Why is Janet screaming!?!

Simple: She’s excited about her Feb. 4 Number Ones concert at the PICC. Janet Jackson says, ‘I’m thankful to everyone who helped me choose Manila as kick-off point for my biggest world tour ever.’

This much we know about Janet Jackson who is kicking off her 35-city world tour, her biggest ever, titled Number Ones: Up Close and Personal in Manila with a concert on Feb. 4 at the PICC Plenary Hall (more on the show in a while):

• Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966, the youngest among 10 children. The Jacksons were a lower-middle-class family and were devout Jehovah’s Witness. But Janet eventually stopped practicing organized religion and considered her relationship with God as “one-on-one.”

• She was born into a family of entertainers but she loved horses more than performing and she dreamed to be a race-horse jockey. “No one ever asked me if I wanted to go into show business,” she said in an interview, “it was expected.” She entered showbiz at age seven via a show with her siblings at the MGM Casino in Las Vegas.

• She has credited her older brothers Michael and Jermaine as her musical influences, Lena Horne as “a profound inspiration” not only in her career but “for Black entertainers across multiple generations.” As a tribute to Horne on her death last year, Janet said, “She brought much joy into everyone’s lives — even the younger generations, younger than myself. She was such a great talent. She opened up such doors for artists like myself.”

•  When her brother Michael died at age 50 in 2009, Janet dealt with the grief by burying herself in work, avoiding the media not because she was in denial but because she was trying to face reality in her own private way. Her first public statement about Michael went: “I’d just like to say that Michael is an icon to us. Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts – We miss him so much.”

•  In April last year, she reprised her role in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? in the sequel Why Did I Get Married Too? which debuted at No. 2 with a $30-M opening-weekend gross. In November last year, she starred in the drama For Colored Girls, Perry’s adaptation of the play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, the Ntozake Shange’s 1975 best-seller.

• She has sold over 100 million records worldwide and ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music, listed No. 11 best-selling female artists in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

At her PICC concert, Janet will perform songs from her Number Ones chart-topping album, including What Have You Done For Me Lately, Nasty, When I Think Of You, Control, Let’s Wait Awhile, The Pleasure Principle, Miss You Much, Rhythm Nation, Escapade, Alright, Come Back To Me, Black Cat, Love Will Never Do, The Best Things In Life Are Free, That’s The Way Love Goes, If, Again, Discipline, Because Of Love, Any Time Any Place, Scream (with Michael Jackson), Runaway, Got ’Til It’s Gone, Together Again, I Get Lonely, Go Deep, What’s It Gonna Be, Doesn’t Really Matter, All For You, Someone To Call My Lover, All Nite, Call On Me, Feedback and Make Me, her latest No. 1 single.

Janet chose The STAR as the only Philippine paper to do an exclusive e-mail interview with her. Excerpts:

What’s your Top 3 favorites among your 35 No.1 hits?

“Right now, I’m really enjoying Together Again, Discipline and Control.”

Why did you choose Manila to be the kick-off point of your largest-ever world tour?

“That is funny. Originally, I was going to start my tour in Singapore. I asked the fans to help me pick the cities that I should consider performing in and everything seemed like it was all set. Then we added Manila. I thank everyone who voted and helped me choose. Each of you is so important to me and I am looking forward to performing for you.”

You look forever concert-fit. How do you maintain that kind of body?

“Well, I don’t. LOL. I wrote a book, True You, that will come out on Feb.15th but the fans that go to the concert will be able to pick up a copy. I wrote the book because I have struggled with weight and self esteem. I want kids to have something to read and know that they are beautiful as they are. I write about these issues and how I have dealt with them over the years. It’s not an autobiography, but I talk about points in my life that have played a part in where I am today.

“We have been working for a while now on the choreography of the show. We rehearse all day to make sure that we are creating an exciting experience for all of you. It’s a lot of fun to work with my choreographer and all the dancers. It’s a lot of work and that with a strict meal plan keeps me in shape.”

With your energetic performance on-stage, how do you prevent another wardrobe malfunction during a concert (like what happened during her New York concert)?

“They happen — for me only once — but it does. I create the best show I can. I work with amazing people such as my stylist, Robert Behar, and then we go out and have a good time performing for my fans. If I see something that needs to be altered, we do it.”

Have you worked with Filipino artists? If so, what can you say about them?

“I don’t think of things like race or nationality. My team is very diverse and they are all amazing to work with. We are very much like a family.”

As an artist, how do you keep up with the trends in music?

“I stay in touch with the kids. I love social messaging. I am on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Friendster.

“When writing my book True You, I was reminded of all the negative things we are exposed to. The news is full of images that are troubling and all you seem to hear about these days are people doing bad deeds. It keeps me up at night. I also get to hear about people who are making a difference. I thought it would be fun to show kids who are changing their communities for the better, that they are appreciated. Hopefully, people will be inspired by these kids and decide to do something for others. I know I am always inspired by them. They rock!

“I hope that everyone in Manila will go to my website, janetjackson.com http://janetjackson.com/, and nominate five kids that I should consider. The 20 people chosen and the people who nominated them will be my VIP guests at the show. I am looking forward to seeing these kids at the concert and backstage. Meeting these kids is going to be amazing!”

You are an icon and have been successful as a recording artist and movie actress. Now, you have your own book. What else do you want to do or have not achieved in life?

“There is so much that I still want to do. It would be fun to be on Broadway. There is a whole different discipline to that schedule and I would like to experience it.”

You have been to the Philippines before, what do you remember or what do you like about our country?

“I love all of Asia. The last time I was in the Philippines was for the JANET Tour and I felt a true connection to the people of your magnificent country. I am looking forward to signing from my heart and showing love to my fans in Manila on Feb 4. Can’t wait to see all of you!”

What “surprise” are you going to spring on your Filipino fans during your concert in Manila?

“I am really looking forward to this tour. The last time I was in Manila, I played the Folk Arts Theater. This time we will be at the Philippine International Convention Center. It’s going to be fun because I will be up close with the fans. This is about my fans that have supported me and my work for all these years.”

Any message to your Filipino fans.

“I can’t wait to see all of you. Thank you for helping me pick Manila for my tour. It has been a long time since I was with you. We are going to have a good time. The song I am dedicating to you is Go Deep. I am looking forward to singing for you.”

(Note: Janet Jackson – Number Ones World Tour is presented by Wilbros Live, SMART, Goldilocks and GMA-7. The producers are extending special thanks to The Philippine STAR, ETC, 2^nd Avenue, Jack TV and PhilSTAR.com. Tickets are available at TicketWorld [891-9999] or Wilbros Live [374-9999].)

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