Janet World Tour

janet. World Tour
Tour by Janet Jackson
Poster for the 1995 Australian leg, autographed by Jackson
Associated albumjanet.
Start dateNovember 24, 1993 (1993-11-24)
End dateApril 22, 1995 (1995-04-22)
Legs6
No. of shows82 in North America
9 in Asia
11 in Australia
23 in Europe
125 total
Janet Jackson concert chronology

Janet World Tour (stylized as janet. World Tour) was the second concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. It was launched in support of her fifth studio album Janet (1993). It began in November 1993 and continued through April 1995. Concerts were held in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It is believed shows were performed in South America. However, there are not exact details and most information is unknown.[1][2]

Jackson's 1990 tour made history as the most successful debut concert tour in history. Like its predecessor, this tour became known for its theatrical grandeur—incorporating complex choreography, pyrotechnics, video display, stage design, and costuming—drawing comparison to Broadway theatre. Jackson visited four continents and eighteen countries within the span of 17 months. The tour had 125 dates and is the most shows Jackson has done for any concert. The show received positive reviews, and a number of reviews observed her showmanship had improved. The shows in North America, in 1994, earned $18.1 million.[3] Though the tour was professionally recorded, it has never received a video release as of 2024.[4][5]

Development

[edit]

Costumes and wardrobe for the tour were designed by stylist Tanya Gill, with outfits "rang[ing] from pipebone vests with high-heeled moccasin boots to zoot suits top-hats to circus-ringmaster bustiers."[6] With a show encompassing over 100 costumes, a team of over 50 costume makers was led by wardrobe supervisor Helen Hiatt.[6]

MTV promoted the Janet World Tour with a one-hour special in Jackson's honor, "hosted by MTV VJs Bill Bellamy and John Norris, [which featured] performance highlights, interviews with Jackson and her dancers, and behind-the-scenes production and rehearsal footage."[7] MTV publicist Jennifer Barner stated the channel wanted to give extensive coverage to Jackson's opening concert in Cincinnati, "because it is such a big tour and she's really, really hot now."[7] Despite heavy anticipation for the tour, news media were discouraged from attending opening night, which was seen as a dress rehearsal.[8] A spokeswoman for the tour stated "[w]e really don't want a lot of out-of-town media" even though music critic Rick Bird observed "[n]ormally, such an important tour opening would be attended by pop-music media and paparazzi from around the world.[8] However, Bird also noted a low-key premiere was a strategic move for Jackson and her management, "since the complicated high-tech dance show will likely have some bugs to be worked out before it plays in larger media centers. And, given the adverse publicity the Jackson family is facing these days, the low-key opening night may indeed be the best strategy."[8]

Critical reception

[edit]
Jackson performing on the tour.

Prior to the tour's launch, the Los Angeles Sentinel commented on the anticipation surrounding Jackson's return, stating: "Her first-ever concert tour in 1990 was the most successful premiere tour by any artist in pop music history. And now, amid great anticipation, Janet Jackson is set to return to the concert trail with her world tour in connection with her already triple platinum-plus 'janet' album ... The tour promises to be an innovative feast of sight and sound, a theatrical experience with spectacular choreography, staging and lighting."[9] Lenny Stoute in the Toronto Star gave a positive review to her performance at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, stating that "as she'd done with the tour opener in Cincinnati Wednesday, it was a superb production that came with an emotional subtext."[10] Commenting on the highly athletic and sexually provocative performances of such songs as "If", "What Have You Done for Me Lately" and "Nasty", he states: "This pelvic-thrusting, butt-wiggling, lip-licking high-energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference."[10]

In December 1993, Jackson had a five-day engagement in New York City at Madison Square Garden, which saw its last concert on New Year's Eve. Jon Pareles of The New York Times stated: "The video-age arena spectacle is in good hands with Janet Jackson. Her current tour, which started a four-night run at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, piles on the production values: music, dancers, costumes, moving sets, video, lights, fireworks, everything but confetti and balloons."[11] He criticized the fact that the concert seemed overtly calculated, leaving little room for spontaneity. However, he compared her musical diversity favorably to other pop icons such as Prince, Madonna and her brother Michael.[11] In reference to her vocal capabilities, Pareles comments that "[l]ike many other video-promoted singers, Ms. Jackson doesn't have a big voice ... But Ms. Jackson is a stronger vocalist than she was when she last toured, three years ago."[11]

