Unbreakable (Janet Jackson album)
Unbreakable is the eleventh studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. It was released on October 2, 2015, and is the first album released under her independent label Rhythm Nation, with BMG Rights Management through a partnership with the singer. Jackson had parted ways with Island Records in 2008 due to dissatisfaction over the company's lack of promotion for her tenth studio album, Discipline. The singer began recording new material with producer Rodney Jerkins the following year, but eventually abandoned the project. She became busy with film roles and embarked on a worldwide concert tour, and in 2013 announced her third marriage to Qatari businessman Wissam Al Mana. Two years later in May 2015, Jackson announced that she would embark on the Unbreakable World Tour and release Unbreakable.
Jackson reunited with songwriting/production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, their last collaboration being on her ninth studio album 20 Y.O.. Additional songwriting and production was provided by Dem Jointz and Tommy McClendon. Featured artists include rappers J. Cole and Missy Elliott. Unbreakables theme reflects various experiences over the course of Jackson's life—including aspects of her childhood and the death of her brother Michael—in addition to socially conscious messages prevalent in her 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814. Its lead single "No Sleeep" became her 40th entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, peaking at number 63, as well as her most successful entry on the US Adult R&B Songs chart, topping the chart for twelve non-consecutive weeks.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming Jackson's seventh album to top the chart in the United States. This made her the third act in the history of the chart to have a number one album in each of the last four decades. It also peaked within the top 40 of most major music markets. It received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with some commenting that it reflected her maturation. Unbreakable was named by several publications as one of the best album releases of 2015. As of April 2016, the album has sold over 253,000 copies in the United States.
Background
After releasing her tenth studio album Discipline in 2008, Jackson parted ways with her label home of 14 months, Island Records. A spokesperson for the singer added, " will have autonomy over her career, without the restrictions of a label system... Always known to break new ground and set trends, Jackson's departure from Island Records makes her one of the first superstar artists to have the individual freedom to promote their work through a variety of avenues such as iTunes, mobile carriers and other diverse and innovative channels." Mariel Concepcion of Billboard magazine suggested "Jackson would seem to be a natural fit at Live Nation Artists, which is already home to Jay-Z, Nickelback and Shakira." The following year, she suffered the unexpected death of her brother Michael Jackson; she later performed a special tribute to him at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. She also ended her seven-year relationship with record producer Jermaine Dupri.As a joint venture with EMI, Universal Music Enterprises subsequently released her second greatest hits compilation, Number Ones under A&M Records. Although she began recording new material with producer Rodney Jerkins, she eventually abandoned the project, still unwilling to specify whether she intended to sign with a major label or release music independently. UMe and A&M later released her third compilation Icon: Number Ones as the debut of the Icon album series, designed to feature "the greatest hits, signature tunes and fan favorites of the most popular artists in music history." After starring in feature films Why Did I Get Married Too? and For Colored Girls in 2010, she embarked on the world concert tour Number Ones, Up Close and Personal in 2011 to promote her second compilation. In 2013, she indicated she was once again working on a new record. Later that year, she also revealed that she was married to her third husband, Qatari businessman Wissam Al Mana. She announced in May 2015, that she would embark on the Unbreakable World Tour and release her eleventh studio album through her newly formed, independent record label as a result of a partnership between herself and BMG.
Recording
In October 2009, just a month before Jackson released her second compilation album Number Ones, American producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins revealed that they were working together on the singer's eleventh studio album:
"Since we've been working... I feel like the studio has become a second home for her because with the whole situation with Michael happening, and I feel like right now, emotionally, she can come here and let all her feelings out. You gotta understand, she lost her brother. She was in a relationship for seven years that's over now. There's things that she told me that I didn't even realize. You know, certain like self-esteem that I didn't even realize that she dealt with for years that, you know.... She's working on her book and she'll deal with that in her book, but also in songs, certain songs we're dealing with that head on. And sometimes it can be a touchy subject for us to even go into, and I kinda had to persuade her, 'Let's just go, let's talk about that.' And she's been doing it, and she's a pro about it."
