Music Review: Janet Jackson "Black Cat"

Janet Jackson

Black Cat

Album: Rhythm Nation 1814

Year: 1990

         Janet Jackson disapproves of her boyfriend’s new life of crime in the  mighty           “Black Cat.”

          A pointed cowbell and furious guitar open the single, setting a seething tone.  The police show her the search warrand. As they rifle through every drawer and corner in the house, she wonders what has he gotten himself involved in? She knows he has a different group of friends. But she hasn’t ever met them. It angers her that he put her in this situation. At this rate, he’s going to land in jail and she has intentions of bailing him out. When reality hits him after all he’s done, he’s going to regret his actions. By then, the judge isn’t going care. (“All the lonely nights I spend alone/Never around to love me/You're always gone/Cause you're hangin’ out/Breakin' the rules/Oh the man has come/Looking for you/You're a rebel now/Don't give a damn/Always carrying on/With the gang/I'm trying to tell you boy/It's a mistake/You won't realize/Til it's too late.”)

           In the pre-chorus, he tells her he’s going to play pick-up basketball game with the guys. But she’s know it’s not true. What has gotten into him? He used to care about his future. (“Don't understand/Why you insist/On ways of living such a dangerous life/Time after time you stay away/And I just know that you're telling me lies.”)

            In the  chorus, she says he mainly stays out all night and doesn’t return home until about 8 am. Sometimes, his shirts have stains on them and she doesn’t dare ask what it’s from. He thinks he’s invincible. However, she knows one day he won’t come home. (“Black cat/Nine lives/Short days/Long nights/Livin’on the edge/Not afraid to die/Heart beat/Real strong/But not/For long/Better watch your step/Or you're gonna die.”)

           He’s polite and well-mannered. However, after the “ma’am’s” and “sir’s,” he’s looking for a way to hustle them. Every night, he tells her they’ll get together with his friends. She stopped believing it months ago. (“You're so together boy/But just at a glance/You'll do anything/If given a chance/Scheming, plannin’ lies/To get what you need/So full of promises/That you never keep.”)

              In the pre-chorus, he can justify that he needs the money to pay the bills and he’s doing it for them. However, it’s another ploy to keep her in the dark. She tells him it’s over. He pleads with her not to go. She says the only way if she stays is if he looks for a legit job and loses his friends. (“Don't you tell yourself/That it's okay/Sick and tired of/All of your games/And you want me to stay/Better change/Makes no sense to me/Your crazy ways.”)

           The chorus is sung again to end the single.

          Jackson’s  forceful  vocals puts her foot down. The police coming over to the house was the last straw. She’s scared of what’s he become and no longer feels safe around him. She has to do something or else he’s going to take her down with him.

           The  dominate  “Black Cat” travels on the R&B/Hard rock bandwagon of the 90s but does so with style.