state world song state world song recorded american singer janet_jackson fourth studio album janet_jackson written produced additional writing jackson recording album jackson producers watched television especially news channels created song inspired state world focuses lyrically homeless people released eighth final single album february song released commercially united_states making ineligible chart billboard hot reached number billboard hot airplay chart music video accompany song jackson included state world rhythm nation world tour background release following commercial critical success album control jackson motivated continue songwriting took larger role creative production new album executives requested expand ideas presented control suggesting concept album entitled scandal jackson family wrote song titled need directed father joseph unwilling devote entire album subject substituted concept theirs commented lot people wanted album like control didn want wanted believed felt strong concept emerged jackson watch bet mtv switched cnn happening good news bad news producer recalled state world songs influenced news jam recalled song trying like song going hope achieve wanted people aware happening way dance released february state world eighth final single janet_jackson rhythm nation record label boost album sales radio promotion composition state world focuses lyrically homeless people according jon new_york_times jackson tries stay optimistic world state let weather storm compared song musically music prince book born myth america present author noted attempts deliver message hope according song like medical diagnosis jackson proposes education key settling problems pace magazine described song aggressive dance assault slant_magazine noted producers rigid new jack standard swing noted song critical reception jon new_york_times considered despite message song stark edges angles sputnikmusic commented state world keeps upbeat motion begins socially conscious twist shares preceding track beat takes direction lyrically shows caring janet_jackson los_angeles_times commented positively saying social commentary rocky decision felt state world interesting musically carry messages book michael_jackson life music life music writer focusing jackson brother michael noted like brother focus problems shown song offers solutions commented heartfelt pleas racial unity cloudy state world don obscure beat songs album spin critical song saying state world rhythm nation knowledge formed trilogy convincing house music beat unfortunate outdated beat fourth count allmusic editor called song disturbing chart performance live performance song released radio single ineligible chart billboard hot peaked number billboard hot airplay number hot_dance_club_songs charts author noted likely album eighth hit commercial product distributed australia song received commercial release peaked number aria_singles_chart july jackson performed song rhythm nation world tour track listings australian single state world version state world state world suite japanese maxi single remixes state world united_nations state world state house state world world state world version state world state house state world united_nations state world united_nations dub state world state world world dub state world world instrumental state world change dub state world world dance mix state world suite credits personnel locations recorded studios minneapolis minnesota mixed studios minnesota personnel janet_jackson lead vocals background vocals songwriter producer keyboards rhythm vocal arranger producer songwriter keyboards drum programming percussion rhythm vocal arranger producer songwriter percussion background vocals rhythm vocal arranger background vocals background vocals recording mixing engineer mastering credits adapted janet_jackson rhythm nation album booklet charts
State of the World (song)