Janet Jackson’s ‘No Sleeep’ Debuts At No. 67: Success Or Flop?

Janet Jackson has something to celebrate this week. Billboard describes Ms. Jackson’s latest chart achievement.

“Janet Jackson scores the week’s second-highest debut, as ‘No Sleeep’ enters at No. 67, marking her milestone 40th Hot 100 hit, and her first since 2008.”

Given that Jackson’s song is the most hyped up single of the year, some may consider the No. 67 debut a disappointment, especially after the song has received almost universal praise.

Robbie Daw from Idolator described what many critics felt about the song when first listening to it.

“‘No Sleeep’ is a sultry slow burner that builds with each progressive verse and chorus and drifts across your ears like a pleasantly naughty dream. Plus, thanks to the saucy lyrics, we now we have a new title for Ms. Jackson: The Queen Of Insomnia!”

Rolling Stone describes Janet Jackson’s new song as “alluring.”

“The R&B icon isn’t rushing the unhurried vibe with her new single, ‘No Sleeep.’ The laid-back track, produced by longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, finds Jackson crooning about a long-distance romance over soulful keyboards and programmed drums.”

Others may consider a No. 67 debut a success for Janet Jackson, who hasn’t appeared on Billboard‘s Hot 100 since 2008. It may not be a top-ten debut like Janet Jackson used to create, but she is almost 50 years old. As Madonna and Mariah Carey have recently discovered, radio stations will barely play new songs by artists (especially female) over the age of 40. Even if Janet’s debut is nothing to brag about, “No Sleeep” has already charted higher than singles from her peers.

“No Sleeep” will likely not increase its chart position next week. The song has dropped all the way to No. 72 on iTunes as of Wednesday afternoon after briefly climbing back to the Top 30 after Jackson’s appearance at the BET Awards. Janet’s song may see a bump after the release of the video, but it’s pretty safe to say that “No Sleeep” will not be the comeback hit that she had hoped for.

However, don’t cry for Janet; she will kick off a world tour in August that will go to at least the end of the year. According to ET, Janet Jackson is set to release her own diamond collection called the Janet Jackson Unbreakable Diamonds collection. Janet wore a necklace with the diamonds at the BET Awards and will continue to promote it. Janet Jackson continues to prove that she is unbreakable.

[Photo by Michael Tran/Getty Images]