Go Deep

"Go Deep" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). It was written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with additional writing by René Elizondo Jr. The song was released as the fourth single from the album on June 15, 1998, by Virgin Records. A song with funk elements, "Go Deep" lyrically talks about Jackson's desire to cruise a club, get a man and take him home to make the man "scream and moan". Official remixes for the song were released, featuring Missy Elliott, Teddy Riley and Timbaland.

"Go Deep"
Single by Janet Jackson
from the album The Velvet Rope
ReleasedJune 15, 1998 (1998-06-15)
Format
RecordedMarch 1997
Genre
Length4:42
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jimmy Jam
  • Terry Lewis
Janet Jackson singles chronology
"I Get Lonely"
(1998)
"Go Deep"
(1998)
"Luv Me, Luv Me"
(1998)

"Go Deep" received mixed reviews from music critics; several found the song irresistible while others called it tedious. Commercially, it fared well worldwide, reaching number two in Canada, charting within the top twenty in Iceland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and topping the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. A music video directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris depicts a boy having a daydream with Jackson giving a party in his house after his parents had left town for the weekend. The singer performed the song on The Velvet Rope Tour (1998), Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour (2011), as well as on the Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis residency (2019).

Background and composition

"Dancing is therapy. I love writing and singing songs that make you move, lift your mood and take you out of yourself. There are times when I call up my friends and say, 'Hey, we gotta go dancing tonight.' We Go Deep is about getting ready and getting down. Tripping out on pure fun".

—Jackson about "Go Deep".[1]

Before recording her sixth album, Jackson became subject to an industry bidding war between several recording companies. She ultimately renewed her contract with Virgin for $80 million—the largest recording contract in history at that time and a breakthrough she achieved for the second time in her career.[2][3] This led her to record The Velvet Rope, which chronicled her emotional breakdown, stemming from self-hatred, childhood humiliation, physical abuse, and distorted body image.[4] Its lead single, "Got 'til It's Gone", peaked at number three on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.[5] The following singles "Together Again" and "I Get Lonely" were commercial successes, with the former reaching the top and the latter peaking within the top three in the United States.[6] "Go Deep" was released in June 1998, as the fourth international single from The Velvet Rope, through Virgin Records.[7]

"Go Deep" was written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with additional writing by René Elizondo Jr. Lyrically, the song talks about Jackson's desire to cruise a club, get a man, drag him home and do him, with her asserting, "Gotta take him home/When I get him alone/I'll make him scream and moan".[8][9] Musically, it is a pop song with funk elements.[10] It was described by Billboard as a "danceable track with deep, syncopated beats" with a "pulsive erotic groover", with her vocals performed in a "girlish breathiness".[11][12][13] Official remixes for the song were released, featuring rappers Missy Elliott and Timbaland and musician Teddy Riley.[10]

Reception

"Go Deep" received mixed reviews from music critics. Larry Flick from Billboard called the song "infectious" and "irresistible", while praising the singer's choice for the artists featured on the remix, saying that she deserved "props for having good taste in friends", although he noted that it was "a risky move that could alienate longtime mainstream listeners".[10] Sarah Davis from Dotmusic website noted that "Go Deep" was a "finely-tuned piece designed for late-night dancefloor business – and classic radio. What more can I say? Brilliant!".[7] Daryl Easlea from BBC found the song "sleek, slippery".[14] The Daily Vault gave a negative review for the song, calling it "tedious" and further commenting that it "doesn't have that drive to make it a good club number it's supposed to be".[15]

Although "Go Deep" was released on physical formats only in international markets, it received moderate success in the US through radio airplay, and had success as a club single, peaking at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart in early August 1998. The single entered and peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1998 and spent five weeks on the chart. It also charted inside the top forty in most other European countries and Australia, but fared better in the US and Canada.

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Go Deep" was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and released in July 1998. Among the cameo appearances are American actor Ty Hodges as a teen boy whose parents have left town for the weekend and future Japanese pop singer AI as a backup dancer. The doorbell suddenly rings and it turns out to be Jackson and her dancers, who are asked to be let in. Jackson and company invite more friends over and a large house party ensues. The video ends with the young boy realizing it was all an elaborate daydream with Jackson, woken up by a pizza guy ringing the doorbell. The video was ranked number 50 on Complex magazine's "The 50 Best R&B Videos of the '90s".[16] It also appears on the DVD edition of 2001's All for You as well as the 2004 video compilation From Janet to Damita Jo: The Videos.[17][18]

