Janet Jackson Plots First Tour in 7 Years
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP
Posted: 2008-05-19 17:44:17
NEW YORK (May 19) - Though going out on tour means connecting with
fans, it can also mean long hours, high stress, and sleepless
nights. Janet Jackson says she's looking forward to all of it.
Singer Janet Jackson watches as students at a dance school raise their hands to ask her questions at a promotional event at a dance school in Tokyo April 10, 2008. Jackson flew into Japan on Wednesday to promote her latest album "Discipline". REUTERS/Michael Caronna (JAPAN)
Reuters
Singer Janet Jackson poses for photographers with students during a promotional event at a dance school in Tokyo April 10, 2008. Jackson flew into Japan on Wednesday to promote her latest album "Discipline". REUTERS/Michael Caronna (JAPAN)
Reuters
Singer Janet Jackson speaks to students during a promotional event at a dance school in Tokyo April 10, 2008. Jackson flew into Japan on Wednesday to promote her latest album "Discipline". REUTERS/Michael Caronna (JAPAN)
Reuters
Singer Janet Jackson waves to fans during a promotional event at a dance school in Tokyo April 10, 2008. Jackson flew into Japan on Wednesday to promote her latest album "Discipline". REUTERS/Michael Caronna (JAPAN)
Reuters
U.S. pop star Janet Jackson, center, is surrounded by excited dance students during her surprise visit to a dance studio in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Jackson is in Japan for her newest album "Discipline" promotion. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
AP
U.S. pop star Janet Jackson waves as she arrives at a dance studio in Tokyo, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Jackson is in Japan to promote her newest album "Discipline." (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
AP
U.S. pop star Janet Jackson waves as she arrives at a dance studio in Tokyo, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Jackson is in Japan to promote her newest album "Discipline." (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
AP
U.S. pop star Janet Jackson, center, watches dancers perform at a dance studio in Tokyo, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Jackson is in Japan to promote her newest album "Discipline." (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
AP
U.S. pop star Janet Jackson, center, watches dancers perform at a dance studio in Tokyo, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Jackson is in Japan to promote her newest album "Discipline." (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
AP
U.S. pop star Janet Jackson smiles as she watches dancers at a dance studio in Tokyo, Thursday, April 10, 2008. Jackson is in Japan to promote her newest album "Discipline." (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
AP
"I love all of that, all of that pressure, I really do,"
Jackson told The Associated Press on Monday as she gears up for a
North American tour to kick off in September.
The tour, which opens in Vancouver, British Columbia on
September 10 and includes dates in New York and Washington, is
Jackson's first in seven years. But the singer, who just turned 42
last week, said she hadn't planned on waiting for so long.
"I was supposed to go on tour with the last album," said
Jackson, referring to the 2006 CD "20 Y.O." But the singer said
her record label wanted her to wait for her latest CD,
"Discipline."
"We were actually in full-blown tour rehearsals at that point
... learning numbers, getting everything together, set designs,"
she said. "I had to kind of shut everything down and go into the
studio."
Jackson's shows have always been heavy on choreography and
glitzy sets. But she promised fans some surprises this time around.
"It will definitely be a big production but it will definitely
also be something that I've never done before, that people have
never seen from me before," she said.
While only a few dates have been announced for the Live Nation
tour, Jackson expects to take the "Rock Witchu" tour (named, by
the way, for a song on her new album, not for her brother Michael's
famous hit) worldwide.
"It's been a while so I really want to make my rounds," she
said. "I haven't been to "Australia in a very long time; I can't
wait to go there. There are a lot of places where I really want to
stop off at, and that's the idea, that's the goal with this tour.
Tickets go on sale June 7.
On the Net:
http://www.janetjackson.com
http://www.livenation.com
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2008-05-19 17:38:20