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

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46. BROKEN HEARTS HEAL (from Unbreakable, 2015; 432.5 points; 10 votes)

the way "broken hearts heal" is the most appropriate mj tribute bc it sounds exported from the boards of off the wall) and, like, that's awesome as hell
― insufficiently familiar with xgau's work to comment intelligently (BradNelson), Friday, October 2, 2015 9:14 AM (four years ago)

That list of Janet's laughs way upthread needs to be updated to include the one from "Broken Hearts Heal." A happier sound than any laugh since "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite."
― Ys Man a.k.a. Have One on G (geoffreyess), Saturday, October 10, 2015 12:07 PM (four years ago)

great accompanying image there

This sounds like the best, most shimmering of music boxes.

top 20 for me. gorgeous song and tribute. when the beat kicks in >

where is brad?

All over the excerpts at any rate.

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45. DAMMN BABY (from Unbreakable, 2015; 441.5 points; 10 votes)

"dammn baby" is awesome
― lex pretend, Friday, October 2, 2015 4:01 AM (four years ago)

this may be beside tim's point about damita jo but "dammn baby" sorta realizes the idea of janet's last train to paris for me. which, really it's the jam & lewis version of mustardwave, but that's how it ends up for me regardless
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Thursday, July 9, 2020 6:54 PM (three weeks ago)

Lovely song and sentiment, can't believe I forgot to vote for it

"Broken Hearts Heal", that is

I did, however, find time for this one! Love it, always felt like an unofficial focus track

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

what a song

confession I didnt do any extra listening for this poll soooo most of the rollout so far is songs I havent heard or heard once & forgot about so this has been v educational so far!!

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44. AGAIN (from janet., 1993; 456 points; 11 votes)

Voted "Again" although this is her worst album before she stopped working with Jam & Lewis.
― Geir Hongro, Saturday, September 29, 2007 8:55 PM (twelve years ago)

never cared for "Again" tbh
― A deeper shade of lol (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, June 27, 2013 7:26 PM (seven years ago)

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

i shoulda stopped at the red light CUZ
now i'm like a deer caught in headlights UH

BANGER

he crashed intoooo my heart

ew

The first dud, and I mean it. I can't think of one single since "What Have You Done For Me Lately" that isn't sound, solid except this one.

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

most beautiful song in the world. light as air

deserved top 10!

please don't pull away from me

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Yes I do believe that "Again" was 1 of only 2 hit singles from Control through Janet that I didn't vote for.

"This Time" I had at #5. I don't disagree that it overreaches a bit but I respect the effort and it's for the most part overreaching in a good way anyways.

'again' is a bad song. just a completely saccharine, overproduced piece of fluff. no, thank you.

i dont need to hear it again now but it was a pretty big deal to me as a 12 year old

I feel the same way about "Again" as I do "I Just Called To Say I Love You." I'm glad Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder have an Oscar nomination and win, respectively, even if it's for among my least favorite of their songs.

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43. SOMEDAY IS TONIGHT (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 465 points; 11 votes)

Someday Is Tonight is stunning
― yeahhh (surm), Wednesday, March 3, 2010 2:30 PM (ten years ago)

Love the Herb Alpert solo.
― Inculcate a spirit of serfdom in children (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, March 3, 2010 2:31 PM (ten years ago)

Even with all that followed, I think this is still her sexiest song.

yep

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42. WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?! (with Busta Rhymes, 1999; 473 points; 9 votes)

”What's It Gonna Be" - as sweet as fairy floss but quite alien at the same time.
― Tim, Sunday, August 4, 2002 7:00 PM (eighteen years ago)

i totally wanted to vote for 'what's it gonna be' but wasn't sure if it counted, so ultimately did not. i didn't care for that busta album, so bought the 12" and that was literally a piece of vinyl that i wore out. because of the odd time signature and super punchy drums, i used it a lot for fun beat juggling tricks while djing, in between just playing it for listening purposes; both copies i had of the 12" ended up basically unlistenable through all of the surface noise.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Saturday, July 25, 2020 4:19 PM (one week ago)

TOO LOW

besides just being completely amazing, it has been hugely influential on me in my own music.

seriously a classic song. man!

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41. LONELY (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 483 points; 10 votes)

Just a couple weeks ago, I listened to "Lonely" in full for the first time and was all "whoa, where did this sexy thing come from?"
― Eric H., Friday, September 28, 2007 9:09 PM (twelve years ago)

That concludes today's installment.

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)

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oh yeah, this is about to get real good. . . !

wow "what about" is way too low! it's kinda like "if" (which is surely a favourite?) except even better. those guitar stabs are fantastic and make it feel much heavier than it actually is?

completely baffled "again" is higher than "what about" and "this time" and "dammn baby" and "rope burn". i love those latter latter three and "again" is just way too treacly showtune for me. it's not terrible but higher than so many of the great tracks that have placed way too low?

oh yeah, this is about to get real good. . . !

