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

whoa I really expected "Runaway" to be in the top 20 or 15

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/22_dontstopallnite.jpg

22. ALL NITE (DON'T STOP) (from Damita Jo, 2004; 937.5 points; 20 votes; 1 first-place vote)

"All Nite (Don't Stop)" comes close to Rhythm Nation's mechanical precision
― Rich, Thursday, March 18, 2004 8:40 AM (sixteen years ago)

"all nite (don't stop)" sounds AMAZING at street dance class
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Wednesday, January 27, 2010 4:38 PM (ten years ago)

Okay, apparently Janet's new album isn't chock-full of unmemorable nonsense as I'd assumed from the first two singles; the new single pretty much panders everything I like about her music and is all the more glorious and wonderful for that. Far and away this is the best Janet single in YEARS (I think you'd have to go back to "Go Deep" or "Together Again" to match it).
― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, June 9, 2004 8:08 AM (sixteen years ago)

... unless this one is actually my favorite post All For You single.

This one is all about those swelling unresolved strings that keep popping up

For want of some better terminology

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21. YOU WANT THIS (from janet., 1993; 970 points; 20 votes)

"You Want This" is one song whose awesomeness I didn't fully recognize until I started listening for this poll.
― A White, White Gay (cryptosicko), Tuesday, July 21, 2020 4:09 PM (two weeks ago)

EdwardO is OTM re: "You Want This" having the "Love Child" sample. That ting-ting-tingtingting (ooh ooh) bit before the youwantthisBOMBABOMBOMABOMABAM chorus bit.
― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, March 18, 2004 9:02 AM (sixteen years ago)

20 tracks remain!

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)

ahhh i had hoped my "all nite" first place vote might catapault it into the top 20 but alas. 22 is still pretty good!

nice to see a good showing for slolove too.

yeah, whoever was badmouthing 'slolove' was clearly wrong. that's a solid jam.

ace work again, eric! really looking forward to this top twenty.

also it looks like i neglected to vote for "night", which was a mistake

the "love is taking over" part is so cool and eerie and beautiful... not sure how to describe it, really, but it does things to me

Can't believe "Doesn't Really Matter" was #25! TOO LOW (2). Gotta get up get up get up get up get up and show you that it *ricochet* *boom* EDIT.

It's a certain someone's favorite Janet song, told him I'd tell him when it placed. Hopefully he's not too disappointed...

So I'm counting 6 from Control, 5 from Rhythm Nation, 3 from janet, 5 from Velvet Rope and 2 from All for You that I would've expected to make it, but that's already one too many. Am I overestimating "You Can Be Mine" or "Go Deep" or something? I suppose anything outside of those albums ("Daybreak"! "Lessons Learned"!) is unlikely at this point.

back half of 'night' is the best music

you want this was my #2. the bridge was always my favorite part. around that time i was a sucker for anything sounding remotely similar to 'if you had no loot' by tone tony toni.

think runaway slipped more than any song once i started placing songs seriously. went into it thinking it would be a top ten but it ended up at the bottom half of my ballot. i think i realized i dont like the yeaaaah yeaaaaaah yeaaaaah yeaaaaaaah adlibs

"runaway" is just a little too much of a lesser rewrite of "escapade" for me, didn't end up making my ballot

I haven't been able to keep up with the poll over the last few days so just catching up now. I was hoping Runaway and Doesn't Really Matter would scrape the top 20. I really love her carefree joyful side and those two songs are two of her best for that. Falling in love with Runaway during nominations was one of my favourite things about this poll. I was the number one vote for Doesn't Really Matter.

I'm pleasantly surprised to see a lot of Damita Jo and All For You deep cuts make it.

No Sleeep was the only Unbreakable song I voted for. I revisited that album over the last few weeks and I still haven't had that moment where everything clicked. I love that single though.

"You Want This" is the song that makes me always flash back on Christgau's comment on just how expensive that album feels. Coming between the close mixes on "That's the Way Love Goes" and "If," it's just a straight up EQ assault.

OK here we go!

