Alright (Janet Jackson song)

"Alright"
Single by Janet Jackson
from the album Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814
A-side	"Come Back to Me"
Released	March 4, 1990 (U.S.) June 18, 1990 (UK) February 10, 1996 (AUS re-release)
Format	CD single, 7" single, 12" single
Recorded	1989; Flyte Tyme Studios (Minneapolis, Minnesota) January 1990 Flyte Tyme Studios (Edina, Minnesota)
Genre	R&B, dance-pop, funk, new jack swing
Length	6:26 (album version) 4:38 (single edit)
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Producer	Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
Janet Jackson singles chronology
"Escapade" (1990) "Alright" (1990) "Come Back to Me" (1990)

"Alright" is the fourth single from American R&B and pop singer Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989).

Song information

"Alright" samples Lyn Collins' 1972 song "Think (About It)". The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and number one on the Hot Dance Club Play. While it was to become the only single of the seven released off the Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 album to not hit the top two on the Billboard Hot 100, it became the fourth consecutive single off the album to reach number one on the dance chart, helping Jackson break a record set by Madonna. (Madonna has since broke the record again with a string of eighteen consecutive number-one dance hits from 1999–2008.) "Alright" earned Jackson a 1991 Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female. The UK 7" single contains the Spanish version of "Come Back to Me", entitled "Vuelve a Mi", in various versions. The song was recorded again in January 1990 with Heavy D for the music video.

Jackson has performed the song on all of her tours. In the Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour, janet. Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour and All for You Tour, Jackson performs the song wearing a Zoot suit. On the Rock Witchu Tour, she wears a sailor suit. On The tour, Number Ones: Up Close and Personal, she wears a black catsuit.

Music video

The video to the song, which was filmed in February 1990 and was styled to resemble a 1930s and 1950s musical, featured Cyd Charisse, The Nicholas Brothers, and Cab Calloway in one of his last on-screen appearances. Anthony Thomas choreographed the video. The video begins with Jackson and two male dancers, all wearing flashy zoot suits sitting on a bench. A paperboy throws newspapers on them. They wake up and read the frontpage of the newspaper, from which they learn Calloway is in town for the premiere of his Alright film. Jackson and her dancers take a cross-town journey to the premiere. There, Jackson, her dancers, and Calloway fans wait for Calloway to make his grand entrance. Jackson seemingly envisions herself as Calloway's glamorized female guest, getting pushed to the red carpet. Calloway takes her hand and helps her up. Jackson and her dancers get in Calloway's limo. They arrive at large dance out in the middle of a street. Jackson and her dancers climb on the back of a car and Jackson notices her watch is missing. They get off the car and are sprayed by a street cleaning truck. They sit on the bench. Later that night, Jackson and her dancers are homeless people asleep on the bench—revealing the video to have been a dream. Cab Calloway, in the meantime, walks to the bench and places Jackson's watch in her hand. He sneaks away saying, "Alright". There is also an extended version that features rapper Heavy D. Jackson won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video in 1991.

During MTV's first-ever mtvICON, Usher paid tribute to Jackson by be re-enacting the sidewalk bench routine from the "Alright" music video.

On May 24, 2007, the video was added to iTunes.

Recently, Chris Brown's video "Yeah 3x" pays tribute to this video.

Official versions/remixes

1990

• 7" R&B Mix featuring Heavy D – 4:53
• 7" R&B Mix - 4:34
• 12" R&B Mix featuring Heavy D – 7:53
• 12" R&B Mix - 7:19
• 7" House Mix featuring Heavy D – 4:59
• 7" House Mix - 4:21
• 12" House Mix featuring Heavy D – 8:30
• 12" House Mix - 7:12
• Hip Hop Mix Edit featuring Heavy D - 5:11
• Hip Hop Mix featuring Heavy D – 7:24
• Hip House Dub – 6:40
• House Mix Edit - 5:03
• House Mix – 9:10
• House Dub – 5:58

1996

• CJ Radio – 3:40
• CJ Extended Mix – 6:32
• Tee's Club Mix – 6:19
• Tee's Beats – 3:24

Track listings

International 7"/Japan 3" CD single/Cassette single

1. "Alright" (7" R&B Mix)
2. "Alright" (7" remix)

UK 7" limited edition shaped picture disc

1. "Alright" (7" House Mix)
2. "Come Back to Me" (Spanish version)

UK cassette single

1. "Alright" (House Mix)
2. "Come Back to Me" (Spanish version)

UK 12" single

1. "Alright" (Hip Hop Mix)
2. "Alright" (House Mix)

UK CD maxi

1. "Alright" (House Mix)
2. "Alright" (Hip Hop Mix UK edit)
3. "Alright" (House Mix UK edit)
4. "Come Back to Me" (Spanish version)

International 12" single

1. "Alright" (12" R&B Mix) – 7:17
2. "Alright" (7" R&B Mix) – 4:34
3. "Alright" (a cappella) – 3:26
4. "Alright" (12" House Mix) – 8:30
5. "Alright" (Hip House Dub) – 6:40
6. "Alright" (House Dub) – 5:58

Japan maxi CD single

1. "Alright" (7" Remix) – 4:35
2. "Alright" (7" R&B Mix) – 4:54
3. "Alright" (7" House Mix) – 4:23
4. "Alright" (7" House Mix) – 4:59
5. "Alright" (12" R&B Mix) – 7:20
6. "Alright" (12" House Mix) – 8:31
7. "Alright" (House Dub) – 5:58
8. "Alright" (LP version) – 6:28

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	19
Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)	29
Dutch Single Top 100	35
Canadian Singles Chart	7
German Singles Chart	43
Irish Singles Chart	14
New Zealand Singles Chart	28
UK Singles Chart	20
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	4
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1
Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	100

End of year charts

End of year chart (1990)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	44

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by "Heaven" by The Chimes

U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single May 5, 1990 – May 12, 1990

Succeeded by "Vogue" by Madonna