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

yes, when it's all said and done, this has been a blast of a rollout because i don't know if there's a true consensus here.

but at the same time, we all pretty much agree what her best songs are. this is fun. i'm a nerd. whatever.

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/4_bestdancemovesever.jpg

04. IF (from janet., 1993; 1,709.5 points; 28 votes; 3 first-place votes)

"If" is absolutely awesome, and has a lot of balls.
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, September 29, 2007 4:05 PM (twelve years ago) bookmarkflaglink

"If"'s balls are HUMONGOUS, dude.
― The Reverend, Saturday, September 29, 2007 4:26 PM (twelve years ago)

Second best is that huge snake "If." The best second of her career occurs at 3:21 in this song when the drums spit back into the mix. And that middle eight - Supremes sample, go-go drums, Hendrix moan guitar. And then another middle eight that gets you salivating for the return of the chorus. Pop satori, this! Hell, rock satori too!
― Kevin John Bozelka, Friday, October 5, 2007 8:51 PM (twelve years ago)

Searched, in vain, for a Tim F quote I swore I'd seen earlier about how "If" is basically his favorite song of all time, unless I made that up.

It's certainly a contender for my favorite song of all time; I was one of the #1 votes.

it was top ten for me. absolute killer.

FWIW, it was Janet's highest ranking song in ILM's Jackson family tracks poll, but I wasn't too surprised to see it usurped when focusing just on Janet.

You know that scene in Ghost World where the song ends and Enid picks up the record player stylus and drops it right back down to the beginning again? That's me with the first 15 seconds of "If."

You should listen to the rest of the song, it's pretty great too ;)

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/3_deeperanddeeper.jpg

03. EMPTY (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 1,764.5 points; 25 votes; 8 first-place votes)

not just Janet's greatest ballad but one of the most astonishing modern R&B tracks ever, I think.
― Tim F, Sunday, October 19, 2008 12:05 AM (eleven years ago)

"Empty" is 15 years old and it still sounds like the future. A rainy garden in the future.
― The Reverend, Tuesday, July 31, 2012 3:02 AM (eight years ago)

If “Empty” doesn’t rank everyone’s accounts get deleted.
― vision joanna newsom (Stevie D(eux)), Wednesday, July 8, 2020 9:10 PM (four weeks ago)

"empty" is one of the most forward-thinking/forward-sounding songs ever.
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, January 5, 2015 4:42 PM (five years ago)

Hard to believe that Janet Jackson would release one of the most forward sounding tracks of the 90's.
― Moka, Tuesday, January 20, 2015 2:13 AM (five years ago)

That song could come out today and it would still sound amazing
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Monday, October 9, 2017 8:26 PM (two years ago)

"empty" still sounds ahead of its time over 20 years after its release
― ufo, Tuesday, June 30, 2020 6:56 PM (one month ago)

this'll sound strange but I hear Peter Gabriel's "San Jacinto" in "Empty."
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, January 14, 2015 6:08 PM (five years ago)

If I've been quoting the Madonna vs. Janet thread a lot in this rollout, it comes full circle in that my favorite placings of both artists' track polls was at #3.

glad we get to keep our accounts

So proud of this board rn

her best song

lol didn't even make my ballot.

fp

i'll be losing my account, i presume.

This is easily her best non-single

welp, my top ten's placed already; save for two. i think i can guess what #1 will be.

Didn't vote but seems like the #1 and #2 match my own

#1 Will Never Do (Without Escapade)

i'll be losing my account, i presume.

I figured it was an everyone or no one proposition.

My entire top 10 has shown up. You disappoint me ILM.

Oh no wait that's wrong I voted "Escapade" at #10.

it didn't even make my top ten!*

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

*it was #11 lol

delighted that "empty" made it so high

predicting "escapade" is #1

well, either i'm really wrong about something or really right.

nvm, i'm always wrong.

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/2_danhatesthissong.jpg

02. LOVE WILL NEVER DO (WITHOUT YOU) (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 1,928.5 points; 32 votes; 3 first-place votes)

LOVE WILL NEVER DO in a heartbeat. transcendental
― Surmounter, Sunday, September 23, 2007 3:38 PM (twelve years ago)

interested to know if there are ANY seventh singles to compare with "Love Will Never Do."
― Eric H., Sunday, March 16, 2014 1:58 PM (six years ago)

"love will never do without you": a near-six minute swirl of the best melodies ever written
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, July 3, 2020 11:14 AM (one month ago)

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/1_cashedmycheckminneapolis.jpg

01. ESCAPADE (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 2,123.5 points; 31 votes; 3 first-place votes)

lmao i just cried while listening to "escapade" bridge sparkles like its spun out of the finest gold
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, July 3, 2020 11:32 AM (one month ago)

The tribe has spoken and its Madge going away. I think I'll go put on "Escapade" and call it a night.
― Mark, Saturday, May 12, 2001 7:00 PM (nineteen years ago)

MINNEAPOLIS!

we had to prove 'em... right?

