BURNITUP! cover art

BURNITUP!

Janet Jackson English

Intro

Incoming!Fire in the houseBurn that son of a

Intro: Missy Elliott

Whooo, I'ma shut this downKitty kat, meow, meow, meow, meow, meowHit it with the he, to the he to the howMiss Jackson, oh she wear the crownBrand new sound, got a brand new styleComing with the banger like "Boom Boom Pow"Wow, ooh, ooh, ooh, childJanet Jackson come soon to your town

Verse 1: Janet Jackson

I am never gon', gonna go nowhereQuit actin' brand new, you know I've been right hereLately I've been on, on a mission yeahBut that don’t mean I’ve forgotten how to move youYeah, yeah, yeah

Pre-Chorus: Janet Jackson

So tell me what you wanna do? LouderBut don't do nothin' stupidWhat is happening in front of youAll it is is love on the move

Chorus: Janet Jackson

When the DJ play this we gon' dance like no one's watchingHey Mr. DJ, drop that track and won't you turn it up?I'ma dance all night and I don't care who's out there watching usJust give me that fire and I'ma show you how to burn it up

Post-Chorus

Let your body burn it all upBurn it up and burn it all upLet your body, burn it all upThat's how I burn it up

Verse 2: Janet Jackson

Ain’t no sitting down, gotta keep it upMe and Missy got the whole room jumping off (That's right)Instant motion from the second it dropsWe got a headbanger, the beat is so hot, hot

Pre-Chorus: Janet Jackson

So tell me what you wanna do? (What you wanna do)But don't do nothin' stupidWhat is happening in front of youAll it is is love from the booth

Chorus: Janet Jackson

When the DJ play this we gon' dance like no one's watchingHey Mr. DJ, drop that track and won't you turn it up?I'ma dance all night and I don't care who's out there watching usJust give me that fire and I'ma show you how to burn it up
When the DJ play this we gon' dance like no one's watchingHey Mr. DJ, drop that track and won't you turn it up?I'ma dance all night and I don't care who's out there watching usJust give me that fire and I'ma show you how to burn it up

Post-Chorus

Let your body burn it all upBurn it up and burn it all upLet your body, burn it all upThat's how I burn it up(Missy!)

Bridge: Missy Elliot

Now this your jam, now do your danceThis that jam, now do your danceIf this that jam, now do your danceThis that jam, now do your danceMake it work, make it work, make it work (Work)Make it work, make it work, make it work (Drop that)Make it work, make it work, make it work (Come on, girls)Make it work, make it work, make it work (Sing this song with me)

Verse 3: Janet Jackson

Tonight, we gon' come all togetherLet me see your hands up high(Hurt your body, burn it up more)Wanna come with me and take a ride(Hurt your body, burn it up more)Baby this is how I do itAh, we feeling goodAh, we in this placeAh, now bring that beat back, Mr. DJ

Chorus: Janet Jackson

When the DJ play this we gon' dance like no one's watchingHey Mr. DJ, drop that track and won't you turn it up?I'ma dance all night and I don't care who's out there watching usJust give me that fire and I'ma show you how to burn it up

Post-Chorus

Let your body burn it all upBurn it up and burn it all upLet your body, burn it all upThat's how I burn it up

Outro

That's how I burn it upThat's how I burn it up(Let 'em burn)That's how I burn it upThat's how I burn it upThat's how I burn it upThat's how I burn it up
What the song means

"BURNITUP!" is an upbeat dance song in which Janet Jackson invites the listener onto the floor and promises that the music will take over. The track opens with a burst of hype, with Janet and Missy Elliott calling out to the crowd and announcing the energy of the night. The first verse sets the tone: Janet reminds listeners that she has not gone anywhere and that she still knows how to move people, even though she has been busy with other projects. The pre-chorus shifts to a more direct conversation, asking the listener what they want to do while telling them to keep their behavior fun rather than reckless.

The chorus carries the song's main message. Janet asks the DJ to turn the music up and says she will dance without worrying about who is watching. The post-chorus turns the title into a repeated call to let the body release its energy. The bridge and final verse build the mood into a shared celebration, with the room becoming a single community through the beat. The outro repeats the central phrase until the song seems to burn itself out.

The key images are fire and heat, which stand for the intense energy of the dance floor, the physical release of dancing, and the excitement the music creates. The "DJ" represents the people who control the mood of the night. Overall, the song is less about a story than about a feeling of freedom, confidence, and collective joy.

Key phrases explained
Quit actin' brand new
stop pretending you're a newcomer — Janet reminds listeners she has been around for years and is still the same artist.
headbanger
a fast, hard-hitting song that makes you bang your head — Used as a slang term for a powerful track that gets the crowd moving.
jumping off
going wild, having a great time — Slang for a room full of energy and excitement.
Kitty kat
a sassy, playful nickname — Missy's playful opening, reinforced by the cat-like "meow" calls.
dance like no one's watching
dance freely, without caring what others think — A common English idiom that sets the carefree attitude of the chorus.
Song info
Release date
2015-09-24
Album
Unbreakable
Written by
Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Missy Elliott, Dem Jointz, Janet Jackson
Produced by
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Missy Elliott, Dem Jointz, Janet Jackson
Featuring
Missy Elliott
Interpolates
Laid Back – White Horse

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