Alright (Janet Jackson song)
Alright is a song by Janet Jackson from her 1989 album Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. It was written by Janet Jackson with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and produced by them. The song was released on March 4, 1990, as the fourth single in the United States; in the United Kingdom it came out in June 1990 as the album’s fifth single.
Musically, it blends R&B, new jack swing, and funk. The album version is about 6 minutes long, with shorter mixes available (a 5:01 7-inch house mix and a 4:39 1995 short mix). The track borrows from Lyn Collins’ Think (About It), and the final hook references B.T. Express’s Do You Like It. An alternate version for the video features Heavy D.
On the charts, “Alright” reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart. It was the only Rhythm Nation 1814 single not to crack the top two on the Hot 100.
The music video was directed by Julien Temple and filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood with a 1930s–1950s musical vibe. It features Cyd Charisse, Cab Calloway, and the Nicholas Brothers, and tells a dream-like story that includes a famous bench scene. The video won the Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video at the 1991 Soul Train Music Awards. Usher later paid tribute to it during MTV Icon 2001.
Simon Janet has performed “Alright” on nearly all of her tours, often in distinctive outfits such as a zoot suit or a sailor suit. The song has appeared in many of her live shows, including the Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour, janet., The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, and later tours and performances, such as the Unbreakable World Tour, the State of the World Tour, the 2019 Janet Jackson: A Special 30th Anniversary Celebration of Rhythm Nation, and the 2023 Janet Jackson: Together Again tour.
(Note: There are longer mixes and an extended version that features Heavy D.)
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:37 (CET).