“I don’t care who’s around…”
From The Vault is back this week with an “after midnight” special. Pop royal Janet Jackson‘s 1993 hit ‘Any Time Any Place’ is this week’s selection.
Aptly, the track was the fifth single released from the artist’s eponymous fifth LP ‘janet.’, the smooth and sultry jam was yet another Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Jackson concoction and saw the singer thematically pushing the envelope with a voyeuristic setting.
Like all singles from the said album, the track was a monster hit, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and most importantly spent a then-record breaking 10 weeks at #1 on the Hip-Hop/R&B chart.
Its Urban success was due mostly to its remixed version courtesy of R. Kelly who was on a critical high with his ’12 Play’ album during the song’s time of release.
The Janet jam was brought back to the public’s attention in 2012 when Kendrick Lamar and Drake sampled it for their Hip-Hop smash ‘Poetic Justice’ – in reference to the movie Jackson starred in with legendary rapper Tupac.
For its music video, Jackson adopted a literal approach and can be seen engaging in sensual play with her neighbor.
Despite causing quite the controversy at the time for its explicit content (which these days could arguably be deemed tame), the visual – like most Jackson clips – offered a message. This time about the importance of safe-sex.
Directed by Keir McFarlane, a special edit was made for the R. Kelly remix with additional scenes.
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Though we really respect and enjoy the more demure approach Janet is taking with the ‘Unbreakable’ project, we do miss “baby-making-songs.” Indeed, much like Marvin Gaye, Ms. Jackson has the ability express even her dirtiest fantasies with an unparalleled air of class and sophistication.
Whatever the case, we’re glad we have Damita Jo back on the radio and the charts again.