According to Andy Smith of the Providence Journal, "Jackson and company created a sensory overload of lights, dancers, video, fireworks, explosions, costumes and sets ... The music was competently performed, but this was a concert for the age of MTV, more satisfying to the eye than the ear."[12] Although he believed she gave a well-performed production, he felt she lacked the stage presence of rivals such as Madonna and Tina Turner.[12] Greg Kot of Rolling Stone wrote: "If a performance can be faulted for being too well-rehearsed and too tautly paced, this was certainly an example ... Small of voice and slight of stature, Jackson seems more at home in a Fame-style ensemble than she does as a larger-than-life performer. Yet it's exactly that quality that makes her so endearing. Despite her impressive string of musical successes, Jackson still acts like the members of her audience."[13] Roberta Fusaro of the Telegram & Gazette, who reviewed her performance at The Centrum stated that Jackson "has shown incredible improvement as a performer since her Rhythm Nation tour ... specifically her dancing and her working of the crowd. She still lacks some of the spontaneity that could raise the level of her concerts from good ones to damn memorable ones, but Janet seemed pretty comfortable on stage last night in front of an all-forgiving near sold-out crowd, commanding the boards like a cross between Tina Turner and Madonna at some points."[14]

In reviewing her concert at the San Jose Arena, Michael Snyder of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote: "That once-blurry line between stadium-size pop music concerts and full-scale theatrical extravaganzas ... is completely eradicated."[15] Citing her tightly choreographed performance, Snyder comments "[h]er theatrical inclinations elevated the concert at San Jose, but some of the music was truncated in the service of the production."[15] Giving his opinion that Jackson proved to be a better performer than a singer, he likened her concert to productions by Broadway theatre and Cirque du Soleil.[15] Karla Peterson of The San Diego Union-Tribune remarked: "Expertly designed, energetically choreographed, and engagingly performed by the large group of musicians and dancers, the 100-minute show ... had everything you'd expect from a pop pro of Jackson's stature."[16] Despite criticism that the show appeared overly structured, Peterson expressed: "To criticize Janet Jackson for cranking out a pre-programmed block of hits is like criticizing a cat for sleeping all day. It is simply what she does, and with the exception of Madonna, Jackson does this high-concept schtick better than anybody. She is a sharp dancer, an appealing performer, and as "That's the Way Love Goes" proves—an ace pop-song writer."[16] Renee Graham of The Boston Globe commented that "Jackson is not so much a singer as a performer and entertainer, more concerned with the visual presentation than scintillating vocals."[17]

Personnel

[edit]
  • Musical director: Rex Salas
  • Keyboards: Rex Salas
  • Drums: Jonathan Moffett, John Roberts
  • Keyboards: Eric Daniels, Brian Simpson
  • Percussion: Terry Santiel
  • Guitar: David Barry
  • Bass: Sam Sims
  • Background vocals: Stacy Campbell, Romeo Johnson, and Lisa Taylor
  • Choreographer: Tina Landon
  • Dancers: Tina Landon, Sean Cheesman, Cynthia Davila, Shawnette Heard, Omar Lopez, Tish Oliver, Kelly Konno, Nikki Pantenburg, Tam Jo (select shows)[18][19]

Opening acts

[edit]

Setlist

[edit]

The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on April 20, 1995; at the Wembley Arena in London, England.[24] It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.

  1. "If"
  2. "What Have You Done for Me Lately" / "Nasty"
  3. "Let's Wait Awhile"
  4. "Throb"
  5. "When I Think of You" / "Escapade" / "Miss You Much"
  6. "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"
  7. "Alright"
  8. "What'll I Do"
  9. "Any Time, Any Place"
  10. "Again"
  11. "Black Cat"
  12. "Rhythm Nation"
  13. "This Time"
  14. "That's the Way Love Goes"
Encore
  2. "Because of Love"

Notes

  • "Come Back to Me", "What'll I Do", and "Where are You Now" were only performed on the first few dates of the tour before being cut from the setlist. "And On and On" was only performed at select shows during the third leg of the tour. "Black Cat" and "This Time" were exclusively performed during the first leg in North America.
  • During each show, one of these three songs would be performed as the last song of each concert. "Because Of Love" was performed on the first, second, and third legs in North America and Japan; "You Want This" was performed on the fourth and fifth legs in North America, Australia, and Asia; and "Whoops Now" was performed on the sixth leg in Europe.

