Janet Jackson is an unshakeable icon — unbreakable, even. The past few years reminded us just how grand her legacy is. In 2019, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and enjoyed her Metamorphosis Las Vegas residency. Last January, the fiercely private star allowed the world into her personal journey with A&E and Lifetime’s Janet Jackson two-part documentary. And in December, she announced her 2023 Together Again Tour.
A 33-date trek across North American arenas/amphitheaters, it kicks off on April 14 in Hollywood, Fla. and follows both 2017’s socially conscious State of the World Tour and her four-month, 18-show 2019 Metamorphosis residency in Las Vegas. With a truly staggering catalog filled with chart-topping albums and singles, it’s difficult to tell what tunes Miss Jackson will choose.
Will she revive her previous ideas from 2020’s Black Diamond World Tour (which was canceled due to the pandemic) or completely scrap them? How will she celebrate this May’s 30th anniversary of her blockbuster fifth album Janet? Will she forgo her usual offerings of ‘80s classics and replace them with deep cuts? Aside from Ludacris as the opening act, who will be the special guests?
There are many questions as to how she’ll fill up a standard two hours, but we attempt to answer them all below with our dream setlist for the Janet Jackson: Together Again tour — a journey through over three dozen of the pop and R&B legend’s classic tracks, deep cuts, features and collaborations. Now, let’s get to grooving!
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“Together Again” (Intro)
To set the tour’s reunion theme, the night will kick off with the twinkling ballad intro of this The Velvet Rope classic, as various clips of Janet Jackson throughout her career play on the screen. But before that familiar uptempo kicks in, the screen’s imagery shatters and distorts to reveal the icon standing on the stage dressed in an avant-garde Rick Owens outfit. Now with the spotlight officially on her, we’re ready to start the show.
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“Feedback”
The concert has no choice but to kick off with a dance track (this is Janet Jackson, after all). But rather than immediately hopping into the ‘80s classics as most of her tour openers have done, we’ll head into the future with this 2007 electropop jam.
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“All Nite (Don’t Stop)”
As the stage lights lower, Janet’s dancers get into formation before the lights quickly begin to flicker to the beat of this bass-driven Damita Jo single. The venue feels like we’re in a club and the concertgoers’ energy is officially rising.
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“Control”
It’s time to throw it back to the classics. Janet switches her structured Rick Owens jacket for a dramatically padded sequined black blazer — a nod to the ‘80s, when her transitional Control album was released — as she says “How are you all feeling? It’s great to be together again!” The audience replies with thrilled shouts as she pops and locks through the song.
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“Nasty” / “What Have You Done For Me Lately”
“GIMMIE A BEAT!” The 1986 smash “Nasty” was the hammer that broke Janet’s sweet “girl next door” mold and allowed her to embrace her womanhood, while “What Have You Done For Me Lately” revved up the sass. She embodies a youthful spirit as she swivels her hips and growls the lyrics to these funky classics.
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“The Pleasure Principle” / “Miss You Much”
The stage is awash with a vibrant purple hue (another nod to the ‘80s) as Janet’s dancers roll out a large mirror and a few chairs onto the stage for the dance routine. Both of these songs feature iconic chair-eography, which has since inspired everyone from Britney Spears and Mya to Tinashe and Normani. But here, Miss Jackson If Ya Nasty shows the ladies how it’s done.
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“Dammn Baby” (Interlude)
At this point, Janet is completely free on stage and ready to dance even more. During this interlude to 2015’s breezy Unbreakable single, she does a quick outfit change into a ripped t-shirt and leather joggers so she can really bust a move.
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“Rock With U” / “When We Ooo” / “SloLove”
It’s now time for the night’s first three-song medley. Janet whispers “Strobe lights make everything sexier/ Shadows dancing on the wall” from “Rock With U”, with the stage lights reflecting her seductive commands. The singer and her dancers continue their disco-inspired routine as they move and shake into the next two tracks.
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“Love Will Never Do (Without You)”
The abundance of love is near tangible in the venue, and Janet cannot stop smiling as she looks at her fans in awe. “This next song is dedicated to all of you, can you feel the love??” she asks, as the bassline kicks in for this sparkling Rhythm Nation 1814 single.
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“Alright” / “Escapade” / “When I Think of You”
The feel-good vibes continue with this next medley, as Janet and her dancers hop into the Cab Calloway-inspired routine of “Alright” as the video plays on screen. Once the other infectious songs from Rhythm Nation 1814 and Control kick in, everyone in the venue is already on their feet.
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“You Want This”
With Janet celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the singer uses the following concert section to channel the album’s theme of sexual freedom. The playfulness of this single, which samples Diana Ross & the Supremes’ 1968 song “Love Child” and Kool & the Gang’s 1973 song “Jungle Boogie”, does the trick.
