It's The Pleasure Princi-POLL -- ILM Artist Poll #103 -- JANET JACKSON Results Thread

Yeah, great start today. Voted for Say You Do (7-minute version was my greatest discovery during voting), Every Time (cruelly pitting similar-ish songs against each other helped me narrow things down, and I agree it's > Again ;), Take Care, The Great Forever. Should've included Come On Get Up, Would You Mind, Better Days, but All for You was already over-represented on my ballot. Wait, is that possible?

TS Take Care: Janet vs. Big Star vs. Beach House vs. Deerhunter vs...

wow "come on get up" is way too low, such a great single. i really love that early 00s dance-pop sound

"better days" is really beautiful and has those fantastic backing vocals and guitar solo, also very underrated

"the great forever" is really elevated by the bridge which is an incredible moment

“New Agenda” was in or close to my top 5, SOOOO incredible and I still can’t believe it wasn’t a single and that it isn’t a fan favorite.

History hidden from me to hide my identity
So I'd never feel I am somebody
You've gouged my eyes, I see more clearly
You've tried to rub me of my humanity

I voted for it, is what I’m trying to say.

(I’m sure I’m just having a momentary blank, but the only Stevie Wonder sample she ever used, too, maybe? And what an outré choice.)

'China Love' is way way too low.
But great run!

Loving the rollout. "Enjoy" was a great way to kick off things - had never heard it before and I'm sorry not sorry annoying neighbour that I was digging it so much.

...and if anyone's looking for a fun break from all things Janet, they’re welcome to participate in this poll:

🇳🇬 NAIJA SPECIAL: which of these *seven* current high-profile Nigerian hit songs is the best one? please help me decide

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/60_truth.jpeg

60. TRUTH (from All For You, 2001; 308 points; 6 votes)

really amazing album track buried in all for you: "truth"
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Sunday, July 5, 2020 9:30 AM (one month ago)

'Truth' is such an incredible song.
― Nourry, Wednesday, July 8, 2020 12:41 PM (four weeks ago)

love this song, so gentle. prob my fav production job on all for you

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/59_luv.jpeg

59. LUV (from Discipline, 2008; 381 points; 7 votes)

Currently in "Discipline is 10x better than I realized" mode, wow @ "Luv" -> "Rock with U"
― geoffreyess, Thursday, July 2, 2020 11:10 PM (one month ago)

'luv' is a serious jam. top twenty on my ballot.

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/58_whoopsnow.jpeg

58. WHOOPS NOW (from janet., 1993; 327 points; 9 votes)

I'm wondering what people think of Whoops Now? It was really sounding so joyful to me walking home in the heat today. Her saying "tiddlywinks" is a career high point.
― kitchen person, Monday, July 6, 2020 8:29 PM (four weeks ago)

Just found out that Whoops Now didn't even get into the R&B chart in the US (was it even a single there?) and um what!?
― Anti-Cop Ponceortium (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Tuesday, July 7, 2020 3:39 PM (four weeks ago)

nice!

First thing of mine to place! Such a joyous track.

(great image for "Truth," btw)

I have had Whoops Now in my head since last week, it’s such a sweet song!

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/57_diamonds.jpeg

57. DIAMONDS (with Herb Alpert, 1987; 332 points; 6 votes)

I have always loved this song
― BO (DJP), Friday, 10 December 2010 15:21 (nine years ago)

As good as the hits on Control.
― LeRooLeRoo, Wednesday, 23 January 2013 06:54 (seven years ago)

alas one of the '80s forgotten hits

It has the sound of an Imperial Phase hit for Jam-Lewis ("I know -- let's get Herb Alpert to blow his horn and Janet to sing the hook").

For me, it's the Cool Summer Remix of this track that is, as LeRoo says, as good as the hits on Control.

Still, "It melted, nice try."

I voted for Diamonds as the last spot on my ballot. Cool song, but barely a Janet song, in the end.

My highest showing song so far is "Every Time" - my second favorite song on Velvet Rope and absolutely one of Janet's best ballads. Too low.

