Miss You Much
"Miss You Much" is a song co-written and recorded by American singer Janet Jackson, released as the lead single from her fourth studio album Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. The single spent four weeks at number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest running number-one single of 1989. "Miss You Much" was the second-best selling single of 1989 and the biggest radio airplay song of the year. Billboard later listed "Miss You Much" as Janet Jackson's all-time biggest Hot 100 single. It is Jackson's third longest running number-one single, behind "That's the Way Love Goes" and "All for You", which spent eight and seven weeks, respectively, at number-one.
Its music video is considered iconic for its choreography and chair routine, and has been referenced by various artists. "Miss You Much" has inspired videos from Britney Spears, and was covered in the Korean film 200 Pounds Beauty, also being sampled by artists such as 50 Cent.
"Miss You Much" received two Grammy Award nominations, and was awarded the Billboard Award for the Top Hot 100 Single of the Year and two American Music Awards. It has been included in each of Jackson's greatest hits albums, ', Number Ones and '.
Song information
After the success of Control, Jackson remained silent on the charts for over two years when she returned with "Miss You Much", the lead single from Rhythm Nation 1814. It became Jackson's biggest selling single at the time, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for four weeks. "Miss You Much" also became her second number-one hit, the first being "When I Think of You". The song sold over four million copies, becoming one of the biggest-selling songs of the year. The song peaked at number two in Canada and reached the top twenty in Australia and many European countries."Miss You Much" received two American Music Awards for Favorite Dance Single and Favorite Soul/R&B Single, with Jackson also nominated for Favorite Dance Artist. The song received two Grammy nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. The single also won a Billboard Award for Top Hot 100 Single of the Year and a Soul Train Music Award for Best Female R&B Single. It was also Jackson's fourth number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The "Miss You Much" single includes the B-side "You Need Me".
Chart performance
Heavy anticipation and radio airplay during the late summer allowed "Miss You Much" to debut at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of September 2, 1989, reaching number one within five weeks, where it remained for four weeks. It was the biggest airplay hit of the year, and fifth biggest overall, also peaking atop the Hot Dance Club Play and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song was the second best-selling single of the year, behind only Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise". It reached number 2 in Canada and New Zealand only behind Swing the Mood by Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers, and the top twenty of Australia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. It peaked within the top twenty five in the United Kingdom, although its accompanying album reached the top five.Music video
The video for "Miss You Much" was directed by Dominic Sena and choreographed by Jackson and Anthony Thomas. It was filmed in August 1989 as part of the long-form Rhythm Nation 1814 film. The black-and-white video begins with dancers gathered at a pool hall, gossiping about Jackson and her boyfriend. Jackson enters the room as her dancers suddenly become quiet and look at her. One dancer asks Jackson what she has been doing lately. She jokingly responds, before demonstrating her love through song and dance. The end of the video cuts out a final dance routine performed with chairs, choreographed by Terry Bixler.The video's choreography and chair routine are regarded as iconic in popular culture. The chair routine is available on the Rhythm Nation Compilation DVD.
Live performances
Jackson has performed "Miss You Much" on all of her tours, including the Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour, janet. Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour,, Unbreakable World Tour, State of the World Tour, and her Las Vegas Residency. It was also included on her special concert series in 2019.While promoting her second greatest hits album Number Ones, the singer performed an eight-minute medley of six hits during the American Music Awards of 2009. It included "Control", "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "If", "Make Me", and finished with "Together Again".
Legacy
- Britney Spears referenced the "Miss You Much" video, and Jackson's "The Pleasure Principle" video, for the chair routine in her "Stronger" video. The video's director Joseph Kahn said Spears' idea for the routine was inspired by "Janet Jackson's 'Pleasure Principle' — the iconic chair sequence in that." A review of the video commented "Ms. Spears gives us her best Janet Jackson impression with a dizzying chair-dance routine."
- The popular boy band the Backstreet Boys performed a chair routine similar to Spears' and Jackson's in their 1999 Disney Channel in Concert special to the track "As Long as You Love Me".
- During Jackson's inaugural MTV Icon tribute, "Miss You Much" was performed by Pink, Usher, and Mýa to honor Jackson. Pink notably recreated the video's iconic chair routine.
- VH1's show "Miss You Much" was titled after the song.
- "Miss You Much" was covered by Korean singer Youme in the South Korean comedy film 200 Pounds Beauty in 2005. In the film, the song is performed by fictional Korean pop singer Ammy.
- 50 Cent's single "Follow My Lead", which features Robin Thicke, references "Miss You Much" in the line "like Janet Jackson said, I miss you much."
- Akon's single "Right Now " references and interpolates "Miss You Much" by quoting the line "I miss you much" using the same rhythm and melody.
- "Miss You Much" was played during an episode of Tori Spelling's show So NoTORIous.
- The song was used in one of the opening scenes of the film Ghost Dad, starring Bill Cosby.
- The song was used in the opening sequence of the film Southside with You.
- "Weird Al" Yankovic included the song's chorus in his polka medley "Polka Your Eyes Out" from his album Off the Deep End.
- "Miss You Much" was featured in a dance scene in the movie Hustlers . The scene featured the main cast doing choreography to the song.
Official versions
- Album version – 4:12
- international edit – 3:51
- A cappella – 3:25
- 7" edit – 3:55
- Mama Mix – 7:24
- Oh I Like That Mix – 4:56
- Sing It Yourself Mix – 4:19
- Shep's 7" House Mix – 4:56
- Shep's House Mix – 8:45
- Shep's House Dub – 6:05
- Slammin' 7" R&B Mix – 4:17
- Slammin' R&B Mix – 7:45
- Slammin' Dub – 5:48
- The Bass You Much Mix/That Bass You Much Mix – 4:20
Track listings
Japan 3" CD
International cassette single
- "Miss You Much"
- "You Need Me"
;Japan maxi CD single
- "Miss You Much" – 3:57
- "Miss You Much" – 7:24
- "Miss You Much" – 7:37
- "Miss You Much" – 8:38
- "Miss You Much" – 6:03
- "Miss You Much" – 5:45
- "Miss You Much" – 4:17
- "Miss You Much" – 4:56
- "Miss You Much" – 4:28
- "Miss You Much" – 4:22
- "Miss You Much" – 4:58
- "Miss You Much" – 4:21
- "Miss You Much" – 3:26
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
- "You Need Me"
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
- "You Need Me"
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
- "You Need Me"
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
- "You Need Me"
- "Miss You Much" – 7:45
- "Miss You Much" – 5:48
- "Miss You Much" – 3:25
- "Miss You Much" – 8:45
- "Miss You Much" – 6:05
- "Miss You Much" – 4:20
- "Miss You Much" – 4:30
- "Miss You Much" – 4:55
- "Miss You Much" – 4:20
- "Miss You Much" – 7:45
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
- "Miss You Much"
Charts