Janet Jackson Not Happy With New Label
Singer Janet Jackson has aired her frustrations with Island Def Jam, whom she claims is no longer supporting her label debut, “Discipline.” The album has sold 392,000 copies in the United States since its February release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Jackson told SOHH that Island discontinued promoting “Discipline” after her single, “Rock With U,” failed to chart. Additional friction apparently resulted from Island also releasing “LUV” as a single, despite Jackson’s wish that “LUV” be worked on its own. “Luv” peaked at No. 34 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while the first single released from the new album, “Feedback,” reached No. 39.
In a statement released exclusively to Billboard, an Island Def Jam spokesperson says, “Unfortunately we haven’t experienced the results we would have liked with this new album. But we respect and support Janet.” Jackson further claimed that due to dwindling label support, she won’t be able to visit Europe as part of her upcoming Live Nation-promoted Rock Witchu tour, which begins Sept. 7 in Vancouver. However, the Island Def Jam spokesperson says the label “has nothing to do with Janet’s tour.”
~~~~
As a long time Janet fan I cannot say that I am surprised. Janet’s last three albums have been marred by bad videos and bad singles choices. The release of Just A Little While and the subsequent video that didn’t even get released, coupled with the Superbowl fiasco of 2004 was the first crack in Janet’s musical armor and basically sunk the Damita Jo CD, which I believe was one of her best.
2006’s 20 YO was just bad all around. Nothing about the videos or singles choices for that CD were on point and the first two singles, Call On Me and So Excited both failed to put Janet back on the charts and further alienated her from her fans. The two lousy videos made for those singles didn’t help either.
Here we are in 2008 and Discipline was suppose to return Janet to her former glory but sadly, poor singles choices, bad videos and lack of promotion did it in as well.
Janet didn’t start doing live performances until the week of the album release and absolutely no overseas promotion was done at all. And just like Janet’s last few efforts, her videos were sub par as well. Feedback was a great single but the video was too dark and the first minute of so was just boring. It’s never a good thing when the last 30 seconds of your video is the most talked about.
Lastly, the release of LUV and Rock With U at the same time was the decision all of us Janet fans knew would doom the CD. We knew Rock With U was too weak a song to be a radio hit on pop or R n’ B stations. Mix that with the ultra gay video she did for the single and well, it’s not hard to see why it failed to chart.
LUV on the other hand was a fan favorite but with no video and promotion radio didn’t touch the single and it too failed to chart. Fans held out hope that Roller Coaster, Greatest Ex, and a few other singles might see the light of day but now we know that won’t happen.
If I were Janet I would go into my own pocket like Beyonce did and film my own videos and continue to push the CD online and with live television performances. One great song and a great video to match is all it would take to put Janet on top.
Search Brown Sista for more: Discipline, Janet Jackson
nia said,
What is the problem??? It just seems as if she has never fully recovered from the Superbowl. And I was not the greatest Janet fan anyway, but I do believe there is some “politickin” goin on cuz she messed with a big media conglomerate (Viacom). So she may just have to go independent. She betta take some lessons from Prince and do her own thang!
Liyah said,
I know what you are saying Nia. I also agree with Stephanie that Janet should put out her own money. As a janet fan I’m sad but I’m also upset b/c Janet IS choosing bad singles as well as choosing bad videoes. Call on me; the video and the song was bad for a first single. So Excited: the song was strong and HOT!!! The video was terrible and reminded me of the video for “All nite”/Don’t Stop”. I love Janet but more and more I’m starting to see that she may not know what is relevant anymore. When I saw that Janet’s follow up single to Feedback was “Rock with U” I know it was going to be a disaster and the video OMG! She should have chosen Luv and created a hot video to it. I LOVE JANET but I am so frustrated. If she is the one choosing this and it’s time to hang it up, but if not she needs to take creative CONTROL b/c it is getting hard for me to defend her anymore.
knockkey said,
Janet the fans are the ones that purchase cd and go to tours. Feedback was missing that extra ump . Ciara added the flavor it was missing and you refuse to do an official remix with the Goodies Queen. Do you realize it was not a bad thing to coloborate with Ciara, the lady is a champ. Viacom remove Promise everytime it the net. The fans would not let promise die, so then youtube tamper with the view count. They want Ciara gone but she refuse to let anybody control her career. Janet swallow your pride and contact Ciara to write you a hit ASP . I promise you will be back in the game. PEACE
Stephanie said,
Ciara is not the answer. Her remix was ok, but Janet’s original song was just fine. The missing element was a good video and live performances to match. Unfortunately the video was bad and even her performances, where Janet usually shines, were lackluster as well. Discipline was not one of my favorite albums from Jan but it has a few gems that she can still work with. LUV is dead so she needs to move on to Roller Coaster or Greatest Ex. She needs to do something though or her tour will more than likely be affected as well.