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/56_whatabout.jpeg

56. WHAT ABOUT (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 335.5 points; 6 votes)

"What About" doesn't work as a song necessarily but what a great trick generally - and the choruses are a good reminder of how fun Janet's contributions to "Scream" were.
― Tim F, Sunday, October 19, 2008 12:05 AM (eleven years ago)

ranking this hurt but here we go
what about
i get lonely
go deep
velvet rope
free xone
you
empty
my need
can't be stopped
rope burn
special
together again
anything
tonight's the night
every time
got til it's gone
― lex pretend, Thursday, January 15, 2015 12:14 PM (five years ago)

She almost trips on a couple of lines in the chorus, but what a track. More rock songs should emulate its knock-kneed sway.

lol i hate that song. always have.

I'm actually still shocked by lex's rankings there.

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/55_unbreakable.jpeg

55. UNBREAKABLE (from Unbreakable, 2015; 353 points; 8 votes)

ahhhh i'm so glad it's good. "unbreakable" (the song) is my jam
― carly bae jepsen (monotony), Wednesday, September 30, 2015 7:55 PM (four years ago)

all three of the singles (BURNITUP, Unbreakable, No Sleeep [preferably minus Cole but he don't fuck it up too badly]) hold up to repeat listening super well; I have been playing all three more or less into the ground.
― Meta Forksclove-Liebeskind (forksclovetofu), Sunday, October 4, 2015 2:07 PM (four years ago)

"What About" is also my favorite song on Velvet Rope, just like Lex. I had it in my top 10. I see that i have very different opinions on Velvet Rope than the other voteers.

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/54_feelssoright.jpeg

54. FEELS SO RIGHT (from All For You, 2001; 368 points; 8 votes)

i know i repped for "trust" earlier but "feels so right" may be even better. all for you: a great album
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Tuesday, July 7, 2020 3:17 PM (four weeks ago)

Was just thinking that if "Feels So Right" had shown up in, say, the back half of Erykah Badu's "Cain't Use My Phone" EP I'd still be spinning it weekly to this day.
― Get the point? Good, let's dance with nunchaku. (Eric H.), Thursday, July 9, 2020 8:12 PM (three weeks ago)

^^^^^ kept moving up my ballot with each listen until I think it landed in my top 25.

is the whole tracklist of all for you going to show up eventually????

^^^^^ kept moving up my ballot with each listen until I think it landed in my top 25.

― Get the point? Good, let's dance with nunchaku. (Eric H.), Wednesday, August 5, 2020 10:47 AM (six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

same

when I downloaded AFY to listen to on my walks during a Sanibel vacation two weeks ago, "Feels So Right" became a favorite.

Whoa, I really expected "Unbreakable" to place higher (and I thought "Feedback" was way more beloved than it apparently is)

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/53_ropeburn.jpeg

53. ROPE BURN (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 374 points; 9 votes)

first off, janet has been in the business for over 28 years and a superstar for 15 and still going strong. her latest all for you has killer singles and don't even tell me about the title track. it's blazing with a capitol "b." and as far as the velvet rope being boring goes...pullleeezze!! the songs on there are so much more sensual and sexy than any of maddie's cold erotica stuff that it's not even funny. an indifferent grunt over a kool and the gang sample (erotica) is not as nearly as hot as a diana ross sample over smooth melodic beats (velvet rope's my need) or the come-hitherness found in rope burn or anything. nuff said.
― Dave M., Saturday, August 18, 2001 7:00 PM (eighteen years ago)

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/52_trustatry.jpeg

52. TRUST A TRY (from All For You, 2001; 375 points; 11 votes)

i am kinda digging rediscovering Janet's ROCKIN THE FUCK OUT tracks,"Trust a Try" is fucking awesome
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Thursday, July 9, 2020 11:40 AM (three weeks ago)

this was my major find during the recent oeuvre relisten; I think it's possibly a top ten track for her.

via the All for You wiki

"Trust a Try" was also intended to be released as a single, with Jackson saying, "I'll get around to "Trust a Try," because I love that song." A single version was prepared but was not released, as Virgin Records ceased promotion for all artists on the label following large financial losses from Mariah Carey's Glitter project and recording contract.

