Burnitup!

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Burnitup!"
Promotional single by Janet Jackson featuring Missy Elliott
from the album Unbreakable
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2015 (2015-09-25)
GenreDance[1]
Length4:09
Label
  • Rhythm Nation
  • BMG
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Burnitup!" (stylized as "BURNITUP!") is a song by American singer

digital promo single containing the album's version and a radio edit was released on October 5, 2015 by Rhythm Nation Records and BMG Rights Management
.

The

R&B Songs chart. It was performed on Jackson's 2015–16 Unbreakable World Tour and on her 2017-2019 State of the World Tour
.

Background and release

Image of rapper Missy Elliott looking to the camera with her mouth open. She is sporting short black and blue hair, heavy make-up, black shirt with white stripes, and gold earrings and necklace.
"Burnitup!" serves as the fourth collaboration between Jackson and Elliott (pictured).

For "Burnitup!", Jackson invited American rapper Missy Elliott, with whom she had previously collaborated several times.[2] The first was on 1998 remixes of "Go Deep", the second in 2001 on a remix of "Son of a Gun" from All for You (2001), and the last on "The 1" from Discipline (2008).[3] Elliott commented:

Working with Janet is unbelievable. Although we are great friends and have been for so long, I am still her biggest fan. Sometimes, I still have to pinch myself when I call her and she picks up the phone or texts me because she is still Janet Jackson! The superstar that I would run to the TV to watch her videos and dance moves, so for me I'm honored to be on any Janet record. I'm humbled whenever she asks because she inspires and continues to inspire me, always![2]

Jackson responded that it is always great to work with friends, and Elliott was a dear one. It was natural to record a song together for both of them, as they had a great time doing it.

promotional digital single containing the album's version and a radio edit of the song was released on October 5, 2015.[6]

Composition

"Burnitup!" was written and produced by Janet Jackson,

uptempo dance song[1][7] with electronic beats, processed vocal samples, "crisp" house drums, "glossy" keys and "thick" synth-bass.[8] The opening of "Burnitup!" warns listeners with a voice shouting "Incoming!", before Elliott starts rapping, and hypes listeners up before Jackson's vocals and makes some kitty-quoting "meow" sounds.[5][9] Jackson then asks "Mr. DJ" to "turn it up" and the crowd to "dance like no-one's watching", while Elliott raps "Make it work, make it work, make it work".[10] Elliott also instructs the listener, rapping "Dis dat jam, now do yo dance[sic]" and giving shout-outs to Jackson, who teases "Just give me that fire and Imma show you how to burn it up".[8][11]

Critical reception

"Burnitup!" received positive reviews from

Exclaim commented that Elliott, combined with the song's "thumping electronic swagger and DJ-encouraging melodies", makes it an energetic pop anthem.[5] Francesca Dunn from i-D complimented Jackson's "joyously hooky vocals" which she displayed around the track.[9] Spin magazine's Brennan Carley noted that "heel-nipping track featuring Missy Elliott [who is] in fine form, doing a tongue-twisting verse to usher in Jackson's perfectly aerated harmonizing".[14] Maeve McDermott from USA Today was positive, saying "Ms. Jackson doesn't just make music for the bedroom—Burnitup! seems tailor-made for booming club speakers, all anchored by drill-sergeant rapping from—yes, she's baaaack!—Missy".[15] James Vincent, writer for The Verge, noted that both artists featured on the song have been relatively absent from the music world for a while, and "Burnitup!" shows why it is good to have them back.[16]

Andy Kellman of

AXS opined that "it's refreshing to hear Janet reclaim the throne and rekindle her love for the club. "BURNITUP!" is a hot-and-heavy return to form for Ms. Jackson."[22] In contrast, Annie Zaleski wrote for The A.V. Club that the song "doesn't quite overcome dated-sounding production and overly generic exhortations about DJs and dancing."[23]

Chart performance

"Burnitup!" debuted at number 24 on the US

Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[25] It also reached number 68 in Belgium's Flanders region.[26]

