Jennifer Lopez Worked As A Backup Dancer For A Music Legend Before Making It Big
“Halftime,” a Jennifer Lopez documentary, was just released on Netflix. The focus of the documentary is on her preparation for co-headlining the 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show rather than on her ascent to superstardom from modest beginnings. The majority of musicians view playing at the Super Bowl as an honor. But as Lopez admitted to Ellen DeGeneres, having that accolade comes with a lot of anxiety.
Halftime follows the actress as she lobbied for her 2019 movie “Hustler” during awards season in addition to providing an insight into her creative process. In addition to acting in the drama, Lopez also produced it, a duty she recalls as being challenging. “Men control Hollywood. In “Halftime,” Lopez says, “They have thoughts of what’s going to sell and what isn’t going to sell ” (via Rolling Stone).
But let’s take a step back and go back to when Lopez’s career actually began; this is before she changed into JLo, before reporters were curious in her famous lovers, and before she donned the green Versace outfit. She is a wonderful dancer, as we have all seen. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that her dancing was what caught people’s attention and put her on the road to big fame.
For many people who experienced them as formative years, the 1990s were a magical decade. Just a few things that make it unique in popular culture are the music and the clothing. Fox broadcast the mostly Black sketch comedy program “In Living Color” from 1990 to 1994. (via IMDb). According to Level, it has been dubbed “TV’s most dangerous sketch comedy series.” Keenen Ivory Wayans was the creator.
Many of the most well-liked celebrities of today can thank the risky show for their success. Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, and, yes, Jennifer Lopez are a few of these celebrities (per IMDb). We now know JLo can hold her own in a comedy thanks to rom-coms like “The Wedding Planner” and “Monster-in-Law.” But from 1991 through 1993, her dancing ability, not her comedic abilities, was what got her on the “In Living Color” soundstage.
The format of the comedy series was a little different for its period. The audience would be treated to popular music spun by Wayans’ younger brother Shawn “DJ SW1” Wayans at the beginning of the show and just before commercial breaks. The Fly Girls, a group of five young dancers, would also perform as a bonus. At the 1991 American Music Awards, JLo had the opportunity to display her dance skills while supporting New Kids on the Block (according to the Daily News).
In order to talk about winning the 2018 MTV VMA Video Vanguard Award, Jennifer Lopez sat down with Sway. The subject of the “Selena” actress praising the musicians that have affected her comes up. “I was born during the MTV era. I started watching with Tina Turner and continued with Madonna and Janet. They were my sources of motivation for even entering the music industry “She stated (per MTV). It’s safe to presume Janet Jackson is the Janet she’s referring about.
Rarely does someone get the chance to collaborate with one of their heroes, but JLo did. Within the first 15 seconds of Michael Jackson’s 1993 music video for “That’s The Way Love Goes,” you will recognize a well-known face. Jackson playsfully ignores her friends’ requests to hear her new music at the beginning of the video. “Janet, listen to us when we talk to you,” a very irate JLo yells while maintaining her distinctive accent.
This music video perfectly captures the spirit of the 1990s: bohemian, incense and sage burning, hanging around barefoot with your friends, ordering takeout, and VIBES. Additionally, there is a video of Jackson jokingly introducing each dancer. JLo seemed to fit right in with the group as Jackson introduces her as one of the newcomers.
In November 1993, Janet Jackson’s “Janet World Tour” was scheduled to begin, and she wanted Jennifer Lopez to perform with her as a dancer. Lopez reportedly called Jackson and told him she wasn’t interested since she want to focus on her own profession. Jackson, who is a superstar icon herself, felt no ill will toward her decision to decline the offer.
It appears that the Latin music icon made the right choice. She was committed to using that time to advance her acting and singing careers. She issued her debut album, “On The 6,” in 1999. The album’s highest position on the Billboard 200 albums list was No. 8. (per The Things). The album was a big smash because to songs like “If You Had My Love” and “Waiting For Tonight.” Since then, she hasn’t stopped being mentioned in conversation, and the famous superstar isn’t about to stop anytime soon.
Source: thelist.com