Because of Love

"Because of Love"
Single by Janet Jackson
from the album Janet
ReleasedJanuary 10, 1994 (1994-01-10)
StudioFlyte Tyme (Edina, Minnesota)
Genre
Length4:20
LabelVirgin
Songwriters
  • Janet Jackson
  • James Harris III
  • Terry Lewis
Producers
Janet Jackson singles chronology
"Again"
(1993)		 "Because of Love"
(1994)		 "Any Time, Any Place" / "And On and On"
(1994)
Music video
"Because of Love" on YouTube

"Because of Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson from her fifth album, Janet (1993). It was released in January 1994, by Virgin Records, as the album's fourth single. The track is a love song written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. A remix, the Frankie & David Treat Mix, appears on Jackson's second remix compilation Janet Remixed (1995). The song peaked at number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. Its accompanying music video was directed by Beth McCarthy.

Critical reception

Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Jackson is at her most playful on this adorable pop/funk ditty. Though it does not have the lyrical depth or musical range of past hits, tune has an instantly memorable hook and several fun sing-along passages that renders it simply irresistable." Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song a score of four out of five, adding, "Not a number one, but bound for the upper reaches." Tom Doyle from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, saying, "Janet keeps the Jackson flag a-flying with another track from her Janet LP. In it she goes "Shoop-shoop-a-doo-doop" over a repetitive house beat, then wafts the merest hint of a melody over it, then it all stops."

Chart performance

"Because of Love" became Jackson's first solo single since 1987's "The Pleasure Principle" to miss the top five domestically, peaking at number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay. It was a moderate success in other countries reaching the top twenty in the UK and top thirty in Australia.

Music video

The music video for "Because of Love", directed by American television director Beth McCarthy, is composed of footage of Jackson and her dancers on the promo TV Shows tour (London; Leipzig, Saxony; New York City; Paris and Sydney) and rehearsals of Janet World Tour in Hartford, Connecticut. It was later included on the repackaged edition of 2001's All for You as well as the 2004 DVD From Janet to Damita Jo: The Videos. The close up footage of Janet Jackson was filmed at The Four Seasons Hotel, Boston.

Live performances

Jackson performed the song on her janet. Tour and was the dedication song for the country of Taiwan for her 2011 Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour. The song was also used in the DJ Intermission session on the 2017-2019 State of the World Tour. For the first time in nearly 30 years, Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour.

Track listing and formats

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States January 10, 1994
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Virgin
Australia February 28, 1994
  • CD
  • cassette
United Kingdom
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
Japan March 23, 1994
  • Mini-CD
  • maxi-CD

References

  1. ↑ Flick, Larry (January 22, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 61. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  2. ↑ Jones, Alan (February 26, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  3. ↑ Doyle, Tom (February 16, 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 41. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  4. ↑ Janet Jackson - Because Of Love
  5. ↑ Janet Jackson - Because Of Love
  6. ↑ Janet Jackson - Because Of Love
  7. ↑ Janet Jackson Because Of Love UK 7" RECORD (192882)
  8. ↑ Janet Jackson - Because Of Love
  9. ↑ Janet Jackson - Because Of Love
  10. ↑ "Janet Jackson – Because of Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  11. ↑ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 140. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  12. ↑ Lwin, Nanda (1995). The Record 1994 Chart Almanac. Music Data Canada. p. 124. ISBN 1-896594-00-X.
  13. ↑ "Top Singles. Volume 59, Issue 9 (1994-03-21)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 12. March 19, 1994. p. 17. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 18. April 30, 1994. p. 21. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  16. ↑ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 13. March 26, 1994. p. 29. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name.
  18. ↑ "The Complete Israeli Music Chart Archive 1961–1997". March 15, 1994. Archived from the original on June 26, 2026. Retrieved September 22, 2026. Search "Because of Love" for Israeli chart history.
  19. ↑ "week 13 (26 maart 1994)" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Janet Jackson – Because of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Janet Jackson – Because of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 6/3/1994 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Janet Jackson Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Airplay" (PDF). March 20, 1994. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 12, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  26. ↑ "The RM Club Chart 28.2.94" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). February 26, 1994. p. 10. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Janet Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Janet Jackson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Janet Jackson Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Janet Jackson Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Janet Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Janet Jackson Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Janet Jackson Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 4. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  35. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  36. ↑ "The RM Club Chart of the Year" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). December 24, 1994. p. 10. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1994". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Virgin Records 1993 Year End Accomplishment Ad" (PDF). Billboard. December 25, 1993. p. 20. Retrieved July 18, 2025 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  39. ↑ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 28/2/94: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 211. February 27, 1994. p. 20.
  40. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week. February 26, 1994. p. 25.
  41. ↑ "ビコーズ・オブ・ラブ | Janet (ジャネット・ジャクソン)" [Because of Love | Janet (Janet Jackson)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  42. ↑ "ビコーズ・オブ・ラブ | Janet (ジャネット・ジャクソン)" [Because of Love | Janet (Janet Jackson)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 31, 2023.