knockkey said,
@ Stephanie you recently post step on my jays, watch the response it get tomorror, Jd knows Ciara is money in the bank. I know Ciara is not your artist but us fans can’t get enough of her. Ciara is not just a beautiful face , she a damn smart business woman. All her music royalty she owns. You will see more of Ciara in step on my jays, then Nelly wacth the access granted tomorror.
lady said,
I think these day artist is not pushing there self hard enuff to get the public attention and now you have people downloading now. So i think in the future there is not going to be alot of artist out there selling like they did in the early 90 and the mid 2000. It seems now that it take like 6 month to hit platium status these days. To me there is not alot of good music out here. They have all these stupid song out that fit for ages 13-25. So that why i have a nice old cd in my car and jahiem lol. But i do not care i love me some janet jackson regardless if she sold 5 CD.
MRS. JONES3 said,
music nowadays has gone down the drain. everyone is choosing to cater to white people, and they wonder why their album is not selling in the US, but is poppin’ hard over in europe. everybody wants to do this techno stuff instead of sticking to what they know, and becoming more creative in that realm. sometimes when u go outside the box, it doesn’t always work for you. but hey, she’s janet jackson, i’m sure she can bounce back somehow. but i also agree with others about her going independent. these music labels nowadays don’t know what they are doing anyway
Stef said,
One problem with Janet is she’s not getting any promotion or airplay, I didn’t see a single video for her last album…Another problem with Janet is her choice of songs, I feel that a lot of her songs are too pop and immature…I personally like the R&B soul Janet, I feel that she was at her best when she did songs like Anytime Any place, Where Are You Now, That’s The Way Love Go’s…She had a more mature grown up sound back then, I don’t know what went wrong with her choice of music and sound.
Janet needs to stop competeing with todays artist and just do Janet…That’s a major problem with a lot of veteran singers, they try to switch up their sound and fit in with the young folks and sometimes that can back fire if you’re not careful…I just want the good ole classic Janet back.
Chey said,
Janet Jackson is an icon and music legend. She has inspired artist such as Aliyah, Britney Spears, Beyonce and Ciara. It pisses me off that she is still being black listed because of that infamous Superbowl incident. Yet Justin Timberlake is treated like a God and Britney Spears has screwed up numerous times and they keep giving her a free pass. Oh that’s right, when you are White your right. I get it now.
Stef said,
music nowadays has gone down the drain. everyone is choosing to cater to white people, and they wonder why their album is not selling in the US,
**********************************************************************
MRS JONES3
Great point, like I said Janet was at her best when she had more of a smooth, sexy R&B sound…That Britany Spears pop sound just isn’t working for her.
prettyparker said,
She dropped off the scene after she canceled her performance due to being ill. That was too bad because she had a lot of momentum going after the album was released. I personally think that this album was not as good as Damita Jo and it is too bad that superbowl fiasco happened when it did. That was an excellent album and each song was amazing. They all flowed together for a collective theme of love, sex and living a vibrant life. Those elements were lacking, imo, this time around.
Still, I’m a Janet Jackson fan for life.
Kanyade said,
Janet’s other songs/singles get play in my small neck of the woods. It’s the record label that’s totally screwing up, I think. ‘Rock Wit U’ is definitely a club hit for the ‘kids’ (gay male fanbase), but they’ve been some of Janet’s biggest supporters. I admire Janet for stepping out with the direction of her videos. ‘Feedback’ might not have been as palpable for the masses, but I thought the interpretation and what the director was shooting for was a good theme…it just didn’t totally hit home, unfortunately. Right NOW would be the time to release ‘Luv’; that’s a summer hit if ever I’ve heard one…AND that’s one of the other songs on the album that DJs around my way DO play. She could even follow through with ‘Rollercoaster’ as that one is another summery, light, refreshing song that puts me in the mind of ‘Together Again’ or ‘Escapade’.
Sometimes, if you build it, they will come…OR (record company this is directed to you), if you expect something to fail (because you’re shivering in your timbers at record sales and how to still manage good numbers with the onslaught of Itunes and online downloads, pirating, etc.), if you expect it to fail, IT WILL. It’s something of a self-fulfilling prophecy flipped on its ear; done subconsciously. It is what it is unfortunately, but Janet (who has nothing to prove) should’ve done the extra things (paying for her own videos, promoting more, adapting to new ways to promote in this technological era), etc. I say she ’should’ve’ done these extra things because while six months ago she said she had nothing to prove, OBVIOUSLY she’s still got something in the oven cooking or she wouldn’t be so frustrated now. LOL.
I love Janet TO DEATH and normally I don’t let numbers and figures and record company politics sway my opinion of my beloved artists, but this is just stank and I had to comment. There’s a whole lot of ’shoulda-coulda-woulda’ mud-slinging going around and I just added to it, I know; but if there ever was a penultimate ’shoulda-coulda-woulda’, it’s this: SHE SHOULD’VE STUCK WITH JIMMY JAM AND TERRY LEWIS. Them together is total magic. “Velvet Rope” is my favorite Janet album and while she did do ‘different things’ on the record, Jam and Lewis’ presence was still felt.
