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In the late 1980's, Janet Jackson was working on new material with the incredible songwriting/production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis...when a tragedy led to a Great (and positive) Song of 1989.
The Stockton, California schoolyard murders of 5 children, and the suicide of the gunman (who had also wounded 32 others) shook the nation--and deeply affected Janet, Jimmy and Terry.
They were driven to create a positive song focusing on the "nation of people" they knew from New York dance clubs: people who came together from different backgrounds, but were united in their love of music. It would serve as an invitation for everyone to join the "nation."
That became the underlying theme of the 1989 album "Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814," with the title song, "Rhythm Nation," becoming the first single release.
It was an immediate hit, charting in 12 countries--especially the US, where it appeared on 4 Billboard Charts. Not only did it top the Black and Dance Club Charts, it reached #2 on the Dance Sales Chart and The Hot 100.
Speaking of dance, the video featured the military-style dancing Janet became famous for. Fun Fact: She borrowed the idea from brother Michael, who reluctantly agreed to let her copy his moves.
The list of kudos the song and video received is extensive:
(Full credit to Wikipedia for this list):
**Billboard Awards for "Top Dance/Club Play, Single of the Year, Best Female Artist, Dance, and Best Female Video Artist, along with the Director's Award, and the Music Video Award for Artistic Achievement.
T**BMI Pop Awards for Most Played Song, and Songwriter of the Year for Janet.
**A Grammy nomination for "Producer of the Year, Non-Classical," and a Grammy winner for "Best Long Form Music Video."
**Slant Magazine included it among both the "Greatest Dance Songs of All Time" and "Greatest music Videos of All Time."
**VH1 ranked the music video one of their all time "Greatest Videos."
**MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Choreography" and "Best Dance Video," and the Video Vanguard Award to Janet for her contributions to popular culture.
**The hand-written lyrics to "Rhythm Nation" and the music video's outfit are included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power" exhibit, with its lyrics also used in the museum's course on feminist songwriters.
**In 2021, it was listed at No. 475 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Songs of All Time."
There's absolutely NO doubt that "Rhythm Nation" took a horrible tragedy to move forward in a positive direction with not only a Great Song of 1989...but of ALL TIME!
Tomorrow: a completely forgotten one-hit-wonder oft he '70s!
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