Janet Jackson joined The Roots and Jimmy Fallon for their Classroom Instruments cover challenge, and updated the lyrics of her classic hit “Runaway” for this dreamy version. The chill, globe-trotting cover is like a little holiday for your overloaded brain.
The change is tiny, but a very good one. The line “I woke up with an Australian breeze / and danced the dance with Aborigines” has always grated a bit, as it’s best not to refer to Indigenous Australians as “Aborigines.” (Here’s a good explanation as to why.)
In this version, though, she’s changed it to “and danced the dance with Indigenous peeps,” possibly for the first time. (She can be seen singing the old lyrics at live shows as recently as 2018.) It’s a small tweak that totally works with the song, and the insensitivity of the original term probably wouldn’t even have registered with the vast majority of listeners — but the language we use about people matters, and being proactive about getting it right helps everyone have a good time. Yeah. Read more…
More about Janet Jackson, The Roots, Indigenous Australians, Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Entertainment