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“If”
Just as everyone is bouncing to the jams, the stage lights temporarily cut out to shocked gasps. “Wait, what’s happening?” fans ponder as red strobe lights cut through the darkness. Once the industrial synths of “If” rip through the speakers, it’s clear we’ve now been transported to an underground European club.
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“Throb” / “Free Xone” Mashup
The club kid spirit heightens even more with this dizzying mashup of diehard fan-favorite deep cuts from Janet and The Velvet Rope. Once it ends, fans find themselves glistening with sweat as they reach for their drinks to cool themselves off.
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“That's the Way Love Goes” / “No Sleeeep” / “Got ‘Til It’s Gone”
Whew, that was a whirlwind huh? At this point, everyone (the fans and Janet alike) needs to catch their breath, so let’s slow things down with this sultry mashup. The singer saunters across the stage while snapping her fingers to the hypnotizing Janet single, before leading into Unbreakable’s quiet storm groove. When “Got ‘Til It’s Gone” kicks in, her dancers re-emerge to perform a laid-back ‘90s hip-hop routine.
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“Come Back to Me” / “Where Are You Now”
Janet is mainly known for her high-energy tunes, but this is the moment where she reminds everyone of her equally strong ballads. She takes a seat on a high stool to belt these soulful R&B love songs as the stage lights twinkle a sky-blue.
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“Any Time, Any Place” / “Poetic Justice” Mashup
Still sitting on the stool, Janet bops along to this PDA anthem with sounds of rain and thunder rippling through the venue. Before the singer reaches the bridge’s climax, two dancers on the opposite end of the stage perform a sultry routine to Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s “Poetic Justice” collaboration (which famously samples “Anytime, Any Place”).
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“Love Scene (Ooh Baby)” (Interlude)
Let’s keep the lustful vibes going, shall we? Janet quickly disappears from the stage as this All For You deep cut plays, signaling that it’s sex o’clock.
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“Rope Burn” / “Would You Mind” / “Discipline” / “Moist”
Part of what’s made Janet such an icon is her unapologetic sexual liberation, and this medley honors that. “Mmm, my lips hurt” she moans through the BDSM anthem that is “Rope Burn”. She then unleashes her inner fantasies, breathily murmuring and purring through the next songs as she urges to touch, suck and lick and begs for punishment. Throughout this time, she calls back to 2001’s All for You Tour, where she brings up an audience member to tease on stage.
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“I Get Lonely” / “What's It Gonna Be?!” Mashup
The passion peaks with this mashup, as Janet rips off her shirt to reveal a lace bustier with pierced nipples (a naughtier nod to the iconic “I Get Lonely” video). She’s then joined by her dancers for the routine. As she sings “Gonna break it down, break it down, break it down”, the audio switches to her after-hours 1999 collaboration with Busta Rhymes.
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“Someone to Call My Lover”
For the concert’s final act, Janet is now ready to celebrate joy at its fullest. Once the jangling guitar riff of “Someone to Call My Lover” (which samples America’s 1972 hit “Ventura Highway”) blasts through the speakers, the fans are ready to dance once again.
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“Doesn’t Really Matter”
For her final outfit change, Janet places a studded orange leather jacket (a nod to this music video) over her bustier and switches her leather joggers for khaki cargo pants. The look is easier to move in as her and her dancers break out into the classic routine.
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“All For You” / “R&B Junkie” / “Make Me”
The concert’s over (or so the audience thinks) and Janet wants to make sure everyone leaves in good spirits. This high-energy medley urges everyone to leap out of their seats as they dance and shout the lyrics of each song, taking selfies and videos to capture the moment forever.
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ENCORE: "Scream"
Don’t go just yet, there’s more! Before the lights get a chance to fully lower, Janet’s silhouette is awash in bright white and the “Scream” video plays on the screen. The crowd is whipped into a frenzy as they watch her master the floor routine alongside her similarly legendary brother, Michael.
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“Rhythm Nation”
The singer is now reunited with all of her dance crew to perform the iconic, military-inspired routine to “Rhythm Nation,” with fans mimicking the same moves in the venue’s aisles.
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“Together Again” (DJ Premier Remix) / “Together Again”
The concert officially wraps with a full-circle moment. Janet teases the lyrics of “Together Again” while the instrumental of DJ Premier’s hip-hop remix plays in the background. She reminds the audience about the importance of inclusivity and the power of love before jumping into the original version of the Hot 100-topping house anthem. Janet thanks everyone for coming and says once more that she loves them, a genuine sentiment that fan will feel hours after the concert ends.