Again, I admire her risk-taking, but three-albums deep of risk-taking that gets you nowhere really? Go on back to the old-time way, Janet. We love you girl! Get back with Jam and Lewis and crank out a ‘Velvet Rope’ 2.0!!! LOL
Liyah said,
What up PrettyP? Good to see you back on the scene. I toally agree with you on that, Damita Jo was a great album it just didn’t get enough attention.
V. said,
It is time for Janet to evolve and leave the whispering, sex talk and pop music to the up and coming talentless pop tarts. Janet is a woman now. Get back to making adult music for the grown and sexy people. She doesn’t need to compete with your Britney’s and Beyonce’s.
MRS. JONES3 said,
THANX STEF, I FEEL THAT’S THE TRUTH THOUGH
Nefertari Chocolatepeach said,
I agree that 20 y/0 was a bad album. I think that Discipline is her best album in a very long time. I am disappointed by the promotion and I have to admit, I was watching the Rock Wit U video just thinking…”why janet…why?” lol, but like the Stan I am, I shrugged it off and kept pumping the CD.
The CD is great. The single choices were problematic. Finally, any Janet fan loves to see Janet dance–so to not put out any more videos from this album is dooming the album sales permanently.
Nefertari Chocolatepeach said,
@Liyah
ditto on Damita Jo…but they stopped the promo after the Superbowl so it suffered a similar fate.
Nefertari Chocolatepeach said,
@Lady,
I agree 100% with regard to the stupid teenaged music today. I know that teens have always had their own genre–but it seems as though there is no music being promoted for the “grown and sexy”. I can’t even watch music videos anymore. No offense to anyone who likes him but if I see ONE MORE Soulja Boy video I am going to scream and run from the room.
TiP said,
I like many of you have been a fan since I was a kid. There is no one like her in my book, anyone that has come behind her has just been an imitator. I’m dissapointed that the label is not supporting the album anymore. I disagree with most of you, cause I really like Rock wit u and the video. But I agree that LUV should have been the next single along with a great video. I really hope the tour is a success, I plan on going, since I have yet to see her live. She said that she really wants to give the fans a great show with all of her hits. Janet is at the point in her career where she doesn’t sell millions of albums, her vidoes and singles are not in heavy rotation, and you do not see her face or hear her name everywhere you go. Is that neccesary a bad thing? I don’t think so. Is her career over? Absolutely not! If you over 27 then you know she ’s been there done that remember late 80’s and throughout the 90’s. To her true fans, she is still the ish.
jenii-babez said,
I LIKED JANETS RECENT ALBUM IT WAS GREAT…”ROCK WITH YOU” WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS…BUT I HATED THE VIDEO…JANET IS A LEGEND ALL HER OWN…I THINK SHE WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE A SOLID COMEBACK IF NOT SOONER THEN LATER…BUT I MISS THE “CONTROL” DAYS…SHE WAS SOOOOO SICK!!!!
Liyah said,
I’m sorr to keep commenting but I am so disgusted…I mean who’s idea was it to put Rock with U out as a follow up single? And even more so who’s idea for the video?? If the answer to those two questions was Janet…..she needs to get in touch with what’s relevant. I’m tired of my friends teasing me about her lack of a come back
Liyah said,
I meant to say “I’m Sorry” oops!
prettyparker said,
Hey Liyah, good to see you on the site too. I still read the articles, but I leave the comments to everyone else unless it’s about one of my favorite artists/entertainers. As you see, I can’t let a Janet Jackson post go without a comment ;-)
Hope all is well with you and family. Is it 1 year yet? If so, happy anniversary and enjoy the top of the cake on that special day.
And just so that I’m always on topic, let me say that Nefertari is right about the dancing - I’ve always loved to watch Janet’s choreographed dance videos! That is what always made her the best, the dance routines were always fresh, new and exciting!
Bri said,
It doesn’t matter that both Michael Jackson (one of the most influential and greatest artist of our time) and Janet Jackson have inspired so many up and coming artist in the industry. Both have been black balled. It is really sad. That super bowl incident has basically killed Janet’s career.
chey said,
I don’t think the super bowl incident has killed Janet’s career. There have been tons of celebrities that have hit rock bottom and have come back on top again. Janet just needs to take lessons from Madonna and learn to reinvent herself. Get away from that pop tart music and try something different.
Torya said,
What is up with that!!
I agree with you Kanyade, she needs to get back to the formula (Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis). I also agree, she needs to start putting her own money into her career. Look at independent labels. These major labels are just using her. If she is not making the money that “they” are wanting to see, they just through her off to the side. Janet is too talented to be silenced like this. I thought JD was at Island also, how could he allow this to happen? Unless he doesn’t have all the power he says he does.
flo said,
I must say, that picture of Janet is beautiful. I would like to wear that band on my head but I don’t know where people with money/hairdressers shop lol.
