With all these Janet Cds taking on Madonna Cds (or vice versa) this one had it coming.

While these albums sound nothing and feel nothing alike, they have quite a lot in common.

In both cases, the first singles are the titles of the Cd and are the biggest hit singles for each lady after no number one hits off their last more personal projects. Both tracks also seem to recall the roots of the artist and feel sort of out of place. Both songs are also now major representive hits in their catalogs. Both of their follow up singles were ("Don't Tell Me" and "Someone To Call My Lover") were big hits but not nearly as big as the first singles. And the third single off each of the album's ended up charting at around the same place (in the mid twenties) and were the last singles off these projects which could have been much bigger hits due to record label politics (in the case of Janet, Virgin being sold and for Madonna, the fact that they couldn't agree on the next single/video). Also, both had previously recorded songs on there for other projects (Janet's "Doesn't Really matter" and Mirwais/Madonna's "Paradise")

This one is kind of hard for me because I was really into both albums right when they came out. But when I feel out of love with "Music", I feel hard. The second half of the record is a little lifeless. If "Ray" had cold moments, "Music" gives you frost bite with "Paradise" and the bland "Amazing". However, it's strengh is with some great upbeat numbers like "Impressive Instant" and "Runaway Lover" and the lovely but simple "I Deserve It". It's not enough, however, to make me take it over "All For You".

The title track is one of her most infectious along with "Come On Get Up" and the breezy "Feels So Right". Her slow sex jams are a bit forced this time around (and four in a row...), although they are nice. This album is mostly about fun but when it gets personal, it's great with songs like "Truth", "Son Of A Gun" and even "Better Days". The album could have been a lot better and the music could have been more varied (I would slightly agree with critics of Jimmy and Terry and Rockwilder just puts a stamp of medocrity on most of the tracks with predictable beats). While not either of their strongest discs, both have moments. In this case, I have to go with "All For You".

All For You. Music was only 10 tracks but still managed to feel overlong. I loved the title track, WIFLFAG, Don't Tell Me, and Impressive Instant, but the rest is sort of meh.

Actually, Vinny, another rumor around the time was that Mariah losing a massive amount of money for Virgin/EMI made them call off the rest of the All For You project in late 2001. Come On Get Up was set to be the next single, and official radio edits were made for You Ain't Right, Trust A Try, and Feels So Right.
[Edited 8/1/05 13:32pm]

is this the last one?

VinnyM27 said:

Frozen and Beautiful stranger were number ones in the UK

Actually Beautiful Stranger was a #2, kept off the top by S Club 7

Anyway, Music by far. All For You made me really start to loathe Janet, her fans, everything about her. I really couldn't stand it. Thank God that didn't last too long cos it was totally irrational.

Ellie said:

You might start hating Janet fans too if you ever had an encounter with Eric West. STRANGE boy.

MUSIC!

all the way baby. it's not my fave madonna album (far from it), but the singles and videos--especially the title track--were great and Impressive Instant is her all time best "techno" track IMHO. I also love Paradise (Not For Me) which by the way sounds great on 'shrooms.

ALL FOR YOU...

I can't understand how Janet fans can defend that album. The terms "bland," "half assed," and waaaaay "oversamplified" (can ONE song not be a sample for ONCE? try it!) come to mind. i love the lead single, you ain't right is great (but underdeveloped), come on get up, when we oooo and better days but everything else...it was like HOW COULD SHE have made that piece of pop/r&b garbage that sounded like it was trying to be Britney or Xtina or JHo after the masterpiece that was Velvet Rope. I still don't know how people can HONESTLY say they like "Feels So Right"...it's the most damn repetitive filler elevator muzak she has ever cut.

badujunkie said:

That's pretty much how I feel about Music.

all for you.

It's my least favorite Janet album, but All For You, easy.

eh, I haven't picked up a Madonna album in decades.

But, I love the single Music way more than the AFY single.

well, i might actually go with AFY on this one. while each of the best songs on Music are better than all of the songs on AFY put together, Music has always seemed like a half-baked hodge-podge album to me.


so... i guess homogenized mediocrity has its place sometimes. yay Janet

VoicesCarry said:

That is sucky if it's true!

ehuffnsd said:

Guess I'm being selfish and focusing on America. I love "Frozen", but let's face it....it's not "Music" in terms of it being signature Madonna. Also, I failed to note "Together Again" (which I heard on radio today) was a number one single from "The Velvet Rope"...whoops now.