Tour dates

[edit]
Date City Country Venue
North America[25]
November 24, 1993 Cincinnati United States Riverfront Coliseum
November 26, 1993 Toronto Canada SkyDome
November 28, 1993 Landover United States USAir Arena
November 29, 1993
December 1, 1993 Rosemont Rosemont Horizon
December 2, 1993 Minneapolis Target Center
December 4, 1993 Detroit Joe Louis Arena
December 17, 1993 New York City Madison Square Garden
December 18, 1993
December 22, 1993
December 23, 1993
December 28, 1993 Providence Providence Civic Center
December 30, 1993 Hartford Hartford Civic Center
December 31, 1993[a] New York City Madison Square Garden
January 3, 1994 Richfield Richfield Coliseum
January 5, 1994 Atlanta Omni Coliseum
January 6, 1994
January 9, 1994 Charlotte Charlotte Coliseum
January 12, 1994 Birmingham BJCC Coliseum
January 14, 1994 Richmond Richmond Coliseum
January 16, 1994 Knoxville Thompson–Boling Arena
January 18, 1994 Orlando Orlando Arena
January 20, 1994 Miami Miami Arena
January 22, 1994 St. Petersburg ThunderDome
January 24, 1994 Albany Knickerbocker Arena
January 30, 1994 Worcester Worcester Centrum
January 31, 1994 Philadelphia The Spectrum
February 3, 1994 Indianapolis Market Square Arena
February 4, 1994 Fairborn Nutter Center
February 6, 1994 Peoria Carver Arena
February 7, 1994 Milwaukee Bradley Center
February 12, 1994 Tacoma Tacoma Dome
February 16, 1994 San Jose San Jose Arena
February 17, 1994 Sacramento ARCO Arena
February 18, 1994 Oakland Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
February 24, 1994 San Diego San Diego Sports Arena
Asia
March 25, 1994 Sasebo Japan Huis Ten Bosch
March 27, 1994 Osaka Osaka-jō Hall
March 29, 1994 Tokyo Tokyo Dome
March 30, 1994
North America[27]
April 7, 1994 Inglewood United States Great Western Forum
April 8, 1994
April 9, 1994
April 14, 1994 San Jose San Jose Arena
April 16, 1994 Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Special Events Center
April 17, 1994 Phoenix America West Arena
April 20, 1994 Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center
April 22, 1994 Albuquerque Tingley Coliseum
April 23, 1994 Las Cruces Pan American Center
April 24, 1994 Denver McNichols Sports Arena
April 26, 1994[b] Salt Lake City Delta Center
April 27, 1994[c]
June 10, 1994 Columbia Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 11, 1994
June 13, 1994 Vaughan Canada Kingswood Music Theatre
June 18, 1994 Mansfield United States Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts
June 21, 1994 Saratoga Springs Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 23, 1994 Burgettstown Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheater
June 24, 1994 Philadelphia The Spectrum
June 26, 1994 Wantagh Jones Beach Amphitheater
June 27, 1994
June 30, 1994 Holmdel Township Garden State Arts Center
July 3, 1994 Hershey Hersheypark Stadium
July 5, 1994[d] Milwaukee Marcus Amphitheater