I'm so sure.

(Speaking of ripple effects, I just read that the only reason Amy Grant went crossover with Heart in Motion is because A&M found themselves without Janet when she bounced to Virgin, and they were like "OK, Amy, show us what you've got.")

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/51_funnyhowtimeflies.jpeg

51. FUNNY HOW TIME FLIES (WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN) (from Control, 1986; 384 points; 9 votes)

janet has almost always had some really good ballads. eg - lets wait a while, funny how time flies, any time any place, etc.
― Yellow Carded (titchyschneiderMk2), Monday, February 23, 2009 8:40 AM (eleven years ago)

The real sleeper on Control for me is that last track - "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)"
― Bimble, Saturday, September 22, 2007 10:27 PM (twelve years ago)

This got quiet storm airplay, and I still hear it on this format.

brilliant song; it just made my top 20!

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/50_rbjunkie.jpeg

50. R&B JUNKIE (from Damita Jo, 2004; 401 points; 11 votes)

"R&B Junkie" is this album's "All For You" in that it really just cops a vintage sample and does little else in the production department (the sample in question is Evelyn "Champagne" King's "I'm In Love" which is, like, in my all-time Top 10 EVER EVER, so I can't say I mind Janet purring over it). That track, though, I think sets up the album's concept -- she's not exploring sex (as in Janet.'s oh-this-is-new, or TVR's oh-this-is-rough or AFY's oh-this-is-swingin'), but her love of R&B.
― Rich, Thursday, March 18, 2004 8:40 AM (sixteen years ago)

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/49_stateoftheworld.jpeg

49. STATE OF THE WORLD (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 418 points; 10 votes)

Janet is known for her soft singing voice. Janet could hit high notes, she has done it before and she could sing if you just put her on the spot, because she has done that before. Madonna can't!!!! There is nothing wrong with Janet's voice. She has been praised for it. It's WAY better than Madonna's voice, which is mainly studio creation. I know what studio created voice sound like. Take it from someone who has worked in one. Madonna has said she didn't get into the music industry because she thought she had a voice, she got in it for the attention. So that just shows you that she knows she isn't a GOOD singer, BUT you got those fans who don't know any better and are so quick to buy it, like a majority of people on this board. Now about Janet writing skills, whoever said they are weak is just past CRAZY!! She has written some of the best songs in the music industry such as: Growing up and being mature, taking control of your life and not to have and be pressured into having sex if it isn't right to you {that's the album "Control"]....she has talked about racism and prejudice things and people and how people she come together {that's the album "Rhythm Nation1814"}.......she has talked about being and feeling sexy {that's the album "janet."}.....she has talked about the media and rumors and how they just need to leave her [and her brother] alone because they make them want to scream {that's the song "Scream"}......she has talked about dealing with and overcoming depression and being free to be who you really are and she had dedicated a song to her friends she has loss aids to {that's the album "The Velvet Rope"}......she has talked about feeling free, being glad to be single and just confronting people who have done you wrong {that's the album "All for You"}.....And it is many more. So Janet's songs are excellent and always have some kind of meaning to them. And the thing is: she WRITES her songs. She is an excellent song writer. Does Madonna write her own songs???? So let's try not knock Janet down because it is just NO way. If you have something to say about what I type, you'll be wasting your time, but if you do respond, do come correctly and not in a foul manner. I don't have time to argue with anymore dumb ass people on a message board. I don't get paid for this.
― Alfonse, Monday, August 13, 2001 7:00 PM (eighteen years ago)

Good listen on this track: https://chris.molanphy.com/hit-parade-state-of-the-world-edition/

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/48_anything.jpeg

48. ANYTHING (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 428.5 points; 9 votes)

I like how it captures R&B on the verge between the plushness of the mid-nineties and the robotech of the late-nineties, and synthesises the two impulses into a general veneer of expensiveness that says "glamour"
― Tim F, Sunday, October 19, 2008 12:05 AM (eleven years ago)