"Again" is a song by American singer and songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). The song was also included as the closing song to the 1993 film Poetic Justice. Written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the ballad was released as the album's third single on October 12, 1993, by Virgin Records, and talks about the reconnection with an old lover. Originally an experimental sound Jam and Lewis was considered for the album, they did not give the song serious contemplation until the film producers from Poetic Justice requested a ballad for the soundtrack.

Critics were divided on their opinions of "Again". Some praised it as a highlight from the Janet album and a classic, while other critics responded negatively to its sentimental lyrical content. However, "Again" became a commercial success, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in late 1993 as well as the Cash Box Top 100, while also reaching the top 10 in Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

"Again" received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song. Jackson's then-husband René Elizondo Jr. directed a music video for the song, which was released in two versions: one with and one without scenes from Poetic Justice. The song was covered by How to Dress Well for his second album, Total Loss and sampled by Iyaz on his 2010 single, "Solo".

Background and recording

thumb|right|upright=0.57|Jackson performing "Again" on the [[Rock Witchu Tour.]]

In 1992, Janet Jackson filmed her first film, Poetic Justice, prior to recording a new album. In Poetic Justice, Justice (Jackson) uses her poetry to deal with her grief after her boyfriend is killed in a shooting incident at a drive-in. After shooting the film, Jackson started recording a new album, declaring that the film inspired her to take new direction in her music, "Rhythm Nation was a heavy record, and Poetic Justice was a heavy movie. I wanted to do something lighter but also daring ... When I wrote the album, I was still in a poetic frame of mind, inspired by Maya's beautiful language."

"Again" was an experimental sound the production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis was considering for the album. While Jackson found its melody compelling, the trio did not give the song serious contemplation until the film producers from Poetic Justice requested a ballad for the film's soundtrack. Jackson subsequently wrote the lyrics for "Again" and shaped them around Jam's melody. The song was eventually included as the closing song to the film, but was not included on its soundtrack album. It was later released as janet. third single on October 12, 1993, with the jazz-funk track "Funky Big Band" from the album appearing on the single as a B-side, as well as a French version of the song, which also appeared on the limited edition of the janet. album. For this version, Janet Jackson is helped by André Manoukian.

Composition and lyrics

"Again" was written and produced by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. It is set in common time with a key of C major. Jackson's vocal cords ranges between the tonal nodes of low-tone G<sub>3</sub> to high-tone D<sub>5</sub>. The song is in a moderate tempo of 64 beats per minute with the chord progression being set like C&ndash;G&ndash;Am&ndash;F&ndash;C&ndash;Dm7/G in the first verse and C&ndash;E&ndash;Am7&ndash;D9 in the chorus. "Again" is a "lightweight" "Pop crossover" piano ballad, based on a lost love. The song's story is about running into an old friend, only to discover that the feelings for that person are as strong as ever. "Kinda late in the game and my heart is in your hands. Don't you stand there and then tell me you love me and leave me again," she sings.

Critical reception

"Again" divided music critics. Despite calling it a "throwaway", Alex Henderson of AllMusic named the song a highlight from the album. Larry Flick from Billboard magazine called it "a delicate ballad". He added, "Her evocative voice is swathed in grand piano lines and quasi-orchestral strings that will thrill ardent fans at top 40 radio. Melancholy lyrics are icing on a sweet musical cake that millions will want to taste." In a "classic track-by-track review", another Billboard editor, Andrew Hampp, remarked, "By the time Jackson pleas at the song's close, seemingly choking back tears, "Cause I've fallen in love with you again," it's hard not to get misty even after countless listens." Essence ranked "Again" as the number-four Greatest Break-up song of all-time. John Martinucci from the Gavin Report described it as "a tender love song that definitely tugs on the heart strings." In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton viewed it as "a slushy ballad". Alan Jones from Music Week gave it a score of four out of five and named it Single of the Week, stating that "this fragile and fragrant ballad draws a sophisticated vocal performance from Jackson. With full orchestral accompaniment, it is sweet but not saccharine, and is likely to grow into a huge hit." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it "the most treacly, saccharine ballad Janet has ever recorded, complete with the kind of teary breakdown one might expect from her brother."

