European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                And faces of she a in control now pop Star Janet Jackson during her first concert tour a a in a not a robot a she says. A i want people to know that in a real. A by Robert Hilburn los Angeles times the soft spoken Young woman responded quickly when asked what kind of person Janet Jackson was based solely on what she had read and heard about her. Quot i d think she was a girl who got where she was because she was a Jackson and that she had enough Money to bring in All these hired guns to shape her music and image for her. Id probably think i could be doing the same thing if i had her Money Quot Janet Jackson then paused and stared across the hotel suite reflecting on her own Tough assessment of herself. Clearly she is troubled by what she considers the perception of her As some sort of pop puppet. Known for years As simply Quot Michael a Little sister Quot Jackson 24, was supposed to have graduated to a stronger identity in 1986 when her con Trot album sold 9 million copies worldwide and established her As one of the Queens of dance pop. But it did not work out that Way. Because her two earlier Solo albums had been so forgettable it was easy for outsiders to assume that the Success of control was due solely to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis the former Prince allies who produced the album and co wrote most of its songs. Jackson s image suffered another blow last year when Paula Abdul who had choreographed several of the promotional videos for control emerged As a Star herself. The tempting Assumption was that Abdul was the real Talent a and that Jackson merely benefited in the videos from Abdul a extraordinary dance sense. In a separate interview Rene Elizondo Jackson a Boyfriend gave his analysis of her image problem. Quot anybody who has been around Janet for any period of time will Tell you the same thing. That she is Humble to the Point of fault Quot he said. Quot she will not take credit for the things she is responsible for. She will always say a we did it instead of a i did  Quot confronted with this Jackson said Quot it sounds so selfish to say i i i. But it bothers me that some people think someone gave me an image or told me what songs to sing or what clothes to Wear. In a not a robot. I want people to know that i m  the More than 15,000 fans in the sold out centrum Arena in Worcester mass., were on their feet cheering As Jackson opened the 15th show on her first Ever concert tour with control. The enthusiasm of the Young audience continued through the nearly 90 minutes Jackson was on stage. Tickets sold so Well for the first Worcester Date that a second was added. It too sold out. Additional dates had also been added in other cities making the Jackson swing one of the hottest Tours of the new year. Quot to be honest no one really knew How the tour would do because Janet had never toured Quot said Roger Davies who has been managing the Young Singer since last fall. Quot she never toured during the control Days despite the demand so that built anticipation for this tour. If the Box office demand was hot from the beginning reviews were initially Cool. Writing about the tour opener in Miami rolling Stone Magazine s Sheila Rogers said that the Singer Quot has a Long Way to go in making the leap from tape to  the Boston globes Steve Morse was even harsher. But the show gained considerable strength. The Tough minded Village voice praised Jackson s Madison Square Garden performance and the globes Morse reviewing the show again in Worcester was impressed. Quot Janet Jackson is getting her wings in a hurry. She floundered. A month ago in Miami where she seemed scared defensive and downright lost. But she was a different person last night. She loosened up took control Early and whipped the capacity crowd into a  from certain angles on stage Jackson looks remarkably like her famous brother Michael. There is the same Quick _ childlike smile the same twinkle in the Eye the same shy downward glance that gives them both a doll like Quality. Like Michael Janet tends to be uncomfortable during ceremonial gatherings such As meeting with dignitaries backstage or accepting awards on to. She is soft spoken at such occasions at times answering questions in Little More than a Wisp of a voice. Only when you talk to her and to those around her is it apparent that Jackson shares her brother a intense ambition. Quot in be studied the Best. Michael Jackson Quot she said. Quot i m not saying that just because he s my brother. I really feel he is the Best. I saw How hard he works his ambition. It s so strange to read things about him because people just done to understand Michael  but there Are important differences Between Michael and Janet. Where Michael is a loner Janet enjoys being around people. She is also less obsessed with maintaining a veil of mystery. That May be Why unlike Michael she Speaks with surprising ease about her life and her career. She does t shy away from questions about her failed marriage or about her famous family. Jackson a career began at age 7 when she joined the Jacksons family act on stage in Las vegas. Despite the Early Start she rejects the idea that she was groomed for pop stardom the Way her Brothers were. Quot i done to think groomed is the right word but i think i did get some feel for show business by watching our Brothers and All of the things they had done. All their Success. Quot there was a time when i did feel i missed out on my childhood but now look what i have. If i were to do it again i think i would do it the same Way. There Are a lot of things i missed. Playing with the kids. Because i was always working the to shows and finally the  born Janet Damita Jackson in Gary ind., she moved to Southern California with her parents when she was 2. After a Short time in Beverly Hills the family settled in los Angeles where she landed a role in the Good times sitcom shortly after the Las vegas debut. Acting not music was her Early goal. She Only made an album in 1982, at age 15, because of her fathers urging. She really Wasny to into it she said and just sort of walked through it. She Wasny to any More into music when she made her second album 1984�?Ts dream Street. Janet was 15 when she met James Debarge a member of a family singing group a Debarge a that motown records promoted in the Early 80s As the new Jackson 5. For years Janet a Best pal had been Michael. She believes now that the loneliness pushed her into eloping with Debarge in 1984. There were tabloid reports at the time of the Jackson family being so upset that they threatened to disown Janet. When the marriage was annulled after less than a year the speculation was that Janet had caved in to family pressure. Jackson did no to wince when the marriage was mentioned. Quot there was a lot of pressure but my family eventually accepted the marriage. There were a lot of things involved in the annulment. My career his career. We never had a Chance to be with one another the Way we wanted  Jackson does however wince when her first two a amp a albums Are mentioned. Quot i never really wanted to sing a at least not Back in those Days Quot she said. Quot i was interested in making movies. I really wanted to study really get into  but things had changed by the time she made control. Depressed by the failed marriage and anxious about finding her own path after being so sheltered As a child Jackson still in her teens spent several weeks in 1985 thinking about her future. During this period of isolation and soul searching she decided to make another album a but this time one that expressed her feelings. She met with then a amp a executive John Mcclain a Long time family Friend and told him about her goal. Quot i told John there is so much inside me that i want to express Quot she said. A i want to let other children know about other people who i feel have gone through the things i did. And let them know they Are not alone. Because i Felt so alone. Control came from the  when Jackson also said she wanted a Funky melodic style of music Mcclain recommended the Minneapolis team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Jackson went to Minneapolis to work on the record. It was those around her said a time of tremendous Independence and growth for her. The producers played an essential role in translating her feelings to music. The follow up to control the socially conscious rhythm nation 1814, is past the 7 million sales figure worldwide and it is a Good bet to eclipse control. The idea Jackson said was based on what she had read of Quot nations Quot of Young people mostly Black in new York who gathered together for identity and support. It was again a collaboration with producers Jam and Lewis. Said Jackson Quot i was Reading about All these clubs and i thought it would be great if we could create our own nation. One that would have a positive message and that everyone would be free to  the theme is not Only expressed in such songs As rhythm nation and state of the world a a song about a homeless boy that she said was inspired by a to news report on a homeless family a but also in slogans included on the album jacket and on souvenir to shirts sold at the concerts. Quot i can just imagine what some people thought when they heard the album was going to be socially conscious. That i was trying to be Tracy Chapman Quot Jackson said. Quot Well i Admire Tracy Chapman and bands like u2 a lot but i am talking to a different audience. I wanted to take our message directly to the kids and the Way to do that is by making music you can really dance  Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes wednesday May 9,1990