Janet Jackson has limited experience with downtime. She’s juggled acting and music careers, served as both a sex symbol and social reform advocate, and weathered highly publicized storms, in-cluding the infamous Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction in 2004 and the death of her older brother, global music icon Michael Jackson, in 2009. Though the 44-year-old superstar declined to discuss her brother’s passing, she chatted with us by e-mail about her new tour, which stops at the Citi Wang Theatre tonight.
Herald: Your “Number Ones Up Close and Personal Tour” focuses exclusively on No. 1 hits in smaller, more intimate venues. What inspired you to do a tour of this nature, as opposed to an over-the-top, special-effects-filled arena show?
Jackson: WOW, I’ve never looked at any of my shows as being over the top, but maybe they were LOL. I was in Europe last year and there were several fans camping outside my hotel. Every time I would talk with them, they would ask me when I would be performing in their city. That gave me the idea to ask the fans to help me pick the cities that I was going to perform in. Then when I got back to the states, I had a private date at Radio City Music Hall in New York. It was so much fun to see everyone. The energy was amazing and all I found myself thinking was this is what I want to do on my next tour. It has been a long road, but I am really happy with my life. I get so much energy when I perform for my fans and I love to give back to them. That is what Number Ones Up Close and Personal is all about. It’s a thank you for all the support my fans have given me all these years.
You’re recognizing 20 people under age 20 in each city who are helping to transform their communities. Activism and social consciousness are things you’ve publicly championed since “Rhythm Nation.” Why is this important to you?
All you have to do is look at the news. It doesn’t matter which format — TV, print, Internet. Just about all you see are negative images. I wanted to recognize kids that are making a difference in their cities.
Your new book, “True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself,” details your struggles with weight, self-image and self-esteem, things many young people struggle with. What advice would you give to someone battling these issues?
I wrote “True You” because there was, to my knowledge, no book of its kind when I was growing up. If there had been, I would have read it immediately. I want anyone who reads it, especially the kids, to know that they are perfect just as they are and that they are not alone. If they see someone like me, and understand that I had the same problems that they are going through now, perhaps they will feel a little better and love themselves for who they are.
You recently starred in Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls.” How does acting compare to being a recording artist?
Acting has always been my first love. It is what I always imagined my career being. That or a horse jockey LOL. It is nice to get back to it. The two are completely different, though.
You’re in the midst of a major tour and you have a new book out. When things wind down (do things ever wind down?) what’s next for you?
I like to keep busy. I plan to record a new CD later this year. I’m not sure what it will be yet. I am going to wait until I am in the studio and see what is going on in my life and be inspired by that.
via bostonherald.com
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