Кіріспе
1993 жылы шыққан Джанет Джексонның «If» әні – американдық әнші-әндер авторы Джанет Джексонның бесінші альбомы «Janet» (1993) альбомынан алынған. Джексон «If» әнін Джимми Джем мен Терри Льюиспен бірлесіп жазған және продюсерлік еткен, ал Харви Фукуа, Джон Бристол және Жэки Биверс Диана Росс пен The Supremes орындаған «Someday We'll Be Together» композициясының үлгісін пайдаланғандықтары үшін әндер авторы ретінде көрсетілген. «If» әні 1993 жылдың 13 шілдесінде Virgin Records лейблынан альбомның екінші синглы ретінде жарық көрді. Ән түрлі жанрларды біріктіреді, оның ішінде рок, трип-хоп және индустриалдық музыка, сонымен қатар жаңа джек-свинг пен хип-хоп элементтерін қамтиды. «If» әні сыншылар тарапынан жоғары бағаланды, көптеген сыншылар Джексонның бұрынғы сақталған, бойдақ бейнесінен жыныстық тұлғаға қалыптасуын атап өтті. Ән BMI Pop Award сыйлығын «Ең көп ойналған ән» номинациясы бойынша алды және Slant Magazine журналының «1990 жылдардың ең жақсы синглдері» тізіміне енді. АҚШ Billboard Hot 100 хит-парадында төртінші орынға жетіп, Америка жазба индустриясы қауымдастығынан (RIAA) алтын сертификат алды. Канада, Жаңа Зеландия және Ұлыбританияда да жақсы көрсеткіштерді көрсетті. «If» әніне Доминик Сена түсірген музыкалық бейнеклип войеризмді, сезімталдықты және күшті хореографияны бейнелейді, сонымен қатар сол кезде қол жетімді болмаған сенсорлық экрандар мен веб-камералар сияқты технологияларды көрсетеді. Бейнеклип MTV Video Music Awards-та «Үздік әйел бейнесі» және «Үздік би бейнесі» сияқты бірнеше марапаттарға ие болды, сондай-ақ Billboard Жылдың би клипі сыйлығын жеңіп алды. Idolator журналы оны онжылдықтың екінші үздік әйел бейнесі деп таныды. Джексон «If» әнін MTV Video Music Awards-та «That's the Way Love Goes» әнімен бірге орындады, сонымен қатар бірнеше концерттік турларында да орындады.
1993 single by Janet Jackson
"If" is a song by American singer songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). Jackson co wrote and co produced "If" with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Harvey Fuqua, John Bristol and Jackey Beavers receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of their composition "Someday We'll Be Together", performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes. "If" was released as the album's second single on July 13, 1993, by Virgin Records. It fuses various genres, including rock, trip hop and industrial music, with elements of new jack swing and hip hop. "If" received critical acclaim, with most critics noting Jackson's evolution into a sexual persona from her prior reserved, celibate public image. It received a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song and was also ranked among Slant Magazines "Best Singles of the 1990s" list. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also performed well in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video for "If", directed by Dominic Sena, portrays voyeurism, sensuality and intense choreography, while depicting technology that was unavailable at the time, such as touch screens and web cameras. The video received various accolades, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year. It was also voted the second best female video of the decade by Idolator. Jackson performed "If" at the MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes", in addition to several of her concert tours. Background
Jackson's role in the film Poetic Justice gave her the confidence to attempt edgier themes musically, commenting "I know it would shock people, but I'm not doing it for shock value. And I know there are some people that are going to say, 'No, I will not be able to accept this because this is a little girl that we saw when she was seven years old.'" She continued, "Everybody says, 'Oh, my God, you've changed so much. Is this really you? '," described to laugh before saying, "Of course it's me." Virgin Records wanted the song to be janet's lead single, saying "it could have a great dance video." Jackson disagreed, deciding to release it as the album's second release. The song was written by Jackson in a conference room during a label meeting. Jackson added, "[its] about a girl who goes to a club and fantasizes about this guy: serious fantasies about the things she'd do to him if she was his girl – the positions and things like that. But she's not, so she can't, so she gets pretty frustrated in the second verse – without it being too much. It's still within good taste." Critical reception
"If" was acclaimed for its innovation and sonic progression, as well as its sexuality and usage of multiple genres. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism called it "a pounding, fuzzed up, nasty sounding track that drips with the thrill of lust at first sight." David Nathan of B&S Magazine remarked that the song pulls no punches. "Listening to it and reading the lyrics Janet wrote in a Virgin Records conference room, I blush in itself a rare occurrence." Andrew Hammp from Billboard declared it a "rockin' dance track," with strings that "anchor the climax." The song's theme of avoiding temptation to interfere with monogamy was also noted, adding "Though Jackson lets her mind race with naughty thoughts [ ], she ultimately stops herself from going after someone else's man." Another editor, Larry Flick described it as a "moist, seductive teaser, wrapped in an equally sexy pop/hiphop groove." He added, "Her honey sweet voice bounces off cyborg guitar riffing, taking the rhythm rock vibe of her Rhythm Nation hit "Black Cat" to a more intense level. Tucked beneath the pleasingly crowded production is an infectious chorus and a nifty funk bassline." Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There's a surprising, fuzzed up guitar riff lifted from Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' that gives 'If' some punch." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly exclaimed it "takes Jackson into exciting new terrain," blending her vocals with "a traffic jam in a city of cyborgs." A writer for Idolator called it an "industrial dance/sex epic" in addition to "infectious and raunchy," saying "Janet Jackson's unmistakable voice is used to perfection to create an eerily tropical but beautiful track." "If" was also interpreted as "a swirling epic number", fusing "90s disco with guitar rock," using a "Hendrix lite guitar" throughout the song. Jackson's vocals were delivered at "break neck speed, practically rapping about the salacious pleasures of her lover," while its production had "a lot of styles on display," including "distorted synth meets acoustic guitar." Nicholas Jennings of Maclean's called the "guitar driven" song a "standout" for its explicit lines. Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting it as "certainly unusual, and certainly a hit." Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed the song to open with a "screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody." A reviewer from Popblerd said it "starts with guitar feedback" before transitioning into "a sweaty, sexy dance workout", adding it "blew us away." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update called it "guitar yowled swirling jittery jack swing pop". Dave Ritz from Rolling Stone qualified it as both "subtle and bold," with Jackson's "bedroom fantasies" given "a fierce dressing up — tough jeep beats, hard rock guitar, and a Diana Ross & The Supremes sample — and some missed just what she was on about." Music critic Richard Croft raved "the janet. album was a big sex fest from beginning to end but nowhere was it hotter than 'If'," labeling the chorus "infectious, at the same time bitchy and vulnerable, defiant and desperate." The song's sexuality was considered to accomplish "the rare thing of being feminist and feminine at the same time without compromising either," saying the song is "a big pleading love song that put her totally at the whim of the man, and a big fuck off anthem that said "I'm here, I'm Janet freaking Jackson, but if you're not gonna notice me then get bent". Phrased a little differently, of course." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said its content was "impending or simply imagined", adding "the very title of which embodies that fact, is essentially about masturbation, with Janet describing what her lover's "smooth and shiny [cock]" feels like against her lips while ostensibly rubbing herself off under the covers". Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave "If" four out of five, declaring it "her sauciest and funkiest yet." He added, "Janet's turning into Prince — and that's not such a bad thing." Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette stated "the naughty seducer" to be one of Jackson's "most exciting tracks." An anecdote also stated Jackson became "the sex kitten every man dreamed she would be," opposed to formerly known as "a sweet fresh faced girl singing little ditties about young love." The lyrics "purposely leaves something to the imagination," leaving one to wonder what Jackson is referring to: "Could Janet be talking about the lips, chest, or a man's procreation stick? For freakiness' sake, I'd like to go with the last option over everything." A reviewer from Vibe called it "a weird masterpiece". Chart performance
"If" debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 28, 1993. It reached number three on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and peaked atop the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It placed at number nineteen on the annual year end chart and sold 600,000 copies. In Canada, the song debuted at number ninety two before peaking at number three in October. It spent a total of nineteen weeks on the chart and was ranked at number twenty five on Canada's RPM year end chart. On April 2, 2011, the song charted at number forty five on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "If" was directed by American director Dominic Sena and choreographed by Tina Landon and Jackson, with additional choreography by Omar Lopez and Keith Williams. It takes place in an Asian nightclub, displaying touch screen technology and web cameras used to monitor the interactions of patrons. Jackson is the club's main performer, being observed by patrons through screens who are able to enter the function by saying the correct password. The video's themes of sexual fantasy, desire, and voyeurism were intended as an elaborate metaphor for the song's racy content. Jackson commented on the video, stating "It's nothing nasty or dirty, but it's very sexy. During taping I kept saying, 'Oh, my god, I'm glad my mother is not here.'" An alternate version of the video known as the "All Dance Version" focuses solely on the video's choreography. This version was shown on many music channels due to the original's suggestive visuals regarded as very explicit at the time. The uncensored video appears on the From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos compilation, while the alternate version is included on the janet. video release and re release of All for You. Synopsis
The video opens with a moonlit scene of a woman wearing a Kimono walking towards a building in an Asian village. The woman walks to the door, looks into a hidden camera and says the password, "If". A man operating the door from inside then grants her access to the festivities. The inside of the bordello is then shown as a green light turns on, signaling male dancers to be lowered from the ceiling, who descend upside down on ropes in a winding fashion simulating a corkscrew. The woman is then shown entering the club. A wider view of the club is then revealed, with club patron watching the stage as female dancers perform. Various scenes of people attending the club are shown through touch screen monitors and web cameras. Multiple screens are shown, and a man watching some of the other patron on the monitor uses the futuristic touch screen to select angles of the performance on the main stage. The doors on the main platform then rapidly open as Janet, who is wearing a black and white top, black pants and a Bohemian choker, descends the stairs and enters the main stage, surrounded by blowing red fabric and a radiant white light. She focuses solely on one man in the audience watching her through the monitor as she and her dancers start performing a sexually suggestive dance routine, three women in high fashion outfits are shown walking through the club and observing the men in attendance through a monitor. As Jackson continues entertaining the crowd, the woman who was originally shown entering the bordello is again seen walking through the event, quickly paying one of the guards to allow her into the club's private sector. Jackson continues the routine as additional scenes on a monitor are briefly seen. This leads into the video's choreographed breakdown, with Jackson performing the routine as angles switch multiple times. Jackson continues the intricate dance while a woman is shown touching the image of a man's faces on another screen. Another woman is then shown on a webcam, becoming aroused while observing a couple engaging in sexual activity. The video's final dance sequence begins, with Janet grabbing a male dancer's crotch region and simulating oral sex, before placing him on the floor and bending him over. Janet continues to seductively watch the man in the audience as she performs, kneeling before the male dancer and then lowering him to floor. The video ends with the man in the audience passionately touching an image of Janet on the monitor, as the woman who was shown entering the club is then seen exiting and walking towards the village. Reception
Described by Jackson as "a female fantasy," David Ritz of Rolling Stone analyzed the video to include "tantalizing bodies" and "mock cunnilingus," along with the "scrambled" reality and rampant voyeurism of Jackson watching herself as she's observed by others through various monitors. Arena Magazine described it as a "dramatic" change, remarking "the black uniform ripped off to reveal a slimmed down, body conscious Janet. The transformation was dramatic." Jet Magazine thought the video displayed "a liberated Janet, who flirted with eroticism but steered clear of moves that would be considered pornographic," also used to "showcase her pelvic thrusts and flashy dance moves." Billboard exclaimed "If" to be a "climax" which is "inseparable from its iconic music video," based on its "head slapping choreography." Slant Magazine thought the video fulfilled the purpose of "providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance break routines in music video history." Legacy and influence
"If" is one of several of Jackson's videos considered to influence a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women. Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before (2007), wrote "in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid 1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18 24 had experienced cunnilingus. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend," with Jackson "heavily implying male on female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution (2000) states that "[i]n the early to mid 1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing Jackson as a prime example of a female artist simulating cunnilingus in her videos, specifically in "If." The video was innovative for its depiction of touch screen technology and web cams, which were not yet invented at the time of its release. Jackson later said, "I don't think people really realize what we were showing in that video that wasn't available with technology then. The video featured futuristic technology, specifically high definition touch screens. I wanted the actors in the video to use these screens to communicate, and relate with each other in the clubs. Similar to what we all do with our smart phones and tablets today. As I look at our lives now, it seems that life is imitating art." Britney Spears was influenced by "If" for videos such as "I'm a Slave 4 U", saying "Janet's video for 'If'. I saw that, and I admired it and wanted to be like her," calling Jackson a "powerful role model" with "her own identity". Elements of the "If" choreography has been referenced frequently, including "multiple videos" by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Ciara, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and N' Sync, with specific examples including Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Lil' Kim's "No Matter What They Say", and Paula Abdul's "My Love Is for Real". A critique of the video added, "Women want to be her. The gays want to be like her. Men want to do morally questionable things to her The current crop of artists, "including Gaga, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney etc ALL follow her trail blazing footsteps." Live performances
Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993. She wore a leather crop top and jeans for this performance. The performance was introduced by actor Christian Slater, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen" during the announcement. The MTV Video Music Awards performance is often considered one of the most infamous and intricate performances of Jackson's career. Complex considered the performance among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." On the 1993 95 janet. World Tour, Jackson performed "If" as the opening song. Lenny Stoute of the Toronto Star stated "This pelvic thrusting, butt wiggling, lip licking high energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference." Jet Magazine wrote, "Janet mesmerzied the crowd by opening with the hit song, 'If'." It has also been performed on all of her following tours, the janet. World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and the State of the World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour. "If" was also performed at the 2009 American Music Awards as promotion for Number Ones, during a medley with "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Make Me", and "Together Again". On the 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, The Boston Herald called the performance "an all out dance onslaught," praising her ability to still perform "the same stylized dance moves from the classic 1993 video." The Seattle Times exclaimed "As a woman who has never been afraid to strut her sexuality, her oh no you didn't dance moves are always a delight. "If's" crotch grabbing and finger licking were classic Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty)", also saying this "served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." An additional critique declared routine "defined her career and set her apart from contemporaries, including the newer crop of performers," adding "the in you face sexy "If" made it "apparent that Ms. Jackson hasn't lost a step — even at 45." Legacy
In 2013, Esquire Magazine placed the song's "hypothetical" situation among their list of "Sexiest Janet Jackson songs," saying "Janet wants you but you're in another relationship and she respects boundaries (but her mind is still dirty)." Rakesh Satwell of New York Magazine praised "If" as "a punch to the eardrum," declaring that it remains "as fresh as it did then" and a departure from radio trends twenty years after its release. Satwell considered the song "overwhelming" in the current mainstream landscape, in comparison to "our David Guetta glut." The song was commended as a "more impressive feat" for sounding "as it if it's from the future," in contrast to hits such as Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" which glorified "musical silk of the past." The song was applauded as a "sweaty, sexy dance workout" which "still holds up" twenty years after its premiere. Pitchfork ranked the song as the fiftieth best song of the nineties, calling it "the fiercest track from her chart obliterating Janet album". Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
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!List of accolades for "If"
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{|class="wikitable" style="border:none; margin:0; width:100%;"
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!Award
!Nominated work
!Result
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|Billboard Awards
|Dance Clip of the Year
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|BMI Pop Awards
|Most Played Song
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|Idolator
|Best Female VMA Winning Video of the '90s — #2 (2013)
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|rowspan="3"|MTV Video Music Awards
|Best Female Video
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|Best Choreography in a Video
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|Best Dance Video
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|Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards
|Music Video of the Year
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|Slant Magazine
|100 Best Singles of the '90s — #22 Kwon Yuri of Girls' Generation performed covers of "If" during the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A studio version was released the following year. Dance troupe A. S. I. I. D. performed a routine to "If" on an episode of America's Best Dance Crew titled "Janet Jackson Challenge". Charmaine P. Dennis of Cinema Blend commented "Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely." Electronic artist EPROM released a remix of "If" in 2011. Okayfuture described it as a "bubbly, reverb infused, deep bass remix", and Hypetrak said "Janet was one of the most influential pop albums during the early nineties. Thus, it is more than right that its standout single, "If," is still a demanded subject to reinterpretation." Kaytranada released a remix of "If" in 2012. Okayplayer gave the remix a positive review, stating "That bumpin' bassline, the infectious claps and overall bouncin' nu disco vibe had us at hello. Rarely have we ever seen a sample done oh so right." Track listings
US CD maxi single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (D&D 12 inch Mix/Adult 12 inch) – 5:47
"If" (short single edit) – 2:59
"One More Chance" – 5:54
US 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
US double 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:02
"If" (D&D 7 inch mix) – 4:23
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D JDD mix) – 5:26
"If" (Tee's Capella) – 2:09
UK CD single Japanese CD single "If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
