Janet Jackson

Released: October 24, 1989

Songwriter: Janet Jackson Terry Lewis Jimmy Jam

Producer: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

[Intro]
5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah, yeah
Bass, bass, bass, bass

("Too strong")

("Bass")
("Bass")
("Bass")
("Bass")

[Verse 1]
With music by our side
To break the color lines
Let's work together
To improve our way of life
Join voices in protest
To social injustice
A generation full of courage
Come forth with me

[Chorus]
People of the world today
Are we looking for a better way of life? Sing!
We are a part of the rhythm nation
People of the world unite
Strength in numbers we can get it right
One time, sing it up
We are a part of the rhythm nation
Everybody

[Interlude]
People of the world today
Are we looking for a better way of life?
("BAM") ("Bass") ("3, 2") ("The rhythm")
("Too strong") ("Too strong")

[Verse 2]
This is the test
No struggle no progress
Lend a hand to help
Your brother do his best
Things are getting worse
We have to make them better
It's time to give a damn
Let's work together, come on now

[Chorus]
People of the world today
Are we looking for a better way of life? Sing!
We are a part of the rhythm nation (Rhythm)
People of the world unite
Strength in numbers we can get it right (Rhythm)
Everybody

[Bridge]
Bass
("Bass")
Bass
("The rhythm")
("Bass")
("The rhythm")
("BAM!")
("Bass")
("The rhythm")
("Too strong")

Rhythm nation
Rhythm nation
Sing it if you want a better way of life

Sing it, people
Sing it, children
Sing it if you want a better way of life
Sing it, people
Sing it, children
Sing it if you want a better way of life

[Chorus]
People of the world today
Are we looking for a better way of life? Sing!
We are a part of the rhythm nation (Woo)
People of the world unite
Strength in numbers we can get it right
One time, sing it up
We are a part of the rhythm nation (Rhythm)
People of the world today
Are we looking for a better way of life? Sing!
We are a part of the rhythm nation

[Bridge]
Sing it for the babies
Sing it for the people
Sing it for the children
Sing it for the babies
Sing it for the people
Sing it for the babies
We are a part of the rhythm nation

[Outro]
People of the world unite
Strength in numbers we can get it right
One time
We are a part of the rhythm nation

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an iconic R&B/pop artist who has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has amassed a number of awards in her illustrious music career.

Born in Gary, Indiana on May 16, 1966, Janet is the youngest of the Jackson family, who rose to prominence a few years after her birth when they signed with Motown Records. Janet joined the family business when she appeared on The Jacksons variety show in 1976, leading to her role as Penny Gordon in Season 5 of the CBS sitcom Good Times. She released two overlooked albums in the early 1980s—Janet Jackson (1982) and Dream Street (1984)—and continued to act during this time, appearing in Diff'rent Strokes and Fame.

The legend of Janet was created after she connected with the legendary Minneapolis production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to work on her seminal third album, Control. Control and her following album, 1989’s Rhythm Nation 1814, featured several #1 pop hits and made her a worldwide superstar. The trio would go on work on Janet’s subsequent hit albums, including janet., The Velvet Rope, as well as her 2015 comeback album, Unbreakable.

more tracks from the album

Rhythm Nation: The Remixes

From the album

Rhythm Nation: The Remixes (1990)

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Rhythm Nation (7" United Mix Edit)Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

Rhythm Nation: The Remixes