July 6, 1994 Moline The MARK of the Quad Cities
July 8, 1994 Bonner Springs Sandstone Amphitheater
July 9, 1994 Maryland Heights Riverport Amphitheatre
July 12, 1994 Hoffman Estates Poplar Creek Music Theater
July 13, 1994
July 18, 1994 Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 19, 1994 Richfield Richfield Coliseum
July 21, 1994 Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center
July 23, 1994 Noblesville Deer Creek Music Center
July 24, 1994 Columbus Polaris Amphitheater
July 26, 1994 New York City Radio City Music Hall
July 27, 1994
July 29, 1994 Raleigh Hardee's Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
July 31, 1994 Atlanta Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre
August 1, 1994 New Orleans Louisiana Superdome
August 2, 1994 The Woodlands Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 3, 1994 Dallas Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre
August 5, 1994 Greenwood Village Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
August 9, 1994 Irvine Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
August 10, 1994 San Bernardino Blockbuster Pavilion
August 12, 1994 Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre
August 14, 1994 George The Gorge Amphitheatre
Australia
February 6, 1995 Brisbane Australia Brisbane Entertainment Centre
February 7, 1995
February 10, 1995 Sydney Sydney Entertainment Centre
February 11, 1995
February 12, 1995
February 15, 1995
February 17, 1995 Melbourne National Tennis Centre
February 18, 1995
February 20, 1995
February 21, 1995 Adelaide Adelaide Entertainment Centre
February 23, 1995 Perth Perth Entertainment Centre
Asia
February 27, 1995 Kallang Singapore Singapore Indoor Stadium
February 28, 1995
March 3, 1995 Manila Philippines Folk Arts Theater
March 5, 1995 Bangkok Thailand Indoor Stadium Huamark
March 6, 1995
Europe
March 8, 1995 Oslo Norway Oslo Spektrum
March 9, 1995 Copenhagen Denmark Forum Copenhagen
March 11, 1995 Stockholm Sweden Stockholm Globe Arena
March 14, 1995 Berlin Germany Arena Berlin
March 16, 1995 Hamburg Alsterdorfer Sporthalle
March 21, 1995 Rotterdam Netherlands Sportpaleis
March 22, 1995
March 25, 1995 Toulouse France Palais des Sports
March 26, 1995 Barcelona Spain Palau Sant Jordi
March 29, 1995 Marseille France Le Dôme de Marseille
March 31, 1995 Zürich Switzerland Hallenstadion
April 1, 1995 Munich Germany Olympiahalle
April 4, 1995 Sheffield England Sheffield Arena
April 7, 1995 Birmingham NEC Arena
April 8, 1995 London London Arena
April 10, 1995 Paris France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
April 11, 1995 Stuttgart Germany Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
April 13, 1995 Frankfurt Festhalle
April 15, 1995 Dortmund Große Westfalenhalle
April 16, 1995 Ghent Belgium Flanders Expo
April 19, 1995 London England Wembley Arena
April 20, 1995
April 22, 1995

