In Defense Of Janet Jackson's Genie Pants + Other Nonsexy 'Unbreakable' Tour Choices
When I awoke on September 1, best known as the morning after the launch of Janet Jackson’s Unbreakable world tour, I immediately checked social media for footage of the Vancouver.
I wanted to know whether Janet would play it safe with her dancing, as she has in recent years. As in, some moves here and there (obviously), but a lot of speed walking in between—like your mom on the treadmill. The iconic dancer has always managed to put on a good show, but longtime fans noticed during the last tour (or as I did at the 2010 Essence Festival) that she wasn’t doing as much of the original choreography as she used to. The fear of a knee injury will do that to you. Ask Britney Spears.
However, Janet danced as hard as she did in her prime. If you lived in my building, you would have heard me shout “Do that s--t!” several times around 6:30 a.m. Many of my fellow Janet fanatics were just as excited, though some were distracted by her attire.
A photo posted by Janet Jackson (@janetjackson) on
As you can see, the top gives janet. era tour while the bottom offers a tease of Aladdin’s house party. Overall, Janet doesn’t seem keen on offering the overtly sexual version of herself that we had become used to seeing since 1993.
Indeed, reviewing the first tour stop for the New York Times, Jon Pareles used phrases like “a newly demure Janet Jackson” while noting that she was “dressed in white and covered.” Then came the other observation that’s since been shared by many others: “And she avoided one big subset of her songwriting: her salacious, sometimes kinky whispers.”
It has since sparked speculation as to why that is. Is it her husband? Has she changed her religions? Does she just not want to become a victim of ageism and be mocked like Madonna?
If you find yourself asking any of these questions, do yourself a favor: let it go.
Do I love Janet Jackson’s tour outfits (all two of them)? Not particularly. Would I love to her some of Janet’s nastiest song selections on stage? Sure, but I have my memories to tide me over.
Listen, y’all. Ridiculous reactions to wayward nipple derailed Janet Jackson’s career. She’s done some other things here and there, but the reality is she’s Janet Jackson and is well within her right to stay in Qatar with her billionaire bae husband and sit on diamond encrusted loveseats. Let’s be grateful she’s returned to us in tip top dancing form with great new material. Yes, her body is covered, but her body roll is still intact. That’s what matters most.
Now quit talking about those pants before you scare her away— or worse, convince her to make those pants even baggier.