I feel bad for Janet. Why does she make music to crossover? I agree with Mrs. Jones3, can we make music that appeal to us? Is that wrong? Must we all “transcend race” (whatever that means!) and create music for all America? We sell our souls for money and our music/culture is obliterated in the process. This has been playing out throughout American history. When will the lesson be learned…
Smooth Criminal said,
@Kanyade:
That`s very astute of you. Janet needs to get back with Jam and Lewis, if it ain`t broke don`t fix it. I totally agree with you on that point. As someone pointed out earlier, “That`s The Way Love Goes” is the kind of flavor/sound that Janet should be carrying right now. It`s very mature and very R & B ish. That`s what Janet needs. She should totally forget about persuing this pop sound and just do her. I, too, agree that there`s nothing but a bunch of NOTHINGNESS on the radio nowadays.
I also agree about “Damita Jo”. That`s a great album and I absolutely luv it. When I bought it I thought for sure it was a can`t miss but circumstances even doomed it. Bottom line is she needs to go back to what works and that`s Jam and Lewis.
This is the same mistake that Michael made. He left the maestro (Quincy Jones) as far as I`m concerned and went into another direction. BIG mistake. He had his greatest success with Q, i.e. “Off The Wall”, “Thriller” and “Bad”. Now just take a guess what my favorite albums of his are? You guessed it, the aforementioned albums.. Michael and Q were like hand and glove. Why he would ever want to part from that BOGGLES my mind. Since he stopped working with Q his albums have been lacking that musicianship that Q provided.
Like Janet, Michael needs to do him and leave this NONSENSE alone.
@chey:
“Janet just needs to take lessons from Madonna and learn to reinvent herself”.
Well if she goes that route she`ll still be in the same place she is now. I listened to tracks from Madonna`s “Hard Candy” CD on YouTube as they`re posted there, and I have to tell you that it`s AWFUL. Like Janet and Michael, Madonna is trying to hard to appeal to the younger generation. Her CD utter GARBAGE. Instead of making music that fits her maturity she decides she wants to go with a hip-hop sound. Big mistake because It AIN`T happening.. Bottom line is Janet needs to do her and she`ll be much better off.
“Don`t Stop Til` You Get Enough” by MJ
Lovely is the feelin` now
Fever, temperatures risin` now
Power (ah power) is the force the vow
That makes it happen
It asks no question why (ooh)
So get closer (closer now) to my body now
Just love me til` you don`t know how (ooh)
Keep on with the force stop
Don`t stop til` you get enough
Keep on with the force stop
Don`t stop til` you get enough
Keep on with the force stop
Don`t stop til` you get enough
Amber said,
LOL @ Nefertari Chocolatepeach
If i keep hearing or seeing any more Soulja Boy i going to scream two…and i’m just 17
Smooth Criminal said,
@Nefertari:
I CONCUR with your Soulja Boy comment. Yooooooooouuuuuuuuu! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! He`s the epitome of a GIMMICK. Talk about TALENTLESS. Unfortunately that`s what radio has become now. A bunch of crazy, pathetic noise with NO substance. As far as the video vibe goes; it`s been years since I`ve really watched them. They all look the same and the message is the same, which is NOTHINGNESS………
Andre Le Dale said,
Janet I love you and they can’t STOP a strong black woman. This to shall pass and the radio stations are talking about your concert here in DC. So IDJ can go kick rocks! 10/15/08
Nef Chocolatepeach said,
I’m a stan–I just want to see her dance to this album.
celenadk said,
I agree with most of you guys, Janet should go independent and have total control! Im a Janet 4 ever girl. I´m just worried about the europeen leg of the tour../ She really needs this tour to sell out in the U.S
How are ticket sales so far?
ALAYNa said,
It puzzles me to see that they break they neck to promote for whack *** rihanna and they do a Legend like that. I actually Dej JAm was gon be a good look for her since they pushed rihanna , But i guess Not, whutevs
honey415 said,
I liked Janet’s old stuff better. I think she should have stayed try to herself & not try to be like some many other artists that have ended up selling themsevles out to try to keep up with the new music coming out.
Kanyade said,
I listened to tracks from Madonna`s “Hard Candy” CD on YouTube as they`re posted there, and I have to tell you that it`s AWFUL. Like Janet and Michael, Madonna is trying to hard to appeal to the younger generation. Her CD utter GARBAGE. Instead of making music that fits her maturity she decides she wants to go with a hip-hop sound. Big mistake because It AIN`T happening.
@ Smooth Criminal,
I SOOOOO agree with you.
I shake my damn head when I see Madonna’s album or see that video. I mean, what the heck IS it with the mature-lady pelvic thrusts??? That’s not even cute…heck, it’s not artistic; it’s just GROSS.
