Janet Jackson’s “Someone to Call My Lover” is having a huge moment – 24 years after it dropped. The 2001 track is now back in the spotlight thanks to TikTok. It is sitting pretty at No. 26 on the app’s “Viral 50” chart, and streams have gone through the roof. Billboard and Luminate report a jaw-dropping 606% increase in U.S. streams, with 1.14 million plays just between March 14 and 20.

Unlike other viral hits, this comeback doesn’t have one single “main character” moment. There is no cranberry-juice-on-a-skateboard energy here. Instead, it has been a slow, steady build. From remix edits on SoundCloud to fun animal facts videos to creators calling it a “quirky Black-girl bop,” this song has snuck back into the zeitgeist piece by piece.

Janet Jackson’s Timeless Vibe Still Hits

Back in 2001, Janet Jackson released “Someone to Call My Lover” as the second single from her “All for You” album. She wove in a sample from America’s “Ventura Highway” and even drew inspiration from a classical piece she heard in commercials as a kid. That melody? It stuck with her for years. When she finally tracked it down, she brought it straight to her producers.

Janet / IG / The song shot to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 20 weeks – back in 2001. It was bright, catchy, and deeply nostalgic.

But for a long time, Jackson didn’t perform it live. After the 2004 Super Bowl controversy, she pulled back a bit – though she still released albums, this particular track stayed off her tour setlists. That changed in 2017 when fans were overjoyed when she performed it again for the first time in over a decade.

TikTok Gave It a Second Life

Fast-forward to 2025, and “Someone to Call My Lover” is everywhere on TikTok. It is not just edits and mashups. People are dancing, roller-skating, cooking, and even eating Chipotle to it. There is no one vibe. And that is the point. It has become a soundtrack to daily life, a kind of feel-good jam that works in just about any context.

Even the sped-up version is blowing up. It has already been used in more than 32,000 videos, while the original sound has appeared in over 70,000. That kind of reach doesn’t happen by accident. When the algorithm grabs onto a sound this catchy, it runs with it.

Gen Z Is Discovering Janet Jackson

A lot of people using the track didn’t grow up on Janet Jackson. They are discovering her now. And not just the song. They are going deep into her catalog. TikToks of her old music videos, interviews, and live shows are pulling in hundreds of thousands of views.

Janet / IG / Gen Z fans are sharing Janet Jackson’s influence, her range, and her pure stage presence.

People are recommending full albums, reacting to her deep cuts, and making edits that show off her style across the years.

Janet Jackson Herself Is Joining the Party

Janet Jackson – or her social media team – is noticing the love. Her official account has been liking and reposting TikToks using “Someone to Call My Lover.” When artist Doechii tweeted the lyrics with a gif of Jackson, the singer replied with her own lyric-gif combo. That kind of interaction just fuels the trend even more.

Her online presence is helping bridge the gap between generations. When an artist interacts directly with new fans, it gives the moment extra energy. It is not just old music coming back. It is alive again, with the artist right there in the mix.

Sven Kramer

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