“All for You” by Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson’s “All for You” is premised on two realities, one that is sorta common to the human experience and the other more specific to the few people in this world like Janet Jackson. As for the former, around the time this track was released the songstress had unfortunately gone through a divorce, to someone she had been married to for almost a decade at that. So that’s why she’s hungry on the market, if you will. 

But secondly, being the celebrity that she is, let’s just say that it’s not as easy for Janet to find a date as some of us may presume. Or as Jackson herself has explained, when she hits up the club, dudes that she may be interested in and vice versa tend to be very intimidated by her. 

Yes, we would also have to presume that a man mustering up the courage to randomly ask out Miss Jackson herself would not be an easy task at all. But as revealed in this song, she is more down-to-earth than we may think. Or, let’s say she appreciates “a nice package” just as much as the next woman.

Janet’s Advice

So in the second verse in particular, Janet goes about actually advising intimidated dudes how to properly step to her. For instance, they shouldn’t try to be too fancy, you know, all because she’s a permanent A+ lister. Instead a dude should ‘just be himself’ and go with the flow. But of course the most important piece of advice, as buttressed by the sentiment of the pre-chorus, is mustering up the courage to approach her in the first place. 

And as the chorus/title suggests, if a guy she’s attracted to plays his cards right, like keep his cool and focus on the fun of the moment, then “all” of Miss Jackson can be “for” him. And yes, as implied earlier she does apparently mean all.

But of course there are no proper nouns dropped in the song, thus granting it a general applicability. And what the message most basically boils down to is twofold, one geared towards women and the other men. 

As for the women, with this being a club track and all, it’s like shake what your mama gave ya’.  But as for the men, it’s more akin to if you see a lady in the venue that you like yet may be daunted by, it’s best to step to her as you are as opposed to relying on frills.

“All for You” Facts

Artist(s): Janet Jackson
Album/EP: “All for You” 

Was “All for You” a single release?

Yes. “All for You” was the first single released from Janet’s 7th album of the same name. March 6 of 2001 was this track’s official date of commercial release.

Writing

The following writers assisted Janet in writing the song:

• W. Garfield
• T. Lewis
• M. Malavasi
• J. Harris III
• D. Romani

Production: 

“All for You” was produced by Janet, Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.  

Genre(s):

• Dance-pop
• Disco

Awards/Honors:

In 2001, the video for “All for You” received multiple nominations at the “MTV Video Music Awards”. Some of them include:

• “Best Choreography”
• “Best Female Video”
• “Video of the Year”

Other Accolades:

Jonathan Hailey placed “All for You” at number nine on the list of “Janet’s Ten Best Dance Videos”.

Chart Performance:

• US – 1
• UK – 3
• Switzerland – 7
• Portugal – 8
• Poland – 1
• New Zealand – 2
• Netherlands – 5
• Italy – 4
• Hungary – 7
• France – 3
• Finland – 5
• Denmark – 10
• Canada – 1
• Belgium – 8
• Australia – 5

Covers:

• Vitamin String Quartet (2004)

Sampling:

• SAINT PEPSI – “Honey” (2013)
• Mr. Oizo – “”Half an Edit (2006)
• Lorie – “Tout Pour Toi” (2001)
• Jakey – “South Dakota” (2017)