The listening public can be fickle. If you are 137 years old (Madonna) and you’re singing about getting paper, cheddar, cheese and getting your freak on and using WHATever lingo young folk use these days, errr, people are going to give you a permanent side-eye and wonder what you’ve been smoking on. LOL.
@ ALAYNa,
“They” promoted Rihanna (who I don’t think is ‘whack’) because she’s young, she’s not hard on the eyes and she changed her image. “They” knew she too could be marketed with this new image. But can you really posit the two? Def Jam supporting Rihanna vs. Janet? You’ve got a newcomer and an old schooler…two different levels of ’superstardom’ and two entirely different avenues of promotion.
V. said,
The state of today’s music has gone to the dogs. It seems like the big record companies only want to gear towards the pop and hip hop generations. Today’s music sucks and has absolutely no substance. If you look at your commercials, movies and TV shows, they use and play the old stuff because artist back in the day put their hearts into their music and had a passion for what they were doing. Nowadays, it is all about gimmicks, stats, making it to number 1, selling your soul and raking in as many awards as possible. Everybody has huge egos and these new artist (with the exception of some) will not have the longevity as the ones before them.
That is what I love about Mary J, if you look at her career from “What’s The 411″ up to now, you see that she has gone from being a young girl to becoming a woman. It is about evolving. Janet needs to get away from trying to be a pop star, get back with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and make some mature music.
bria said,
I wish they would stop categorizing all of black music as hip-hop. There was soul music before hip-hop came out. That is why they can’t sale records. Because someone like me hears hip-hop and we don’t listen too it because we think of rap or something like that. Janet Jackson is not and will not never be a hip-hop artisist. That is what happen with Sean Combs and New Edition, he tried too make them hip-hop artisist and they are not. First off their fans are grown *** women. So all black music is not hip-hop/urban music. What the hell is urban music anyways. Can someone answer that for me.
V. said,
I was listening to a station here in my area that is geared toward the thirty and over crowed. They were playing old stuff from Faith Evans, Anita Baker, Luther, Stevie, Whitney and classic Mariah and Janet Jackson. I was asking my husband, how did the urban radio stations go from this kind of music to nothing but rap and hip hop. What happened? There was no competition back then because all of the artist had their own style. I just wonder if black radio stations will ever go back to what it used to be. The neo-soul artist seem to get no love by mainstream radio and media.
The sad thing is that one of the disc jockeys ( I think it was Michael Baisden) played a classic tune by Prince and he said “if Prince were to come out today as a brand new artist, he would not have the success that he has because of the state of todays music.” I never thought of it that way.
Nefertari Chocolatepeach said,
Bria,
Hip Hop and Rap are not the same genre of music.
Rap is this commercialized garbage they have been pushing like crack on the streets for the past 10 years.
Hip Hop is classic “The Roots” or Ms. Lauren when she freestyled with the Fugees or Mos Def “Black on Both Sides” or Common’s “I used to Love Her”. (I’m not going as far back as Slick Rick or the Sugar Hill gang…I know that will lose most people.
Did you see the movie Brown Sugar? That entire movie was about the difference between Rap and Hip Hop (in addition to the love story).
I haven’t heard a record I would consider true “hip hop” since…..wow….I can’t remember….it has been that long!
Janet is not and never has been Hip Hop, nor do I think she has ever tried to be. Neither is Eminem, or the new and not improved 50 Cents or P Diddy and his barrage of garbage post Biggie.
Nas is right–as far as radio and TV are concerned, TRUE hip hop is dead.
Nefertari Chocolatepeach said,
@”V”
You haven’t heard the album have you? I’m not starting a fight but the comments that I hear from people who say that Janet needs to “Evolve” and imply that her music is not mature enough, convince me that the people are only referring to the few songs that get radio play. That is not the fault of the artist–it is the industry.
Case in point, I absolutely hated all of Jay Z’s music for years because everything I heard from him was shallow and silly. I had only heard his music on the radio. When my husband and I got married, I got access to his Jay Z collection and I was completely amazed. His best songs never hit radio. I had judged the man based on the few airhead songs that the radio chose to put out there….
Janet is suffering from the same judgement. This new album is a VERY VERY GOOD album. It doesn’t need anything else except rational and strong promotion.
Smooth Thug said,
Nerfertari, how ya doin’, sweetheart? Tell me what’s good. Do me a favor. I’m new to online speak. What do you mean by “stan”? What is meant by “LMAO”? please help me out. Ms. “diddy kong”, if you’re out there, please help me too.
Pearlsrevealed said,
LMAO=laughing my a** off
Stan=from the Eminem song; an overzealous fan
Check out http://www.urbandictionary.com
Andre Le Dale said,
I love you JJ!