UK 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
French CD single Japanese 3 inch CD single'''
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"One More Chance" – 5:54
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the janet.'' liner notes. Janet Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, producer
Jimmy Jam – producer
Terry Lewis – producer
Steve Hodge – mixing
Dave Rideau – mixing
Todd Perry – remixer
Darryl James – remixer
David Anthony – remixer
"If" is a song by American singer songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). Jackson co wrote and co produced "If" with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Harvey Fuqua, John Bristol and Jackey Beavers receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of their composition "Someday We'll Be Together", performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes. "If" was released as the album's second single on July 13, 1993, by Virgin Records. It fuses various genres, including rock, trip hop and industrial music, with elements of new jack swing and hip hop. "If" received critical acclaim, with most critics noting Jackson's evolution into a sexual persona from her prior reserved, celibate public image. It received a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song and was also ranked among Slant Magazines "Best Singles of the 1990s" list. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also performed well in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video for "If", directed by Dominic Sena, portrays voyeurism, sensuality and intense choreography, while depicting technology that was unavailable at the time, such as touch screens and web cameras. The video received various accolades, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year. It was also voted the second best female video of the decade by Idolator. Jackson performed "If" at the MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes", in addition to several of her concert tours. Background
Jackson's role in the film Poetic Justice gave her the confidence to attempt edgier themes musically, commenting "I know it would shock people, but I'm not doing it for shock value. And I know there are some people that are going to say, 'No, I will not be able to accept this because this is a little girl that we saw when she was seven years old.'" She continued, "Everybody says, 'Oh, my God, you've changed so much. Is this really you? '," described to laugh before saying, "Of course it's me." Virgin Records wanted the song to be janet's lead single, saying "it could have a great dance video." Jackson disagreed, deciding to release it as the album's second release. The song was written by Jackson in a conference room during a label meeting. Jackson added, "[its] about a girl who goes to a club and fantasizes about this guy: serious fantasies about the things she'd do to him if she was his girl – the positions and things like that. But she's not, so she can't, so she gets pretty frustrated in the second verse – without it being too much. It's still within good taste." Critical reception
"If" was acclaimed for its innovation and sonic progression, as well as its sexuality and usage of multiple genres. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism called it "a pounding, fuzzed up, nasty sounding track that drips with the thrill of lust at first sight." David Nathan of B&S Magazine remarked that the song pulls no punches. "Listening to it and reading the lyrics Janet wrote in a Virgin Records conference room, I blush in itself a rare occurrence." Andrew Hammp from Billboard declared it a "rockin' dance track," with strings that "anchor the climax." The song's theme of avoiding temptation to interfere with monogamy was also noted, adding "Though Jackson lets her mind race with naughty thoughts [ ], she ultimately stops herself from going after someone else's man." Another editor, Larry Flick described it as a "moist, seductive teaser, wrapped in an equally sexy pop/hiphop groove." He added, "Her honey sweet voice bounces off cyborg guitar riffing, taking the rhythm rock vibe of her Rhythm Nation hit "Black Cat" to a more intense level. Tucked beneath the pleasingly crowded production is an infectious chorus and a nifty funk bassline." Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There's a surprising, fuzzed up guitar riff lifted from Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' that gives 'If' some punch." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly exclaimed it "takes Jackson into exciting new terrain," blending her vocals with "a traffic jam in a city of cyborgs." A writer for Idolator called it an "industrial dance/sex epic" in addition to "infectious and raunchy," saying "Janet Jackson's unmistakable voice is used to perfection to create an eerily tropical but beautiful track." "If" was also interpreted as "a swirling epic number", fusing "90s disco with guitar rock," using a "Hendrix lite guitar" throughout the song. Jackson's vocals were delivered at "break neck speed, practically rapping about the salacious pleasures of her lover," while its production had "a lot of styles on display," including "distorted synth meets acoustic guitar." Nicholas Jennings of Maclean's called the "guitar driven" song a "standout" for its explicit lines. Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting it as "certainly unusual, and certainly a hit." Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed the song to open with a "screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody." A reviewer from Popblerd said it "starts with guitar feedback" before transitioning into "a sweaty, sexy dance workout", adding it "blew us away." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update called it "guitar yowled swirling jittery jack swing pop". Dave Ritz from Rolling Stone qualified it as both "subtle and bold," with Jackson's "bedroom fantasies" given "a fierce dressing up — tough jeep beats, hard rock guitar, and a Diana Ross & The Supremes sample — and some missed just what she was on about." Music critic Richard Croft raved "the janet. album was a big sex fest from beginning to end but nowhere was it hotter than 'If'," labeling the chorus "infectious, at the same time bitchy and vulnerable, defiant and desperate." The song's sexuality was considered to accomplish "the rare thing of being feminist and feminine at the same time without compromising either," saying the song is "a big pleading love song that put her totally at the whim of the man, and a big fuck off anthem that said "I'm here, I'm Janet freaking Jackson, but if you're not gonna notice me then get bent". Phrased a little differently, of course." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said its content was "impending or simply imagined", adding "the very title of which embodies that fact, is essentially about masturbation, with Janet describing what her lover's "smooth and shiny [cock]" feels like against her lips while ostensibly rubbing herself off under the covers". Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave "If" four out of five, declaring it "her sauciest and funkiest yet." He added, "Janet's turning into Prince — and that's not such a bad thing." Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette stated "the naughty seducer" to be one of Jackson's "most exciting tracks." An anecdote also stated Jackson became "the sex kitten every man dreamed she would be," opposed to formerly known as "a sweet fresh faced girl singing little ditties about young love." The lyrics "purposely leaves something to the imagination," leaving one to wonder what Jackson is referring to: "Could Janet be talking about the lips, chest, or a man's procreation stick? For freakiness' sake, I'd like to go with the last option over everything." A reviewer from Vibe called it "a weird masterpiece". Chart performance
"If" debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 28, 1993. It reached number three on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and peaked atop the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It placed at number nineteen on the annual year end chart and sold 600,000 copies. In Canada, the song debuted at number ninety two before peaking at number three in October. It spent a total of nineteen weeks on the chart and was ranked at number twenty five on Canada's RPM year end chart. On April 2, 2011, the song charted at number forty five on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "If" was directed by American director Dominic Sena and choreographed by Tina Landon and Jackson, with additional choreography by Omar Lopez and Keith Williams. It takes place in an Asian nightclub, displaying touch screen technology and web cameras used to monitor the interactions of patrons. Jackson is the club's main performer, being observed by patrons through screens who are able to enter the function by saying the correct password. The video's themes of sexual fantasy, desire, and voyeurism were intended as an elaborate metaphor for the song's racy content. Jackson commented on the video, stating "It's nothing nasty or dirty, but it's very sexy. During taping I kept saying, 'Oh, my god, I'm glad my mother is not here.'" An alternate version of the video known as the "All Dance Version" focuses solely on the video's choreography. This version was shown on many music channels due to the original's suggestive visuals regarded as very explicit at the time. The uncensored video appears on the From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos compilation, while the alternate version is included on the janet. video release and re release of All for You. Synopsis
The video opens with a moonlit scene of a woman wearing a Kimono walking towards a building in an Asian village. The woman walks to the door, looks into a hidden camera and says the password, "If". A man operating the door from inside then grants her access to the festivities. The inside of the bordello is then shown as a green light turns on, signaling male dancers to be lowered from the ceiling, who descend upside down on ropes in a winding fashion simulating a corkscrew. The woman is then shown entering the club. A wider view of the club is then revealed, with club patron watching the stage as female dancers perform. Various scenes of people attending the club are shown through touch screen monitors and web cameras. Multiple screens are shown, and a man watching some of the other patron on the monitor uses the futuristic touch screen to select angles of the performance on the main stage. The doors on the main platform then rapidly open as Janet, who is wearing a black and white top, black pants and a Bohemian choker, descends the stairs and enters the main stage, surrounded by blowing red fabric and a radiant white light. She focuses solely on one man in the audience watching her through the monitor as she and her dancers start performing a sexually suggestive dance routine, three women in high fashion outfits are shown walking through the club and observing the men in attendance through a monitor. As Jackson continues entertaining the crowd, the woman who was originally shown entering the bordello is again seen walking through the event, quickly paying one of the guards to allow her into the club's private sector. Jackson continues the routine as additional scenes on a monitor are briefly seen. This leads into the video's choreographed breakdown, with Jackson performing the routine as angles switch multiple times. Jackson continues the intricate dance while a woman is shown touching the image of a man's faces on another screen. Another woman is then shown on a webcam, becoming aroused while observing a couple engaging in sexual activity. The video's final dance sequence begins, with Janet grabbing a male dancer's crotch region and simulating oral sex, before placing him on the floor and bending him over. Janet continues to seductively watch the man in the audience as she performs, kneeling before the male dancer and then lowering him to floor. The video ends with the man in the audience passionately touching an image of Janet on the monitor, as the woman who was shown entering the club is then seen exiting and walking towards the village. Reception
Described by Jackson as "a female fantasy," David Ritz of Rolling Stone analyzed the video to include "tantalizing bodies" and "mock cunnilingus," along with the "scrambled" reality and rampant voyeurism of Jackson watching herself as she's observed by others through various monitors. Arena Magazine described it as a "dramatic" change, remarking "the black uniform ripped off to reveal a slimmed down, body conscious Janet. The transformation was dramatic." Jet Magazine thought the video displayed "a liberated Janet, who flirted with eroticism but steered clear of moves that would be considered pornographic," also used to "showcase her pelvic thrusts and flashy dance moves." Billboard exclaimed "If" to be a "climax" which is "inseparable from its iconic music video," based on its "head slapping choreography." Slant Magazine thought the video fulfilled the purpose of "providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance break routines in music video history." Legacy and influence
"If" is one of several of Jackson's videos considered to influence a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women. Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before (2007), wrote "in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid 1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18 24 had experienced cunnilingus. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend," with Jackson "heavily implying male on female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution (2000) states that "[i]n the early to mid 1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing Jackson as a prime example of a female artist simulating cunnilingus in her videos, specifically in "If." The video was innovative for its depiction of touch screen technology and web cams, which were not yet invented at the time of its release. Jackson later said, "I don't think people really realize what we were showing in that video that wasn't available with technology then. The video featured futuristic technology, specifically high definition touch screens. I wanted the actors in the video to use these screens to communicate, and relate with each other in the clubs. Similar to what we all do with our smart phones and tablets today. As I look at our lives now, it seems that life is imitating art." Britney Spears was influenced by "If" for videos such as "I'm a Slave 4 U", saying "Janet's video for 'If'. I saw that, and I admired it and wanted to be like her," calling Jackson a "powerful role model" with "her own identity". Elements of the "If" choreography has been referenced frequently, including "multiple videos" by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Ciara, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and N' Sync, with specific examples including Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Lil' Kim's "No Matter What They Say", and Paula Abdul's "My Love Is for Real". A critique of the video added, "Women want to be her. The gays want to be like her. Men want to do morally questionable things to her The current crop of artists, "including Gaga, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney etc ALL follow her trail blazing footsteps." Live performances
Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993. She wore a leather crop top and jeans for this performance. The performance was introduced by actor Christian Slater, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen" during the announcement. The MTV Video Music Awards performance is often considered one of the most infamous and intricate performances of Jackson's career. Complex considered the performance among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." On the 1993 95 janet. World Tour, Jackson performed "If" as the opening song. Lenny Stoute of the Toronto Star stated "This pelvic thrusting, butt wiggling, lip licking high energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference." Jet Magazine wrote, "Janet mesmerzied the crowd by opening with the hit song, 'If'." It has also been performed on all of her following tours, the janet. World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and the State of the World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour. "If" was also performed at the 2009 American Music Awards as promotion for Number Ones, during a medley with "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Make Me", and "Together Again". On the 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, The Boston Herald called the performance "an all out dance onslaught," praising her ability to still perform "the same stylized dance moves from the classic 1993 video." The Seattle Times exclaimed "As a woman who has never been afraid to strut her sexuality, her oh no you didn't dance moves are always a delight. "If's" crotch grabbing and finger licking were classic Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty)", also saying this "served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." An additional critique declared routine "defined her career and set her apart from contemporaries, including the newer crop of performers," adding "the in you face sexy "If" made it "apparent that Ms. Jackson hasn't lost a step — even at 45." Legacy
In 2013, Esquire Magazine placed the song's "hypothetical" situation among their list of "Sexiest Janet Jackson songs," saying "Janet wants you but you're in another relationship and she respects boundaries (but her mind is still dirty)." Rakesh Satwell of New York Magazine praised "If" as "a punch to the eardrum," declaring that it remains "as fresh as it did then" and a departure from radio trends twenty years after its release. Satwell considered the song "overwhelming" in the current mainstream landscape, in comparison to "our David Guetta glut." The song was commended as a "more impressive feat" for sounding "as it if it's from the future," in contrast to hits such as Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" which glorified "musical silk of the past." The song was applauded as a "sweaty, sexy dance workout" which "still holds up" twenty years after its premiere. Pitchfork ranked the song as the fiftieth best song of the nineties, calling it "the fiercest track from her chart obliterating Janet album". Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
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!List of accolades for "If"
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!Award
!Nominated work
!Result
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|Billboard Awards
|Dance Clip of the Year
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|BMI Pop Awards
|Most Played Song
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|Idolator
|Best Female VMA Winning Video of the '90s — #2 (2013)
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|rowspan="3"|MTV Video Music Awards
|Best Female Video
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|Best Choreography in a Video
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|Best Dance Video
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|Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards
|Music Video of the Year
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|Slant Magazine
|100 Best Singles of the '90s — #22 Kwon Yuri of Girls' Generation performed covers of "If" during the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A studio version was released the following year. Dance troupe A. S. I. I. D. performed a routine to "If" on an episode of America's Best Dance Crew titled "Janet Jackson Challenge". Charmaine P. Dennis of Cinema Blend commented "Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely." Electronic artist EPROM released a remix of "If" in 2011. Okayfuture described it as a "bubbly, reverb infused, deep bass remix", and Hypetrak said "Janet was one of the most influential pop albums during the early nineties. Thus, it is more than right that its standout single, "If," is still a demanded subject to reinterpretation." Kaytranada released a remix of "If" in 2012. Okayplayer gave the remix a positive review, stating "That bumpin' bassline, the infectious claps and overall bouncin' nu disco vibe had us at hello. Rarely have we ever seen a sample done oh so right." Track listings
US CD maxi single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (D&D 12 inch Mix/Adult 12 inch) – 5:47
"If" (short single edit) – 2:59
"One More Chance" – 5:54
US 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
US double 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:02
"If" (D&D 7 inch mix) – 4:23
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D JDD mix) – 5:26
"If" (Tee's Capella) – 2:09
UK CD single Japanese CD single "If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
UK 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
French CD single Japanese 3 inch CD single'''
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"One More Chance" – 5:54
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the janet.'' liner notes. Janet Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, producer
Jimmy Jam – producer
Terry Lewis – producer
Steve Hodge – mixing
Dave Rideau – mixing
Todd Perry – remixer
Darryl James – remixer
David Anthony – remixer
Джексонның «Поэтикалық әділдік» фильміндегі рөлі оған музыкалық тұрғыдан қиынырақ тақырыптарды көтеруге сенімділік берді, ол былай деді: «Мен адамдарды таң қалдыратынымды білемін, бірақ мен бұл үшін сенсация жасау үшін жасамаймын. Мен кейбір адамдардың «Жоқ, мен мұны қабылдай алмаймын, өйткені бұл біз жеті жасында көрген қыз» дейтінін білемін». Ол жалғастырды: «Барлығы: «Құдай-ау, сен соншалықты өзгердің. Бұл шынымен сенсің бе?» – дейді», деп күліп, «Әрине, менмін» деді. Virgin Records лейблы әнді Джанеттің басты синглы ретінде шығаруды қалады, «онда керемет би бейнесі болуы мүмкін» деді. Джексон бұған келіспей, оны альбомның екінші синглы ретінде шығаруды шешті. Ән Джексон лейблмен өткен кездесудегі конференц-залда жазылған. Джексон былай қосты: «Бұл клубқа баратын және осы жігіт туралы қиялдайтын қыз туралы: егер ол оның қызы болса, оған не істейтіні туралы қиялдар. Бірақ ол олай емес, сондықтан ол жасай алмайды, сондықтан екінші куплетте ол өте көңілді болады, бірақ бұл тым көп емес. Бұл әлі де жақсы дәмі бар».
