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No Sleeep

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"No Sleeep"
Song

"No Sleeep" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her forthcoming eleventh studio album to be released in the fall of 2015. Written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, it was released on June 22, 2015 by Rhythm Nation Records and BMG Rights Management. Composed as a R&B song, it lyrically depicts Jackson longing to engage in intimacy with her lover having spent time apart. "No Sleeep" was well received by music critics, who often praised the song as "sexy slow jam".

Background

In August 2014, producer and engineer Ian Cross confirmed to Barefoot Sound magazine that he was working on Jackson's new album. After Cross' declarations, Jackson herself responded to the rumor, neither confirming nor denying the works: "If there is a new project, you'll hear it from my lips", she tweeted.[1] On May 15, 2015, Jackson announced plans to release a new album and to embark on a world concert tour and stated "I promised you would hear it from my lips. And now you will. This year, new music, new world your, a new movement. I've been listening. Let's keep the conversation going".[2][3] She will release her new album in the fall of 2015 under her own record label, Rhythm Nation Records, distributed by BMG Rights Management.[4] The launch of Rhythm Nation marks Jackson as among the few African-American female musicians to establish a record label.[5]

In early June 2015, producer Jimmy Jam tweeted, "Early morning #Plush #NoSL333P #ConversationsInACafe", along with a picture of sheet music in a darkened studio. Fans quickly found out the titles “No SL333P” and “Plush” in the picture.[6] Later, a snippet of the song was leaked, followed by a countdown on her official website which revealed the song on June 22, 2015.[7][8] She tweeted "I dedicate this to My Love," referring to husband, Wissam Al Mana.[9]

Composition

"No Sleeep" is a R&B song,[10] which lyrically finds Jackson crooning about a long-distance romance over "soulful" keyboards and programmed drums.[11] Opening with a sample of pouring rain and distant thunder, the first word heard is "plush", followed by Jackson singing the chorus: "You missing me, me missing you, whenever we meet, we ain't gonna get no sleep", in her signature breathy soprano.[10] She also promises to be "the queen of insomnia" in the song.[12] Zach Johnson from E! Online noted that Jackson's vocals are "especially impressive" in the bridge of the song, when she sings "Thought I told you sleep away can't dream so fade outside the box, my baby".[9] According to The Guardian, "On first listen it seems to be missing any discernible hooks, but slowly the chorus starts to dig its claws in, while the sudden vocal shift from soft coo to full-bodied yearning in the middle eight is a hairs on the back of the neck moment."[13]

Critical reception

"No Sleeep" was received with positive reviews by music critics. Michael Craigg from The Guardian was positive calling the song a "slowly unfurling sex jam" and also pointed out that while "the general consensus among pop stars nowadays is that all singles must be at least 124 BPM, Janet's always done things slightly differently", adding that any song which "manages to incorporate the phrase 'fait accompli' into its chorus is on to something".[13] Nolan Feeney, writing for Time magazine, said it "isn't another “All Nite”-esque banger, but a sexy slow jam about getting quality time with a lover".[12] Spin's Brennan Carley considered the song "misspelled but still smooth".[14]

Chart performance

After the release, it peaked at number one on Billboard's Trending 140 chart.[15]

References

  1. ^ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6205030/janet-jackson-new-album
  2. ^ Billboard Staff (May 16, 2015). "Janet Jackson Announces New Album, Tour". Billboard. United States. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  3. ^ McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Sutton, Joe (May 17, 2015). "'From my lips,' Janet Jackson announces new album, world tour". CNN. United States. Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  4. ^ Andrew Hampp (June 3, 2015). "Janet Jackson to Release New Album This Fall Via Rhythm Nation/BMG". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  5. ^ Janet Jackson back with new album – and record-breaking new deal with BMG, The Guardian, June 3, 2015, retrieved June 5, 2015
  6. ^ http://www.idolator.com/7596026/janet-jacksons-new-single-plush-no-sl333p-jimmy-jam-tweet
  7. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2015/06/21/new-music-janet-jackson-no-sleeep-snippet/
  8. ^ Liv Moss (June 22, 2015). "Janet Jackson unveils new single No Sleeep – listen". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  9. ^ a b http://www.eonline.com/news/669027/janet-jackson-drops-no-sleep-listen-to-the-song
  10. ^ a b http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/janet-jackson-drops-new-single-no-sleeep-article-1.2266612
  11. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/janet-jackson-promises-no-sleeep-on-alluring-new-single-20150622#ixzz3doKWWZzH
  12. ^ a b Nolan Feeney (June 22, 2015). "Hear Janet Jackson's New Single 'No Sleeep'". Time. Retrieved June 22, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ a b Michael Cragg (June 22, 2015). "Listen to Janet Jackson's new single No Sleeep". The Guardian. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  14. ^ http://www.spin.com/2015/06/janet-jackson-no-sleeep-new-single-stream-download/
  15. ^ "Trending 140". Billboard. June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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