people are asking you more on this album, but I think that among some people you are [perceived as] shy and reserved about those things, and then on record there's this person where they feel there's almost two Janets.
Jackson: They always say you have to watch out for the shy ones, right? [laughs] That's what I've always heard. I don't think I'm shy, but we all have different sides to us, and this is definitely a different side.
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