1993 single by Janet Jackson
"If" is a song by American singer songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). Jackson co wrote and co produced "If" with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Harvey Fuqua, John Bristol and Jackey Beavers receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of their composition "Someday We'll Be Together", performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes. "If" was released as the album's second single on July 13, 1993, by Virgin Records. It fuses various genres, including rock, trip hop and industrial music, with elements of new jack swing and hip hop. "If" received critical acclaim, with most critics noting Jackson's evolution into a sexual persona from her prior reserved, celibate public image. It received a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song and was also ranked among Slant Magazines "Best Singles of the 1990s" list. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also performed well in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video for "If", directed by Dominic Sena, portrays voyeurism, sensuality and intense choreography, while depicting technology that was unavailable at the time, such as touch screens and web cameras. The video received various accolades, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year. It was also voted the second best female video of the decade by Idolator. Jackson performed "If" at the MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes", in addition to several of her concert tours. Background
Jackson's role in the film Poetic Justice gave her the confidence to attempt edgier themes musically, commenting "I know it would shock people, but I'm not doing it for shock value. And I know there are some people that are going to say, 'No, I will not be able to accept this because this is a little girl that we saw when she was seven years old.'" She continued, "Everybody says, 'Oh, my God, you've changed so much. Is this really you? '," described to laugh before saying, "Of course it's me." Virgin Records wanted the song to be janet's lead single, saying "it could have a great dance video." Jackson disagreed, deciding to release it as the album's second release. The song was written by Jackson in a conference room during a label meeting. Jackson added, "[its] about a girl who goes to a club and fantasizes about this guy: serious fantasies about the things she'd do to him if she was his girl – the positions and things like that. But she's not, so she can't, so she gets pretty frustrated in the second verse – without it being too much. It's still within good taste." Critical reception
"If" was acclaimed for its innovation and sonic progression, as well as its sexuality and usage of multiple genres. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism called it "a pounding, fuzzed up, nasty sounding track that drips with the thrill of lust at first sight." David Nathan of B&S Magazine remarked that the song pulls no punches. "Listening to it and reading the lyrics Janet wrote in a Virgin Records conference room, I blush in itself a rare occurrence." Andrew Hammp from Billboard declared it a "rockin' dance track," with strings that "anchor the climax." The song's theme of avoiding temptation to interfere with monogamy was also noted, adding "Though Jackson lets her mind race with naughty thoughts [ ], she ultimately stops herself from going after someone else's man." Another editor, Larry Flick described it as a "moist, seductive teaser, wrapped in an equally sexy pop/hiphop groove." He added, "Her honey sweet voice bounces off cyborg guitar riffing, taking the rhythm rock vibe of her Rhythm Nation hit "Black Cat" to a more intense level. Tucked beneath the pleasingly crowded production is an infectious chorus and a nifty funk bassline." Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There's a surprising, fuzzed up guitar riff lifted from Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' that gives 'If' some punch." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly exclaimed it "takes Jackson into exciting new terrain," blending her vocals with "a traffic jam in a city of cyborgs." A writer for Idolator called it an "industrial dance/sex epic" in addition to "infectious and raunchy," saying "Janet Jackson's unmistakable voice is used to perfection to create an eerily tropical but beautiful track." "If" was also interpreted as "a swirling epic number", fusing "90s disco with guitar rock," using a "Hendrix lite guitar" throughout the song. Jackson's vocals were delivered at "break neck speed, practically rapping about the salacious pleasures of her lover," while its production had "a lot of styles on display," including "distorted synth meets acoustic guitar." Nicholas Jennings of Maclean's called the "guitar driven" song a "standout" for its explicit lines. Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting it as "certainly unusual, and certainly a hit." Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed the song to open with a "screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody." A reviewer from Popblerd said it "starts with guitar feedback" before transitioning into "a sweaty, sexy dance workout", adding it "blew us away." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update called it "guitar yowled swirling jittery jack swing pop". Dave Ritz from Rolling Stone qualified it as both "subtle and bold," with Jackson's "bedroom fantasies" given "a fierce dressing up — tough jeep beats, hard rock guitar, and a Diana Ross & The Supremes sample — and some missed just what she was on about." Music critic Richard Croft raved "the janet. album was a big sex fest from beginning to end but nowhere was it hotter than 'If'," labeling the chorus "infectious, at the same time bitchy and vulnerable, defiant and desperate." The song's sexuality was considered to accomplish "the rare thing of being feminist and feminine at the same time without compromising either," saying the song is "a big pleading love song that put her totally at the whim of the man, and a big fuck off anthem that said "I'm here, I'm Janet freaking Jackson, but if you're not gonna notice me then get bent". Phrased a little differently, of course." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said its content was "impending or simply imagined", adding "the very title of which embodies that fact, is essentially about masturbation, with Janet describing what her lover's "smooth and shiny [cock]" feels like against her lips while ostensibly rubbing herself off under the covers". Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave "If" four out of five, declaring it "her sauciest and funkiest yet." He added, "Janet's turning into Prince — and that's not such a bad thing." Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette stated "the naughty seducer" to be one of Jackson's "most exciting tracks." An anecdote also stated Jackson became "the sex kitten every man dreamed she would be," opposed to formerly known as "a sweet fresh faced girl singing little ditties about young love." The lyrics "purposely leaves something to the imagination," leaving one to wonder what Jackson is referring to: "Could Janet be talking about the lips, chest, or a man's procreation stick? For freakiness' sake, I'd like to go with the last option over everything." A reviewer from Vibe called it "a weird masterpiece". Chart performance
"If" debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 28, 1993. It reached number three on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and peaked atop the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It placed at number nineteen on the annual year end chart and sold 600,000 copies. In Canada, the song debuted at number ninety two before peaking at number three in October. It spent a total of nineteen weeks on the chart and was ranked at number twenty five on Canada's RPM year end chart. On April 2, 2011, the song charted at number forty five on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "If" was directed by American director Dominic Sena and choreographed by Tina Landon and Jackson, with additional choreography by Omar Lopez and Keith Williams. It takes place in an Asian nightclub, displaying touch screen technology and web cameras used to monitor the interactions of patrons. Jackson is the club's main performer, being observed by patrons through screens who are able to enter the function by saying the correct password. The video's themes of sexual fantasy, desire, and voyeurism were intended as an elaborate metaphor for the song's racy content. Jackson commented on the video, stating "It's nothing nasty or dirty, but it's very sexy. During taping I kept saying, 'Oh, my god, I'm glad my mother is not here.'" An alternate version of the video known as the "All Dance Version" focuses solely on the video's choreography. This version was shown on many music channels due to the original's suggestive visuals regarded as very explicit at the time. The uncensored video appears on the From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos compilation, while the alternate version is included on the janet. video release and re release of All for You. Synopsis
The video opens with a moonlit scene of a woman wearing a Kimono walking towards a building in an Asian village. The woman walks to the door, looks into a hidden camera and says the password, "If". A man operating the door from inside then grants her access to the festivities. The inside of the bordello is then shown as a green light turns on, signaling male dancers to be lowered from the ceiling, who descend upside down on ropes in a winding fashion simulating a corkscrew. The woman is then shown entering the club. A wider view of the club is then revealed, with club patron watching the stage as female dancers perform. Various scenes of people attending the club are shown through touch screen monitors and web cameras. Multiple screens are shown, and a man watching some of the other patron on the monitor uses the futuristic touch screen to select angles of the performance on the main stage. The doors on the main platform then rapidly open as Janet, who is wearing a black and white top, black pants and a Bohemian choker, descends the stairs and enters the main stage, surrounded by blowing red fabric and a radiant white light. She focuses solely on one man in the audience watching her through the monitor as she and her dancers start performing a sexually suggestive dance routine, three women in high fashion outfits are shown walking through the club and observing the men in attendance through a monitor. As Jackson continues entertaining the crowd, the woman who was originally shown entering the bordello is again seen walking through the event, quickly paying one of the guards to allow her into the club's private sector. Jackson continues the routine as additional scenes on a monitor are briefly seen. This leads into the video's choreographed breakdown, with Jackson performing the routine as angles switch multiple times. Jackson continues the intricate dance while a woman is shown touching the image of a man's faces on another screen. Another woman is then shown on a webcam, becoming aroused while observing a couple engaging in sexual activity. The video's final dance sequence begins, with Janet grabbing a male dancer's crotch region and simulating oral sex, before placing him on the floor and bending him over. Janet continues to seductively watch the man in the audience as she performs, kneeling before the male dancer and then lowering him to floor. The video ends with the man in the audience passionately touching an image of Janet on the monitor, as the woman who was shown entering the club is then seen exiting and walking towards the village. Reception
Described by Jackson as "a female fantasy," David Ritz of Rolling Stone analyzed the video to include "tantalizing bodies" and "mock cunnilingus," along with the "scrambled" reality and rampant voyeurism of Jackson watching herself as she's observed by others through various monitors. Arena Magazine described it as a "dramatic" change, remarking "the black uniform ripped off to reveal a slimmed down, body conscious Janet. The transformation was dramatic." Jet Magazine thought the video displayed "a liberated Janet, who flirted with eroticism but steered clear of moves that would be considered pornographic," also used to "showcase her pelvic thrusts and flashy dance moves." Billboard exclaimed "If" to be a "climax" which is "inseparable from its iconic music video," based on its "head slapping choreography." Slant Magazine thought the video fulfilled the purpose of "providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance break routines in music video history." Legacy and influence
"If" is one of several of Jackson's videos considered to influence a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women. Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before (2007), wrote "in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid 1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18 24 had experienced cunnilingus. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend," with Jackson "heavily implying male on female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution (2000) states that "[i]n the early to mid 1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing Jackson as a prime example of a female artist simulating cunnilingus in her videos, specifically in "If." The video was innovative for its depiction of touch screen technology and web cams, which were not yet invented at the time of its release. Jackson later said, "I don't think people really realize what we were showing in that video that wasn't available with technology then. The video featured futuristic technology, specifically high definition touch screens. I wanted the actors in the video to use these screens to communicate, and relate with each other in the clubs. Similar to what we all do with our smart phones and tablets today. As I look at our lives now, it seems that life is imitating art." Britney Spears was influenced by "If" for videos such as "I'm a Slave 4 U", saying "Janet's video for 'If'. I saw that, and I admired it and wanted to be like her," calling Jackson a "powerful role model" with "her own identity". Elements of the "If" choreography has been referenced frequently, including "multiple videos" by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Ciara, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and N' Sync, with specific examples including Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Lil' Kim's "No Matter What They Say", and Paula Abdul's "My Love Is for Real". A critique of the video added, "Women want to be her. The gays want to be like her. Men want to do morally questionable things to her The current crop of artists, "including Gaga, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney etc ALL follow her trail blazing footsteps." Live performances
Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993. She wore a leather crop top and jeans for this performance. The performance was introduced by actor Christian Slater, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen" during the announcement. The MTV Video Music Awards performance is often considered one of the most infamous and intricate performances of Jackson's career. Complex considered the performance among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." On the 1993 95 janet. World Tour, Jackson performed "If" as the opening song. Lenny Stoute of the Toronto Star stated "This pelvic thrusting, butt wiggling, lip licking high energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference." Jet Magazine wrote, "Janet mesmerzied the crowd by opening with the hit song, 'If'." It has also been performed on all of her following tours, the janet. World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and the State of the World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour. "If" was also performed at the 2009 American Music Awards as promotion for Number Ones, during a medley with "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Make Me", and "Together Again". On the 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, The Boston Herald called the performance "an all out dance onslaught," praising her ability to still perform "the same stylized dance moves from the classic 1993 video." The Seattle Times exclaimed "As a woman who has never been afraid to strut her sexuality, her oh no you didn't dance moves are always a delight. "If's" crotch grabbing and finger licking were classic Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty)", also saying this "served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." An additional critique declared routine "defined her career and set her apart from contemporaries, including the newer crop of performers," adding "the in you face sexy "If" made it "apparent that Ms. Jackson hasn't lost a step — even at 45." Legacy
In 2013, Esquire Magazine placed the song's "hypothetical" situation among their list of "Sexiest Janet Jackson songs," saying "Janet wants you but you're in another relationship and she respects boundaries (but her mind is still dirty)." Rakesh Satwell of New York Magazine praised "If" as "a punch to the eardrum," declaring that it remains "as fresh as it did then" and a departure from radio trends twenty years after its release. Satwell considered the song "overwhelming" in the current mainstream landscape, in comparison to "our David Guetta glut." The song was commended as a "more impressive feat" for sounding "as it if it's from the future," in contrast to hits such as Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" which glorified "musical silk of the past." The song was applauded as a "sweaty, sexy dance workout" which "still holds up" twenty years after its premiere. Pitchfork ranked the song as the fiftieth best song of the nineties, calling it "the fiercest track from her chart obliterating Janet album". Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
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!List of accolades for "If"
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{|class="wikitable" style="border:none; margin:0; width:100%;"
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!Award
!Nominated work
!Result
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|Billboard Awards
|Dance Clip of the Year
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|BMI Pop Awards
|Most Played Song
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|Idolator
|Best Female VMA Winning Video of the '90s — #2 (2013)
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|rowspan="3"|MTV Video Music Awards
|Best Female Video
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|Best Choreography in a Video
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|Best Dance Video
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|Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards
|Music Video of the Year
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|Slant Magazine
|100 Best Singles of the '90s — #22 Kwon Yuri of Girls' Generation performed covers of "If" during the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A studio version was released the following year. Dance troupe A. S. I. I. D. performed a routine to "If" on an episode of America's Best Dance Crew titled "Janet Jackson Challenge". Charmaine P. Dennis of Cinema Blend commented "Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely." Electronic artist EPROM released a remix of "If" in 2011. Okayfuture described it as a "bubbly, reverb infused, deep bass remix", and Hypetrak said "Janet was one of the most influential pop albums during the early nineties. Thus, it is more than right that its standout single, "If," is still a demanded subject to reinterpretation." Kaytranada released a remix of "If" in 2012. Okayplayer gave the remix a positive review, stating "That bumpin' bassline, the infectious claps and overall bouncin' nu disco vibe had us at hello. Rarely have we ever seen a sample done oh so right." Track listings
US CD maxi single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (D&D 12 inch Mix/Adult 12 inch) – 5:47
"If" (short single edit) – 2:59
"One More Chance" – 5:54
US 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
US double 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:02
"If" (D&D 7 inch mix) – 4:23
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D JDD mix) – 5:26
"If" (Tee's Capella) – 2:09
UK CD single Japanese CD single "If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
UK 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
French CD single Japanese 3 inch CD single'''
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"One More Chance" – 5:54
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the janet.'' liner notes. Janet Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, producer
Jimmy Jam – producer
Terry Lewis – producer
Steve Hodge – mixing
Dave Rideau – mixing
Todd Perry – remixer
Darryl James – remixer
David Anthony – remixer
"If" is a song by American singer songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). Jackson co wrote and co produced "If" with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Harvey Fuqua, John Bristol and Jackey Beavers receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of their composition "Someday We'll Be Together", performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes. "If" was released as the album's second single on July 13, 1993, by Virgin Records. It fuses various genres, including rock, trip hop and industrial music, with elements of new jack swing and hip hop. "If" received critical acclaim, with most critics noting Jackson's evolution into a sexual persona from her prior reserved, celibate public image. It received a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song and was also ranked among Slant Magazines "Best Singles of the 1990s" list. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also performed well in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video for "If", directed by Dominic Sena, portrays voyeurism, sensuality and intense choreography, while depicting technology that was unavailable at the time, such as touch screens and web cameras. The video received various accolades, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year. It was also voted the second best female video of the decade by Idolator. Jackson performed "If" at the MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes", in addition to several of her concert tours. Background
Jackson's role in the film Poetic Justice gave her the confidence to attempt edgier themes musically, commenting "I know it would shock people, but I'm not doing it for shock value. And I know there are some people that are going to say, 'No, I will not be able to accept this because this is a little girl that we saw when she was seven years old.'" She continued, "Everybody says, 'Oh, my God, you've changed so much. Is this really you? '," described to laugh before saying, "Of course it's me." Virgin Records wanted the song to be janet's lead single, saying "it could have a great dance video." Jackson disagreed, deciding to release it as the album's second release. The song was written by Jackson in a conference room during a label meeting. Jackson added, "[its] about a girl who goes to a club and fantasizes about this guy: serious fantasies about the things she'd do to him if she was his girl – the positions and things like that. But she's not, so she can't, so she gets pretty frustrated in the second verse – without it being too much. It's still within good taste." Critical reception
