Janet Jackson returned to Australia this week to continue the Australian tour cut short a few weeks back when she returned home to the USA to attend to family matters.
Janet Jackson - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
This was the not-so-intimate intimate show with three State Theatre audiences combined into one Rod Laver Arena show.
Regardless, the audience loved every moment. The die-hard Janet Jackson fans were out for the evening and singing along to every word of this greatest hits show.
Janet managed to sandwich at lot into the one hour and 20 minute show mainly because she did clusters of megamixers rather than versions of the original songs.
It was amazing that after a 21-song setlist there were still hits she missed like ‘Black Cat’ but that is more a testament to her successes over the past two decades.
Some moments gave us some history. What was she telling us in the first video interlude when she chose two telling scenes for her old TV shows, first from ‘Good Times’ and then ‘Diff’rent Strokes’. The Good Times clip showed an abusive mother and the Diff’rent Strokes clip talked about an uncaring father. (A bit close to home, Janet?)
It was a shame Janet didn’t give more to the audience. Being from such an iconic family and considering the story from the past, there was not a mention of her brother Michael even though she sang their duel hit ‘Scream’ and postponed this show because of circumstances with her brother.
Maybe that is the picky side of me coming out. She sounded incredible, she looked incredible and made the moves.
Setlist for Melbourne
You Want This (video)
The Pleasure Principle
Control
What Have You Done For Me Lately
Feedback
You Want This
Alright
Miss You Much
Nasty
(video of Janet in Good Times, Diff’rent Strokes, Poetic Justice, Why Did I Get Married Too)
Nothing
Come Back To Me
Let’s Wait Awhile
Again
(video interlude)
Escapade
Love Will Never Do (Without You)
When I Think Of You
That’s The Way Love Goes
(band)
If
Scream
Rhythm Nation
Together Again
All For You