Right!

NUMBER OF TRACKS BY STUDIO ALBUM

13
The Velvet Rope

12
All For You (if you count “Doesn’t Really Matter”)

11
janet.

10
Rhythm Nation 1814

7
Control

6
Damita Jo
Unbreakable

5
Discipline

2
20 Y.O.

1
Janet Jackson

And the recap...

77. ENJOY (from 20 Y.O., 2006; 222 points; 5 votes)
76. ROLLERCOASTER (from Discipline, 2008; 236 points; 6 votes)
75. LOVE SCENE (OOH BABY) (from All For You, 2001; 238 points; 5 votes)
74. SAY YOU DO (from Janet Jackson, 1982; 247.5 points; 7 votes)
73. COME ON GET UP (from All For You, 2001; 248 points; 5 votes)
72. FUNKY BIG BAND (from janet., 1993; 253.5 points; 6 votes)
71. LIKE YOU DON’T LOVE ME (from Damita Jo, 2004; 255 points; 5 votes)
70. EVERY TIME (from The Velvet Rope, 2006; 256 points; 7 votes)
69. WOULD YOU MIND (from All For You, 2001; 257 points; 5 votes)
68. FEEDBACK (from Discipline, 2008; 264 points; 5 votes)
67. BETTER DAYS (from All For You, 2001; 264 points; 6 votes)
66. TAKE CARE (from 20 Y.O., 2006; 266 points; 7 votes)
65. 2NITE (from Discipline, 2008; 271 points; 7 votes)
64. I WANT YOU (from Damita Jo, 2004; 279 points; 7 votes)
63. THE GREAT FOREVER (from Unbreakable, 2015; 282 points; 8 votes)
62. CHINA LOVE (from All For You, 2001; 290 points; 5 votes)
61. NEW AGENDA (from janet., 1993; 303 points; 7 votes)

60. TRUTH (from All For You, 2001; 308 points; 6 votes)
59. LUV (from Discipline, 2008; 381 points; 7 votes)
58. WHOOPS NOW (from janet., 1993; 327 points; 9 votes)
57. DIAMONDS (with Herb Alpert, 1987; 332 points; 6 votes)
56. WHAT ABOUT (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 335.5 points; 6 votes)
55. UNBREAKABLE (from Unbreakable, 2015; 353 points; 8 votes)
54. FEELS SO RIGHT (from All For You, 2001; 368 points; 8 votes)
53. ROPE BURN (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 374 points; 9 votes)
52. TRUST A TRY (from All For You, 2001; 375 points; 11 votes)
51. FUNNY HOW TIME FLIES (WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN) (from Control, 1986; 384 points; 9 votes)
50. R&B JUNKIE (from Damita Jo, 2004; 401 points; 11 votes)
49. STATE OF THE WORLD (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 418 points; 10 votes)
48. ANYTHING (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 428.5 points; 9 votes)
47. THIS TIME (from janet., 1993; 429 points; 9 votes)
46. BROKEN HEARTS HEAL (from Unbreakable, 2015; 432.5 points; 10 votes)
45. DAMMN BABY (from Unbreakable, 2015; 441.5 points; 10 votes)
44. AGAIN (from janet., 1993; 456 points; 11 votes)
43. SOMEDAY IS TONIGHT (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 465 points; 11 votes)
42. WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?! (with Busta Rhymes, 1999; 473 points; 9 votes)
41. LONELY (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 483 points; 10 votes)

