| "I Want You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Janet Jackson | ||||
| from the album Damita Jo | ||||
| A-side | "All Nite (Don't Stop)" | |||
| B-side | "Put Your Hands On" | |||
| Released | February 22, 2004 | |||
| Recorded | October 2003 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:12 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Janet Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "I Want You" on YouTube | ||||
"I Want You" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her eighth studio album, Damita Jo (2004). It was released on February 22, 2004 as the second single from the album, by Virgin Records. It was written by Harold Lilly, Kanye West, and John Legend, while it was produced by West, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and Jackson. The mid-tempo ballad consists of a retro sound and arrangement, paying homage to the classic pop sound of the Motown era. Its composition is based on Jackson's passion and desire for an estranged lover. "I Want You" is notable for being among the first singles produced with West and co-written by Legend, who were both upcoming artists at the time.
The song received positive reviews by music critics, who complimented Jackson's vocals and its fusion of nostalgic and modern qualities. The song's performance was largely affected by the blacklisting of Jackson's singles and music videos worldwide due to U.S. Federal Communications Commission fines regarding her controversial Super Bowl Halftime Show incident, with conglomerates such as Viacom and CBS enforcing the boycott. "I Want You" reached the top 20 in airplay prior to stalling due to the blockage, also becoming Jackson's 33rd consecutive top-40 hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The blacklisting drew controversy amongst critics, who declared the song to likely have been an "across-the-board smash" hit had the incident not occurred.
"I Want You" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and received a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. The song's music video was directed by Dave Meyers and portrays Jackson traveling through Los Angeles to meet her boyfriend. It did not air on MTV nor several other music channels owned by Viacom and CBS due to their boycott of Jackson following her Super Bowl performance incident. During the promotional campaign for Damita Jo, Jackson performed "I Want You" on various occasions, including on Good Morning America.