Live performances

Jackson sang the song during the encore of her The Velvet Rope Tour in 1998, with the stage decorated with chandeliers, while she wore sensible clothes.[19] The performance of the song at the October 11, 1998 show in New York City, at the Madison Square Garden, was broadcast during a special titled The Velvet Rope: Live in Madison Square Garden by HBO. It was also added to the setlist at its DVD release, The Velvet Rope Tour – Live in Concert in 1999.[20] During her 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, Jackson dedicated the song to her fans in Manila, stating on her website, "I dedicate 'Go Deep' to all my fans in Manila. It was a dream for me to start my Number Ones—Up Close and Personal tour in your magical city and country. There is a truth in the Philippines that enchants people all over the world. I can't wait to get there and be with you".[21] Jackson included the Timbaland remix on her 2019 Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis Las Vegas residency.[22]

Track listings

CD single

  1. "Go Deep (Album Version)" – 4:42
  2. "Go Deep (T.R. Funk Mix)" – 5:40
  3. "Go Deep (Roni Size Remix)" – 7:25
  4. "Go Deep (Masters At Work Alternative Mix)" – 8:32
  5. "Go Deep (Masters At Work Downtempo Mix)" – 5:20

12" single

  1. "Go Deep (Masters At Work Thunder Mix)" – 9:05
  2. "Go Deep (Jam & Lewis Extended Album Mix)" – 5:32
  3. "Go Deep (Timbaland / Missy Remix)" – 5:33

Remixes

Charts

References

  1. "Go Deep". Miss Janet Official Fansite. Archived from the original on May 15, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  2. Phillips, Chuck (January 12, 1996). "Janet Jackson Spins a New Record: $80-Million Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  3. Farley, Christopher John; Thigpen, David E.; Ressner, Jeffrey (January 29, 1996). "Are they worth all that cash?". Time. p. 54. Retrieved December 26, 2017. (subscription required)
  4. Pond, Steve (January 1998). "Janet Jackson". Us: 81. ISSN 1529-7497.
  5. "Janet Jackson Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  6. "Janet Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20000817004500/http://www.dotmusic.com/artists/JanetJackson/reviews/June1998/reviews11084.asp
  8. Bernstein, Jonathan (October 20, 1997). "Janet Jackson Gets Nasty On The Velvet Rope". Observer. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  9. Considine, J.D. (October 10, 1997). "Music Review: 'The Velvet Rope'". Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  10. Flick, Larry (June 13, 1998). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. 110 (24): 23. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  11. Pareles, Jon (October 7, 1997). "Love Can Get Complicated (Ouch!)". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  12. "Virgin's Janet Jackson Takes A Topical Turn With 'The Velvet Rope'". Billboard. September 6, 1997. p. 121. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  13. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, p. 411, at Google Books
  14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/pnhf
  15. http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=342
  16. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/the-50-best-rb-videos-of-the-90s/janet-jackson-go-deep
  17. "Janet Jackson-From Janet To Damita Jo: The Videos (2004)". Quickflix. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  18. "Janet Jackson: All For You - Limited Edition CD/DVD (2001)". DVD MG. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  19. Daly, Steve (July 10, 1999). "Live Report: Janet Jackson". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  20. The Velvet Rope Tour – Live in Concert (Laserdisc, VHS, DVD). Janet Jackson. Eagle Rock Entertainment. 1999.CS1 maint: others (link)
  21. "Janet Jackson to "Go Deep" in Manila on February 4". PEP.ph. February 1, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  22. Mitchell, Gail (May 18, 2019). "Janet Jackson Draws Queen Latifah, Eve & More to Metamorphosis Residency Opening in Las Vegas". Billboard. United States. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  23. "Australian-charts.com – Janet Jackson – Go Deep". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  24. "Ultratop.be – Janet Jackson – Go Deep" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  25. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7931." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  26. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7948." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  27. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Billboard Music and Media. Retrieved April 6, 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  28. "Lescharts.com – Janet Jackson – Go Deep" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  29. "Offiziellecharts.de – Janet Jackson – Go Deep". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  30. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 280 Vikuna 09.7–16.7 1998) (DV Fokus 10 July 1998)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). p. 11. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  32. "Dutchcharts.nl – Janet Jackson – Go Deep" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  33. "Charts.nz – Janet Jackson – Go Deep". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  34. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  35. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  36. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  37. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  38. "Janet Jackson Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  39. "Janet Jackson Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  40. "Janet Jackson Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  41. "Janet Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  42. "Janet Jackson Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  43. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63 no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  44. "RPM's Top 50 Urban Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  45. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs Of 1998" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 6 no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  46. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 26, 1998). "Billboard (1998-12-26 – 1999-01-02)" (PDF). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  47. "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs Of 1998" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 6 no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 46. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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