- Dammit, Janet!
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Name = Dammit, Janet
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Misc ="Dammit, Janet" (sometimes "Damn It, Janet") is a song written by
Richard O'Brien as part of the score for the 1973 stage musical "The Rocky Horror Show " and incorporated into the 1975 musicalcomedy film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show ". [Rawson, Christopher. (November 8 1996 )Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Jump to the left. Rocky Horror fun; trash parody." Section; Arts & Entertainment; Page 8] Performed as a duet and characterized as "a splendidly schmaltzy tribute to young love,"Godfrey, John. (May 17 1991 )Los Angeles Times "A Toast! To "Rocky Horror." Section: CA-Calendar; Page 1.] the song is widely regarded as a classic. [Grant, Ura. (October 24 2002 ) P&J "From Creepy-Crawlies To Frock N Roll." Page 18.] [Cripps, Charlotte. (June 19 2003 )The Independent " [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-74623600.html Still stocking it to them Richard O'Brien, creator of The Rocky Horror Show, reflects on 30 years of a cult legend.] " Section: Features; Page 18.] [Handleman, Jay. (October 12 2003 )Sarasota Herald-Tribune "Let's do the Time Warp again The "Sweet Transvestite" and an innocent couple collide in "The Rocky Horror Show" on stage." Section: Arts & Travel; Page G1.] "Dammit, Janet" provides well known audiences participation moments and has entered the pop culture lexicon through the often quoted "Dammit, Janet!"Background
In the Rocky Horror story, "Dammit, Janet" is considered lead character
Brad Majors big song, where he proposes to his girlfriend, Janet.Wloszczyna, Susan. (October 16 1990 )USA Today "The Rocky Horror Picture stars." Section: Life; Page 6D.] The song begins approximately seven minutes after the opening credits.Freeman, Donna. (November 9 1990 )Anchorage Daily News "Picture this: Fans of the Rocky Horror Picture Show cry, let there be lips." Section: Weekend; Page D12.] After Janet catches a bouquet at a friend's wedding, she and her boyfriend Brad enter their duet, "Dammit Janet!" (during which, Brad proposes).The song provides several audience participation moments. For example, Brad leads off the duet, saying: "I've got something to say." In response, the audience line is "Say it, Brad!" Also, whenever Brad sings "Dammit Janet", the audience line is "Janet", and when Janet sings, "Oooh Brad" as part of her lyrics, the audience line is "Oooh, shit!" Outside of the song itself, the audience line during the Rocky Horror performance is "Dammit, Janet" when Janet appears on screen. [Catlin, Roger. (
October 25 1993 )Hartford Courant "Hello, Oblivion!" Rocky Horror at home? It just won't be same." Section: CT. Livingl; page A7.] Some of the audiences also shouts out "purse!" to note the production error in which Janet's purse moves places on its own from when she first puts it on the ground during the Dammit, Janet song. [The Press (December 26 2000 ) "Rocky horrors." Section: Features entertainment; Page 18.]Reception
The song has been characterized as "a splendidly schmaltzy tribute to young love." With the line "Damn it, Janet, I love you" conjuring up flights of romantic fancy,Berg, Ken. (
February 8 1991 )Orlando Sentinel "Valentine videos; Simmering cinema at home." Section: Calendar; Page 16.] the song is considered as one of the top heartfelt movie moments. "Dammit, Janet!" has influenced the show loyal audience to the point where the Janet character played bySusan Sarandon in the movie is referred to by some as the "Dammit, Janet!" character. [Gleiberman, Owen; Schwarzbaum, Lisa. (November 1 1997 )Entertainment Weekly "The Indie 50; The essential movies." Section: The movies; Page 86.] [Gambit Weekly (June 10 2003 ) "Proscenium; A Jump to the Left." Volume 24; Issue 24; Page 30.] Further, the words "Damn it, Janet" are seen as an immortal part of cinematic history. [The Albuquerque Tribune (October 28 1995 ) "TV Queen." Page 1.] [Silver, Vernon. (November 20 1994 )New York Times "Film; A New Breed of Cult Favorites for a New Generation." Section: 2; Page 224.]Pop culture lexicon
Along with the characters of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the phrase "Dammit, Janet!" has entered the pop culture lexicon. [Scheck, Frank. (
November 16 2000 )The Hollywood Reporter "The Rocky Horror Show." Volume 365; Issue 36; Page 10.] Exclaimed by those involved in the "Rocky Horror Show" phenomenon upon learning a couple has gotten engaged, [Klepper, Kate. (October 19 2006 )The Decatur Daily " [http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/livingtoday/061019/rockyhorror.shtml Rocky Horror being staged in Huntsville.] "] "Damn it , Janet" is considered an important part of what makes The Rocky Horror Show a cult classic. [Norcia, Nick. (August 17 2005 )The Morning Call "Cult makeup ; Uncovering the ingredients of classic cult films." Section: Merge; Page M12.] The phrase has become so ingrained in society that thirty years after first singing the song for the film, American actorBarry Bostwick told an interviewer "For as long as I live, people will be coming up to me and asking me to say, "Dammit, Janet. I love you."" [Bonko, Larry. (July 4 2003 ) Virginia Pilot and Ledger-Star "Celebrate Independence Day without leaving home." Section: Daily Break; Page E1.]Other uses and promotion
In 1996, the Scottish-rooted band, Choke, released an extended play record entitled Damn It Janet. [Anderson, Jamie J. (
January 5 2001 )Orlando Sentinel "Scottish-rooted Choke has come a long way." Section: Calendar; page 15.] Four years later, Australian musical artists Pants & Corset released an Audio CD entitled, Dammit Janet. [Padilla, David. (May 12 2000 )The Miami Herald "Untitled" Section: Street; page 20S. (also see [http://www.amazon.com/Dammit-Janet-Pants-Corset/dp/B00004TVY5 Amazon.com] ).] Also in 2000,20th Century Fox licensed a greeting card featuring the signature lip logo of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on the cover and a picture in the inside of Brad holding Janet and saying, "Dammit, Janet! Pull yourself together. It's only a birthday card! Happy Birthday, you . . . you monster!" [Clark, Mike. (October 6 2000 )USA Today "Let's do the Time Warp -- on DVD." Section: Life; Page 3E.]References
ee also
*
The Rocky Horror Show
*The Rocky Horror Picture Show
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