This Herbie Hancock sample is immaculately woven into an underrated dance floor anthem.
Usually in this spot on the blog entry, I write something clever or personal about the artist, the song, the genre, the sample, the tiny bit of theory folks are about to learn.
But I have very little to say about Janet Jackson that has not already been said. She’s amazing, she has been such a hugely influential artist in my life, and I am so grateful she’s getting the recognition she deserves. All of the love, all of the time, Janet. I’m hoping to see you in concert next year! (And this video gives me Rhythm Nation vibes, as well.)
Overviewt: This song samples Herbie Hancock’s “Hang Up Your Hang Ups.”
Intro: One of the most commercially viable and honored female pop stars in America, Janet Jackson has released 11 albums which have sold more than 140 million copies around the world. Her 1989 album Rhythm Nation became the first album to feature seven top five singles, a feat that no one, not even her famous brother, has matched. She also holds the record for most consecutive top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 by a female artist, at 18. These achievements are accompanied by her 20 Grammy nominations and six Grammy wins. "All Nite (Don’t Stop)” was released as a single on her 2004 album, Damita Jo. The chart performance of both the single and the album were tremendously affected by Jackson’s media blackout after the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show (which, as you also probably know, was not her fault at all). In the spring of 2019, Janet Jackson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Analysis: Janet’s song is largely based off of this sample, which is heard immediately after the breathily spoken intro (heard at :54 in the above linked video). The sample appears throughout the track, mostly in the form of a guitar riff motif. Although Hancock played in Miles Davis’s band, much of his work in the 70s & 80s veers away from traditional jazz structures, reflecting both an experimental & a pop sensibility. “Hang Up Your Hang Ups” is a good example of this as well.
Considerations for Teaching: The song is listed as explicit on Spotify, and the video features some kid-unfriendly dancing toward the end. However, you might need to only play a few seconds of the song in order to hear & compare the sample.
This is a great side-by-side sample comparison of “All Nite (Don’t Stop)” and “Hang Up Your Hang Ups” from the always great website, WhoSampled.com. The only issue here is that the song appears much earlier than indicated, although the website only contains a short sample of the Janet song.
We love you Janet. Thank you always for everything.