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40. MY NEED (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 505 points; 12 votes)

"My Need" is the best track you didn't mention. The bridge on that captures a sense of desperation so perfectly.
― Teddy Riley (The Reverend), Sunday, October 19, 2008 3:33 AM (eleven years ago)

This one always bounces in an out of my list of VR favorites. Right now it's out, but it's a remarkable, slinky track. The backbeat is so piercing.

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39. SLOLOVE (from Damita Jo, 2004; 521 points; 12 votes)

I think "SloLove" blows though, watered down body & soul shit.
― Rich, Thursday, March 18, 2004 8:40 AM (sixteen years ago)

“SloLove” is excellent – I can see why someone would think it’s “watered down Body&Soul shit” but I think it works a treat cos butterfly disco is Janet’s hometurf: yummy, slinky, sexy, mmmmmm
― Mind Taker, Friday, April 2, 2004 2:04 PM (sixteen years ago)

Damita Jo is such a chilled and gorgeous album. I just listened to the whole thing and apart from the last track which really seems out of place, it sounded glorious. R&B Junkie should have been a single. I Want You, SloLove and Truly all need to be on my ballot as well. Even the opening interlude is really lush. So underrated.
― kitchen person, Tuesday, July 7, 2020 6:23 PM (four weeks ago)

"My Need" is a cyborgian re-invention of "More, More, More."

Even 16 years later, Rich has the ability to make me second-guess myself, but I did give "SloLove" points because I guess watered-down Body & Soul shit sounds pretty awesome a decade and a half on.

i.e. I'm still listening to post-Y2K Masters at Work, and frequently

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38. THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE (with Luther Vandross, 1992; 544 points; 11 votes)

BY 1991, JANETS CONTRACT HAD RUN OUT WITH A&M. WITH A NUMBER OF LABELS COMPETING FOR HER, JANET CHOSE VIRGIN RECORDS FOR A REPORTED $50 MILLION ON MARCH 11, 1991.IT WAS AT THE TIME THE BIGGEST RECORDING DEAL IN HISTORY. THROUGHOUT 1992 JANET CONTINUED TO RECORD; HER DUET WITH LUTHER VANDROSS :THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE" FOR THE SOUNDTRACK FOR THE MOVIE FOR MO' MONEY BECAME A #1 HIT R&B FOR THE DUO AND WAS NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY AWARD FOR BEST R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE BY DUO OR GROUP. SO THERE YOU HAVE IT MADONNA IS A DICKHEAD AND JANET JACKSON IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE QUEEN OF POP.
― Kimi Swindells, Wednesday, May 10, 2006 8:14 AM (fourteen years ago)

What a summer: "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover," "Too Funky," and this souffle.

absurdly hooky

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37. FREE XONE (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 559 points; 13 votes)

If Gwen Stefani or Kelis Solange Janelle Monae made "Free Xone" everyone would pronounce it avant genius (albeit in different terms depending on which).
― Tim F, Sunday, October 19, 2008 12:05 AM (eleven years ago)

holy shit "Free Xone" is really fucking good
― Steve (Not Stevie) (Stevie D), Sunday, October 19, 2008 12:16 AM (eleven years ago)

imo "tighten up" sample in "free xone" is the best thing
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, January 14, 2015 2:01 PM (five years ago) bookmarkflaglink

ALL OF THE SAMPLES IN "FREE XONE" ARE THE BEST THING
― The Reverend, Wednesday, January 14, 2015 2:14 PM (five years ago)

I admit to taking "Free Xone" for granted now, what with its "See Spot Run" lyrics, but truthfully at the time, it meant as much to me as I expect something like Love, Simon meant to preteens 5 years ago.

Plus, it's Velvet Rope's "This Time" in terms of its go-for-broke maximalism.

Janet's not the only one singing about being lonely.

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36. ROCK WITH U (from Discipline, 2008; 561 points; 12 votes)

"Rock With U" is a pretty hot late-period jam.
― Palsied Phlebotomist (Old Lunch), Tuesday, January 7, 2014 1:08 PM (six years ago)

I used to hate “Rock With U” but I played it the other day and was like “wait this slams, what is happening”
― shout-out to his family (DJP), Friday, July 10, 2020 6:48 PM (three weeks ago)

discipline (2008) another one that's entirely new to me. hey 'rock with u' kinda jams.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Friday, July 24, 2020 12:24 AM (one week ago)

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35. BLACK CAT (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 575.5 points; 11 votes)

"Black Cat" by Janet Jackson
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, March 25, 2005 9:57 PM (fifteen years ago) ... curiously posted to Disco Band's Worst Attempt at Rock

To take that a step further, I'd suggest that Janet Jackson is to music what pus is to a healthy body, but that's another thread.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, March 26, 2005 12:18 AM (fifteen years ago) ... which explains why I've always loathed Alex in NYC