Young Love (Janet Jackson song)

"Young Love" is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson from her self-titled debut album (1982). It was written and produced by René Moore, Angela Winbush, with additional production by Bobby Watson. It was released as Jackson's debut single on July 7, 1982 by A&M Records. Prior to her rise to fame, the singer had no interest in pursuing a musical career. Despite this, she was motivated to pursue a career in entertainment, and considered the idea after recording herself in the studio. After acting in the variety show The Jacksons, she began starring in several TV series and commenced recording her debut album. The single sold 200,000 copies in the United States.[1]

"Young Love"
Single by Janet Jackson
from the album Janet Jackson
B-side"The Magic Is Working"
ReleasedJuly 7, 1982 (1982-07-07)
Recorded1982
Genre
Length4:58
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Bobby Watson
  • René Moore
  • Angela Winbush
Janet Jackson singles chronology
"Young Love"
(1982)		 "Come Give Your Love to Me"
(1983)

"Young Love" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who highlighted it as a standout song from Janet Jackson and praised its catchiness. It peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was a success on the R&B chart, additionally peaking at number 16 in New Zealand. In order to promote her album, she performed the song on Soul Train and American Bandstand. In recent years, she has included the song on her 2008 Rock Witchu Tour and her performance at the 2010 Essence Music Festival.

Background

Janet Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, the youngest of ten children. Jackson had initially desired to become a horse racing jockey or entertainment lawyer, with plans to support herself through acting. Despite this, she was anticipated to pursue a career in entertainment, and considered the idea after recording herself in the studio. At age seven, Jackson performed at the Las Vegas Strip at the MGM Casino and began acting in the variety show The Jacksons in 1976. The year after, she was selected to have a starring role as Penny Gordon Woods in the sitcom Good Times. She later starred in A New Kind of Family before joining the cast of Diff'rent Strokes, portraying Charlene Duprey for two years.[2] Jackson also played the recurring role of Cleo Hewitt during the fourth season of Fame, but expressed indifference towards the series.[3][4] When Jackson was sixteen, she was arranged a contract with A&M Records and began recording her debut album with the assistance of her father, working with a number of songwriters and producers such as René Moore, Angela Winbush and Bobby Watson, who produced her first single, entitled "Young Love", released on July 7, 1982.[2]

Composition and reception

Lou Broadus, music director of WASC Radio, described the song as an "uptempo, happy song with a good hook".[5] After the single "Young Love" was released, it became a hit with young people.[6] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from website AllMusic noted that Jackson demonstrated "no distinctive musical personality of her own, which isn't surprising considering that she was in her teens. [...] Only "Young Love" stands out among the undistinguished, sub-disco thumpers and drippy ballads.[7]

In the United States, "Young Love" received little notoriety on the principal singles chart, the Billboard Hot 100; it was able to reach a peak of number 64. However, on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the single managed to reach number six.[8] In New Zealand, "Young Love" debuted at number 46 on its singles chart, on the issue dated March 13, 1983. Several weeks later, on April 17, 1983, the song reached its peak of number 16. It fell off the chart on May 1, at number 33. A year later, it re-entered the singles chart, at number 45.[9]

Live performances

In order to promote Janet Jackson, she performed the song on American TV shows Solid Gold ,American Bandstand and Soul Train in 1982.[10][11] She also performed the song on a West German television program Musikladen. Several years later, Jackson included the song on her 2008 Rock Witchu Tour in the "Pre-Control Medley" section of the show.[12] It was later added to her performance at the 2010 Essence Music Festival, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, which she headlined.[13] The song is also used during the DJ intermission on the 2017-2019 State of the World Tour.

Official versions
  • Album Version - 4:58
  • Seven Inch Version° - 3:41
  • 12" Dance Mix^ - 5:07

°Unavailable on CD

^The 12" Dance Mix was first released in 1995 on the Limited Edition Bonus Disc of Design of a Decade: 1986–1996

Track listings and formats
  • US vinyl / 7" single[14]
  1. "Young Love" – 3:39
  2. "The Magic is Working" - 4:08

Credits and personnel

Source:[14]

Charts
Chart (1982) Peak
position
New Zealand Singles Chart[9] 16
South Africa (RISA)[15] 34
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 64
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[8] 6
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References
  1. "Janet Jackson". Spin. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  2. Cornwell, Jane (2002), Janet Jackson, Carlton Books, pp. 2, 10, 24, ISBN 1-84222-464-6
  3. Fox, Norman, Indian Summer, tv.com, retrieved September 3, 2008
  4. Saunders, Michael (October 3, 1996), "The 3 Divas Janet Jackson turns her focus inward", The Boston Globe, Affiliated Publications, p. 13
  5. Wells, Robyn (October 9, 1982). "Out of the Box". Billboard. New York: Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 94 (40): 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2014.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  6. Jackson, Janet (2011), True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, Simon & Schuster, pp. 91, ISBN 978-1-4165-8724-8
  7. Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  8. "Janet Jackson - Charts and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  9. "Janet Jackson - Young Love". New Zealand Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  10. "Janet Jackson / Laura Branigan - American Bandstand". American Bandstand. Season 26. Episode 5. October 30, 1982. ABC.
  11. "Michael McDonald / Janet Jackson - Soul Train". Soul Train. Season 12. Episode 10. December 18, 1982. Syndication.
  12. Sheppard, Denise (September 11, 2008). "Janet Jackson Opens 2008 Rock Witchu Tour in Vancouver". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  13. Rawls, Alex (July 6, 2010). "Janet Jackson Performs for the First Time in a Year". Spin. Buzz Media. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  14. Young Love (US vinyl / 7" single liner notes). Janet Jackson. A&M Records. 2440-S.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. "South African Divas Singles". Geo Cities. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
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