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Rock Witchu Tour

Tour by Janet Jackson
Jackson performing during her 2008 tour
Associated album	Discipline
Start date	September 10 2008
End date	February 22 2009
Legs	2
No. of shows	16 in North America 5 in Japan 21 Total
Janet Jackson concert chronology
All for You Tour (2001/2002) Rock Witchu Tour (2008/2009)

The Rock Witchu Tour is the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter, Janet Jackson, in support of her tenth studio album Discipline. This is Jackson's first tour in nearly seven years. The tour visited North America and Japan.

About the tour

Rumors of Jackson touring were sparked during promotion of her last studio album 20 Y.O., where Jackson stated in many interviews that she was preparing for tour. The unnamed tour was canceled abruptly when Jackson was asked to record new material. Jackson stated:

"I was supposed to go on tour with the last album We were actually in full-blown tour rehearsals at that point ... learning numbers, getting everything together, set designs I had to kind of shut everything down and go into the studio."

In early 2008, Jackson announced that she would go on tour on the The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The audience was given free tickets to her show at the Staples Center. While planning the tour, Jackson started a phone line where fans could call in and request songs to be performed. Jackson will be performing all of her memorable hits, including those from her pre-Control days. The two and a half hour show kicked off in Vancouver on September 10, 2008 to rave reviews.

About the show

The setup of the stage includes a giant square-shaped catwalk surrounding the first several front rows of seats, reaching out to the center of the arena where fans can easily see Jackson from any level of seating. Rows of seating inside the catwalk are exclusively designed for those with purchased fan club memberships. There are three video screens that take on the stage, including the biggest one being in the center where video clips are shown throughout songs to take place for effects and in-between costume change breaks. Other special staging includes movable staircases, steel cages, pyrotechnics, and other special pieces.

The show begins with an echo of words being said in the distance of the arena, such as "Janet", "Rock Witchu", "Dance", and "Discipline". As the words speed up, the show lights come on and several dancers dressed as astronauts appear on the stage, with two standing beside two big glittery “J”’s (representing Janet’s name.) The “J”’s move back and forth on the center of the stage with stars appearing on the center video screen (a representation of Space.) Pretty soon, fog appears in front of the audience and a bang of pyrotechnics blasts, thus beginning the opening of the show. Jackson appears on the upper center section of the stage in a gold hyperspace dance suit singing The Pleasure Principle, as well as two other hits from her Control album for the Control Medley, and later moving on to "Feedback".

Notable performances of the night include the Pre-Control Medley, in which Jackson performs songs she has never done before live from her first two albums Janet Jackson and Dream Street, as well as an S&M display on-stage with a lucky audience member to perform the title track off Jackson's tour supporting album, Discipline.

For the finale of the show, Jackson and her dancers perform "LUV" and Jackson's top-five hit, "Runaway".

Opening acts

• LL Cool J (North America) (select venues)
• Nelly (North America) (select venues)
• DJ Juan (North America) (select venues)

Set list

1. Control Medley:
   1. "The Pleasure Principle"
   2. "Control"
   3. "What Have You Done for Me Lately"
2. "Feedback"
3. "You Want This"
4. "Alright"
5. "Miss You Much"
6. "Evil Force" (Video Interlude)
7. "Never Letchu Go"
8. "Come Back to Me"
9. "Let's Wait Awhile"
10. "Again"
11. "Good Force" (Video Interlude)
12. "So Excited"
13. "So Much Betta"
14. "Nasty"
15. "All Nite (Don't Stop)"
16. "Rock with U"
17. "Together Again"
18. Pre-Control Medley:
    1. "Young Love"
    2. "Say You Do"
    3. "Don't Stand Another Chance"
19. "Tribal Drums" (Instrumental Interlude)
20. Tribal Medley:
    1. "Doesn't Really Matter"
    2. "Escapade"
    3. "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"
    4. "When I Think of You"
    5. "All for You"
21. "Montage" (Video Interlude)
22. "Got 'til It's Gone"
23. "Call on Me"
24. "That's The Way Love Goes"
25. "I Get Lonely"
26. "Evil Force"
27. "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)"
28. "Any Time, Any Place"
29. "Discipline"
30. "Band Breakdown" (Instrumental Interlude)
31. "Black Cat"
32. "If"
33. "Rhythm Nation"
34. "Good versus Evil: Battle for Janet" (Video Interlude)
35. "Luv"
36. "Runaway"