Live performances

"Burnitup!" was performed as the opening number on Jackson's 2015–16

Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.[30]

Credits and personnel

Credits for "Burnitup!" adapted from Unbreakable liner notes.[31]

  • Janet Jackson – vocals, songwriting, producing
  • Melissa Elliott – vocals, songwriting, producing, recording
  • James Harris III – songwriting, producing, all instruments
  • Terry Lewis – songwriting, producing, all instruments
  • Dwayne Abernathy – songwriting, producing, keys, mixing
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Matthew Marrin – recording
  • John Hanes – mixing engineer

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[26] 68
Japan (
Japan Hot 100)[32]
16
UK Indie (OCC)[33] 48
US
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25]
3
US
R&B Songs (Billboard)[24]
17

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide September 25, 2015
  • Rhythm Nation
  • BMG
[34][35]
Europe October 5, 2015
Promotional single
[6][26]

References

  1. ^
    All Media Network
    . Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Spero, Jesse (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson & Missy Elliott Release 'BURNITUP!'". Access Hollywood. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  3. The Huffington Post
    . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  4. E! Online
    . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Hudson, Alex (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson "Burnitup!" (ft. Missy Elliott)". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Janet Jackson: Burnitup!". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Janet Jackson – Unbreakable – Album Reviews – Consequence of Sound". Consequence of Sound. 8 October 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Reed, Ryan (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson Recruits Missy Elliott for Propulsive Song, 'Burnitup!'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Dunn, Francesca (September 25, 2015). "'burnitup!' janet jackson and missy elliott's new collaboration is fire". i-D. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  10. ^ "New Music: Janet Jackson feat. Missy Elliott – 'BURNITUP!'". Rap-Up. September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  11. Vulture.com
    . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  12. ^ Stutz, Colin (September 24, 2015). "Janet Jackson Drops Club-Ready 'Burn It Up' With Missy Elliott". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  13. ^ Golding, Shenequa (September 24, 2015). "Janet Jackson Returns To Her Dance Roots On 'BURNITUP' Featuring Missy Elliott". Vibe. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  14. ^ Carley, Brenan (September 24, 2015). "Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott Scorch Through 'Burn It Up'". Spin. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  15. ^ McDermott, Maeve (September 25, 2015). "Listen: Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott 'Burnitup!' on new single". USA Today. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  16. ^ Vincent, James (September 25, 2015). "Janet Jackson and Missy Elliot 'BURNITUP!' for new track". Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  17. ^ Glenn Gamboa (October 1, 2015). "Janet Jackson's 'Unbreakable' review: A comeback on her own terms". Newsday. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  18. ^ Gimmers, Mof (October 20, 2015). "The Quietus | Reviews | Janet Jackson". The Quietus. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  19. ^ Mikael Wood (October 1, 2015). "Review Janet Jackson's new 'Unbreakable' includes a tender tribute to Michael". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  20. ^ Sawdey, Evan (October 5, 2015). "Janet Jackson: Unbreakable | PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  21. Complex
    . Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  22. AXS
    . Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  23. ^ "Unbreakable· Janet Jackson· Music Review· The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. 2 October 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  24. ^ a b "R&B Songs". Billboard. October 24, 2015. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. October 17, 2015. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  26. ^
    Ultratip
    . Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  27. ^ Goodman, Jessica (September 1, 2015). "Janet Jackson: Tour starts with new song featuring Missy Elliott". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  28. Pitchfork
    . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  29. ^ Nied, Mike (September 8, 2017). "Hits & Choreography: Janet Jackson's 'State Of The World Tour' Kicks Off". Idolator. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  30. ^ XXL Staff (December 18, 2017). "Missy Elliott Joins Janet Jackson for State of the World Tour". XXL. United States: Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  31. ^ Unbreakable (CD liner notes). Janet Jackson. BMG Rights Management. 538168792.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ "Janet Jackson Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  33. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  34. ^ "Burnitup!". Amazon. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  35. ^ "Unbreakable". iTunes Store. September 25, 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.