"If" was acclaimed for its innovation and sonic progression, as well as its sexuality and usage of multiple genres. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism called it "a pounding, fuzzed up, nasty sounding track that drips with the thrill of lust at first sight." David Nathan of B&S Magazine remarked that the song pulls no punches. "Listening to it and reading the lyrics Janet wrote in a Virgin Records conference room, I blush in itself a rare occurrence." Andrew Hammp from Billboard declared it a "rockin' dance track," with strings that "anchor the climax." The song's theme of avoiding temptation to interfere with monogamy was also noted, adding "Though Jackson lets her mind race with naughty thoughts [ ], she ultimately stops herself from going after someone else's man." Another editor, Larry Flick described it as a "moist, seductive teaser, wrapped in an equally sexy pop/hiphop groove." He added, "Her honey sweet voice bounces off cyborg guitar riffing, taking the rhythm rock vibe of her Rhythm Nation hit "Black Cat" to a more intense level. Tucked beneath the pleasingly crowded production is an infectious chorus and a nifty funk bassline." Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There's a surprising, fuzzed up guitar riff lifted from Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' that gives 'If' some punch." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly exclaimed it "takes Jackson into exciting new terrain," blending her vocals with "a traffic jam in a city of cyborgs." A writer for Idolator called it an "industrial dance/sex epic" in addition to "infectious and raunchy," saying "Janet Jackson's unmistakable voice is used to perfection to create an eerily tropical but beautiful track." "If" was also interpreted as "a swirling epic number", fusing "90s disco with guitar rock," using a "Hendrix lite guitar" throughout the song. Jackson's vocals were delivered at "break neck speed, practically rapping about the salacious pleasures of her lover," while its production had "a lot of styles on display," including "distorted synth meets acoustic guitar." Nicholas Jennings of Maclean's called the "guitar driven" song a "standout" for its explicit lines. Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting it as "certainly unusual, and certainly a hit." Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed the song to open with a "screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody." A reviewer from Popblerd said it "starts with guitar feedback" before transitioning into "a sweaty, sexy dance workout", adding it "blew us away." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update called it "guitar yowled swirling jittery jack swing pop". Dave Ritz from Rolling Stone qualified it as both "subtle and bold," with Jackson's "bedroom fantasies" given "a fierce dressing up — tough jeep beats, hard rock guitar, and a Diana Ross & The Supremes sample — and some missed just what she was on about." Music critic Richard Croft raved "the janet. album was a big sex fest from beginning to end but nowhere was it hotter than 'If'," labeling the chorus "infectious, at the same time bitchy and vulnerable, defiant and desperate." The song's sexuality was considered to accomplish "the rare thing of being feminist and feminine at the same time without compromising either," saying the song is "a big pleading love song that put her totally at the whim of the man, and a big fuck off anthem that said "I'm here, I'm Janet freaking Jackson, but if you're not gonna notice me then get bent". Phrased a little differently, of course." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said its content was "impending or simply imagined", adding "the very title of which embodies that fact, is essentially about masturbation, with Janet describing what her lover's "smooth and shiny [cock]" feels like against her lips while ostensibly rubbing herself off under the covers". Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave "If" four out of five, declaring it "her sauciest and funkiest yet." He added, "Janet's turning into Prince — and that's not such a bad thing." Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette stated "the naughty seducer" to be one of Jackson's "most exciting tracks." An anecdote also stated Jackson became "the sex kitten every man dreamed she would be," opposed to formerly known as "a sweet fresh faced girl singing little ditties about young love." The lyrics "purposely leaves something to the imagination," leaving one to wonder what Jackson is referring to: "Could Janet be talking about the lips, chest, or a man's procreation stick? For freakiness' sake, I'd like to go with the last option over everything." A reviewer from Vibe called it "a weird masterpiece". Chart performance
"If" debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 28, 1993. It reached number three on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and peaked atop the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It placed at number nineteen on the annual year end chart and sold 600,000 copies. In Canada, the song debuted at number ninety two before peaking at number three in October. It spent a total of nineteen weeks on the chart and was ranked at number twenty five on Canada's RPM year end chart. On April 2, 2011, the song charted at number forty five on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "If" was directed by American director Dominic Sena and choreographed by Tina Landon and Jackson, with additional choreography by Omar Lopez and Keith Williams. It takes place in an Asian nightclub, displaying touch screen technology and web cameras used to monitor the interactions of patrons. Jackson is the club's main performer, being observed by patrons through screens who are able to enter the function by saying the correct password. The video's themes of sexual fantasy, desire, and voyeurism were intended as an elaborate metaphor for the song's racy content. Jackson commented on the video, stating "It's nothing nasty or dirty, but it's very sexy. During taping I kept saying, 'Oh, my god, I'm glad my mother is not here.'" An alternate version of the video known as the "All Dance Version" focuses solely on the video's choreography. This version was shown on many music channels due to the original's suggestive visuals regarded as very explicit at the time. The uncensored video appears on the From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos compilation, while the alternate version is included on the janet. video release and re release of All for You. Synopsis
The video opens with a moonlit scene of a woman wearing a Kimono walking towards a building in an Asian village. The woman walks to the door, looks into a hidden camera and says the password, "If". A man operating the door from inside then grants her access to the festivities. The inside of the bordello is then shown as a green light turns on, signaling male dancers to be lowered from the ceiling, who descend upside down on ropes in a winding fashion simulating a corkscrew. The woman is then shown entering the club. A wider view of the club is then revealed, with club patron watching the stage as female dancers perform. Various scenes of people attending the club are shown through touch screen monitors and web cameras. Multiple screens are shown, and a man watching some of the other patron on the monitor uses the futuristic touch screen to select angles of the performance on the main stage. The doors on the main platform then rapidly open as Janet, who is wearing a black and white top, black pants and a Bohemian choker, descends the stairs and enters the main stage, surrounded by blowing red fabric and a radiant white light. She focuses solely on one man in the audience watching her through the monitor as she and her dancers start performing a sexually suggestive dance routine, three women in high fashion outfits are shown walking through the club and observing the men in attendance through a monitor. As Jackson continues entertaining the crowd, the woman who was originally shown entering the bordello is again seen walking through the event, quickly paying one of the guards to allow her into the club's private sector. Jackson continues the routine as additional scenes on a monitor are briefly seen. This leads into the video's choreographed breakdown, with Jackson performing the routine as angles switch multiple times. Jackson continues the intricate dance while a woman is shown touching the image of a man's faces on another screen. Another woman is then shown on a webcam, becoming aroused while observing a couple engaging in sexual activity. The video's final dance sequence begins, with Janet grabbing a male dancer's crotch region and simulating oral sex, before placing him on the floor and bending him over. Janet continues to seductively watch the man in the audience as she performs, kneeling before the male dancer and then lowering him to floor. The video ends with the man in the audience passionately touching an image of Janet on the monitor, as the woman who was shown entering the club is then seen exiting and walking towards the village. Reception
Described by Jackson as "a female fantasy," David Ritz of Rolling Stone analyzed the video to include "tantalizing bodies" and "mock cunnilingus," along with the "scrambled" reality and rampant voyeurism of Jackson watching herself as she's observed by others through various monitors. Arena Magazine described it as a "dramatic" change, remarking "the black uniform ripped off to reveal a slimmed down, body conscious Janet. The transformation was dramatic." Jet Magazine thought the video displayed "a liberated Janet, who flirted with eroticism but steered clear of moves that would be considered pornographic," also used to "showcase her pelvic thrusts and flashy dance moves." Billboard exclaimed "If" to be a "climax" which is "inseparable from its iconic music video," based on its "head slapping choreography." Slant Magazine thought the video fulfilled the purpose of "providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance break routines in music video history." Legacy and influence
"If" is one of several of Jackson's videos considered to influence a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women. Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before (2007), wrote "in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid 1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18 24 had experienced cunnilingus. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend," with Jackson "heavily implying male on female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution (2000) states that "[i]n the early to mid 1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing Jackson as a prime example of a female artist simulating cunnilingus in her videos, specifically in "If." The video was innovative for its depiction of touch screen technology and web cams, which were not yet invented at the time of its release. Jackson later said, "I don't think people really realize what we were showing in that video that wasn't available with technology then. The video featured futuristic technology, specifically high definition touch screens. I wanted the actors in the video to use these screens to communicate, and relate with each other in the clubs. Similar to what we all do with our smart phones and tablets today. As I look at our lives now, it seems that life is imitating art." Britney Spears was influenced by "If" for videos such as "I'm a Slave 4 U", saying "Janet's video for 'If'. I saw that, and I admired it and wanted to be like her," calling Jackson a "powerful role model" with "her own identity". Elements of the "If" choreography has been referenced frequently, including "multiple videos" by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Ciara, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and N' Sync, with specific examples including Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Lil' Kim's "No Matter What They Say", and Paula Abdul's "My Love Is for Real". A critique of the video added, "Women want to be her. The gays want to be like her. Men want to do morally questionable things to her The current crop of artists, "including Gaga, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney etc ALL follow her trail blazing footsteps." Live performances
Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993. She wore a leather crop top and jeans for this performance. The performance was introduced by actor Christian Slater, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen" during the announcement. The MTV Video Music Awards performance is often considered one of the most infamous and intricate performances of Jackson's career. Complex considered the performance among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." On the 1993 95 janet. World Tour, Jackson performed "If" as the opening song. Lenny Stoute of the Toronto Star stated "This pelvic thrusting, butt wiggling, lip licking high energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference." Jet Magazine wrote, "Janet mesmerzied the crowd by opening with the hit song, 'If'." It has also been performed on all of her following tours, the janet. World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and the State of the World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour. "If" was also performed at the 2009 American Music Awards as promotion for Number Ones, during a medley with "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Make Me", and "Together Again". On the 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, The Boston Herald called the performance "an all out dance onslaught," praising her ability to still perform "the same stylized dance moves from the classic 1993 video." The Seattle Times exclaimed "As a woman who has never been afraid to strut her sexuality, her oh no you didn't dance moves are always a delight. "If's" crotch grabbing and finger licking were classic Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty)", also saying this "served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." An additional critique declared routine "defined her career and set her apart from contemporaries, including the newer crop of performers," adding "the in you face sexy "If" made it "apparent that Ms. Jackson hasn't lost a step — even at 45." Legacy
In 2013, Esquire Magazine placed the song's "hypothetical" situation among their list of "Sexiest Janet Jackson songs," saying "Janet wants you but you're in another relationship and she respects boundaries (but her mind is still dirty)." Rakesh Satwell of New York Magazine praised "If" as "a punch to the eardrum," declaring that it remains "as fresh as it did then" and a departure from radio trends twenty years after its release. Satwell considered the song "overwhelming" in the current mainstream landscape, in comparison to "our David Guetta glut." The song was commended as a "more impressive feat" for sounding "as it if it's from the future," in contrast to hits such as Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" which glorified "musical silk of the past." The song was applauded as a "sweaty, sexy dance workout" which "still holds up" twenty years after its premiere. Pitchfork ranked the song as the fiftieth best song of the nineties, calling it "the fiercest track from her chart obliterating Janet album". Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
|
!List of accolades for "If"
|
|style="padding:0; border:none;"|
{|class="wikitable" style="border:none; margin:0; width:100%;"
|
!Award
!Nominated work
!Result
|
|Billboard Awards
|Dance Clip of the Year
|
|
|BMI Pop Awards
|Most Played Song
|
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|Idolator
|Best Female VMA Winning Video of the '90s — #2 (2013)
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|rowspan="3"|MTV Video Music Awards
|Best Female Video
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|Best Choreography in a Video
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|Best Dance Video
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|Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards
|Music Video of the Year
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|Slant Magazine
|100 Best Singles of the '90s — #22 Kwon Yuri of Girls' Generation performed covers of "If" during the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A studio version was released the following year. Dance troupe A. S. I. I. D. performed a routine to "If" on an episode of America's Best Dance Crew titled "Janet Jackson Challenge". Charmaine P. Dennis of Cinema Blend commented "Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely." Electronic artist EPROM released a remix of "If" in 2011. Okayfuture described it as a "bubbly, reverb infused, deep bass remix", and Hypetrak said "Janet was one of the most influential pop albums during the early nineties. Thus, it is more than right that its standout single, "If," is still a demanded subject to reinterpretation." Kaytranada released a remix of "If" in 2012. Okayplayer gave the remix a positive review, stating "That bumpin' bassline, the infectious claps and overall bouncin' nu disco vibe had us at hello. Rarely have we ever seen a sample done oh so right." Track listings
US CD maxi single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (D&D 12 inch Mix/Adult 12 inch) – 5:47
"If" (short single edit) – 2:59
"One More Chance" – 5:54
US 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
US double 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:02
"If" (D&D 7 inch mix) – 4:23
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D JDD mix) – 5:26
"If" (Tee's Capella) – 2:09
UK CD single Japanese CD single "If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
UK 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
French CD single Japanese 3 inch CD single'''
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"One More Chance" – 5:54
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the janet.'' liner notes. Janet Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, producer
Jimmy Jam – producer
Terry Lewis – producer
Steve Hodge – mixing
Dave Rideau – mixing
Todd Perry – remixer
Darryl James – remixer
David Anthony – remixer
«If» әні инновациясы мен дыбыстық прогресі, сондай-ақ жыныстық қатынасы мен бірнеше жанрларды пайдалануы үшін мақталды. Патрик Коркоран Albumism журналынан оны «бірінші көріске құмарлықтың дәмін сезінетін, қатты, бұзық, жағымсыз дыбысталатын трек» деп атады. B&S Magazine журналының Дэвид Нейтан әннің ешқандай соққы тартпайтынын айтты. «Оны тыңдап, Джанеттің Virgin Records компаниясының конференц-залында жазған сөздерін оқығанда, мен өзімді қызартамын, бұл өте сирек кездесетін жағдай». Billboard журналынан Эндрю Хаммп оны «рокингтік би трек» деп жариялады, оның «мағынасы» бар. Әннің моногамияға кедергі келтіретін азғырудан аулақ болу тақырыбы да атап өтілді, «Джексон өзінің ойының мылжың ойлармен жарысқа түсуіне жол берсе де, ол ақыр соңында өзін басқа біреудің еркегіне барудан бас тартады» деп қосты. Басқа редактор Ларри Флик оны «жұмсақ, азғырушы тизер, теңдей секси поп / хип-хоп ырғағына оралған» деп сипаттады. Ол былай деп қосты: «Оның балдай тәтті дауысы киборг гитарасының рифін қайталайды, оның Rhythm Nation хитінің «Black Cat» ритм-рок әсерін күшейтеді. Бұл тамаша қойылымның астында жұқпалы хор мен фанк бассы бар». «Чикаго Трибьюн» газетінің Грег Кот: «Питер Габриэльдің «Sledgehammer» әніне алынған таңғажайып, шатастырған гитаралық риф «If» әнін біраз соққыға бөледі». Entertainment Weekly басылымынан Дэвид Браун «Жексонды жаңа қызықты жерге алып барады» деп айқайлады, оның дауысы «киборгтардың қаласындағы көлік кептелісімен» араласады. Idolator журналының бір жазушысы оны «индустриялық би / секс эпосы» деп атады, сонымен қатар «жұқпалы және әдепсіз» деп атап өтті. «Дженет Джексонның ерекше дауысы өте тропикалық, бірақ әдемі тректі жасау үшін кемелділікке пайдаланылады» деді. «If» әнін «90-шы жылдардағы диско-рок пен гитаралық рокты біріктіретін» «гельмендік гитара» деп түсіндірді. Джексонның вокалдық әуендері «жекешелік жылдамдықпен, сүйіктісінің әдепсіз ләззаттары туралы рэптеу», ал оның өндірісінде «көрсетілетін көптеген стильдер» бар, оның ішінде «бұрмаланған синтезатор акустикалық гитарамен кездеседі». Nicholas Jennings Maclean's журналынан «гитарамен жетекшілік ететін» әнді «ашық сызықтары үшін ерекше» деп атады. Alan Jones Music Week журналынан оған бес баллдан төртін берді, оны «әрине, ерекше және әрине, хит» деп атады. Jon Pareles The New York Times газетінен әннің «айғайлайтын гитарамен және жаттырылған куплетпен» басталатынын, «тәтті мелодияға» көтерілетінін байқады. Popblerd журналының бір рецензенты оның «гитаралық фидбэкпен» басталатынын, содан кейін «ыстық, секси би жаттығуына» өтетінін айтты, «бізді таң қалдырды» деп қосты. James Hamilton RM Dance Update журналынан оны «гитаралық ұрыс, айналмалы, жүйкелі джек-свинг поп» деп атады. Dave Ritz Rolling Stone журналынан оны «әдепті де батыл» деп сипаттады, Джексонның «жатын бөлмесіндегі қиялдарына» «қатаң джип соққылары, қатаң рок-гитара және Диана Росс пен The Supremes үлгісі» берілгенін айтты, «кейбіреулер оның нені білгісі келгенін түсінбеді». Музыкалық сыншы Richard Croft «janet. альбомы бастан аяққа дейін үлкен секс фестивалі болды, бірақ «If» әні ең қызықтысы болды», деп мақтап, хорды «жұқпалы, бірқатар қатыгез және осал, қарсы және отты» деп атады. Әннің жыныстық қатынасы «сирек кездесетін феминистік және әйелдік болуын қамтамасыз етті, ешқайсысынан айырылмастан», әннің «еркекке толығымен бағынған махаббат туралы үлкен өтініш» және «Мен бұл жердемін, мен Джанет Джексонмын, егер сен мені байқамасаң, онда сенің ісің өте қиын» деп айтты. Сәл басқаша айтқанда. Sal Cinquemani Slant Magazine журналынан оның мазмұны «жақындап келе жатқан немесе жай ғана көзге көрінетін» екенін айтты, «әннің тақырыбының өзі мастурбация туралы, Джанет оның сүйіктісінің «тегіс және жылтыр» мүшесінің оның еріндеріне қалай тиетінін сипаттайды, көбінесе жамылғының астында өзін-өзі қызықтырады». Pete Stanton Smash Hits журналынан «If» әніне бес баллдан төртін берді, оны «оның ең секси және фанки» деп жариялады. Ол былай қосты: «Джанет Принцке айналып келеді – және бұл жаман емес». Craig S. Semon Telegram & Gazette газетінен оны Джексонның «ең қызықты тректерінің» бірі деп атады. Сондай-ақ, Джексонның «әр ер адам армандаған секс-мысыққа» айналғаны туралы әңгіме болды, бұрын «жас сүйкімді қыз, жас махаббат туралы шағын әндерді орындаған» ретінде танылған. «Сөздер мақсатты түрде қандай да бір нәрсені қиялдауға мүмкіндік береді», біреу Джексон нені білдіретінін ойлап көруге шақырады: «Джанет еріндер, кеуде немесе ер адамның көбейткіш мүшесі туралы айта ма? Қызықтылық үшін соңғы нұсқаны таңдаймын». Vibe журналының бір рецензенты оны «ерекше шедевр» деп атады.
