The sequencing of the record 's track list was done strategically , starting with songs that lyrically depict societal injustices and ending with those that explore love , relationships and sexuality . This decision also factored into the album 's artwork and marketing , giving it an overt black and white militant imagery . Jam explained that " t he idea of putting ' Rhythm Nation ' , ' State of the World ' and ' The Knowledge ' as the first three songs on the record really set the tone as to what the record was . Then to have the segue after that where she says , ' Get the point ? Good . Let 's dance ... ' and then go into ' Miss You Much ' , that was purposely done . " He also stated that the safer marketing strategy for the project would have been " a beautiful colored picture of Janet on the cover " with '' Escapade '' as its title , starting the track listing with " Miss You Much " , " Love Will Never Do ( Without You ) " and " Escapade " , and ending it with " Livin ' in a World ( They Did n't Make ) " , " The Knowledge " and " Rhythm Nation " but noted that despite being the same collection of songs , the alternate sequencing and imagery would not have had the same impact . Of its lyrical themes , Kate Kelly stated the album " reveals a social conscience speaking of getting an education , avoiding drugs , and feeding the homeless . All this might seem a little heavy for dance music or pop radio , but Jackson fuses her concepts with driving dance energy that hits the hearts of those hitting the dance-floor . " Andrew Barker of '' Variety '' described it as " a quasi-concept album whose opening three songs directly addressed crime , the crack epidemic , racism , homelessness and youth illiteracy — not exactly a recipe for a party . And yet the record was somehow even more successful than '' Control '' , generating a then-record seven top 5 singles . " Upon the release of the album 's lead single " Miss You Much " , A&M Records issued a press release for the record , announcing social themes to " run throughout much of the material " . Jackson performed " Rhythm Nation " on several television shows internationally , including '' Top of the Pops '' and the Royal Variety Performance , in celebration of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother 's ninetieth birthday . She also performed a controversial rendition of " Black Cat " at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards in which she tore open her snapped blouse ; although this was routine for performances of the song in concert , it was considered to have " ushered in a new age of sexual spontaneity " for the singer and viewed as the first " shocking " performance of her career
1990 MTV Video Music Awards
1990 MTV Video Music Awards
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814