However, in 2010, Jackson revealed she had scrapped the recorded material with Jerkins. Although she recorded and released "Nothing" as the theme for the film Why Did I Get Married Too?, she stated: "There have been a lot of record labels that have asked me to sit down and talk with them, but I don't know if I want to do something completely independent, or go with a major". In August 2011, while touring with her Number Ones, Up Close and Personal world tour, the singer stated that she would "go back into the studio later this year or early next. I am not sure what I will be doing yet. I like to be inspired by what is going on in my life at that time". In 2013, she confirmed she was recording a new album and "creating the concept and initial thoughts on the music."
In August 2014, producer and engineer Ian Cross, who worked on her last three studio albums, confirmed in an interview with studio monitor manufacturer Barefoot Sound that he was working on Jackson's new album, stating, "The new album is going to be great. It's a process. There's a lot in store, yet to come", also saying they worked in recording studios in Qatar, Paris, and Middle East. He asserted that he and the singer "had a little bit more of a special relationship because we became friends naturally. You meet a lot of people and you become friends with a couple of them, but sometimes there is one person you become really good friends with. She asked me to work on an album with her called Discipline in 2007 and, again, just do the same thing, produce the vocals. That led to her hiring me full-time to work with her. That's where I'm at now". After Cross' declarations, Jackson herself responded to the rumor, neither confirming nor denying the works, stating: "If there is a new project, you'll hear it from my lips", she tweeted. Barefoot Sound subsequently removed the full text of the Cross interview from their website. Unbreakable saw Jackson reunite with long-time producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who did not contribute to her previous project.
Composition
Unbreakable is divided into two sides; the first side is composed mostly by dance-pop and R&B songs, while the second one is more experimental. The album opens with the title track "Unbreakable", a mid-tempo R&B song, which describes Jackson's unyielding devotion to her fans. The following track "Burnitup!" is an uptempo song with electronic beats, with processed vocal samples and house drums. Jackson asks "Mr. DJ" to "turn it up" and the crowd to "dance like no-one's watching", while Elliott raps "Make it work, make it work, make it work". "Dammn Baby", the third track, has hints of trap bass and percussion, and bits of previous single "I Get Lonely" into its breakdown. In the fourth song "The Great Forever", she is reportedly to sound like her late brother Michael Jackson, and addresses the curiosity about her romantic life. "I don't see why loving someone or what I do seem so radical to you What you think doesn't mean nothing at all / Doesn't change who I am." The next track, "Shoulda Known Better" opens as a ballad, but develops EDM beats for its underpinning. During the song, she asks "Why, why, why?", before making a call for social action. "We won't accept excuses. We tolerate no abuses". Sixth track, "After You Fall", is a stripped ballad with Jackson's vocals being accompanied by only a piano line. The following song "Broken Hearts Heal" is a song with "breezy" vocal harmonies, and a tribute to her brother Michael, reminiscing about a childhood full of singing and laughing together. During the chorus, she sings "Our love ain't no material thing/Inshallah see you in the next life". Eight track "Night" is a house track which accompanies breathy vocals by Jackson. The ninth song and lead single from the album, "No Sleeep", is an R&B song, which lyrically finds Jackson crooning about a long-distance romance over "soulful" keyboards and programmed drums.Starting the second part, "Dream Maker / Euphoria", the tenth track, is an R&B song with a soul sample, and at one point of the song she sings "Wish I could create a perfect place, without jealousy, abuse, or hate". Eleventh song "2 B Loved" is described lyrically as a "rapturous celebration of the power of love", complete with a "burst of sunshiny pop froth complete with hand claps, a hip-shaking groove". Next track "Take Me Away" has an electro-rock arrangement and lyrically looks for escape with a lover.
The following and thirteenth song "Promise" is an interlude. The fourteenth track, "Lessons Learned", is built over a "plucked" guitar figure, on which Jackson sings about an abusive relationship where the victim keeps that way. At one point of the song Jackson sings "What makes her want to stay?". "Black Eagle", the next song, is a two-part song that sets its mysticism and self-help to modal phrases and quiet finger snaps; she addresses the struggles of today, but goes with "Because every life matters... We all need to do better." The sixteenth track "Well Traveled" is arena rock, described as a "Bon Jovi power ballad" song. The closing track, "Gon' B Alright", is "twisted" psychedelic rock, and was compared to Sly & The Family Stone sound.