1993 single by Janet Jackson
"If" is a song by American singer songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). Jackson co wrote and co produced "If" with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Harvey Fuqua, John Bristol and Jackey Beavers receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of their composition "Someday We'll Be Together", performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes. "If" was released as the album's second single on July 13, 1993, by Virgin Records. It fuses various genres, including rock, trip hop and industrial music, with elements of new jack swing and hip hop. "If" received critical acclaim, with most critics noting Jackson's evolution into a sexual persona from her prior reserved, celibate public image. It received a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song and was also ranked among Slant Magazines "Best Singles of the 1990s" list. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also performed well in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video for "If", directed by Dominic Sena, portrays voyeurism, sensuality and intense choreography, while depicting technology that was unavailable at the time, such as touch screens and web cameras. The video received various accolades, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year. It was also voted the second best female video of the decade by Idolator. Jackson performed "If" at the MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes", in addition to several of her concert tours. Background
Jackson's role in the film Poetic Justice gave her the confidence to attempt edgier themes musically, commenting "I know it would shock people, but I'm not doing it for shock value. And I know there are some people that are going to say, 'No, I will not be able to accept this because this is a little girl that we saw when she was seven years old.'" She continued, "Everybody says, 'Oh, my God, you've changed so much. Is this really you? '," described to laugh before saying, "Of course it's me." Virgin Records wanted the song to be janet's lead single, saying "it could have a great dance video." Jackson disagreed, deciding to release it as the album's second release. The song was written by Jackson in a conference room during a label meeting. Jackson added, "[its] about a girl who goes to a club and fantasizes about this guy: serious fantasies about the things she'd do to him if she was his girl – the positions and things like that. But she's not, so she can't, so she gets pretty frustrated in the second verse – without it being too much. It's still within good taste." Critical reception
"If" was acclaimed for its innovation and sonic progression, as well as its sexuality and usage of multiple genres. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism called it "a pounding, fuzzed up, nasty sounding track that drips with the thrill of lust at first sight." David Nathan of B&S Magazine remarked that the song pulls no punches. "Listening to it and reading the lyrics Janet wrote in a Virgin Records conference room, I blush in itself a rare occurrence." Andrew Hammp from Billboard declared it a "rockin' dance track," with strings that "anchor the climax." The song's theme of avoiding temptation to interfere with monogamy was also noted, adding "Though Jackson lets her mind race with naughty thoughts [ ], she ultimately stops herself from going after someone else's man." Another editor, Larry Flick described it as a "moist, seductive teaser, wrapped in an equally sexy pop/hiphop groove." He added, "Her honey sweet voice bounces off cyborg guitar riffing, taking the rhythm rock vibe of her Rhythm Nation hit "Black Cat" to a more intense level. Tucked beneath the pleasingly crowded production is an infectious chorus and a nifty funk bassline." Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There's a surprising, fuzzed up guitar riff lifted from Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' that gives 'If' some punch." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly exclaimed it "takes Jackson into exciting new terrain," blending her vocals with "a traffic jam in a city of cyborgs." A writer for Idolator called it an "industrial dance/sex epic" in addition to "infectious and raunchy," saying "Janet Jackson's unmistakable voice is used to perfection to create an eerily tropical but beautiful track." "If" was also interpreted as "a swirling epic number", fusing "90s disco with guitar rock," using a "Hendrix lite guitar" throughout the song. Jackson's vocals were delivered at "break neck speed, practically rapping about the salacious pleasures of her lover," while its production had "a lot of styles on display," including "distorted synth meets acoustic guitar." Nicholas Jennings of Maclean's called the "guitar driven" song a "standout" for its explicit lines. Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting it as "certainly unusual, and certainly a hit." Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed the song to open with a "screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody." A reviewer from Popblerd said it "starts with guitar feedback" before transitioning into "a sweaty, sexy dance workout", adding it "blew us away." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update called it "guitar yowled swirling jittery jack swing pop". Dave Ritz from Rolling Stone qualified it as both "subtle and bold," with Jackson's "bedroom fantasies" given "a fierce dressing up — tough jeep beats, hard rock guitar, and a Diana Ross & The Supremes sample — and some missed just what she was on about." Music critic Richard Croft raved "the janet. album was a big sex fest from beginning to end but nowhere was it hotter than 'If'," labeling the chorus "infectious, at the same time bitchy and vulnerable, defiant and desperate." The song's sexuality was considered to accomplish "the rare thing of being feminist and feminine at the same time without compromising either," saying the song is "a big pleading love song that put her totally at the whim of the man, and a big fuck off anthem that said "I'm here, I'm Janet freaking Jackson, but if you're not gonna notice me then get bent". Phrased a little differently, of course." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said its content was "impending or simply imagined", adding "the very title of which embodies that fact, is essentially about masturbation, with Janet describing what her lover's "smooth and shiny [cock]" feels like against her lips while ostensibly rubbing herself off under the covers". Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave "If" four out of five, declaring it "her sauciest and funkiest yet." He added, "Janet's turning into Prince — and that's not such a bad thing." Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette stated "the naughty seducer" to be one of Jackson's "most exciting tracks." An anecdote also stated Jackson became "the sex kitten every man dreamed she would be," opposed to formerly known as "a sweet fresh faced girl singing little ditties about young love." The lyrics "purposely leaves something to the imagination," leaving one to wonder what Jackson is referring to: "Could Janet be talking about the lips, chest, or a man's procreation stick? For freakiness' sake, I'd like to go with the last option over everything." A reviewer from Vibe called it "a weird masterpiece". Chart performance
"If" debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 28, 1993. It reached number three on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and peaked atop the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It placed at number nineteen on the annual year end chart and sold 600,000 copies. In Canada, the song debuted at number ninety two before peaking at number three in October. It spent a total of nineteen weeks on the chart and was ranked at number twenty five on Canada's RPM year end chart. On April 2, 2011, the song charted at number forty five on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "If" was directed by American director Dominic Sena and choreographed by Tina Landon and Jackson, with additional choreography by Omar Lopez and Keith Williams. It takes place in an Asian nightclub, displaying touch screen technology and web cameras used to monitor the interactions of patrons. Jackson is the club's main performer, being observed by patrons through screens who are able to enter the function by saying the correct password. The video's themes of sexual fantasy, desire, and voyeurism were intended as an elaborate metaphor for the song's racy content. Jackson commented on the video, stating "It's nothing nasty or dirty, but it's very sexy. During taping I kept saying, 'Oh, my god, I'm glad my mother is not here.'" An alternate version of the video known as the "All Dance Version" focuses solely on the video's choreography. This version was shown on many music channels due to the original's suggestive visuals regarded as very explicit at the time. The uncensored video appears on the From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos compilation, while the alternate version is included on the janet. video release and re release of All for You. Synopsis
The video opens with a moonlit scene of a woman wearing a Kimono walking towards a building in an Asian village. The woman walks to the door, looks into a hidden camera and says the password, "If". A man operating the door from inside then grants her access to the festivities. The inside of the bordello is then shown as a green light turns on, signaling male dancers to be lowered from the ceiling, who descend upside down on ropes in a winding fashion simulating a corkscrew. The woman is then shown entering the club. A wider view of the club is then revealed, with club patron watching the stage as female dancers perform. Various scenes of people attending the club are shown through touch screen monitors and web cameras. Multiple screens are shown, and a man watching some of the other patron on the monitor uses the futuristic touch screen to select angles of the performance on the main stage. The doors on the main platform then rapidly open as Janet, who is wearing a black and white top, black pants and a Bohemian choker, descends the stairs and enters the main stage, surrounded by blowing red fabric and a radiant white light. She focuses solely on one man in the audience watching her through the monitor as she and her dancers start performing a sexually suggestive dance routine, three women in high fashion outfits are shown walking through the club and observing the men in attendance through a monitor. As Jackson continues entertaining the crowd, the woman who was originally shown entering the bordello is again seen walking through the event, quickly paying one of the guards to allow her into the club's private sector. Jackson continues the routine as additional scenes on a monitor are briefly seen. This leads into the video's choreographed breakdown, with Jackson performing the routine as angles switch multiple times. Jackson continues the intricate dance while a woman is shown touching the image of a man's faces on another screen. Another woman is then shown on a webcam, becoming aroused while observing a couple engaging in sexual activity. The video's final dance sequence begins, with Janet grabbing a male dancer's crotch region and simulating oral sex, before placing him on the floor and bending him over. Janet continues to seductively watch the man in the audience as she performs, kneeling before the male dancer and then lowering him to floor. The video ends with the man in the audience passionately touching an image of Janet on the monitor, as the woman who was shown entering the club is then seen exiting and walking towards the village. Reception
Described by Jackson as "a female fantasy," David Ritz of Rolling Stone analyzed the video to include "tantalizing bodies" and "mock cunnilingus," along with the "scrambled" reality and rampant voyeurism of Jackson watching herself as she's observed by others through various monitors. Arena Magazine described it as a "dramatic" change, remarking "the black uniform ripped off to reveal a slimmed down, body conscious Janet. The transformation was dramatic." Jet Magazine thought the video displayed "a liberated Janet, who flirted with eroticism but steered clear of moves that would be considered pornographic," also used to "showcase her pelvic thrusts and flashy dance moves." Billboard exclaimed "If" to be a "climax" which is "inseparable from its iconic music video," based on its "head slapping choreography." Slant Magazine thought the video fulfilled the purpose of "providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance break routines in music video history." Legacy and influence
"If" is one of several of Jackson's videos considered to influence a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women. Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before (2007), wrote "in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid 1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18 24 had experienced cunnilingus. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend," with Jackson "heavily implying male on female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution (2000) states that "[i]n the early to mid 1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing Jackson as a prime example of a female artist simulating cunnilingus in her videos, specifically in "If." The video was innovative for its depiction of touch screen technology and web cams, which were not yet invented at the time of its release. Jackson later said, "I don't think people really realize what we were showing in that video that wasn't available with technology then. The video featured futuristic technology, specifically high definition touch screens. I wanted the actors in the video to use these screens to communicate, and relate with each other in the clubs. Similar to what we all do with our smart phones and tablets today. As I look at our lives now, it seems that life is imitating art." Britney Spears was influenced by "If" for videos such as "I'm a Slave 4 U", saying "Janet's video for 'If'. I saw that, and I admired it and wanted to be like her," calling Jackson a "powerful role model" with "her own identity". Elements of the "If" choreography has been referenced frequently, including "multiple videos" by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Ciara, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and N' Sync, with specific examples including Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Lil' Kim's "No Matter What They Say", and Paula Abdul's "My Love Is for Real". A critique of the video added, "Women want to be her. The gays want to be like her. Men want to do morally questionable things to her The current crop of artists, "including Gaga, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney etc ALL follow her trail blazing footsteps." Live performances
Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993. She wore a leather crop top and jeans for this performance. The performance was introduced by actor Christian Slater, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen" during the announcement. The MTV Video Music Awards performance is often considered one of the most infamous and intricate performances of Jackson's career. Complex considered the performance among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." On the 1993 95 janet. World Tour, Jackson performed "If" as the opening song. Lenny Stoute of the Toronto Star stated "This pelvic thrusting, butt wiggling, lip licking high energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference." Jet Magazine wrote, "Janet mesmerzied the crowd by opening with the hit song, 'If'." It has also been performed on all of her following tours, the janet. World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and the State of the World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour. "If" was also performed at the 2009 American Music Awards as promotion for Number Ones, during a medley with "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Make Me", and "Together Again". On the 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, The Boston Herald called the performance "an all out dance onslaught," praising her ability to still perform "the same stylized dance moves from the classic 1993 video." The Seattle Times exclaimed "As a woman who has never been afraid to strut her sexuality, her oh no you didn't dance moves are always a delight. "If's" crotch grabbing and finger licking were classic Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty)", also saying this "served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." An additional critique declared routine "defined her career and set her apart from contemporaries, including the newer crop of performers," adding "the in you face sexy "If" made it "apparent that Ms. Jackson hasn't lost a step — even at 45." Legacy
In 2013, Esquire Magazine placed the song's "hypothetical" situation among their list of "Sexiest Janet Jackson songs," saying "Janet wants you but you're in another relationship and she respects boundaries (but her mind is still dirty)." Rakesh Satwell of New York Magazine praised "If" as "a punch to the eardrum," declaring that it remains "as fresh as it did then" and a departure from radio trends twenty years after its release. Satwell considered the song "overwhelming" in the current mainstream landscape, in comparison to "our David Guetta glut." The song was commended as a "more impressive feat" for sounding "as it if it's from the future," in contrast to hits such as Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" which glorified "musical silk of the past." The song was applauded as a "sweaty, sexy dance workout" which "still holds up" twenty years after its premiere. Pitchfork ranked the song as the fiftieth best song of the nineties, calling it "the fiercest track from her chart obliterating Janet album". Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
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!List of accolades for "If"
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{|class="wikitable" style="border:none; margin:0; width:100%;"
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!Award
!Nominated work
!Result
|
|Billboard Awards
|Dance Clip of the Year
|
|
|BMI Pop Awards
|Most Played Song
|
|
|Idolator
|Best Female VMA Winning Video of the '90s — #2 (2013)
|
|
|rowspan="3"|MTV Video Music Awards
|Best Female Video
|
|
|Best Choreography in a Video
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|
|Best Dance Video
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|Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards
|Music Video of the Year
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|Slant Magazine
|100 Best Singles of the '90s — #22 Kwon Yuri of Girls' Generation performed covers of "If" during the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A studio version was released the following year. Dance troupe A. S. I. I. D. performed a routine to "If" on an episode of America's Best Dance Crew titled "Janet Jackson Challenge". Charmaine P. Dennis of Cinema Blend commented "Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely." Electronic artist EPROM released a remix of "If" in 2011. Okayfuture described it as a "bubbly, reverb infused, deep bass remix", and Hypetrak said "Janet was one of the most influential pop albums during the early nineties. Thus, it is more than right that its standout single, "If," is still a demanded subject to reinterpretation." Kaytranada released a remix of "If" in 2012. Okayplayer gave the remix a positive review, stating "That bumpin' bassline, the infectious claps and overall bouncin' nu disco vibe had us at hello. Rarely have we ever seen a sample done oh so right." Track listings
US CD maxi single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (D&D 12 inch Mix/Adult 12 inch) – 5:47
"If" (short single edit) – 2:59
"One More Chance" – 5:54
US 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
US double 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:02
"If" (D&D 7 inch mix) – 4:23
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D JDD mix) – 5:26
"If" (Tee's Capella) – 2:09
UK CD single Japanese CD single "If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
UK 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
French CD single Japanese 3 inch CD single'''
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"One More Chance" – 5:54
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the janet.'' liner notes. Janet Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, producer
Jimmy Jam – producer
Terry Lewis – producer
Steve Hodge – mixing
Dave Rideau – mixing
Todd Perry – remixer
Darryl James – remixer
David Anthony – remixer