40. MY NEED (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 505 points; 12 votes)
39. SLOLOVE (from Damita Jo, 2004; 521 points; 12 votes)
38. THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE (with Luther Vandross, 1992; 544 points; 11 votes)
37. FREE XONE (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 559 points; 13 votes)
36. ROCK WITH U (from Discipline, 2008; 561 points; 12 votes)
35. BLACK CAT (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 575.5 points; 11 votes)
34. LET'S WAIT AWHILE (from Control, 1986; 649 points; 13 votes; 1 first-place vote)
33. VELVET ROPE (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 652 points; 13 votes)
32. STRAWBERRY BOUNCE (from Damita Jo, 2004; 656 points; 13 votes)
31. THROB (from janet., 1993; 689 points; 16 votes)
30. YOU (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 710.5 points; 14 votes)
29. COME BACK TO ME (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 772 points; 16 votes)
28. WHEN WE OOOO (from All For You, 2001; 784.5 points; 16 votes)
27. NIGHT (from Unbreakable, 2015; 786.5 points; 15 votes)
26. BECAUSE OF LOVE (from janet., 1993; 842 points; 17 votes)
25. DOESN'T REALLY MATTER (from The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, 2000; 903.5 points; 17 votes; 1 first-place vote)
24. RUNAWAY (from Design of a Decade, 1995; 912 points; 19 votes)
23. NO SLEEEP (from Unbreakable, 2015; 919.5 points; 20 votes)
22. ALL NITE (DON'T STOP) (from Damita Jo, 2004; 937.5 points; 20 votes; 1 first-place vote)
21. YOU WANT THIS (from janet., 1993; 970 points; 20 votes)

20. I GET LONELY (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 991.5 points; 20 votes; 2 first-place votes)
19. GOT 'TIL IT'S GONE (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 1,004.5 points; 20 votes)
18. ANY TIME, ANY PLACE (from janet., 1993; 1,105.5 points; votes)
17. ALRIGHT (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 1,251.5 points; 26 votes)
16. TOGETHER AGAIN (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 1,309 points; 24 votes; 2 first-place votes)
15. CONTROL (from Control, 1986; 1,352 points; 24 votes; 2 first-place votes)
14. SOMEONE TO CALL MY LOVER (from All For You, 2001; 1,364.5 points; 24 votes)
13. MISS YOU MUCH (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 1,423 points; 25 votes)
12. NASTY (from Control, 1986; 1,485 points; 27 votes; 1 first-place vote)
11. RHYTHM NATION (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 1492.5 points; 27 votes; 1 first-place vote)
10. ALL FOR YOU (from All For You, 2001; 1,496.5 points; 28 votes)
09. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY (from Control, 1986; 1,554 points; 26 votes; 1 first-place vote)
08. THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE (from Control, 1986; 1,561 points; 26 votes; 2 first-place votes)
07. THAT'S THE WAY LOVE GOES (from janet., 1993; 1,625.5 points; 27 votes; 1 first-place vote)
06. GO DEEP (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 1,625.5 points; 29 votes)
05. WHEN I THINK OF YOU (from Control, 1986; 1,667.5 points; 31 votes; 1 first-place vote)
04. IF (from janet., 1993; 1,709.5 points; 28 votes; 3 first-place votes)
03. EMPTY (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 1,764.5 points; 25 votes; 8 first-place votes)
02. LOVE WILL NEVER DO (WITHOUT YOU) (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 1,928.5 points; 32 votes; 3 first-place votes)
01. ESCAPADE (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 2,123.5 points; 31 votes; 3 first-place votes)

Nice. Thanks for polling, Eric!

