European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Janet Jackson and her Quot rhythm nation Quot dance troupe take control of the fest Halle in Frankfurt Germany. Jackson is on tour in photos by Michael Abrams 8 stripes Magazine october 25, 1990 1814, baby Janet Jackson s the real Deal by Walt Morrissette staff writer for 90 minutes last week Janet Jackson moved the capital of her Quot rhythm nation Quot to Frankfurt Germany where some 10,000 fans witnessed an awesome display of dance pop Rock wizardry. That was after heartthrob Johnny Gill thrilled the women in the fest Halle with his booming voice Pelvic thrusts and muscular upper Torso during a 30-minute set. Gill s current hit Fairweather Friend and his breakthrough single rub you the right Way sure rubbed them the right Way. But the fans really were waiting for Jackson. The 24-year-old Singer came to Frankfurt As a Bona fide video age superstar. Her album rhythm nation 1814 the Date is the year Francis Scott key wrote the National Anthe has sold More than 12 million copies worldwide. It earned a grammy for Best Long form video and an mtg award for Best choreography. This raises the question How can her concert possibly match the Quality of the videos Jackson has been accused of lip synching in concert a As have Madonna new kids on the Block and others whose athletic dance routines make it difficult to sing. In Light of this i focused my binoculars on Jackson s face throughout much of the show. I have to admit a she s the real Deal. Jackson held a cordless microphone and you could see her neck Strain As she spoke. She let her background singers take Over the vocals Only when she Boogie with her gifted Quot rhythm nation Quot dance troupe. The Gigantic galvanized steel stage reproduced the Post Industrial feel of the rhythm nation video which was filmed in a Pasadena calif., Power Plant. After Jackson emerged from an elevated platform she whipped through the control album hits the title track Nasty what have you done for me lately when i think of you which she dedicated to Quot All the servicemen Quot and the pleasure principle. She yanked the audience into the rhythm nation set with the knowledge which produced one of the highlights of the show. At the end of the song Jackson and the fans chanted against the evils of the world Jackson Quot prejudice Quot fans Quot no Quot Quot bigotry Quot Quot no Quot Quot illiteracy Quot Quot no Quot Jackson pumped and grinder to Black cat her latest no. 1 hit amid a guitar orgy provided by her Trio of Rock gunslingers. She had stripped Down to a Black leather Bra and tights revealing a body that killed the Quot Chunky Quot image of her control Days. Guitarist David Barry who plays the acid Lead Solo in Black cat showed his soft Side in an acoustic version of come Back to me. Then Jackson and her troupe donned cab Calloway esque zoot suits for alright and whipped through escapade. They wore their full Quot rhythm nation Quot Quot dress Blacks Quot for the encore miss you much followed by an explosive finale in rhythm nation during which they re created the intricate award winning dance Steps from the video. While acts frequently debut new songs in concert Jackson stuck with proven radio hits. Unfortunately this meant she left out two great Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis songs from rhythm nation the dance tune love will never do without you and the Ballad living in a world they did not make. Jackson s Quot rhythm nation Quot has spawned Quot Wanna be 1814s,&Quot even in Germany. In Frankfurt three women and three men showed up in homemade uniforms Black baseball Caps Turtleneck shirts pants and socks with handmade "1814 logos and chains that looked like the real thing. In Spain they say Quot Adios Quot in Germany it s Quot Schuss Quot but in the Quot rhythm nation Quot it s "1814 a Juc it sir a tour continues in the following locations. . Birmingham Nec oct. 26 and London Wembley Arena oct. 28
