thread on one of my favorite song/music video of all time, got til it’s gone by janet jackson:

The music video premiered on September 4th, 1997 immediately preceding the 1997 MTV Video Music Video Awards airing on other music channels such as VH1 and BET later the same evening

Mark Romanek (the director) decided to use African photography as a motif, creating what he called a “pre-Apartheid celebration based on that African photography”

In the music video, Janet portrays a lounge singer during the time of apartheid in South Africa. Inspired by a blend of ‘60s and ‘70s African culture, the video depicts freedom and prosperity, opposing racial segregation and supremacy

The photography and cinematography of the video were inspired by Drum Magazine and Life Magazine

The video portrays a massive house party and includes scenes inspired by the work of photographer Malick Sidibé

Slant Magazine called the “Got Til’ Its Gone” video a “masterpiece” and elaborated that it had “as much substance as it does style and is a celebration of the music and rhythms that helped sustain black culture under the weight of segregation”

At the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, the video won for Best Short Form Music Video. It also received the most nominations at the seventh annual MVPA Awards, winning “Pop Video of the Year” and “Best Art Direction”

In my opinion, it’s her best video from “The Velvet Rope” album. I just love it so much because compared to her videos before this, it was such a huge departure and it was very different during that time

It’s just such an inspirational video to me because it collided black photography with black cinematography and it just portrayed black people in such a positive light. I really want to pay homage to this video one day, it’s just so beautiful

And to be honest, it’s also one of Janet’s most underrated videos

ok i’m done, hope you enjoyed it! and coincidentally i just realized the video will be turning 23 this friday in the midst of looking up information about the video! lmao stream the velvet rope: https://music.apple.com/us/album/got-til-its-gone/723390477?i=723390690