Released: March 30, 2004
Label: Virgin
Genre: R&B ∙ pop ∙ hip hop
Producer: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis ∙ Janet Jackson ∙ Dallas Austin ∙ Babyface ∙ Anders Bagge ∙ Scott Storch ∙ Télépopmusik ∙ Kanye West ∙ Avila Brothers
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By 2004, Janet Jackson was a force in the music industry, with seven albums under her belt and success as an actress within three decades at the time.
Janet Jackson’s eighth studio album Damita Jo was released in the United States on March 30, 2004 by Virgin Records. Titled after Janet’s middle name, the R&B and pop influenced album tackles themes of romance, love and lust!! Damita Jo debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 381,000 copies sold..becoming Janet’s first album to not go number one since 1984’s Dream Street.
The controversal Super Bowl Performance had left Janet with a commercial blacklist for the next couple of years, having a tremendous effect on the commercial performances of her subsequent albums.
If there wasn’t a boycott on her music, this album would’ve received better recognition from the general public. Nevertheless, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA and sold over three million copies worldwide. Hmm!
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Janet Jackson’s “Damita Jo”
Looking for Love (Interlude)
Written by Janet Jackson David Ritz Fabrice Dumont Christophe Hetier Stephan Haeri
We’re vulnerable
Janet Jackson, Looking for Love (Interlude,) 2004
We’re sensitive
And we’re complicated people, too
So many people rolled into one
We contain so much
So much creativity
So much energy
So many contradictions
So much confusion
So much clarity
So many moments of faith and fear
So many different characters live within us
All looking for love…
Damita Jo
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis • Bobby Ross Avila • Issiah J. Avila
The title track Damita Jo is lyrically about the differences between Janet’s professional and private lives!
Sexhibition
Written by Janet Jackson • Dallas Austin • Gregory “Ruckus” Andrews
Relax, it’s just sex.
Janet Jackson, Sexhibition, 2004
Sexhibition is a nice and fun record where Janet talks about having “sexcapades,” chile. I love it so much, because she becomes more confident with discussing sex in her music!
Strawberry Bounce
Written by Janet Jackson • Kanye West • James Harris III • Terry Lewis • Tony “Prof T” Tolbert • Shawn Carter • Irving Lorenzo • Jeffrey Atkins • Robin Mays
Strawberry Bounce introduces Janet’s character by the name of “Strawberry,” and the girl is freakyyyyy okay lol. We were introduced to her Damita Jo persona in the prior songs, but Damita was a little more aggressive. But Strawberry was more sexual, wild and free! Definitely one of my highlights from Damita Jo.
***Strawberry Bounce contains a sample of:
- Can I Get A… by Jay-Z
My Baby (featuring Kanye West)
Written by Kanye West • Sean Garrett • Janet Jackson • Joni-Ayanna Portee
My Baby is a collaboration with Kanye West about the butterflies you get when you’re in love with someone. A song!
The Islands (Interlude)
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis
The Island, mmm, Anguilla, that’s my favorite. I love the islands. Um, that’s my escapism. They relax me, that ocean. The weather, I love humidity.
I love the sand, I love the palm trees. I love curling up in a good book. And relaxing right by the ocean… with my baby.
Janet Jackson, The Islands (Interlude,) 2004
Spending Time with You
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis • Bobby Ross Avila • Issiah J. Avila
Spending Time With You is one of my favorites on the album, and rightfully so cause it’s a magical love song. Lyrically, the song speaks how the singer is content being with the one she loves and how it is an incomparable experience being happy and in love. Definitely a gem that deserves more recognition from Janet’s catalog.
Magic Hour (Interlude)
Written by Janet Jackson • Terry Lewis • James Harris III
The Magic Hour
Janet Jackson, The Magic Hour, 2004
(It’s all I wanna do)
That’s my—the ultimate for me
When it’s almost dark, the sun has gone down
And there’s still that little bit of light left
That breeze is still there and it’s still hot out
That, that is just complete heaven for me
Island Life
Written by Janet Jackson • Scott Storch • Cathy Dennis
Island Life just sounds like the perfect vacation song where you and your significant other just loving on each other throughout the day. Just good vibes all around with this Caribbean influenced record.
All Nite (Don’t Stop)
Written by Janet Jackson • Terry Lewis • James Harris III • Tony “Prof T” Tolbert • Anders Bagge • Arnthor Birgisson • Herbie Hancock • Paul Jackson • Melvin M. Ragin
This is sick….
Janet Jackson, All Nite (Don’t Stop,) 2004
Issued as the album’s third and final single, All Nite (Don’t Stop) is lyrically about being addicted to dancing in the club, although I feel like it is about doing it all night. The elements of house and electro-funk makes the song extremely sexy!
Although the song didn’t chart on the Hot 100 due to her being blackballed, the song was a success on the UK charts, peaking at nineteen and three on the pop & R&B charts respectively.