VoicesCarry said:

which is ironic, because i remember Mariah complaining in '97 or '98 that she was jealous of Janet being with Virgin because they would get behind her albums long-term and relase 6 or 7 commercial singles, while Sony was even backing away from Mariah's standar 4 around that time, and only issuing commercial releases for the songs that were demanding it (Honey, My All).


way to go Mariah. ruin it for EVERYBODY

Tessa said:

They really dropped the ball on Breakdown.

VoicesCarry said:

yeah. making it the double a-side with My All was too little too late. but the first sign of trouble is when the one with "big adult contemporary hit" ("Butterfly") written all over it didn't even get a release, and it was only the second single.

Tessa said:

That's OK, Mariah had Tommy price-fix her fair share of hits.

I was disappointed The Roof only got a limited release in several international territories.

VinnyM27 said:

actully i think Frozen is signature. lots of my friends love that song and think it's one of her best and they are just casual Madonna fans. it's classic Madonna and Patrick Leonnard. Got a great reaction at both DWT and RIT. Just cause a song doesn't go #1 doesn't mean it's not a signature song. Look at Express Yourself it only hit #2 but it's a Madonna mantra

ehuffnsd said:

I'm thinking top ten overall Madonna songs (in the public preception)....maybe "Ray Of Light"...probably nothing from "Erotica" or even "Bedtime Stories". I love "Frozen" (probably my favorite on the CD) but I'm not sure. It's debatable. I agree a song doesn't have to be number one to be signature but I just don't think of "Frozen" as one of her biggest. Definately notable.

Madonna's biggest hits according to the public (according to me)

Into the Groove
Like A Virgin
Holiday (yes, and this one didn't do well on the charts when it intially came out did it?)
Music
Ray Of Light
Vogue
Like A Prayer
Express Yourself
Open Your Heart
American Life...just kidding...Papa Don't Preach

VinnyM27 said:

Holiday was her first top 20 hit and Into the Groove has never been released as a proper single or video in the US it was the Bside to Angel but got more airplay and video play

i'd say...
Holiday
Borderline
Like A Virgin
Material Girl
Into the Groove
Live to Tell
Papa Don't Preach
Like A Prayer
Express Yourself
Vogue
Justify My Love
Deeper and Deeper
Take A Bow
Ray of Light/Frozen
Beautiful Stranger
Music
[Edited 8/1/05 18:51pm]

Ellie said:

Janet fans aren't so bad. I'm a Janet fan, and I have my good points. and bad.

Anyway, Music was the second Madonna cd that I ever bought. I liked Ray of Light, so I thought I'd buy Music. They were both only OK. I just like a few tracks on each one. I just can't get into Madonna's music coz she just doesn't have enough R&B for me.

So I prefer All4You. All4You gets a ton a criticism from fans, but I really like the cd. I like the title track, but I also like Someone to Call My Lover and Trust a Try. But I prefer Damita Jo over All4You. I don't think All4You is a bad album though, even though a lot of hard-core Janet fans hate it.
[Edited 8/1/05 18:51pm]

I'm a bigger Janet fan but I have to go with Music on this one. All4U is one of the worst Janet CD's. I only like about 5 songs on that entire CD.

i never got into music. all these years later and i still don't like the record too much. impressive instant, music, don't tell me, and on a good day i can listen to what it feels like for a girl. the album just sounds like the same long song for the most part. its a snoozefest for me.

all for you, while nearing the bottom of my picks for janet cds, is much better than music. the title track, come on get up, you ain't right, someone to call my lover, trust a try, doesn't really matter, china love, and son of a gun are great tracks! i agree much of the rest is only ok but 8 great tracks and the remainder being ok is still better than 3 great tracks and crap for the rest.

i think "all for u" is probably THE worst janet album, of her better known albums. "music" is not madonna's best, but it kick's "all for you"'s ass twice backwards.

VoicesCarry said:

The Roof has always been one of my favorites by her. that and Underneath The Stars. very unfortunate, the limited exposure these 2 got. probably her 2 most interesting songs.

Isel said:

janet fans are worse than Prince fans. and that's saying a lot.

i hate madonna