"If" is a song by American singer songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). Jackson co wrote and co produced "If" with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Harvey Fuqua, John Bristol and Jackey Beavers receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of their composition "Someday We'll Be Together", performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes. "If" was released as the album's second single on July 13, 1993, by Virgin Records. It fuses various genres, including rock, trip hop and industrial music, with elements of new jack swing and hip hop. "If" received critical acclaim, with most critics noting Jackson's evolution into a sexual persona from her prior reserved, celibate public image. It received a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song and was also ranked among Slant Magazines "Best Singles of the 1990s" list. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also performed well in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video for "If", directed by Dominic Sena, portrays voyeurism, sensuality and intense choreography, while depicting technology that was unavailable at the time, such as touch screens and web cameras. The video received various accolades, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year. It was also voted the second best female video of the decade by Idolator. Jackson performed "If" at the MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes", in addition to several of her concert tours. Background
Jackson's role in the film Poetic Justice gave her the confidence to attempt edgier themes musically, commenting "I know it would shock people, but I'm not doing it for shock value. And I know there are some people that are going to say, 'No, I will not be able to accept this because this is a little girl that we saw when she was seven years old.'" She continued, "Everybody says, 'Oh, my God, you've changed so much. Is this really you? '," described to laugh before saying, "Of course it's me." Virgin Records wanted the song to be janet's lead single, saying "it could have a great dance video." Jackson disagreed, deciding to release it as the album's second release. The song was written by Jackson in a conference room during a label meeting. Jackson added, "[its] about a girl who goes to a club and fantasizes about this guy: serious fantasies about the things she'd do to him if she was his girl – the positions and things like that. But she's not, so she can't, so she gets pretty frustrated in the second verse – without it being too much. It's still within good taste." Critical reception
"If" was acclaimed for its innovation and sonic progression, as well as its sexuality and usage of multiple genres. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism called it "a pounding, fuzzed up, nasty sounding track that drips with the thrill of lust at first sight." David Nathan of B&S Magazine remarked that the song pulls no punches. "Listening to it and reading the lyrics Janet wrote in a Virgin Records conference room, I blush in itself a rare occurrence." Andrew Hammp from Billboard declared it a "rockin' dance track," with strings that "anchor the climax." The song's theme of avoiding temptation to interfere with monogamy was also noted, adding "Though Jackson lets her mind race with naughty thoughts [ ], she ultimately stops herself from going after someone else's man." Another editor, Larry Flick described it as a "moist, seductive teaser, wrapped in an equally sexy pop/hiphop groove." He added, "Her honey sweet voice bounces off cyborg guitar riffing, taking the rhythm rock vibe of her Rhythm Nation hit "Black Cat" to a more intense level. Tucked beneath the pleasingly crowded production is an infectious chorus and a nifty funk bassline." Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There's a surprising, fuzzed up guitar riff lifted from Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' that gives 'If' some punch." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly exclaimed it "takes Jackson into exciting new terrain," blending her vocals with "a traffic jam in a city of cyborgs." A writer for Idolator called it an "industrial dance/sex epic" in addition to "infectious and raunchy," saying "Janet Jackson's unmistakable voice is used to perfection to create an eerily tropical but beautiful track." "If" was also interpreted as "a swirling epic number", fusing "90s disco with guitar rock," using a "Hendrix lite guitar" throughout the song. Jackson's vocals were delivered at "break neck speed, practically rapping about the salacious pleasures of her lover," while its production had "a lot of styles on display," including "distorted synth meets acoustic guitar." Nicholas Jennings of Maclean's called the "guitar driven" song a "standout" for its explicit lines. Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting it as "certainly unusual, and certainly a hit." Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed the song to open with a "screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody." A reviewer from Popblerd said it "starts with guitar feedback" before transitioning into "a sweaty, sexy dance workout", adding it "blew us away." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update called it "guitar yowled swirling jittery jack swing pop". Dave Ritz from Rolling Stone qualified it as both "subtle and bold," with Jackson's "bedroom fantasies" given "a fierce dressing up — tough jeep beats, hard rock guitar, and a Diana Ross & The Supremes sample — and some missed just what she was on about." Music critic Richard Croft raved "the janet. album was a big sex fest from beginning to end but nowhere was it hotter than 'If'," labeling the chorus "infectious, at the same time bitchy and vulnerable, defiant and desperate." The song's sexuality was considered to accomplish "the rare thing of being feminist and feminine at the same time without compromising either," saying the song is "a big pleading love song that put her totally at the whim of the man, and a big fuck off anthem that said "I'm here, I'm Janet freaking Jackson, but if you're not gonna notice me then get bent". Phrased a little differently, of course." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said its content was "impending or simply imagined", adding "the very title of which embodies that fact, is essentially about masturbation, with Janet describing what her lover's "smooth and shiny [cock]" feels like against her lips while ostensibly rubbing herself off under the covers". Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave "If" four out of five, declaring it "her sauciest and funkiest yet." He added, "Janet's turning into Prince — and that's not such a bad thing." Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette stated "the naughty seducer" to be one of Jackson's "most exciting tracks." An anecdote also stated Jackson became "the sex kitten every man dreamed she would be," opposed to formerly known as "a sweet fresh faced girl singing little ditties about young love." The lyrics "purposely leaves something to the imagination," leaving one to wonder what Jackson is referring to: "Could Janet be talking about the lips, chest, or a man's procreation stick? For freakiness' sake, I'd like to go with the last option over everything." A reviewer from Vibe called it "a weird masterpiece". Chart performance
"If" debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 28, 1993. It reached number three on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and peaked atop the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It placed at number nineteen on the annual year end chart and sold 600,000 copies. In Canada, the song debuted at number ninety two before peaking at number three in October. It spent a total of nineteen weeks on the chart and was ranked at number twenty five on Canada's RPM year end chart. On April 2, 2011, the song charted at number forty five on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "If" was directed by American director Dominic Sena and choreographed by Tina Landon and Jackson, with additional choreography by Omar Lopez and Keith Williams. It takes place in an Asian nightclub, displaying touch screen technology and web cameras used to monitor the interactions of patrons. Jackson is the club's main performer, being observed by patrons through screens who are able to enter the function by saying the correct password. The video's themes of sexual fantasy, desire, and voyeurism were intended as an elaborate metaphor for the song's racy content. Jackson commented on the video, stating "It's nothing nasty or dirty, but it's very sexy. During taping I kept saying, 'Oh, my god, I'm glad my mother is not here.'" An alternate version of the video known as the "All Dance Version" focuses solely on the video's choreography. This version was shown on many music channels due to the original's suggestive visuals regarded as very explicit at the time. The uncensored video appears on the From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos compilation, while the alternate version is included on the janet. video release and re release of All for You. Synopsis
The video opens with a moonlit scene of a woman wearing a Kimono walking towards a building in an Asian village. The woman walks to the door, looks into a hidden camera and says the password, "If". A man operating the door from inside then grants her access to the festivities. The inside of the bordello is then shown as a green light turns on, signaling male dancers to be lowered from the ceiling, who descend upside down on ropes in a winding fashion simulating a corkscrew. The woman is then shown entering the club. A wider view of the club is then revealed, with club patron watching the stage as female dancers perform. Various scenes of people attending the club are shown through touch screen monitors and web cameras. Multiple screens are shown, and a man watching some of the other patron on the monitor uses the futuristic touch screen to select angles of the performance on the main stage. The doors on the main platform then rapidly open as Janet, who is wearing a black and white top, black pants and a Bohemian choker, descends the stairs and enters the main stage, surrounded by blowing red fabric and a radiant white light. She focuses solely on one man in the audience watching her through the monitor as she and her dancers start performing a sexually suggestive dance routine, three women in high fashion outfits are shown walking through the club and observing the men in attendance through a monitor. As Jackson continues entertaining the crowd, the woman who was originally shown entering the bordello is again seen walking through the event, quickly paying one of the guards to allow her into the club's private sector. Jackson continues the routine as additional scenes on a monitor are briefly seen. This leads into the video's choreographed breakdown, with Jackson performing the routine as angles switch multiple times. Jackson continues the intricate dance while a woman is shown touching the image of a man's faces on another screen. Another woman is then shown on a webcam, becoming aroused while observing a couple engaging in sexual activity. The video's final dance sequence begins, with Janet grabbing a male dancer's crotch region and simulating oral sex, before placing him on the floor and bending him over. Janet continues to seductively watch the man in the audience as she performs, kneeling before the male dancer and then lowering him to floor. The video ends with the man in the audience passionately touching an image of Janet on the monitor, as the woman who was shown entering the club is then seen exiting and walking towards the village. Reception
Described by Jackson as "a female fantasy," David Ritz of Rolling Stone analyzed the video to include "tantalizing bodies" and "mock cunnilingus," along with the "scrambled" reality and rampant voyeurism of Jackson watching herself as she's observed by others through various monitors. Arena Magazine described it as a "dramatic" change, remarking "the black uniform ripped off to reveal a slimmed down, body conscious Janet. The transformation was dramatic." Jet Magazine thought the video displayed "a liberated Janet, who flirted with eroticism but steered clear of moves that would be considered pornographic," also used to "showcase her pelvic thrusts and flashy dance moves." Billboard exclaimed "If" to be a "climax" which is "inseparable from its iconic music video," based on its "head slapping choreography." Slant Magazine thought the video fulfilled the purpose of "providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance break routines in music video history." Legacy and influence
"If" is one of several of Jackson's videos considered to influence a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women. Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before (2007), wrote "in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid 1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18 24 had experienced cunnilingus. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend," with Jackson "heavily implying male on female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution (2000) states that "[i]n the early to mid 1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing Jackson as a prime example of a female artist simulating cunnilingus in her videos, specifically in "If." The video was innovative for its depiction of touch screen technology and web cams, which were not yet invented at the time of its release. Jackson later said, "I don't think people really realize what we were showing in that video that wasn't available with technology then. The video featured futuristic technology, specifically high definition touch screens. I wanted the actors in the video to use these screens to communicate, and relate with each other in the clubs. Similar to what we all do with our smart phones and tablets today. As I look at our lives now, it seems that life is imitating art." Britney Spears was influenced by "If" for videos such as "I'm a Slave 4 U", saying "Janet's video for 'If'. I saw that, and I admired it and wanted to be like her," calling Jackson a "powerful role model" with "her own identity". Elements of the "If" choreography has been referenced frequently, including "multiple videos" by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Ciara, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and N' Sync, with specific examples including Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Lil' Kim's "No Matter What They Say", and Paula Abdul's "My Love Is for Real". A critique of the video added, "Women want to be her. The gays want to be like her. Men want to do morally questionable things to her The current crop of artists, "including Gaga, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney etc ALL follow her trail blazing footsteps." Live performances
Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993. She wore a leather crop top and jeans for this performance. The performance was introduced by actor Christian Slater, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen" during the announcement. The MTV Video Music Awards performance is often considered one of the most infamous and intricate performances of Jackson's career. Complex considered the performance among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." On the 1993 95 janet. World Tour, Jackson performed "If" as the opening song. Lenny Stoute of the Toronto Star stated "This pelvic thrusting, butt wiggling, lip licking high energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference." Jet Magazine wrote, "Janet mesmerzied the crowd by opening with the hit song, 'If'." It has also been performed on all of her following tours, the janet. World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and the State of the World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour. "If" was also performed at the 2009 American Music Awards as promotion for Number Ones, during a medley with "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Make Me", and "Together Again". On the 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, The Boston Herald called the performance "an all out dance onslaught," praising her ability to still perform "the same stylized dance moves from the classic 1993 video." The Seattle Times exclaimed "As a woman who has never been afraid to strut her sexuality, her oh no you didn't dance moves are always a delight. "If's" crotch grabbing and finger licking were classic Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty)", also saying this "served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." An additional critique declared routine "defined her career and set her apart from contemporaries, including the newer crop of performers," adding "the in you face sexy "If" made it "apparent that Ms. Jackson hasn't lost a step — even at 45." Legacy
In 2013, Esquire Magazine placed the song's "hypothetical" situation among their list of "Sexiest Janet Jackson songs," saying "Janet wants you but you're in another relationship and she respects boundaries (but her mind is still dirty)." Rakesh Satwell of New York Magazine praised "If" as "a punch to the eardrum," declaring that it remains "as fresh as it did then" and a departure from radio trends twenty years after its release. Satwell considered the song "overwhelming" in the current mainstream landscape, in comparison to "our David Guetta glut." The song was commended as a "more impressive feat" for sounding "as it if it's from the future," in contrast to hits such as Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" which glorified "musical silk of the past." The song was applauded as a "sweaty, sexy dance workout" which "still holds up" twenty years after its premiere. Pitchfork ranked the song as the fiftieth best song of the nineties, calling it "the fiercest track from her chart obliterating Janet album". Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
|
!List of accolades for "If"
|
|style="padding:0; border:none;"|
{|class="wikitable" style="border:none; margin:0; width:100%;"
|
!Award
!Nominated work
!Result
|
|Billboard Awards
|Dance Clip of the Year
|
|
|BMI Pop Awards
|Most Played Song
|
|
|Idolator
|Best Female VMA Winning Video of the '90s — #2 (2013)
|
|
|rowspan="3"|MTV Video Music Awards
|Best Female Video
|
|
|Best Choreography in a Video
|
|
|Best Dance Video
|
|
|Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards
|Music Video of the Year
|
|
|Slant Magazine
|100 Best Singles of the '90s — #22 Kwon Yuri of Girls' Generation performed covers of "If" during the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A studio version was released the following year. Dance troupe A. S. I. I. D. performed a routine to "If" on an episode of America's Best Dance Crew titled "Janet Jackson Challenge". Charmaine P. Dennis of Cinema Blend commented "Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely." Electronic artist EPROM released a remix of "If" in 2011. Okayfuture described it as a "bubbly, reverb infused, deep bass remix", and Hypetrak said "Janet was one of the most influential pop albums during the early nineties. Thus, it is more than right that its standout single, "If," is still a demanded subject to reinterpretation." Kaytranada released a remix of "If" in 2012. Okayplayer gave the remix a positive review, stating "That bumpin' bassline, the infectious claps and overall bouncin' nu disco vibe had us at hello. Rarely have we ever seen a sample done oh so right." Track listings
US CD maxi single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (D&D 12 inch Mix/Adult 12 inch) – 5:47
"If" (short single edit) – 2:59
"One More Chance" – 5:54
US 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
US double 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:02
"If" (D&D 7 inch mix) – 4:23
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D JDD mix) – 5:26
"If" (Tee's Capella) – 2:09
UK CD single Japanese CD single "If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
UK 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
French CD single Japanese 3 inch CD single'''
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"One More Chance" – 5:54
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the janet.'' liner notes. Janet Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, producer
Jimmy Jam – producer
Terry Lewis – producer
Steve Hodge – mixing
Dave Rideau – mixing
Todd Perry – remixer
Darryl James – remixer
David Anthony – remixer
«If» әні АҚШ Billboard Hot 100 хит-парадында 57-орында дебют жасады. Ол төртінші орынға жетіп, 1993 жылдың 28 қыркүйегінде Америка жазба индустриясы қауымдастығынан (RIAA) алтын сертификат алды. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs хит-парадында үшінші орынға жетті және Hot Dance Club Play хит-парадының төбесіне көтерілді. Жыл соңындағы жылдық хит-парадта он тоғызыншы орынды иеледі және 600 000 дана сатылды. Канадада ән 92-орында дебют жасап, қазан айында үшінші орынға жетті. Хит-парадта барлығы он тоғыз апта болды және ...