Keepin It Reel said,
@ Kanyade
I totally agree with you. Ms J should have roughed it out with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. I am not sure if Jermain is the powerhouse that she needs to pull her out of this slump. I agree that she may need to invest in her own career by adding in some of her own cash.
It is hard for me to see her go throuhg this bull time after time. But I know she is a strong sista and she will pull threw.
I think Ms J should give us the R&B music we are used to hearing from her and she should also give us some new music to show us she can still be creative and new. As far as Madonna goes, I know many of you may not like her, but give her the props that she has comming. I wish I had a body like hers at her age. She may be a little too risque but she still has no problem putting it out there, so either you love her or you hate her, but I dont think she really cares what anyone thinks.
I’m just saying……..
Mz. Juicy Juice said,
@ SMOOTH THUG
(this is diddy kong)
STAN= SERIOUS FAN…..FANATIC…….FOREVER SUPPORTER…..I THINK.
LMAO= LAUGH MY A$$ OFF.
DUDE YOU ARE COOL. ME AND YOU ARE LEARNING THIS INTERNET LINGO ONE DAY AT A TIME….LOL.
@ NEFERTARI
HEY BIG SIS. I AM WITH YOU ON THAT SHRUGGING OFF THE “WHY JANET WHY?” FEELING ABOUT THIS …..what you call it???????……ERA. I MEAN I LIKE THE ALBUM DISCIPLINE AND WILL PUSH PEOPLE TO BUY INSTEAD OF DOWNLOAD ANY DAY OF THE MONTH BUT I GOTTA TELL YA THERE ARE TWO SONGS ON THE ALBUM I CAN’T SAY I LOVE. THERE’S THIS ULTRA GAY MOOD TO SOME SONGS AND I WONDER WHY SHE IS TRYING TO CATER TO THEM……THEY LOVED HER BEFORE. THE VIDEO FOR FEEDBACK ISN’T WHAT I EXPECTED BUT I DEALT WITH IT. THE VIDEO FOR ROCK WITH U ISN’T WHAT I WANTED…….it hurts to say that but the truth shall set my little self free….BUT I DEALT WITH IT.
IS IT WRONG FOR ME TO FEEL LIKE IF I GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET JANET I’D SMACK THE JACKSON OUT OF HER FOR NOT PUTTING OUT MORE VIDEOS AND SEEMING LESS THAN ENTHUSED ABOUT HER LATEST ALBUM. I MEAN I LOVE HER OLDER STUFF……I’LL RIDE FOR JANET’S OLDER MUSIC NO DOUBT BUT I CAN’T RIDE WITH YOU IF YOU AREN’T SHOWING INTEREST YOURSELF…..do you get what i mean? IT SEEMS AS IF SHE’S EITHER GIVEN UP OR IS LOST ON HOW TO CATER TO THE YOUNGINS……LIKE ALMOST EVERYONE AND THEIR MOMMA IS DOING.
I MEAN HELL I’M 18 AND HALF THE ISH THAT’S OUT THERE I DON’T LIKE THE OTHER HALF I DON’T EVEN WANT TO KNOW ABOUT. I’VE PONDERED IF MAYBE I AM THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM WHY I THINK THE NEW “HIP HOP” AND “RNB” IS SO DAMN WACK. IT’ HURTS ME…..BECAUSE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL SAY OTHERWISE SO I FEEL LIKE MAYBE I GOT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE KIDS OUT THERE A LITTLE OLDER THAN ME LOOKING AT ME LIKE I GOT A PROBLEM….”why you listening to the old $hit?”. I FEEL A BIT EMBARRASSED…..BUT I KEEP ON TRUCKING.
THIS IS MY MESSAGE TO JANET:
AYO JANET PLEASE LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE…..IF THEY CAN’T GET WITH YOUR MUSIC THEN LET THEM GO. GOOD MUSIC IS GOOD MUSIC NO MATTER WHAT AND I DON’T CARE HOW STUPID THE ISH THEY LISTEN TO IS………SOMEONE CAN’T DENY GOOD MUSIC. SO PLEASE GET BACK TO THE REAL YOU.I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S THE LABEL OR YOU BUT I’D LIKE A FEW MORE VIDEOS…..I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY YOU’D HAVE A VIDEO FOR DAMN NEAR EVERY SONG ON THE ALBUM. AND I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT REMIX TO THAT STUPID BEHIND PLIES SONG “bust it baby”…..by the way what is a “bust it baby”?. I’LL PUMP YA JAMZ NO MATTER WHAT BUT…….IS IT TOO MUCH OR DISRESPECTFUL FOR ME TO SAY “I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER!”? I HOPE NOT.
I’M DONE WITH THAT……SADLY I’M LOSING MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT ALSO I CAN’T STAND LOOKING AT CAPS LOCK…….SORRY YA’LL!
PEACE OUT THOUGH. DIDDY KONG OUT!!!!!