***All Nite (Don’t Stop) contains a sample of:
- Hang Up Your Hang Ups by Herbie Hancock
R&B Junkie
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis • Tony “Prof T” Tolbert • Michael Jones • Nicholas Trevisick
R&B Junkie is a feel good record that makes me cut up a rug when I’m cleaning up the crib! I love everything about this song, because I myself am a R&B Junkie as well. From the lyrical content to the immaculate production, the song is a gem in her catalog for sure.
***R&B Junkie contains a sample of:
- Evelyn “Champagne” King’s I’m In Love
I Want You
Written by Harold Lilly • Kanye West • Burt Bacharach • Hal David • John Stephens
I Want You is easily one of my favorite Janet songs of all time, and rightfully so. Produced by Janet, Kanye West, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the song reminds you of the Motown sound with the pop ballads of that era. Lyrically, the song speaks about the singer longing to be with her lover and how it affects her when they’re apart.
Due to the boycott, the song peaked at 57 on the Hot. 100, which caused controversial reviews from critics and fans because song was guaranteed to be a huge hit for her had the ban not been in place. Nevertheless, it peaked in the top twenty on the R&B charts and was a hit overseas!
***I Want You contains a sample of:
- Close to You by B.T. Express
Like You Don’t Love Me
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis • Bobby Ross Avila • Issiah J. Avila
Like You Don’t Love Me is lyrically about the singer discussing how her significant other isn’t making love to her and notices how he’s amused and aroused by other women and wants him to make love to her like she’s one of them since he doesn’t love them.
Thinkin’ Bout My Ex
Written by Tanya White • Kenneth Edmonds • Andy Cramer
Thinkin’ Bout My Ex is a record that has the legendary Babyface writing and producing, and it is soooo good. From a lyrical perspective, the song is about how much the singer is thinking about her former flame even when she’s with someone new and is in hopes that he is not expecting too much. We know how those things go. Whew.
Warmth
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis • Dana Stinson • Tony “Prof T” Tolbert
One thing about Janet, is she is a freaky little something babyyy lol! We’ve had songs like Would You Mind, Anytime, Anyplace, Love Scene (Ooh Baby,) but Warmth is top tier honey. From a lyrical perspective, the singer says her head game is incomparable. A lot of men have been made very happy to this song I’m sure.
Moist
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis • Bobby Ross Avila • Issiah J. Avila • Tony “Prof T” Tolbert
Moist is a perfect follow up to a song like Warmth, due to this record being lyrically about her being pleasured this time around. Whew!
It All Comes Down to Love (Interlude)
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis
Truly
Janet Jackson, It All Comes Down to Love (Interlude,) 2004
It all comes down to love
Honestly
It all comes down to love
Undeniably
It all comes back to you
Sincerely
It all comes down to love
Unforgettably
It all comes back to you
It all comes down to love
It all comes back to you
It all comes down to love
Truly
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis
Truly is one of my favorite songs from the album. Lyrically, the singer speaks about professing her love for her lover, and wonders where this is going to go if she decides to see where it’ll go for sure!
The One (Interlude)
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis • David Ritz
The confusion lifts
Janet Jackson, The One (Interlude,) 2004
The contradictions melt
We’re left alone, with ‘The one’
‘The one’ is all we need
‘The one’ is the breath we breathe
‘The one’ is love
Love, love, love, love
Love, love, love, is love
SloLove
Written by Janet Jackson • Shelly Poole • Tommy Danvers • Anders Bagge • Arnthor Birgisson
From a lyrical perspective, SloLove reflects on Janet’s desire to make love to the one she is in love with. It’s okay to slow it on down every now and then! A dance-pop influenced record honey!
Country (Interlude)
Written by Janet Jackson • James Harris III • Terry Lewis
J
Janet Jackson, Country (Interlude,) 2004
Jo
Dunk
Booty
Damita Jo
Isn’t that like a country name, Damita Jo?
It is, isn’t it?
The Damita, I don’t think is country
But it’s the Jo that’s country
Which just happens to be my father’s name
Well, my mother is from the south, so
Damita Jo
Just a Little While
Written by Janet Jackson • Dallas Austin
Released as the lead single from the album, Just a Little While is a new wave influenced record where the singer is lyrically discussing her desire to make love to her lover..even if it’s for a short time frame. Due to the blacklisting, the song peaked moderately on the charts in the US. Internationally, the song was a hit…peaking in the top 20 on the UK charts at fifteen.
20 years later, Damita Jo still is a beautiful album to revisit because we all want love in some way, shape or form right? Damita Jo covers every aspect of love in true Janet fashion, and I’ve always been here for how amazing the album is one of her best albums from this century.
Janet faced a lot of backlash in 2004 for that Super Bowl performance, but I wish this album stood a chance with the public eye at the time because it deserved so much more appreciation and love! Granted, it was still a success from a commercial standpoint..but the songs from the album deserved to chart where her earlier successes rest at. Maybe the general public can appreciate this album now. -MW.
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