Box office score data

[edit]
Venue City Tickets sold / available Gross revenue
SkyDome Toronto 17,737 / 18,000 (99%) $506,042[30]
Joe Louis Arena Detroit 15,070 / 15,070 (100%) $455,122[31]
Madison Square Garden[e] New York City 44,714 / 44,714 (100%) $1,936,305[32]
Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte 11,999 / 23,302 (51%) $332,972[32]
BJCC Coliseum Birmingham 7,650 / 10,846 (71%) $212,288[32]
Worcester Centrum Worcester 12,681 / 13,128 (97%) $372,821[33]
The Spectrum Philadelphia 15,513 / 15,513 (100%) $467,204[34]
Nutter Center Fairborn 12,445 / 12,445 (100%) $359,174[35]
McNichols Sports Arena Denver 12,891 / 13,327 (97%) $421,436[36]
Jones Beach Theater Wantagh 21,658 / 21,658 (100%) $846,215[37]
Radio City Music Hall New York City 11,134 / 11,828 (94%) $618,060[38]
TOTAL 183,492 / 199,831 (92%) $6,527,639

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Part of Janet's Live New Year Jam.[26]
  2. ^ Originally scheduled for February 26, 1994.[28]
  3. ^ Originally scheduled for February 27, 1994.[28]
  4. ^ This concert was a part of "Summerfest".[29]
  5. ^ Box office score date composed of three concerts, taking place on December 17, 18 and 31, 1993.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Janet Jackson adia show no Brasil por "tempo indeterminado"" [Janet Jackson postpones concert in Brazil for "indefinitely"]. Universo Online (in Portuguese). October 31, 2011. Archived from the original on January 2, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  2. ^ "Janet Jackson adia show no Brasil por tempo indeterminado" [Janet Jackson postpones concert in Brazil for "indefinitely"]. Veja (in Portuguese). Editora Abril. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  3. ^ Harrington, Richard (January 4, 1995). "THE ROAD WARRIORS". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  4. ^ CNN.com – Transcripts, February 28, 2008, archived from the original on April 4, 2013, retrieved August 2, 2013
  5. ^ "Darren speaks to Janet at premiere of Why Did I Get Married Too? in London". Janet Love. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  6. ^ a b McHugh, Catherine (August 1, 1994). "Janet. (Janet Jackson)(Concerts – Costumes)". Theatre Crafts International. Vol. 28. p. 36. ISSN 1063-9497.
  7. ^ a b Dave Larsen (November 24, 1993), "Janet Jackson Tour Opens in Cincinnati Tonight", Dayton Daily News, ISSN 0897-0920
  8. ^ a b c Rick Bird (November 24, 1993), "Janet tour opener kept low-key", Cincinnati Post, p. 4.B
  9. ^ "Janet Jackson Launches Worldwide Concert Tour", Los Angeles Sentinel, p. B-4, November 17, 1993, ISSN 0890-4340
  10. ^ a b Lenny Stoute (November 27, 1993), "Sexy Janet Jackson defies family woes in SkyDome smash", Toronto Star, p. A.2
  11. ^ a b c Jon Pareles (December 20, 1993), "Wrapped in Song and Spectacle, Janet Jackson Plays the Garden", The New York Times, p. C.11, ISSN 0362-4331
  12. ^ a b Andy Smith (December 29, 1993), "Janet Jackson more satisfying to the eye than to the ear", Providence Journal, p. E.01
  13. ^ Greg Kot (January 27, 1994), "Performance: Janet Jackson", Rolling Stone, no. 674, p. 25
  14. ^ Roberta Fusaro (January 31, 1994), "Janet's gotten better", Telegram & Gazette, p. C.3
  15. ^ a b c Michael Snyder (February 18, 1994), "Janet Jackson Makes All The Right Moves / Singer brings extravaganza to San Jose", San Francisco Chronicle, pp. C.1
  16. ^ a b Karla Peterson (February 26, 1994), "Pop goes Janet in concert full of programmed flash", The San Diego Union-Tribune, p. E.6
  17. ^ Graham, Renee (June 20, 1994), "Janet Jackson: looks good, sounds bad", Boston Globe, p. 34
  18. ^ Tamsier Joof (Tam Jo) interview : West Africa Magazine : "Senegambian taking the dance world by storm" – June 5, 1995, p. 4
  19. ^ Sandler, Adam (April 11, 1994). "Janet Jackson; Mint Condition". Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  20. ^ Green, Tony (January 21, 1994). "all grown up". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  21. ^ Hilburn, Robert (April 9, 1994). "POP MUSIC REVIEW : Janet Jackson: See Her Roar : Forum Show Throbs in Pomp and Circumstance". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  22. ^ Gipson, L. Michael (May 9, 2019). "The Curious Case of Tevin Campbell". The Reckoning. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  23. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 8. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. February 19, 1994. p. 14. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  24. ^ "Janet Jackson Setlist at Wembley Arena, London". setlist.fm. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  25. ^ Sources for concerts in New York City, Landover, Richmond and Rosemont
  26. ^ Zad, Martie (December 26, 1993). "JANET JACKSON, SOAPS, ASTAIRE, COUNTRY CABLE IN NEW YEAR". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  27. ^ Source for concert in Phoenix
  28. ^ a b "DELTA CENTER RESCHEDULES 2 JANET JACKSON CONCERTS". Deseret News. March 11, 1994. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  29. ^ "Milwaukee celebrates summer with music". Post-Bulletin. June 23, 1994. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  30. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 51. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. December 18, 1993. p. 14. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  31. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 52. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. December 25, 1993. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  32. ^ a b c "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 5. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. January 29, 1994. p. 17. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  33. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 7. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. February 12, 1994. p. 15. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  34. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 8. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. February 19, 1994. p. 14. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  35. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 9. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. February 26, 1994. p. 17. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  36. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 21. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. May 21, 1994. p. 17. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  37. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 31. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. July 30, 1994. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  38. ^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 34. Nashville, Tennessee: BPI Communications. August 20, 1994. p. 14. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
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