1	Escapade	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	2123.5	31
2	Love Will Never Do (Without You)	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	1928.5	32
3	Empty	The Velvet Rope	1997	1764.5	25
4	If	janet.	1993	1709.5	28
5	When I Think Of You	Control	1986	1667.5	31
6	Go Deep	The Velvet Rope	1997	1625.5	29
7	That's The Way Love Goes	janet.	1993	1625.5	27
8	The Pleasure Principle	Control	1986	1561	26
9	What Have You Done For Me Lately	Control	1986	1554	26
10	All For You	All For You	2001	1496.5	28
11	Rhythm Nation	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	1492.5	27
12	Nasty	Control	1986	1485	27
13	Miss You Much	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	1423	25
14	Someone To Call My Lover	All For You	2001	1364.5	24
15	Control	Control	1986	1352	24
16	Together Again	The Velvet Rope	1997	1309	24
17	Alright	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	1251.5	26
18	Any Time, Any Place	janet.	1993	1105.5	21
19	Got 'Til It's Gone	The Velvet Rope	1997	1004.5	20
20	I Get Lonely	The Velvet Rope	1997	991.5	20
21	You Want This	janet.	1993	970	20
22	All Nite (Don't Stop)	Damita Jo	2004	937.5	20
23	No Sleeep	Unbreakable	2015	919.5	20
24	Runaway	Design of a Decade	1996	912	19
25	Doesn't Really Matter	The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps	2000	903.5	17
26	Because Of Love	janet.	1993	842	17
27	Night	Unbreakable	2015	786.5	15
28	When We Oooo	All For You	2001	784.5	16
29	Come Back To Me	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	772	16
30	You	The Velvet Rope	1997	710.5	14
31	Throb	janet.	1993	689	15
32	Strawberry Bounce	Damita Jo	2004	656	16
33	Velvet Rope	The Velvet Rope	1997	652	13
34	Let's Wait Awhile	Control	1986	649	13
35	Black Cat	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	575.5	11
36	Rock With U	Discipline	2008	561	12
37	Free Xone	The Velvet Rope	1997	559	13
38	The Best Things in Life Are Free	with Luther Vandross	1992	544	11
39	SloLove	Damita Jo	2004	521	12
40	My Need	The Velvet Rope	1997	505	12
41	Lonely	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	483	10
42	What's It Gonna Be?!	with Busta Rhymes	1999	473	9
43	Someday Is Tonight	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	465	11
44	Again	janet.	1993	456	11
45	Dammn Baby	Unbreakable	2015	441.5	10
46	Broken Hearts Heal	Unbreakable	2015	432.5	10
47	This Time	janet.	1993	429	9
48	Anything	The Velvet Rope	1997	428.5	9
49	State Of The World	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	418	10
50	R&B Junkie	Damita Jo	2004	401	11
51	Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)	Control	1986	384	9
52	Trust A Try	All For You	2001	375	11
53	Rope Burn	The Velvet Rope	1997	374	9
54	Feels So Right	All For You	2001	368	8
55	Unbreakable	Unbreakable	2015	353	8
56	What About	The Velvet Rope	1997	335.5	6
57	Diamonds	with Herb Alpert	1987	332	6
58	Whoops Now	janet.	1993	327	9
59	Luv	Discipline	2008	318	7
60	Truth	All For You	2001	308	6
61	New Agenda	janet.	1993	303	7
62	China Love	All For You	2001	290	5
63	The Great Forever	Unbreakable	2015	282	8
64	I Want You	Damita Jo	2004	279	7
65	2Nite	Discipline	2008	271	7
66	Take Care	20 Y.O.	2006	266	7
67	Better Days	All For You	2001	264	6
68	Feedback	Discipline	2008	264	5
69	Would You Mind	All For You	2001	257	5
70	Every Time	The Velvet Rope	1997	256	7
71	Like You Don't Love Me	Damita Jo	2004	255	5
72	Funky Big Band	janet.	1993	253.5	6
73	Come On Get Up	All For You	2001	248	5
74	Say You Do	Janet Jackson	1982	247.5	7
75	Love Scene (Ooh Baby)	All For You	2001	238	5
76	Rollercoaster	Discipline	2008	236	6
77	Enjoy	20 Y.O.	2006	222	5
78	Daybreak	20 Y.O.	2006	215	6
79	After You Fall	Unbreakable	2015	207	5
80	Scream	with Michael Jackson	1995	207	4
81	Damita Jo	Damita Jo	2004	200.5	4
82	Fast Girls	Dream Street	1984	197.5	6
83	Tonight's The Night	The Velvet Rope	1997	175	3
84	Son Of A Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)	All For You	2001	172	4
85	2 B Loved	Unbreakable	2015	168	4
86	Do It 2 Me	20 Y.O.	2006	167	6
87	The Body That Loves You	janet.	1993	167	4
88	Moist	Damita Jo	2004	163	4
89	Black Eagle	Unbreakable	2015	152.5	5
90	Can't B Good	Discipline	2008	146	4
91	He Doesn't Know I'm Alive	Control	1986	137	3
92	Warmth	Damita Jo	2004	136	3
93	You Ain't Right	All For You	2001	134	3
94	And On and On	Remixed	1994	131	3
95	Shoulda Known Better	Unbreakable	2015	128	3
96	Young Love	Janet Jackson	1982	125	3
97	Come Give Your Love To Me	Janet Jackson	1982	125	2
98	Sexhibition	Damita Jo	2004	123	3
99	Just A Little While	Damita Jo	2004	123	2
100	Livin' In A World (They Didn't Make)	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	122	3
101	Don't Stand Another Chance	Dream Street	1984	120	3
102	Where Are You Now	janet.	1993	111	4
103	What'll I Do	janet.	1993	109	2
104	Truly	Damita Jo	2004	106	4
105	Spending Time With You	Damita Jo	2004	102.5	3
106	Special	The Velvet Rope	1997	100	3
107	Lessons Learned	Unbreakable	2015	99	3
108	You'll Never Find (A Love Like Mine)	Janet Jackson	1982	98	2
109	Pretty Boy	Dream Street	1984	96	3
	You Can Be Mine	Control	1986	96	3
111	Well Traveled	Unbreakable	2015	84.5	2
112	My Baby	Damita Jo	2004	82	2
113	Island Life	Damita Jo	2004	81	2
114	Pops Up!	Unreleased	2004	68	1
115	Make Me	Number Ones	2009	66	2
116	The Knowledge	Rhythm Nation 1814	1989	65	2
117	Girlfriend/Boyfriend	with Blackstreet	1999	65	1
118	Making Love in the Rain	with Herb Alpert	1987	62	1
119	Call On Me	20 Y.O.	2006	56	1
120	Dream Street	Dream Street	1984	54	1
121	Feel It Boy	with Beenie Man	2002	51	1
122	Start Anew	Japanese Single	1985	45	1
123	Made For Now	with Daddy Yankee	2018	43	1
	Roll Witchu	20 Y.O.	2006	43	1
125	Discipline	Discipline	2008	40	2
	Put Your Hands On	Damita Jo (Japanese Version)	2004	40	2
	With U	20 Y.O.	2006	40	2
128	BurnItUp!	Unbreakable	2015	39	1
129	Dream Maker/Euphoria	Unbreakable	2015	34	1
130	All My Love To You	Dream Street	1984	20	1
	Can't Be Stopped	The Velvet Rope	1997	20	1
	Let Me Know	Discipline (Japanese Version)	2008	20	1
	So Excited	20 Y.O.	2006	20	1
	Take Me Away	Unbreakable	2015	20	1
	Thinkin' 'Bout My Ex	Damita Jo	2004	20	1