1993 single by Janet Jackson
"If" is a song by American singer songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). Jackson co wrote and co produced "If" with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Harvey Fuqua, John Bristol and Jackey Beavers receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of their composition "Someday We'll Be Together", performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes. "If" was released as the album's second single on July 13, 1993, by Virgin Records. It fuses various genres, including rock, trip hop and industrial music, with elements of new jack swing and hip hop. "If" received critical acclaim, with most critics noting Jackson's evolution into a sexual persona from her prior reserved, celibate public image. It received a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song and was also ranked among Slant Magazines "Best Singles of the 1990s" list. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also performed well in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video for "If", directed by Dominic Sena, portrays voyeurism, sensuality and intense choreography, while depicting technology that was unavailable at the time, such as touch screens and web cameras. The video received various accolades, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year. It was also voted the second best female video of the decade by Idolator. Jackson performed "If" at the MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes", in addition to several of her concert tours. Background
Jackson's role in the film Poetic Justice gave her the confidence to attempt edgier themes musically, commenting "I know it would shock people, but I'm not doing it for shock value. And I know there are some people that are going to say, 'No, I will not be able to accept this because this is a little girl that we saw when she was seven years old.'" She continued, "Everybody says, 'Oh, my God, you've changed so much. Is this really you? '," described to laugh before saying, "Of course it's me." Virgin Records wanted the song to be janet's lead single, saying "it could have a great dance video." Jackson disagreed, deciding to release it as the album's second release. The song was written by Jackson in a conference room during a label meeting. Jackson added, "[its] about a girl who goes to a club and fantasizes about this guy: serious fantasies about the things she'd do to him if she was his girl – the positions and things like that. But she's not, so she can't, so she gets pretty frustrated in the second verse – without it being too much. It's still within good taste." Critical reception
"If" was acclaimed for its innovation and sonic progression, as well as its sexuality and usage of multiple genres. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism called it "a pounding, fuzzed up, nasty sounding track that drips with the thrill of lust at first sight." David Nathan of B&S Magazine remarked that the song pulls no punches. "Listening to it and reading the lyrics Janet wrote in a Virgin Records conference room, I blush in itself a rare occurrence." Andrew Hammp from Billboard declared it a "rockin' dance track," with strings that "anchor the climax." The song's theme of avoiding temptation to interfere with monogamy was also noted, adding "Though Jackson lets her mind race with naughty thoughts [ ], she ultimately stops herself from going after someone else's man." Another editor, Larry Flick described it as a "moist, seductive teaser, wrapped in an equally sexy pop/hiphop groove." He added, "Her honey sweet voice bounces off cyborg guitar riffing, taking the rhythm rock vibe of her Rhythm Nation hit "Black Cat" to a more intense level. Tucked beneath the pleasingly crowded production is an infectious chorus and a nifty funk bassline." Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There's a surprising, fuzzed up guitar riff lifted from Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' that gives 'If' some punch." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly exclaimed it "takes Jackson into exciting new terrain," blending her vocals with "a traffic jam in a city of cyborgs." A writer for Idolator called it an "industrial dance/sex epic" in addition to "infectious and raunchy," saying "Janet Jackson's unmistakable voice is used to perfection to create an eerily tropical but beautiful track." "If" was also interpreted as "a swirling epic number", fusing "90s disco with guitar rock," using a "Hendrix lite guitar" throughout the song. Jackson's vocals were delivered at "break neck speed, practically rapping about the salacious pleasures of her lover," while its production had "a lot of styles on display," including "distorted synth meets acoustic guitar." Nicholas Jennings of Maclean's called the "guitar driven" song a "standout" for its explicit lines. Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting it as "certainly unusual, and certainly a hit." Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed the song to open with a "screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody." A reviewer from Popblerd said it "starts with guitar feedback" before transitioning into "a sweaty, sexy dance workout", adding it "blew us away." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update called it "guitar yowled swirling jittery jack swing pop". Dave Ritz from Rolling Stone qualified it as both "subtle and bold," with Jackson's "bedroom fantasies" given "a fierce dressing up — tough jeep beats, hard rock guitar, and a Diana Ross & The Supremes sample — and some missed just what she was on about." Music critic Richard Croft raved "the janet. album was a big sex fest from beginning to end but nowhere was it hotter than 'If'," labeling the chorus "infectious, at the same time bitchy and vulnerable, defiant and desperate." The song's sexuality was considered to accomplish "the rare thing of being feminist and feminine at the same time without compromising either," saying the song is "a big pleading love song that put her totally at the whim of the man, and a big fuck off anthem that said "I'm here, I'm Janet freaking Jackson, but if you're not gonna notice me then get bent". Phrased a little differently, of course." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said its content was "impending or simply imagined", adding "the very title of which embodies that fact, is essentially about masturbation, with Janet describing what her lover's "smooth and shiny [cock]" feels like against her lips while ostensibly rubbing herself off under the covers". Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave "If" four out of five, declaring it "her sauciest and funkiest yet." He added, "Janet's turning into Prince — and that's not such a bad thing." Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette stated "the naughty seducer" to be one of Jackson's "most exciting tracks." An anecdote also stated Jackson became "the sex kitten every man dreamed she would be," opposed to formerly known as "a sweet fresh faced girl singing little ditties about young love." The lyrics "purposely leaves something to the imagination," leaving one to wonder what Jackson is referring to: "Could Janet be talking about the lips, chest, or a man's procreation stick? For freakiness' sake, I'd like to go with the last option over everything." A reviewer from Vibe called it "a weird masterpiece". Chart performance
"If" debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 28, 1993. It reached number three on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and peaked atop the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It placed at number nineteen on the annual year end chart and sold 600,000 copies. In Canada, the song debuted at number ninety two before peaking at number three in October. It spent a total of nineteen weeks on the chart and was ranked at number twenty five on Canada's RPM year end chart. On April 2, 2011, the song charted at number forty five on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "If" was directed by American director Dominic Sena and choreographed by Tina Landon and Jackson, with additional choreography by Omar Lopez and Keith Williams. It takes place in an Asian nightclub, displaying touch screen technology and web cameras used to monitor the interactions of patrons. Jackson is the club's main performer, being observed by patrons through screens who are able to enter the function by saying the correct password. The video's themes of sexual fantasy, desire, and voyeurism were intended as an elaborate metaphor for the song's racy content. Jackson commented on the video, stating "It's nothing nasty or dirty, but it's very sexy. During taping I kept saying, 'Oh, my god, I'm glad my mother is not here.'" An alternate version of the video known as the "All Dance Version" focuses solely on the video's choreography. This version was shown on many music channels due to the original's suggestive visuals regarded as very explicit at the time. The uncensored video appears on the From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos compilation, while the alternate version is included on the janet. video release and re release of All for You. Synopsis
The video opens with a moonlit scene of a woman wearing a Kimono walking towards a building in an Asian village. The woman walks to the door, looks into a hidden camera and says the password, "If". A man operating the door from inside then grants her access to the festivities. The inside of the bordello is then shown as a green light turns on, signaling male dancers to be lowered from the ceiling, who descend upside down on ropes in a winding fashion simulating a corkscrew. The woman is then shown entering the club. A wider view of the club is then revealed, with club patron watching the stage as female dancers perform. Various scenes of people attending the club are shown through touch screen monitors and web cameras. Multiple screens are shown, and a man watching some of the other patron on the monitor uses the futuristic touch screen to select angles of the performance on the main stage. The doors on the main platform then rapidly open as Janet, who is wearing a black and white top, black pants and a Bohemian choker, descends the stairs and enters the main stage, surrounded by blowing red fabric and a radiant white light. She focuses solely on one man in the audience watching her through the monitor as she and her dancers start performing a sexually suggestive dance routine, three women in high fashion outfits are shown walking through the club and observing the men in attendance through a monitor. As Jackson continues entertaining the crowd, the woman who was originally shown entering the bordello is again seen walking through the event, quickly paying one of the guards to allow her into the club's private sector. Jackson continues the routine as additional scenes on a monitor are briefly seen. This leads into the video's choreographed breakdown, with Jackson performing the routine as angles switch multiple times. Jackson continues the intricate dance while a woman is shown touching the image of a man's faces on another screen. Another woman is then shown on a webcam, becoming aroused while observing a couple engaging in sexual activity. The video's final dance sequence begins, with Janet grabbing a male dancer's crotch region and simulating oral sex, before placing him on the floor and bending him over. Janet continues to seductively watch the man in the audience as she performs, kneeling before the male dancer and then lowering him to floor. The video ends with the man in the audience passionately touching an image of Janet on the monitor, as the woman who was shown entering the club is then seen exiting and walking towards the village. Reception
Described by Jackson as "a female fantasy," David Ritz of Rolling Stone analyzed the video to include "tantalizing bodies" and "mock cunnilingus," along with the "scrambled" reality and rampant voyeurism of Jackson watching herself as she's observed by others through various monitors. Arena Magazine described it as a "dramatic" change, remarking "the black uniform ripped off to reveal a slimmed down, body conscious Janet. The transformation was dramatic." Jet Magazine thought the video displayed "a liberated Janet, who flirted with eroticism but steered clear of moves that would be considered pornographic," also used to "showcase her pelvic thrusts and flashy dance moves." Billboard exclaimed "If" to be a "climax" which is "inseparable from its iconic music video," based on its "head slapping choreography." Slant Magazine thought the video fulfilled the purpose of "providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance break routines in music video history." Legacy and influence
"If" is one of several of Jackson's videos considered to influence a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women. Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before (2007), wrote "in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid 1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18 24 had experienced cunnilingus. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend," with Jackson "heavily implying male on female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution (2000) states that "[i]n the early to mid 1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing Jackson as a prime example of a female artist simulating cunnilingus in her videos, specifically in "If." The video was innovative for its depiction of touch screen technology and web cams, which were not yet invented at the time of its release. Jackson later said, "I don't think people really realize what we were showing in that video that wasn't available with technology then. The video featured futuristic technology, specifically high definition touch screens. I wanted the actors in the video to use these screens to communicate, and relate with each other in the clubs. Similar to what we all do with our smart phones and tablets today. As I look at our lives now, it seems that life is imitating art." Britney Spears was influenced by "If" for videos such as "I'm a Slave 4 U", saying "Janet's video for 'If'. I saw that, and I admired it and wanted to be like her," calling Jackson a "powerful role model" with "her own identity". Elements of the "If" choreography has been referenced frequently, including "multiple videos" by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Ciara, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and N' Sync, with specific examples including Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Lil' Kim's "No Matter What They Say", and Paula Abdul's "My Love Is for Real". A critique of the video added, "Women want to be her. The gays want to be like her. Men want to do morally questionable things to her The current crop of artists, "including Gaga, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney etc ALL follow her trail blazing footsteps." Live performances
Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993. She wore a leather crop top and jeans for this performance. The performance was introduced by actor Christian Slater, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen" during the announcement. The MTV Video Music Awards performance is often considered one of the most infamous and intricate performances of Jackson's career. Complex considered the performance among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." On the 1993 95 janet. World Tour, Jackson performed "If" as the opening song. Lenny Stoute of the Toronto Star stated "This pelvic thrusting, butt wiggling, lip licking high energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference." Jet Magazine wrote, "Janet mesmerzied the crowd by opening with the hit song, 'If'." It has also been performed on all of her following tours, the janet. World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and the State of the World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour. "If" was also performed at the 2009 American Music Awards as promotion for Number Ones, during a medley with "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Make Me", and "Together Again". On the 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, The Boston Herald called the performance "an all out dance onslaught," praising her ability to still perform "the same stylized dance moves from the classic 1993 video." The Seattle Times exclaimed "As a woman who has never been afraid to strut her sexuality, her oh no you didn't dance moves are always a delight. "If's" crotch grabbing and finger licking were classic Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty)", also saying this "served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." An additional critique declared routine "defined her career and set her apart from contemporaries, including the newer crop of performers," adding "the in you face sexy "If" made it "apparent that Ms. Jackson hasn't lost a step — even at 45." Legacy
In 2013, Esquire Magazine placed the song's "hypothetical" situation among their list of "Sexiest Janet Jackson songs," saying "Janet wants you but you're in another relationship and she respects boundaries (but her mind is still dirty)." Rakesh Satwell of New York Magazine praised "If" as "a punch to the eardrum," declaring that it remains "as fresh as it did then" and a departure from radio trends twenty years after its release. Satwell considered the song "overwhelming" in the current mainstream landscape, in comparison to "our David Guetta glut." The song was commended as a "more impressive feat" for sounding "as it if it's from the future," in contrast to hits such as Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" which glorified "musical silk of the past." The song was applauded as a "sweaty, sexy dance workout" which "still holds up" twenty years after its premiere. Pitchfork ranked the song as the fiftieth best song of the nineties, calling it "the fiercest track from her chart obliterating Janet album". Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
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!List of accolades for "If"
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|style="padding:0; border:none;"|
{|class="wikitable" style="border:none; margin:0; width:100%;"
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!Award
!Nominated work
!Result
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|Billboard Awards
|Dance Clip of the Year
|
|
|BMI Pop Awards
|Most Played Song
|
|
|Idolator
|Best Female VMA Winning Video of the '90s — #2 (2013)
|
|
|rowspan="3"|MTV Video Music Awards
|Best Female Video
|
|
|Best Choreography in a Video
|
|
|Best Dance Video
|
|
|Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards
|Music Video of the Year
|
|
|Slant Magazine
|100 Best Singles of the '90s — #22 Kwon Yuri of Girls' Generation performed covers of "If" during the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A studio version was released the following year. Dance troupe A. S. I. I. D. performed a routine to "If" on an episode of America's Best Dance Crew titled "Janet Jackson Challenge". Charmaine P. Dennis of Cinema Blend commented "Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely." Electronic artist EPROM released a remix of "If" in 2011. Okayfuture described it as a "bubbly, reverb infused, deep bass remix", and Hypetrak said "Janet was one of the most influential pop albums during the early nineties. Thus, it is more than right that its standout single, "If," is still a demanded subject to reinterpretation." Kaytranada released a remix of "If" in 2012. Okayplayer gave the remix a positive review, stating "That bumpin' bassline, the infectious claps and overall bouncin' nu disco vibe had us at hello. Rarely have we ever seen a sample done oh so right." Track listings
US CD maxi single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (D&D 12 inch Mix/Adult 12 inch) – 5:47
"If" (short single edit) – 2:59
"One More Chance" – 5:54
US 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
US double 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:02
"If" (D&D 7 inch mix) – 4:23
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D JDD mix) – 5:26
"If" (Tee's Capella) – 2:09
UK CD single Japanese CD single "If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
UK 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
French CD single Japanese 3 inch CD single'''
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"One More Chance" – 5:54
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the janet.'' liner notes. Janet Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, producer
Jimmy Jam – producer
Terry Lewis – producer
Steve Hodge – mixing
Dave Rideau – mixing
Todd Perry – remixer
Darryl James – remixer
David Anthony – remixer
