Janet Jackson delivers the hits — and some live rarities — in style during Memphis show

Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal

May 1, 2023 at 7:04 AM·3 min read

Though an infrequent visitor to the Bluff City during the first 30 years of her career, Janet Jackson has made Memphis a regular touring stop over the last decade, and the five-time Grammy winner, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer and musical icon returned to FedExForum on Saturday night.

The week, which began with a modern day pop/R&B queen in Lizzo performing at the Downtown arena, closed with Jackson brining her “Together Again” tour to the venue.

After a couple shows in the ‘90s, at the Mid-South Coliseum and Pyramid, Jackson made a belated return to town in 2015 at FedExForum, in support of a then-new album, “Unbreakable,” and returned on the back end of the “State of the World” tour in 2017.

On Saturday, she arrived six shows into her current “Together Again” jaunt, playing for what looked to be a capacity crowd, which packed out the top tiers of FedExForum.

.@JanetJackson & Memphis ???? pic.twitter.com/d1dSZ22JEt
— FedExForum (@FedExForum) April 30, 2023

The audience arrived early thanks to the presence of hip-hop hitmaker Ludacris, who provided support, opening the show.

The Atlanta rapper — who has carved a second successful career as an actor, in such projects as Craig Brewer's made-in-Memphis "Hustle & Flow" and the "Fast & Furious" movie franchise — got the crowd going as he delivered a 13-song, 45-minute set filled with Dirty South classics (“Act A Fool,” “Move B****”) and several smashes that he is featured on, including “All I Do Is Win.”

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Jackson’s performance was preceded by a video highlighting her long career in entertainment, which began in 1974 as a 7-year old child actor on the hit sitcom “Good Times.”

As the photo display — celebrating “Fifty years of me” — built to a crescendo, a curtain dropped dramatically and Jackson appeared centerstage wrapped head to toe in a majestic purple cloak, which she soon ditched revealing a gold lamé body suit, as a troupe of male dancers surrounded her.

Much like Lizzo’s concert earlier in the week, Jackson’s headlining performance was divided into multiple themed acts, featuring a well-plotted and -paced set of nearly 40 songs from across her career — sometimes done in full, other times as remixed snippets or part of a larger medley.

“This is for all you diehards,” Jackson said, referencing live rarities like the title track of her 2004 album, “Damita Jo,” the 2006 “20 Y.O.” album cut “Enjoy” and the 1993 single “Because of Love,” which figured prominently in the first half of the show.

what a night ?? thank you @JanetJackson & @Ludacris pic.twitter.com/wfSO2taHzw
— FedExForum (@FedExForum) April 30, 2023

She seemed to ease into the evening’s performance, with a soulful first act filled with deep cuts, before turning up the heat with a selection of massive era-defining MTV anthems including "What Have You Done for Me Lately," "Control," "Again," "Miss You Much," "Black Cat" and "Rhythm Nation."

Jackson — whose live show has always been hailed more for its dancing and choreography than her singing — also upped the ante from her recent Memphis outings, adding a cutting-edge video production and elaborate costuming (including numerous outfit changes) to the overall spectacle.

The audience — more mature, or grown and sexy, as compared to the Lizzo crowd — was willing to follow Jackson as she traced her history in song, in a concert that had more style than musical substance, but which seemed to satisfy her fans nonetheless.