ahh man, not even mad at that top two.

lol sorry for my typos on a few of these banners.

great top two. escapade is a perfect song. wonder what percentage of the top 77 was produced by jam n lewis.

Aw, Daybreak @ 78. Such a great song.

i was bummed about tonights the night just missing out

SHOCKED that I'm the only vote for "BURNITUP!" (also "Thinkin' 'Bout My Ex", which I get)

And beautiful top three (LWND my #1, "Empty" my #3 and Escapade my #4). Somehow I thought "Any Time, Any Place" would go higher

(goes through songs with single votes)

only one of them was mine. nice.

I would’ve liked to see a few more tracks from the first two albums or a couple B-sides slip in there, but it’s pretty impossible to argue with the top 20. She had great singles.

Surprised Miss You Much was so low, just sang along to that one at the grocery store earlier this afternoon

Thanks Spottie for the images! (I was way too distracted this week to be reliable on typos.)

my pleasure (principle). thanks for running it. lovely results and poll.

thank you for like the eighty seventh time eric. this was super fun from the start. it's also made re-realize that janet is one of the defining aspects of my musical mind. she was so amazing with such brilliant material at the perfect times in my life and i guess i've sort of forgot that over the years.

sentimental story crap (feel free to skip to next post):
when i first moved down to southern california five years ago, i was in a place i didn't understand, having to navigate streets i didn't understand, going to talk to people i didn't understand. i was consuming a lot of new music in those days, but the barnes and noble that i knew how to get to had catalogue cds for stupidly cheap; like fucking neil young on the beach for $4.99. just massive finds for people to discover or resdiscover. i went in one day with one thing in mind: music that made me happy. as the walking cliche that i am, that was the music of my childhood and early adolescence. and janet was there very often. so many of those rhythm nation songs are so powerful in the mind of a child.

as we get older, we get cynical. we think of pop songs as nothing more than a clever marketing tactic to get us consumers to, y'know, spend. but the way she always just seemed to absorb, accurately translate, and transcend some of the most innovative music ever in a thing of awe. and she always felt natural in that role. let's get to it: she was so fucking cool. just. . . man. maybe it is all just a clever marketing tactic and it totally worked on me because i picked up control and rhythm nation that day, for something like $12 after sales tax.

all i know is that, when i hear some of these songs now, i remember that wise beginner's mind of a ten year old: if it inspires me, it inspires me.

anyway. brilliant poll and rollout. cheers.

thank you for running this, it's been great! really what an incredible discography. absolutely convinced she's the best pop star there ever was now