I Get Lonely

"I Get Lonely" is a song by Janet Jackson from her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). Written by Jackson with Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and René Elizondo Jr., the track trades the upbeat dance-pop of her earlier hits for a slow, sensual contemporary R&B groove. Released by Virgin Records on February 24, 1998, as the album's third single, it captures a raw sense of longing and vulnerability, a stark contrast to the confident persona she often projected. The album version runs about five minutes and eighteen seconds, and the song later appeared on Jackson's 2009 greatest hits collection, Number Ones.

A remix featuring the R&B group Blackstreet became the definitive version for many listeners. That remix helped the single reach number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Jackson's eighteenth consecutive top-ten hit and setting a record for the most consecutive top-ten singles by a female artist at the time. The song earned a BMI Pop Award for "Most Played Song" and received a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The music video, directed by Paul Hunter, was praised for its sensual visuals, blending elegance with raw desire.

Canadian rapper Drake interpolated "I Get Lonely" in his own track of the same name, included on his 2019 compilation Care Package. That version, which runs about four minutes and fourteen seconds, has amassed over 6.6 million YouTube views, demonstrating the song's enduring influence on contemporary R&B and hip-hop artists who grew up with Jackson's music. The song remains a fan favorite, often cited as one of her finest R&B moments. [edit]