Janet Jackson is bold, fierce as she delivers the hits: Best moments of 'Together Again' tour

BRISTOW, Va. – All Janet Jackson needs to do is look fierce and snap “gimme a beat,” and everything falls into place.

At the 13^th of the 37 shows of her Together Again tour, Jackson maintained her hallmark precision throughout a nearly two-hour reminiscence of her 40-year career. It is a production choreographed by every definition, with five acts and an encore, 34 songs – though many are carved into medleys – and casual-cool fashion statements.

The 20,000-plus packing every inch of Jiffy Lube Live amphitheater in Northern Virginia on Saturday didn’t seem fazed by the bass-heavy mix that rendered some vocals inaudible. They just wanted to marvel at Jackson, who turns 57 on May 16, as she slithered her hips, squared her shoulders and invited the audience to head-bob along with her.

Here are some highlights from Jackson’s first tour in four years.

Janet Jackson packs the smashes into Act 2

Against a stark white backdrop with swirled black accents, Jackson and her dance troupe rolls through hits from Jackson’s first No. 1 pop album, 1986’s Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced “Control.”

The tour version of “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” offers an incessant bass line that pumps with shades of Madonna’s “Vogue.” Jackson’s dancers reproduce some of the most memorable moves from the song’s video (the backward hand wave still sends a message), while she saves her toughest moves – taut elbow snaps and rapid knee knocks – for “Nasty.”

Though Jackson doesn't talk much throughout the show, she reminds the crowd that “When I Think Of You,” performed with flirty cutesiness, was her first No. 1 hit.

In her black pants and white top with symmetrical black stripes, Jackson grins as she uses a chair as a dance prop during “Control,” which drips with finger-snapping sass.

The second half of Act 2 is dedicated to Jackson’s balladry, and she finally takes a breather and sits while she sings. Her voice – which isn’t often heard too robustly during the show – is light and pretty during “Again.” After holding a long note toward the end of the ballad, Jackson tears up, putting her hand over her eyes as she tries to finish the song. Her emotion seems prompted by her ability to hit the challenging note and the crowd’s rapturous response.

Janet Jackson is performing rarely played songs on tour

The first hint that Jackson’s show is going to span far beyond her dozens of hits comes with the strains of music heard on stage – “Damita Jo,” the title track of her 2004 album that isn’t heralded as often as her MTV-era work.

During Act 3, Jackson mentions that one of the joys of her live performances is the ability to “play songs that I haven’t played on tour before.”

Fans didn’t seem to expect an appearance from “Throb,” a track from her 1993 eponymous album, or a medley that included “Girlfriend/Boyfriend” – Jackson’s 1999 collaboration with Blackstreet – and “Do It 2 Me,” from 2006’s “20 Y.O.” release.

The hip-hop dance track “So Excited,” also from “20 Y.O.” was mostly ignored on radio upon its release but found a home in the clubs. The crowd’s reaction indicates that many fans were hardly unfamiliar with it.

Janet Jackson makes several fashion statements

For her opening act, Jackson opts for a regal look of a gold body suit accented with a purple sash to match her backup dancers. Of course, she wears her patented headset throughout the night and also dons a lengthy high ponytail that bounces with her every step.

When Jackson gets rolling in Act 3 with a fizzy rendition of “All For You,” she bops around the stage, all writhing hips and shuffling feet, in a hot pink jumpsuit accented with green plaid.

And by the Act 4 hit parade that includes “Miss You Much” and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," Jackson comes down from a raised platform sporting a black hooded cape and a black shirt emblazoned with Rhythm Nation – fitting, since, of course, this is the segment that wraps with “Rhythm Nation,” her sharp-edged social commentary from 1989’s “Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814,” her most formidable album.

Live, live, live

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Janet Jackson delivers 40 years of hits: Best of 'Together Again' tour