Chart performance

"Again" was a success on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, debuting in October 1993.

Elsewhere, the song peaked inside the top 20. In Australia, "Again" debuted at number 26, before peaking at number 19, four weeks later.

Live performances

thumb|upright=0.841|right|Jackson performing "Again" on the [[Number Ones, Up Close and Personal|Number Ones, Up Close and Personal Tour.]]

Since its release, Jackson has performed the song on all of her tours, including the janet. Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, and the Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour, where it was dedicated to Phoenix, Arizona and Oslo, Norway. She also performed it on the season 9 finale of American Idol. Jackson included the song on her 2015-2016 Unbreakable World Tour. "Again" was used as a video interlude on her State of the World Tour in 2017. Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour.

Covers and samples

"Again" was covered by How to Dress Well and appeared as a bonus track on his 2012 album Total Loss, which was also inspired by Janet's "The Velvet Rope". According to the singer Tom Krell, "What you're getting is not a report of a feeling, but a sonic presentation of the feeling," he said about the cover. The melody was also used in Stanley Clarke's song "Lucky Again" on his 1995 album At the Movies.

Accolades

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! Award

! Category

! Result

! Ref.

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| Academy Awards

| Best Original Song

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| ASCAP Awards

| R&B Music

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| Golden Globe Awards

| Best Original Song

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| Kids' Choice Award

| Favorite Song

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Track listing and formats

  • US and UK CD maxi single <small>(V25H-38411; VSCDG 1481)</small>
  1. Album version – 3:47
  2. Piano/Vocal – 3:48
  3. Instrumental – 3:50
  4. "Funky Big Band" – 5:25
  • UK 7-inch single and Japanese 3-inch CD single <small>(VS1481; VJDP-10212)</small>
  1. Album version – 3:47
  2. Piano/Vocal – 3:48
  • UK and Japanese CD single <small>(VSCDX1481; VJCP-12021)</small>
  1. Album version – 3:47
  2. Piano/Vocal – 3:48
  3. French version – 3:50
  4. "That's the Way Love Goes" (We Aimista Win Mix) – 5:38

Charts

Weekly charts

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1993–1994)

!Peak<br/>position

|-

|-

|-

|-

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!scope="row"|Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record)

| 2

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!scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)

| 17

|-

!scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio)

| 5

|-

!scope="row"|Europe (European Hit Radio)

| 3

|-

!scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen singlelista)

| 17

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)

| 26

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|UK Airplay (Music Week)

| 1

|-

!scope="row"|UK Dance (Music Week)

| 12

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100

| 1

|-

!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)

| 4

|-

!scope="row"|US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)

| 1

|-

!scope="row"|US Urban (Radio & Records)

| 1

|}

Year-end charts

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1993)

!Position

|-

!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM)

| 32

|-

!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)

| 145

|-

!scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan)

| 67

|-

!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)

| 66

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100

| 74

|-

!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)

| 92

|-

!scope="row"|US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)

| 33

|-

!scope="row"|US Urban (Radio & Records)

| 77

|}

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1994)

!Position

|-

!scope="row"|Brazil (Mais Tocadas)

| 34

|-

!scope="row"|Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)

| 86

|-

!scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan)

| 70

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100

| 12

|-

!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)

| 28

|-

!scope="row"|US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)

| 96

|-

!scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100

| 14

|-

!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)

| 46

|}

Decade-end charts

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1990–1999)

!Position

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100

| 56

|}

Certifications

|}

Release history

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|

|-

!scope="row"|United States

|October 12, 1993

|

|rowspan="5"|Virgin

|

|-

!scope="row"|United Kingdom

|November 8, 1993

|

|

|-

!scope="row" rowspan="2"|Australia

|November 15, 1993

|

|

|-

|December 6, 1993

|CD2

|

|-

!scope="row"|Japan

|December 1, 1993

|Mini-CD

|

|}

References