Janet Jackson at Dickies Arena. (Rich Lopez/DV)

Despite a massive number of hits and signature songs, Janet Jackson kept her Together Again show very efficient. Through medleys and short mixes, she delivered on all expected tracks in her setlist with some deep cuts thrown in as well. Normally not a fan of such, Jackson’s handling of it was both satisfying and exciting at her stop in Fort Worth on Thursday night at Dickies Arena.

Served in four acts, she kicked off with a slew of her later hits flanked by her four male dancers. The vibe was a mix of sexy and club vibe churning out hits like “SloLove,” “Throb” and “Love Will Never Do Without You.” Jackson hammered through intricate choreo for each song as one bled into the other. Also, loved the queer vibes her dancers were serving with tons of attitude and wardrobe. A huge fabulous puffy overcoat was to die for.

Jackson kicked off the night with a strong start that would only build from there.

The setlist didn’t feel like an eras type show, but her Control album was front and center in the second act. Familiar choreography was laced with fresh moves for “Nasty” and “When I Think Of You,” but the unexpected surprise was her snippets of both “Diamonds (Are a Girl’s Best Friend) her minor 1987 hit collab with Herb Alpert and “The Best Things in Life are Free” singing both parts of the Luther Vandross duet from 1982. She brought the tone down to her more romantic and sexy tunes with “Let’s Wait Awhile” but disappointed when she asked the audience to sing the entirety of her big ballad “Again.” The result was a confusing mess as we just watched sit onstage chiming in with a couple vocal hints. From my seat, no one was singing. Jackson exuded sex appeal with her dancers in “I Get Lonely” and “Anytime, Anyplace.”

Her third act was perhaps the most fun with its many bops like “All For You” and “Escapade.” Her fourth was the most compelling  as she danced and sang her way through social justice message songs from Rhythm Nation while also throwing in “If” and to big appluase, “Scream” which was accompanied by the video featuring her late brother Michael. The “Rhythm Nation” performance with its iconic choreography still slaps and despite her dancers looking more like flight attendants than soldiers, the final song was a triumph.

Jackson’s encore was rather tepid with “Someone to Call My Lover” and “Together Again,” but the audience was still with her. She seemed genuinly appreciative of the packed house telling the audience how much she loved them. The curtain dropped and Janet Jackson had done her job.

The consensus around those sitting around me was that she wasn’t singing very much on her own or as one lady put, “she ain’t sang a damn word the whole night.” Perhaps. But that same woman and her friend were singing and dancing all night to Janet’s hits, so apparently all was forgiven.

–Rich Lopez