Unbreakable (Janet Jackson song)

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"Unbreakable"
Single by Janet Jackson
from the album Unbreakable
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2015 (2015-09-11)
Genre
Length3:38
Label
  • Rhythm Nation
  • BMG
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
  • Dem Jointz
  • Tommy McClendon
Janet Jackson singles chronology
"No Sleeep"
(2015) 		"Unbreakable"
(2015) 		"Dammn Baby"
(2016)

"Unbreakable" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter

urban contemporary radio on September 29, 2015 and to urban adult contemporary
radio on October 5, 2015 as the album's second single.

"Unbreakable" is a mid-tempo

music critics, who praised its groove, her vocals and its harmonies. "Unbreakable" was added to Jackson's 2015–16 Unbreakable World Tour
.

Background and release

After a period of hiatus and numerous rumours about whether she was recording a new album or not,

urban contemporary radio stations as the album's second single,[9] while being sent to urban adult contemporary radio on October 5, 2015.[10]

Composition and lyrics

Jimmy Jam, one of the song's producers.
Terry Lewis, another of the song's producers.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson's long-time collaborators, wrote the track along with her and Dem Jointz.

"Unbreakable" was written and produced by

Jackson 5—vibe".[16]

Towards the end, Jackson gives a spoken

thankfulness and praising her loyal fan base and a lover,[18] with lines like, "Never for a single moment did I ever go without your love" and "You made me feel wanted, and I want to tell you how important you are to me."[15] Lewis, one of its producers, commented on the song's lyrics, saying, "Some people think of unbreakable as being hard, but I think unbreakable is just being able to be vulnerable and to be able to withstand what comes to you. She’s lived a lot of life in the last few years."[19]

Reception

"Unbreakable" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised the "relaxed and wistful groove", as well as "her lead and background vocals in the chorus arranged to stellar effect", picking the song as one of the album's standout tracks.[20] Loren DiBlasi of MTV referred to the song as "classic Janet [with] angelic vocals delivered with timeless R&B style," claiming she "has not lost her touch."[21] Evan Sawdey of PopMatters called it "a solid mid-tempo groove, something that is all well and good until those multi-layered vocal harmonies come in during the chorus and we’re instantly transplanted back to Janet of old, her familiar coo still sounding remarkably fresh after all this time."[22] Maura Johnston of Time noted that its "space-age synth [...] blossoms into a sunny-day soul strut," while giving praise towards Jackson's voice, which according to her, "always notable for the emotion it could pack into even the simplest verse, [being] particularly suited to this type of laid-back R&B."[23] Mark Sundstrom wrote for Fuse that he was "obsessed" with the track and "sold" on the album, also praising its "rich harmonies" that "totally suits Janet's sexy, sultry vocals."[16] Anupa Mistry of Pitchfork called it a "giddy, grateful grown-woman song",[24] Citing "Unbreakable" as one of the album's "affecting surprises", USA Today writer Elysa Gardner named it "brightly infectious",[25] while Carolyn Menyes of Music Times perceived that it "retains the coolness of the first Unbreakable track fans have heard, 'No Sleeep,' while being totally thematically different, focusing on Jackson's return to the world of music."[12]

UK Indie Chart.[30] It also peaked at number five on the US Billboard's Adult R&B Songs.[31]

Live performances

"Unbreakable" was performed as the closing number on Jackson's 2015–16 Unbreakable World Tour.[32] During the performance of the song, she would introduce each of her dancers and band members by name to the audience.[33] According to Billboard's Eve Barlow, the rendition was "one of only four new songs during a give-the-people-what-they-want spectacular. (Take note, Madonna). More fool anyone who doubted she had the fight in her".[34]

Credits and personnel

Credits for "Unbreakable" adapted from Unbreakable liner notes.[35]

  • Janet Jackson – vocals, songwriting, producing
  • Thomas Lumpkins – songwriting
  • Tommy McClendon – producing, vocals
  • James Harris III – songwriting, producing, all instruments
  • Terry Lewis – songwriting, producing, all instruments
  • Dwayne Abernathy – songwriting, producing, mixing
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Matthew Marrin – recording
  • John Hanes – mixing engineer

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[30]
 45
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[31] 5

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide September 11, 2015
Digital download
  • Rhythm Nation
  • BMG
 [36][37]
United States September 29, 2015
Urban Mainstream
 [9]
October 5, 2015 Urban AC [10]