Anonymous said,
Please stop making excuses for Janet. We all know that she is one of the best in the business and has definitely inspired so many young artist in the business, but the truth of the matter is, the younger generation buys the music. They don’t care about Janet Jackson. Her peak has passed and now the torch has been given to the new 20 something’s. And then their time will pass. I also agree with another poster that said that Janet has been placed on the black list. She has gone from a A-list celebrity to a D-List celebrity. She has not been invited to any major music award shows since the whole superbowl fiasco. Stick a fork in her, she is done.
The whole wardrobe malfunction would not have been such a big deal if it had happened on the MTV awards, but it happened on national TV and a major network. Yeah, we all know the whole thing was blown out of proportion and I blame the media for that, but this is still very much White America. Justin Timberlake’s career has skyrocketed and has not suffered one bit since that whole incident and this punk steals his style from Michael Jackson and Usher. But Janet is a black woman in an unforgiving White business.
She needs to start her own record company and put her own money into promotions, marketing and videos. Why do think Beyonce ruled 2007 after mediocre sales and bad reviews from the first release of B-Day. She put her own money into making the videos, marketing and promotion and re-released it. This is a new day and age. Putting out an album is not like it was twenty years ago. Albums don’t stay at #1 for more than two weeks before it just drifts away. Albums don’t make music history like the days of Michael Jackson. This is the ipod, download, internet generation.
Stephanie said,
You make some valid points Anonymous. I don’t agree with all of them but you are speaking some truths.
Why not choose a real username, go get a gravatar, and sit down for a spell :)
Rafi said,
Janet just can’t seem to catch a break. The entertainment business sucks. They love you one minute and throw you to the wolves the next. All because of that stupid superbowl fiasco. It is obvious that her record company sees her as a liability and they don’t want to invest too much into her music anymore. What a shame.
Keep your head up girl.
Smooth Thug said,
“Mz. Juicy Juice”, you had to be sent to us from heaven ’cause you are the sweetest little angel of them all. I jus’ wanna get this online speak together. Or as Sir Nose D’Voidofunk says, I wanna be able to “Funk Under Water And Not Get Wet”. My sweet angel, I can hear some individuals now… “What in tarnation are “Smooth Thug” and “Mz. Juicy Juice” talikin’ ’bout?” So please excuse me, sweet heart, while I give these aforementioned individuals a blast from our Bop Gun. Are you ready, y’all? First, pull yo heads out ’cause ya can’t afford free speech… here we go. “Funk upon a time, in the daze of the Funkateers, the entire earth was on the One. Funk flowed freely and freedom was free from the need to be free. But soon there arose bumpnoxious empires led by the unfunky and the mentally constipated; they punished whole nations of unsuspecting people for their feelings and desires. This punishing got to the point that the unfunky and mentally constipated became fat, lazy, horny and strung-out; the unfunky and the mentally constipated lost all sense of the groove. These unsuspecting peolpes, also known as the Thumpasorus Peoples, knew that Funk was its own reward. They tried very hard to remain true to the pure, uncut Funk. But that became impossible in a world controled by power and greed. So they locked away the secret of pure Clone Funk deep inside of the Egyptian pyramids and escaped to outer space to party on the Mother Ship to await the time when they can safely return to refunkatize the world.” In other words, everybody, once there was peace, but now world has turned into a big ball of mess and confusion.
Mz. Juicy Juice said,
@ smooth thug
thanks for the props dude-e. the funkology was nice……..better than tv even.
i remember watching a performance and someone was holding a sign that said sir nose wouldn’t dance again……five seconds later the guy was dancing his cheecks off……(very handsome guy …..even with the funny nose prop) oh i see music is doing a 360. i feel funk will be back in small doses very soon.
enough of the funk biz……..my head hurts. peace.
Smooth Thug said,
“Pearlsrevealed”, thank you. You were very helpful too.
Alicia baby said,
Janet Jackson is a legend, but becuase she knows she is such a huge name in the business, i think she is’nt promoting herself or music as much. She definately needs to get out there more, as it is hard to compete with hot new artists that are the in thing. Starting her own record label would be the way to go, giving herself artistic freedom to do what she wants.
Nefertari Chocolatepeach said,
@Smooth Thug and Lil Sis Diddy Kong
Peace Bro. (Smooth Thug). Some years ago, the “rap” artist Eminem made a song called “Stan”. It was about a fan who had crossed the line from fan into something of a lunatic. In the song, the “fan” called “Stan” killed his girlfriend because he was trying to be like Eminem in one of this songs. That song (which was actually very good, although disturbing and deranged song lyrically) gave birth to the phrase “Stan” to refer to a person who is an over-the-top obsessive fan. You will often hear it used with reference to Beyonce’s fans. I use the phrase “Stan” as a joke when I use it in reference to myself and Janet Jackson. For me, it means I like her more than a regular “fickle” fan. Yet, in all honesty, I have probably never been a “stan” of anyone…I just like Ms. Janet. Something about her makes me happy.
