I’m going to start off by saying that Janet Jackson is one of my favorite artists, and she has been an important figure in my musical world, especially during college. (The Velvet Rope and All For You really got me through a lot of days.)

I was very excited that I’d have the chance to see her perform live while she’s still somewhat in her prime for the Unbreakable comeback tour. I was ready. I pre-ordered the album, so that I could purchase my pre-sale ticket for a concert that was about eight months away…

Unfortunately for fans and eager show-goers like myself, that was just enough time for the still-very-much-in-her-maternal-prime Janet to become pregnant (allegedly) and “postpone” the tour until 2017. Upon finding this out after months of delays and disappointment, I promptly refunded my ticket and have just about come to terms with the fact that I may never see a Janet Jackson concert outside of YouTube in this precious lifetime.

I am happy for her but dammmmmn… which leads me to the reason for this post.

After days of teasing with GIFs (clever, new-aged marketing, Ms. Jackson!) and a lyric video, Janet released the music video for “Dammn Baby”, my favorite song off her latest album Unbreakable.

This is a straight up dancity-dance video, which I love. I think a lot of people have been waiting on something like this from Janet, and albeit a bit delayed, she delivered!

It is simplistic, nostalgic, and on another wavelength with the revolutionary millennial pirate outfits. The choreography is on point as Janet serves sass, class, and an abundance of hair flips – flicking granules of salt from her well-groomed ends to the unhealed wounds on my concert-going heart.

The edits. The lighting. The looks. Again… the hair. Yes. See the Dave Meyers directed video for yourself below:

I also recommend checking out the lyric video and soaking up the Instagram caption worthy #barz she is spitting. Although the song uses a beat that could be heard on the radio, the accompanying lyrics address and sort-of mock the lack of originality and uniqueness that can be heard on the airwaves these days. Queen Janet turns a standard radio-ready track into an inspirational anthem about being different, subliminally encouraging us to live life with a “Dammn Baby” mentality. I dig.