References

  1. ^ Hampp, Andrew (May 18, 2013). "Janet Jackson Talks 'janet.' 20th Anniversary". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  2. ^ Strecker, Erin (May 16, 2015). "Janet Jackson Addresses New Album Report". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Janet Jackson Makes History Again". JanetJackson.com. June 3, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  4. ^ Hampp, Andrew (June 15, 2015). "Janet Jackson Announces 'Unbreakable World Tour'". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  5. ^ Robinson, Will (September 3, 2015). "Janet Jackson shares powerful new single, 'Unbreakable'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  6. ^ Lynch, Joe (August 20, 2015). "Janet Jackson Teases Upbeat New Song 'The Great Forever,' Confirms Album Title". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Minsker, Evan; Monroe, Jazz (September 3, 2015). "Janet Jackson Details New Album Unbreakable". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  8. ^ "Janet Jackson to Debut New Song on Beats 1; Reveals 'Unbreakable' Tracklist". Eur Web. September 3, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Frequency News - Janet Jackson: Unbreakable". Frequency News. Retrieved October 11, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ a b "Janet Jackson Releases New Track 'BurnItUp! feat. Missy Elliot'". JanetJackson.com. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  11. ^ a b Stutz, Colin (September 3, 2015). "Janet Jackson Releases 'Unbreakable' Title Track: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d Menyes, Carolyn (September 4, 2015). "Janet Jackson Releases Honest 'Unbreakable' Title Track [Stream]". Music Times. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Wood, Mikael (October 1, 2015). "Janet Jackson's new 'Unbreakable' includes a tender tribute to Michael". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (September 30, 2015). "Review: Janet Jackson's 'Unbreakable' Focuses on Love Outside the Bedroom". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Reed, Ryan (September 4, 2015). "Hear Janet Jackson's Soulful New Song, 'Unbreakable'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  16. ^ a b c d Sundstrom, Mark (September 3, 2015). "Listen to Janet Jackson's New Album's Title Track, "Unbreakable", Now". Fuse. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  17. ^ Cragg, Michael (September 4, 2015). "Janet Jackson: is her past pop stardom 'Unbreakable' enough to stay relevant?". The Guardian. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  18. ^ Zaleski, Annie (October 2, 2015). "Janet Jackson sounds confident and in control on Unbreakable". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  19. ^ Anderson, Kyle (August 28, 2015). "6 things we now know about Janet Jackson's new album, thanks to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  20. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Unbreakable - Janet Jackson". AllMusic. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  21. ^ Loren DiBlasi (September 4, 2015). "Janet Jackson Delivers A Timeless R&B Jam With "Unbreakable"". MTV. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  22. ^ Sawdey, Evan (October 5, 2015). "Janet Jackson:Unbreakable | PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  23. ^ Johnston, Maura (October 1, 2015). "Review: Janet Jackson's New Album Unbreakable". Time. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  24. ^ Mistry, Anupa (October 6, 2015). "Janet Jackson: Unbreakable | Album Reviews | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  25. ^ Gardner, Elysa (October 1, 2015). "Album of the week: Janet Jackson turns reflective on 'Unbreakable'". USA Today. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  26. Complex
    . Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  27. ^ Saeed, Saeed (October 5, 2015). "Album review: Janet Jackson seems at peace with lavish new album". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  28. ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (October 6, 2015). "Janet Jackson Shows Off Her Resilience on 'Unbreakable': Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  29. ^ Anderson, Kyle (October 1, 2015). "Unbreakable by Janet Jackson: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  30. ^
    UK Indie Chart
    . September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Janet Jackson Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  32. ^ Gordon, Jeremy (September 1, 2015). "Janet Jackson Debuts New Song Featuring Missy Elliott at Tour Kickoff". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  33. ^ Varga, George (October 18, 2015). "Janet Jackson in & out of sync at San Diego concert". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  34. ^ Barlow, Eve (October 17, 2015). "Janet Jackson Doesn't Miss a Beat at Hits-Filled L.A. Forum Concert: Live Review". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  35. ^ Unbreakable (CD liner notes). Janet Jackson. BMG Rights Management. 538168792.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  36. ^ "Unbreakable". Amazon. September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  37. ^ "Unbreakable". iTunes Store. September 3, 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
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