It's POLL For You -- ILM artist poll #103 -- JANET JACKSON (voting open until July 24, 2020)

"Because of Love" is perfectly sequenced on the album, after the previous five or six songs' worth of genre zigging and zagging, nailing the landing with another "Escapade."

otoh "Again" is still a damp Kleenex.

the way she sings it elevates it

"Again" > "Anytime, Anyplace"

Received 3 ballots so far. I hope people don't sleep on the sidebar polls: albums, remixes, music videos (and interludes).

"love will never do without you": a near-six minute swirl of the best melodies ever written

plus a perfect herb ritts video

otm

(i am definitely participating in the music videos side poll)

“Love Will Never Do” is currently one of three songs in contention for my #1 slot.

this poll is weird, my top three will all have legitimate claim to being my favorite song of all time

(not that i've really settled on what my top three looks like, but "escapade" and "if" are in there)

lmao i just cried while listening to "escapade"

bridge sparkles like its spun out of the finest gold

Both "If" and "Escapade" have phenomenal bridges!

The harmonizing in the first bridge of the former gets me in the gut every single time.

the three ballads that end rhythm nation are all fucking incredible!!!!

underrated(?) janet. single: "you want this"

i think my favorite run on the record is funky big band -> new agenda -> because of love, though

also, fuck it, i love "again." it's so harmonically satisfying, and the absence of drums makes it float

"any time, any place" is like proto-voodoo

this is ridiculous, i have no idea how to rank these songs

one rule
no rules

one love
free xone

put this atop imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tivpKj1zt0

"i get lonely" is everything i like about music in one song

underrated(?) /janet./ single: "you want this"

(xps)

I don't mind "Again," but--and I'm sure this will be controversial--on the whole I'm not the biggest fan of her ballads. The colossal exception is "Come Back to Me," which I see placing high on my ballot.

really amazing album track buried in all for you: "truth"

Yeah, I love that one too, especially the way she goes into Ooh Child. There's going to be a lot of that album on my list.

Doesn't Really Matter and Someone To Call My Lover are probably both going to be in my top 10.

― kitchen person, Wednesday, July 1, 2020 7:18 AM (four days ago) bookmarkflaglink

hoo boy otm. just clocked the satie in the chorus of "someone to call my lover" for the first time

What do we think of "Black Cat"? I don't consider it more than a pleasant change of pace.

actually, the only imperial era single I find meh is "Miss You Much."

What do we think of "Black Cat"? I don't consider it more than a pleasant change of pace.

― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn)

It's quite easily my least favourite regular song on Rhythm Nation.

"black cat" was my favorite janet song when i was 8

still a fine piece of hair metal imo

I think its okay. Definitely stamps "1989" on the record in one of the less attractive ways, though.

Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead intended to record a version of "Black Cat" with Jackson, but was prohibited. Lemmy stated, "I wanted to do a version of 'Black Cat' with her, but Sony wouldn't let me. You could tell from the video that she was having a good time, that this loud rock music is what she really wanted to be doing. I love that fuckin' song.. Great fuckin' song that but the record company wouldn't let it be possible.

Can I vote for Djimon Hounsou in the video for "Love Will Never Do (Without You)?"

actually, the only imperial era single I find meh is "Miss You Much."

― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 5 July 2020 17:32 (five hours ago) link

I suppose theoretically there's an argument to be made that "Miss You Much" is too similar to "Escapade" to stand tall on its own, but in practice "too similar to one of the best songs ever made" is the opposite of a put-down.

This is an auteurist argument, but I find the lack of a Jackson co-write instructive; "Miss You Much" sounds generic while even the words in the middle eight of "Escapade" leap out. I realize "Love Will Never Do" also boasts no Jackson credit, but that's an exception.

Miss You Much >>>>>>>> Escapade (and I like Escapade)

My numbers two and one respectively from that album.

The beat on "Miss You Much" is a monster.

The apricot scarf was worn by Nick
Nothing in the words referred to Mick

Who do you think you are, Rambo?
Or a cumulonimbus capillatus or a cirrus or an altostratus?
Somebody to make somebody like me proud
In the encyclopedia of clouds?

tell em carly

As much as I love All For You as an album, Son of a Gun is the main one I can't get on with it. The repetition of the "clouds in my coffee" part is so grating.

I initially loved "Son of a Gun" but when I came back to the album 5 years later, it really felt like a prank

both posts otm

I'm spending more time with the Janet album. Out of her imperial phase albums it's the one I know the least. One thing I noticed this morning is how some of the singles didn't quite hit me. I know Again was already discussed here, that's one of my least favourite ballads of hers. Also, I know this is probably controversial, but If doesn't do a lot for me. That chaotic intro sounded so jarring to me for some reason.

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.

"If" is all time for me, esp. because of the video clip.

I can see not clicking with "Again" but it's one of those ballads from the era that just feels like a steamroller regardless of what you think of it, like "Saved The Best For Last".