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20. I GET LONELY (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 991.5 points; 20 votes; 2 first-place votes)

"I Get Lonely" (we're talking the Teddy Riley mix) is one of her very best singles.
― Rich, Thursday, March 18, 2004 8:40 AM (sixteen years ago)

i remember "i get lonely" being the first janet single i didn't like as a kid. think the drums bewildered me, they make the song sound both slow and fast
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, January 5, 2015 4:52 PM (five years ago)

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19. GOT 'TIL IT'S GONE (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 1,004.5 points; 20 votes)

Got til it's gone is the only Janet single I like.
― ◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝◦ ⃝ (Moka), Saturday, July 2, 2011 6:54 AM (nine years ago)

i don't hate "got til it's gone" or anything now but picking it as the BEST on this album is an opinion that seems increasingly insane the more i think about it
― lex pretend, Wednesday, January 14, 2015 12:47 PM (five years ago)

i mean, i love 'got til it's gone' so fucking much, like few other things. it was such a huge record for me — that was my entry point into joni mitchell and it just felt like a really poignant moment for everyone involved, possibly one of the first major jay dilla productions. it brings me to tears, truly
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Thursday, July 23, 2020 11:03 PM (two weeks ago)

J-Joni Mitchell never lies!

Ballsiest lead-off single of her career, if not single overall.

for which the public duly rewarded her with her lowest placing.

I was surprised to learn it wasn't Hot 100 eligible, as I remember it as maybe the most omnipresent among her 90s singles. Broke through my musical bubble like nothing else from Velvet Rope, at least.

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/18_allivegottosayis.jpg

18. ANY TIME, ANY PLACE (from janet., 1993; 1,105.5 points; votes)

"any time, any place" is like proto-voodoo
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, July 3, 2020 1:46 PM (one month ago)

it's so weird to hear kendrick's "any time, any place" sample on the radio and think, damn that song is 20 years old
― some dude, Thursday, June 27, 2013 6:50 PM (seven years ago)

I never heard "Any Time..." on pop radio, was surprised to learn how well it did R&B.

I heard it a lot, but then again I live in Minneapolis.

She included a Kendrick verse when she played this in 2015, and sorta pantomimed the delivery iirc, it was great. There was a time when I'd anticipate his voice when I'd play this but I find that's faded a bit recently, remembering this song as its own universe. Had it at #4 at one point, only fell a few spots.

really how it spends a few minutes jamming on that groove at the end

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17. ALRIGHT (from Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989; 1,251.5 points; 26 votes)

I could listen to "Alright" anytime anyplace.
― Eric H., Saturday, September 22, 2007 11:12 PM (twelve years ago)

i'm flabbergasted at all the love for the title track and alright, which are both ALRIGHT WITH ME but definitely not first billing
― Surmounter, Wednesday, September 26, 2007 7:25 AM (twelve years ago)

best one chord song?

I have distinct memories of hearing "Alright" at the same time as tracks from PE's Fear of a Black Planet got blanket rotation on college radio and thinking, "Man, Janet belongs here."

such a relentless groove

I know I've said it before, but I associate this song with the Minneapolis sound more than the earlier songs that actually defined the Minneapolis sound. I was 10. I had a sunnier view of Minneapolis back then.

Have said it already itt but everyone should check out this amazing deep house mix of Alright

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EaI954eZqdg

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16. TOGETHER AGAIN (from The Velvet Rope, 1997; 1,309 points; 24 votes; 2 first-place votes)

Listening to the album sequentially for the first time in a frickin ever and I think I've been underestimating just how much of a cool drink of water it is when "Together Again" finally rolls around. Would've been amazing if they'd held it until even closer to the end instead of pulling the old backloading-ballads trick again.
― Vulvacura (Eric H.), Friday, January 16, 2015 8:57 AM (five years ago)

cool drink of water after the rope burn
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, January 16, 2015 9:02 AM (five years ago)

Oops, clipped the last quote off:

"Together Again" by Janet Jackson sounds like one of the levels in the first Sonic the Hedgehog game where you have to walk along a wall outside and jump over some water/bridges I think (haven't played it for about eight years though).
― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, October 15, 2004 5:34 PM (fifteen years ago)

okay, a lot of my picks are showing up now!

'alright' and 'got til it's gone' were top five for me.

We're definitely in big point jump territory now.

I voted "Together Again" #1, it's perfect in so many ways.

I have gone back and forth and back again w/r/t "Together Again." Thought it was just about her best single ever back in '98. Got tired of it really quick and regarded it as tacky and instantly dated for awhile. Have now settled on it being much closer to the first take.

Verse after the key change is gut-wrenching.

happiness (noun): 1. together_again.mp3

albeit from a place of grief. what a song! kept swapping it in and out of my #1 spot.

I hear it as the cheerful sequel to Pet Shop Boys' "Being Boring."

It feels hokey at a glance but it covers so much ground, from almost like a classic Motown-style simplicity to something more layered. The groove helps too. The part where her singing is isolated for a moment is stunning, every time. The music fading out at the end always feels super sad (before leading into my #3 pick, which I almost put at #1, "Empty".)

I have it on good authority that Brad thinks "I Get Lonley"'s placement is disgustingly low.

Please keep bringing the telephoned missives from Brad.