"If" is a song by American singer songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). Jackson co wrote and co produced "If" with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Harvey Fuqua, John Bristol and Jackey Beavers receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of their composition "Someday We'll Be Together", performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes. "If" was released as the album's second single on July 13, 1993, by Virgin Records. It fuses various genres, including rock, trip hop and industrial music, with elements of new jack swing and hip hop. "If" received critical acclaim, with most critics noting Jackson's evolution into a sexual persona from her prior reserved, celibate public image. It received a BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song and was also ranked among Slant Magazines "Best Singles of the 1990s" list. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It also performed well in Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video for "If", directed by Dominic Sena, portrays voyeurism, sensuality and intense choreography, while depicting technology that was unavailable at the time, such as touch screens and web cameras. The video received various accolades, including Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, and a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year. It was also voted the second best female video of the decade by Idolator. Jackson performed "If" at the MTV Video Music Awards in a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes", in addition to several of her concert tours. Background
Jackson's role in the film Poetic Justice gave her the confidence to attempt edgier themes musically, commenting "I know it would shock people, but I'm not doing it for shock value. And I know there are some people that are going to say, 'No, I will not be able to accept this because this is a little girl that we saw when she was seven years old.'" She continued, "Everybody says, 'Oh, my God, you've changed so much. Is this really you? '," described to laugh before saying, "Of course it's me." Virgin Records wanted the song to be janet's lead single, saying "it could have a great dance video." Jackson disagreed, deciding to release it as the album's second release. The song was written by Jackson in a conference room during a label meeting. Jackson added, "[its] about a girl who goes to a club and fantasizes about this guy: serious fantasies about the things she'd do to him if she was his girl – the positions and things like that. But she's not, so she can't, so she gets pretty frustrated in the second verse – without it being too much. It's still within good taste." Critical reception
"If" was acclaimed for its innovation and sonic progression, as well as its sexuality and usage of multiple genres. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism called it "a pounding, fuzzed up, nasty sounding track that drips with the thrill of lust at first sight." David Nathan of B&S Magazine remarked that the song pulls no punches. "Listening to it and reading the lyrics Janet wrote in a Virgin Records conference room, I blush in itself a rare occurrence." Andrew Hammp from Billboard declared it a "rockin' dance track," with strings that "anchor the climax." The song's theme of avoiding temptation to interfere with monogamy was also noted, adding "Though Jackson lets her mind race with naughty thoughts [ ], she ultimately stops herself from going after someone else's man." Another editor, Larry Flick described it as a "moist, seductive teaser, wrapped in an equally sexy pop/hiphop groove." He added, "Her honey sweet voice bounces off cyborg guitar riffing, taking the rhythm rock vibe of her Rhythm Nation hit "Black Cat" to a more intense level. Tucked beneath the pleasingly crowded production is an infectious chorus and a nifty funk bassline." Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There's a surprising, fuzzed up guitar riff lifted from Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' that gives 'If' some punch." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly exclaimed it "takes Jackson into exciting new terrain," blending her vocals with "a traffic jam in a city of cyborgs." A writer for Idolator called it an "industrial dance/sex epic" in addition to "infectious and raunchy," saying "Janet Jackson's unmistakable voice is used to perfection to create an eerily tropical but beautiful track." "If" was also interpreted as "a swirling epic number", fusing "90s disco with guitar rock," using a "Hendrix lite guitar" throughout the song. Jackson's vocals were delivered at "break neck speed, practically rapping about the salacious pleasures of her lover," while its production had "a lot of styles on display," including "distorted synth meets acoustic guitar." Nicholas Jennings of Maclean's called the "guitar driven" song a "standout" for its explicit lines. Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting it as "certainly unusual, and certainly a hit." Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed the song to open with a "screaming guitar and a chanted verse, rising to a sweet melody." A reviewer from Popblerd said it "starts with guitar feedback" before transitioning into "a sweaty, sexy dance workout", adding it "blew us away." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update called it "guitar yowled swirling jittery jack swing pop". Dave Ritz from Rolling Stone qualified it as both "subtle and bold," with Jackson's "bedroom fantasies" given "a fierce dressing up — tough jeep beats, hard rock guitar, and a Diana Ross & The Supremes sample — and some missed just what she was on about." Music critic Richard Croft raved "the janet. album was a big sex fest from beginning to end but nowhere was it hotter than 'If'," labeling the chorus "infectious, at the same time bitchy and vulnerable, defiant and desperate." The song's sexuality was considered to accomplish "the rare thing of being feminist and feminine at the same time without compromising either," saying the song is "a big pleading love song that put her totally at the whim of the man, and a big fuck off anthem that said "I'm here, I'm Janet freaking Jackson, but if you're not gonna notice me then get bent". Phrased a little differently, of course." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said its content was "impending or simply imagined", adding "the very title of which embodies that fact, is essentially about masturbation, with Janet describing what her lover's "smooth and shiny [cock]" feels like against her lips while ostensibly rubbing herself off under the covers". Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave "If" four out of five, declaring it "her sauciest and funkiest yet." He added, "Janet's turning into Prince — and that's not such a bad thing." Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette stated "the naughty seducer" to be one of Jackson's "most exciting tracks." An anecdote also stated Jackson became "the sex kitten every man dreamed she would be," opposed to formerly known as "a sweet fresh faced girl singing little ditties about young love." The lyrics "purposely leaves something to the imagination," leaving one to wonder what Jackson is referring to: "Could Janet be talking about the lips, chest, or a man's procreation stick? For freakiness' sake, I'd like to go with the last option over everything." A reviewer from Vibe called it "a weird masterpiece". Chart performance
"If" debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number four and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 28, 1993. It reached number three on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and peaked atop the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It placed at number nineteen on the annual year end chart and sold 600,000 copies. In Canada, the song debuted at number ninety two before peaking at number three in October. It spent a total of nineteen weeks on the chart and was ranked at number twenty five on Canada's RPM year end chart. On April 2, 2011, the song charted at number forty five on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. Music video
Background
The accompanying music video for "If" was directed by American director Dominic Sena and choreographed by Tina Landon and Jackson, with additional choreography by Omar Lopez and Keith Williams. It takes place in an Asian nightclub, displaying touch screen technology and web cameras used to monitor the interactions of patrons. Jackson is the club's main performer, being observed by patrons through screens who are able to enter the function by saying the correct password. The video's themes of sexual fantasy, desire, and voyeurism were intended as an elaborate metaphor for the song's racy content. Jackson commented on the video, stating "It's nothing nasty or dirty, but it's very sexy. During taping I kept saying, 'Oh, my god, I'm glad my mother is not here.'" An alternate version of the video known as the "All Dance Version" focuses solely on the video's choreography. This version was shown on many music channels due to the original's suggestive visuals regarded as very explicit at the time. The uncensored video appears on the From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos compilation, while the alternate version is included on the janet. video release and re release of All for You. Synopsis
The video opens with a moonlit scene of a woman wearing a Kimono walking towards a building in an Asian village. The woman walks to the door, looks into a hidden camera and says the password, "If". A man operating the door from inside then grants her access to the festivities. The inside of the bordello is then shown as a green light turns on, signaling male dancers to be lowered from the ceiling, who descend upside down on ropes in a winding fashion simulating a corkscrew. The woman is then shown entering the club. A wider view of the club is then revealed, with club patron watching the stage as female dancers perform. Various scenes of people attending the club are shown through touch screen monitors and web cameras. Multiple screens are shown, and a man watching some of the other patron on the monitor uses the futuristic touch screen to select angles of the performance on the main stage. The doors on the main platform then rapidly open as Janet, who is wearing a black and white top, black pants and a Bohemian choker, descends the stairs and enters the main stage, surrounded by blowing red fabric and a radiant white light. She focuses solely on one man in the audience watching her through the monitor as she and her dancers start performing a sexually suggestive dance routine, three women in high fashion outfits are shown walking through the club and observing the men in attendance through a monitor. As Jackson continues entertaining the crowd, the woman who was originally shown entering the bordello is again seen walking through the event, quickly paying one of the guards to allow her into the club's private sector. Jackson continues the routine as additional scenes on a monitor are briefly seen. This leads into the video's choreographed breakdown, with Jackson performing the routine as angles switch multiple times. Jackson continues the intricate dance while a woman is shown touching the image of a man's faces on another screen. Another woman is then shown on a webcam, becoming aroused while observing a couple engaging in sexual activity. The video's final dance sequence begins, with Janet grabbing a male dancer's crotch region and simulating oral sex, before placing him on the floor and bending him over. Janet continues to seductively watch the man in the audience as she performs, kneeling before the male dancer and then lowering him to floor. The video ends with the man in the audience passionately touching an image of Janet on the monitor, as the woman who was shown entering the club is then seen exiting and walking towards the village. Reception
Described by Jackson as "a female fantasy," David Ritz of Rolling Stone analyzed the video to include "tantalizing bodies" and "mock cunnilingus," along with the "scrambled" reality and rampant voyeurism of Jackson watching herself as she's observed by others through various monitors. Arena Magazine described it as a "dramatic" change, remarking "the black uniform ripped off to reveal a slimmed down, body conscious Janet. The transformation was dramatic." Jet Magazine thought the video displayed "a liberated Janet, who flirted with eroticism but steered clear of moves that would be considered pornographic," also used to "showcase her pelvic thrusts and flashy dance moves." Billboard exclaimed "If" to be a "climax" which is "inseparable from its iconic music video," based on its "head slapping choreography." Slant Magazine thought the video fulfilled the purpose of "providing the impetus behind one of the greatest dance break routines in music video history." Legacy and influence
"If" is one of several of Jackson's videos considered to influence a higher degree of sexual freedom among young women. Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before (2007), wrote "in the 1950s, only 3% of the young women had received oral sex from a man. By the mid 1990s, however, 75% of women aged 18 24 had experienced cunnilingus. Music videos by female artists have contributed to the trend," with Jackson "heavily implying male on female oral sex in music videos by pushing down on a man's head until he's in exactly the right position." Similarly, Paula Kamen in Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution (2000) states that "[i]n the early to mid 1990s, oral sex even reached mainstream music as politically charged demand of truly liberated women," citing Jackson as a prime example of a female artist simulating cunnilingus in her videos, specifically in "If." The video was innovative for its depiction of touch screen technology and web cams, which were not yet invented at the time of its release. Jackson later said, "I don't think people really realize what we were showing in that video that wasn't available with technology then. The video featured futuristic technology, specifically high definition touch screens. I wanted the actors in the video to use these screens to communicate, and relate with each other in the clubs. Similar to what we all do with our smart phones and tablets today. As I look at our lives now, it seems that life is imitating art." Britney Spears was influenced by "If" for videos such as "I'm a Slave 4 U", saying "Janet's video for 'If'. I saw that, and I admired it and wanted to be like her," calling Jackson a "powerful role model" with "her own identity". Elements of the "If" choreography has been referenced frequently, including "multiple videos" by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Ciara, Mýa, Missy Elliott, and N' Sync, with specific examples including Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Lil' Kim's "No Matter What They Say", and Paula Abdul's "My Love Is for Real". A critique of the video added, "Women want to be her. The gays want to be like her. Men want to do morally questionable things to her The current crop of artists, "including Gaga, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Britney etc ALL follow her trail blazing footsteps." Live performances
Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's the Way Love Goes" at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993. She wore a leather crop top and jeans for this performance. The performance was introduced by actor Christian Slater, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen" during the announcement. The MTV Video Music Awards performance is often considered one of the most infamous and intricate performances of Jackson's career. Complex considered the performance among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." On the 1993 95 janet. World Tour, Jackson performed "If" as the opening song. Lenny Stoute of the Toronto Star stated "This pelvic thrusting, butt wiggling, lip licking high energy temptress is a long way from the cute 'n' chubby girl next door of her previous Rhythm Nation tour. And she came equipped with the tough dance moves, firm muscles and seven costume changes to emphasize the difference." Jet Magazine wrote, "Janet mesmerzied the crowd by opening with the hit song, 'If'." It has also been performed on all of her following tours, the janet. World Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and the State of the World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour. "If" was also performed at the 2009 American Music Awards as promotion for Number Ones, during a medley with "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Make Me", and "Together Again". On the 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, The Boston Herald called the performance "an all out dance onslaught," praising her ability to still perform "the same stylized dance moves from the classic 1993 video." The Seattle Times exclaimed "As a woman who has never been afraid to strut her sexuality, her oh no you didn't dance moves are always a delight. "If's" crotch grabbing and finger licking were classic Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty)", also saying this "served as reminders that dancing is sometimes as important as the songs themselves." An additional critique declared routine "defined her career and set her apart from contemporaries, including the newer crop of performers," adding "the in you face sexy "If" made it "apparent that Ms. Jackson hasn't lost a step — even at 45." Legacy
In 2013, Esquire Magazine placed the song's "hypothetical" situation among their list of "Sexiest Janet Jackson songs," saying "Janet wants you but you're in another relationship and she respects boundaries (but her mind is still dirty)." Rakesh Satwell of New York Magazine praised "If" as "a punch to the eardrum," declaring that it remains "as fresh as it did then" and a departure from radio trends twenty years after its release. Satwell considered the song "overwhelming" in the current mainstream landscape, in comparison to "our David Guetta glut." The song was commended as a "more impressive feat" for sounding "as it if it's from the future," in contrast to hits such as Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!" which glorified "musical silk of the past." The song was applauded as a "sweaty, sexy dance workout" which "still holds up" twenty years after its premiere. Pitchfork ranked the song as the fiftieth best song of the nineties, calling it "the fiercest track from her chart obliterating Janet album". Awards and nominations
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!List of accolades for "If"
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!Award
!Nominated work
!Result
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|Billboard Awards
|Dance Clip of the Year
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|BMI Pop Awards
|Most Played Song
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|Idolator
|Best Female VMA Winning Video of the '90s — #2 (2013)
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|rowspan="3"|MTV Video Music Awards
|Best Female Video
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|Best Choreography in a Video
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|Best Dance Video
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|Playboy Magazine Entertainment Awards
|Music Video of the Year
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|Slant Magazine
|100 Best Singles of the '90s — #22 Kwon Yuri of Girls' Generation performed covers of "If" during the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A studio version was released the following year. Dance troupe A. S. I. I. D. performed a routine to "If" on an episode of America's Best Dance Crew titled "Janet Jackson Challenge". Charmaine P. Dennis of Cinema Blend commented "Everyone knows the famous hand blade/shuffle move, and the group pulls it off lovely." Electronic artist EPROM released a remix of "If" in 2011. Okayfuture described it as a "bubbly, reverb infused, deep bass remix", and Hypetrak said "Janet was one of the most influential pop albums during the early nineties. Thus, it is more than right that its standout single, "If," is still a demanded subject to reinterpretation." Kaytranada released a remix of "If" in 2012. Okayplayer gave the remix a positive review, stating "That bumpin' bassline, the infectious claps and overall bouncin' nu disco vibe had us at hello. Rarely have we ever seen a sample done oh so right." Track listings
US CD maxi single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (D&D 12 inch Mix/Adult 12 inch) – 5:47
"If" (short single edit) – 2:59
"One More Chance" – 5:54
US 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
US double 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Tee's radio mix) – 4:02
"If" (D&D 7 inch mix) – 4:23
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (TNT Bass mix) – 5:36
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D JDD mix) – 5:26
"If" (Tee's Capella) – 2:09
UK CD single Japanese CD single "If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Tee's Freeze mix) – 7:17
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
UK 12 inch single "If" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:07
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm dub) – 7:00
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"If" (extended LP mix) – 5:40
"If" (Brothers in Rhythm Swing Yo Pants mix) – 6:20
"If" (D&D 12 inch mix) – 5:47
French CD single Japanese 3 inch CD single'''
"If" (radio edit) – 3:49
"One More Chance" – 5:54
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the janet.'' liner notes. Janet Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, producer
Jimmy Jam – producer
Terry Lewis – producer
Steve Hodge – mixing
Dave Rideau – mixing
Todd Perry – remixer
Darryl James – remixer
David Anthony – remixer
Шығару тарихы
ӨңірДатаформаты (лар)Жазу (лар) Сілтеме (Дереккөз)Құрама Штаттар1993 жылғы 13 шілде12 дюймдік винил, CD, кассетаVirginҰлыбритания1993 жылғы 19 шілде7 дюймдік винил, 12 дюймдік винил, CD, кассетаЖапония1993 жылғы 30 тамызМини CD
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref. (Reference)United StatesJuly 13, 199312 inch vinyl, CD, cassetteVirginUnited KingdomJuly 19, 19937 inch vinyl, 12 inch vinyl, CD, cassetteJapanAugust 30, 1993Mini CD