How are you by the way? I’m sorry this reply took so long.
@Diddy Kong I was a bit upset when I read her comment on no more singles. I’ve been holding my breath waiting for videos so I can learn the dance moves lol so…disappointed but hey…Asi es la vida…
Nefertari Chocolatepeach said,
@Mz. Juizy Juice i.e. Diddy Kong
Girl…I was sitting on the edge of my bed for the world premiere of Rock Wit U. It went off–I turned to my husband with this helpless, lost look in my eyes and said “ok….I know I’ve never been to a club…but is THAT WHAT THEY ARE LIKE???” I know that it had an underground vibe and I don’t know the culture so I didn’t pass judgment, but I was so disappointed. Then I told myself that she isn’t making music JUST FOR Nefertari….so I eventually got over it!
I would love to see a few more classic Janet dancing type vids…but I’m getting to the point where I can accept that might not happen. I have Youtube and my collection of DVDs though…
diddy kong said,
@ Nefertari
yeah….when i heard that i didn’t believe her either……i was like “naw that has to be a rumor or something…..why the hell would she do this to me…..NOOOOOOO!” lol.
i had a tarded moment. lol.
so you dance to the videos…..haha kool. i can picture it now.
yeah i saw the access granted for “rock with u” and i was like yo…..how is this gonna look. i’m excited but i should’nt get my hopes up! and i was kinda blank after watching it……..not that i hated it but……….it was so different from what i expected. after a while i was like “hey it is what it is” and kept on moving. but i still have hope that there will be one more video…..i mean she is going on tour so maybe she’ll have one of those “you” & “because of love” & “black cat” type of videos for one song. a chick can dream eh?
but you are right……youtube and my dvds are what keep me going. lol.
Anonymous said,
Janet Jackson is a music legend who has made it and has nothing to prove. I hate that she is getting absolutely no respect from the industry. But regardless, she always keeps going because she has a passion for what she does and she believes in what she does. And because of that attitude, she will continue to be blessed.
YEP said,
Hello,I hope all is well with y’all. First,I want to start with saying that I have been a Janet fan Since grade school. I got her album The Velvet Rope as a Christmas gift from my older brother. I instantly went back and looked up all her previous albums. I was amazed. My mother played J5,MJ,Q,Luther,Teddy,Mr. Marvin Gaye and others,but I never payed any attention the Janet. I was hooked. Little did I know that I would have to wait until Freshman year of college to hear another good album by her.
Damita Jo was a great album for me. I would just sit back and kick it with my friends with it on. We even went to the All For You concert in high school. I am not impressed with her latest efforts. It seems to me that she even knows that they are not very good. She left Virgin and now she is upset with Island. Everybody wants to blame and point fingers at Justin Timberlake. LOL Let me say this. It’s a white mans world. No matter how rich and famous one becomes there are reminders of that everyday.
Some of you might call me an uncle tom or what have you,but I like his last piece of work . Am I in love with it?No. I watched his show on HBO and It wasn’t bad. Does he move like Mike? Yes,but I be dang if you can say that is trying to be like Usher. The man is still eating off of it…2 years later? He’s white,and a MAN at that. Nobody told her to prance on the S.B.,well maybe they did,but it back-fired. You can’t say that it’s the cause of her last couple off albums being…mediocre. She has not shown much growth in many songs. It’s the same dag on thang. It’s sounds the same. At least you can say that Madonna and Britney have pretty much stayed true to their style.
Madonna has had that kind of sexy persona since the 80’s. Didn’t Janet diss her for being “sexy” Well,I guess she figured out that sex sells,but she needs to remember that sexy needs to become Grown and Sexy. I am pulling for her to go back into the studio with some new producers. I have a few in mind. I can’t imagine how it was with the “Janet” album playing in the ride back in…93′? Grant it that Discipline has some bangers on it,but that’s after how many tries. Come on gurl,I know you can do it. Maybe she should just…take a bow. I think that deep down that she knows what music she should make,but something else is making her do another thing. As long as you stay true to yourself,you will be happier and more fulfilled. Well,I hope that everyone has a safe weekend.
UnalteredBeauty said,
Janet’s in her 40s (maybe even borderline 50s) and is making music that is supposed to appeal to teenagers and young adults. That’s a challenge in itself.
Janet_stan said,
Janet is 42 and STILL FAB! Still #1 in my eyes :-)
Andre Le Dale said,
Janet said herself that she will be doing a world tour. Brownsista check out http://www.janet-xone.com for the update!!!
rene said,
Rock Wit U is a great song, the video and dancing is excellent. Luv should not have been a single (So Much Betta would have been better, or the song right after). Janet listeners may have reached their saturation point.
Mz. Juicy Juice said,
i’m sorry…..i feel silly for asking this but what do you mean by “saturation point”?
i don’t know what that means…..