Source:

Tour dates

Box Office Score Data

Canceled shows

On October 15, 2008, TV Guide reported that Jackson was suffering from vestibular migraines. The condition developed shortly before her Montreal show on September 29th. On November 4th it was announced that none of Janet Jackson's postponed shows would be rescheduled and were officially canceled. The following shows were canceled:

• September 29, 2008 Bell Centre Montreal, Canada
• October 1, 2008 TD Banknorth Garden Boston, MA
• October 2, 2008 Wachovia Center Philadelphia, PA
• October 4, 2008 Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC
• October 7, 2008 BankAtlantic Center Fort Lauderdale, FL
• October 11, 2008 Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, Connecticut
• October 13, 2008 Turning Stone Casino Verona, New York

Personnel

• Show Director: Janet Jackson & Gil Duldulao
• Creative Director and Choreographer: Gil Duldulao
• Band: Adam Blackstone (Musical Director / Bass), John Roberts (Drums), Daniel Jones (Keyboards)
• Dancers: Jillian Meyers, Laurel Thompson, Nick Bass, Ed Moore, Teddy Forance, Cassidy Noblett, Victor Rojas, Whyley Yoshimura, Anthony Garza (Swing Dancer)
• Costumes: Donatella Versace
• Lighting and Set Design: Vince Foster
• FOH Sound Engineer: Jon Lemon
• Pyrotechnics Design: Lorenzo Cornacchia (Vice President of Pyrotek Special Effects)

References

1. ^ Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (2008-05-17). "Janet Jackson Announces First New Tour in 7 Years". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
2. "Janet Jackson Plans Mini Tour In Japan For 2009". Angry Ape. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
3. ^ Sheppard, Denise (2008-09-11). "Janet Jackson Opens Rock Witchu Tour With Three Decades of Hits, Video Duets and Pyro". Rolling Stones Magazine. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
4. ^ O'Brian, Amy (2008-09-11). "Janet Jackson does it right". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
5. Lederman, Marsha (2008-09-11). "Janet Jackson 'has still got it'". Globe and Mail. CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
6. "Billboard Boxscore", Billboard Magazine, New York City: Nielsen Business Media, Inc., 2008-10-04, retrieved 2008-11-29
7. ^ "Billboard Boxscore", Billboard Magazine, New York City: Nielsen Business Media, Inc., 2008-10-11, retrieved 2008-11-29
8. ^ "Billboard Boxscore", Billboard Magazine, New York City: Nielsen Business Media, Inc., 2008-10-18, retrieved 2008-11-29
9. ^ "Billboard Boxscore", Billboard Magazine, New York City: Nielsen Business Media, Inc., 2008-11-15, retrieved 2008-11-29
10. ^ "Billboard Boxscore", Billboard Magazine, New York City: Nielsen Business Media, Inc., 2008-11-22, retrieved 2008-11-29
11. "Billboard Boxscore", Billboard Magazine, New York City: Nielsen Business Media, Inc., 2008-12-06, retrieved 2008-11-29
12. "Janet Jackson's tour dates won't be rescheduled; refunds available". Palm Beach Post. Cox Newspapers. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
13. "Janet Jackson hospitalized before Montreal concert". The Washington Post. 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
14. ^ Marotta, Michael (2008-09-30). "Janet Jackson hospitalized; Boston show cancelled". The Boston Herald. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
15. ^ "Janet Jackson cancels fourth show of tour". MSNBC. 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
16. "Janet Delays Three More Shows Due To Illness". Billboard Magazine Online. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
17. "Janet Jackson Performance at Mohegan Sun Has Been Cancelled". Mohegan Sun. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
18. "Janet Jackson". Variety. 2008-9-17. Retrieved 2008-11-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
19. "Janet Jackson On Tour With Pixellines". Total Production Magazine. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
20. "Vince Foster Official Site". Vince Foster Light Design. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
21. "Jon Lemon Official Website". Jon Lemon Sound Engineer. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
22. "D5 Powers 2008 Janet Jackson Mega Tour". Broadcast Buyer. 2008-11-5. Retrieved 2008-11-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
23. "Pyrotek Special Effects Rocks Wich Janet Jackson". Pyrotek Special Effects, Inc. Retrieved 2008-11-15.

External links

• Official website

• Janet Jackson concert tours
• 2008 concert tours
• 2009 concert tours