Washington — Janet Jackson was in Washington this week to do ... something. Exactly what is unclear.

What we do know is that the R&B diva took a short break from doing whatever else she does and deigned to spend about 15 mid-afternoon minutes in a chi-chi hotel ballroom, offering not very revelatory answers to questions about her personal life, her career, her fans and a forthcoming album, “20 Years Old” — an album that none of the reporters in the room had been given a chance to hear.

(Q: So, how is that CD? A: Might be the best thing we’ve never heard!)

The event, such as it was, was billed as “The D.C. Press Junket for the International Icon,” and throughout the exercise in celebrity-journalism torture, said international icon — multiplatinum recording star, sister of Michael, flasher of nipple — offered very little beyond a look at her newly trim bod. Jackson, 40, generously shared that much of herself with the cameras.

Otherwise, Jackson threw very few bones to the hungry journalists and instead served a big, steaming bowl of nothing. (Not that you go to a Janet Jackson news conference expecting to hear a soliloquy on the stem cell debate or anything. But still.)

Jackson has more or less been in hiding since her infamous Super Bowl halftime show in 2004, and it was roughly 45 minutes past the appointed hour when she finally emerged in the Mandarin Oriental hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

What was she doing behind that black velvet curtain all that time? Sit-ups? Makeup? Eating a cup of mixed veggies — which, we learned from reading Us Weekly, is a critical component of her new diet?

Before her arrival, Jackson sent out an advance team. It was led by her beau, the superproducer Jermaine Dupri, who was dripping in jewelry, a Louis Vuitton BlackBerry holster hanging from his hip.

“Sorry we’re late,” he said. “Dealing with traffic and other things in D.C.” (Never mind that hotel employees said Dupri, Jackson, et al. had arrived at the hotel plenty early.)

After Dupri’s introduction, Jackson came onto the stage, appearing shy and demure. She smiled uneasily. “Everyone’s so quiet,” she said. Nobody responded. “I wasn’t raised in a quiet home.”

She sat. The questions began. The assembled journalists had been given 3 1/2-by-4 1/4-inch notecards, along with instructions to write their questions and then pass them to the left, to a publicist-cum-moderator.

Why do you think you’re so popular with gay people? she was asked.

In a mousy voice that kept fading out on the PA, Jackson said something about sometimes writing about gay topics, even though she didn’t have to, and mumble mumble mumble.

There was another question about the new album, ”20 Years Old,” vis-a-vis the actual 20-year-old album, “Control,” which was Jackson’s first multiplatinum hit in 1986. She said there were some similarities, and she noted that some of the keyboards that had been used on “Control” were used on the new album, which comes out Sept. 26.

There were other questions, some more inane than others. Somebody wondered, via notecard, why Jackson had come to Washington.

“It’s an important city like L.A., New York. It’s a big city.” Oh, the elucidation!

Any embarrassing party stories lately, Janet? (She hoped not.)

You gonna have kids? (Mebbe.)

What’s it like working with your boyfriend? (Great.)

Anything to prove? (Nope.)

There was no chance for follow-ups, or late notecard submissions, so nobody could ask how she could feel that way coming off one of the poorest-performing studio albums of her career, 2004’s “Damita Jo.” (It was Jackson’s first album since 1984’s “Dream Street” that neither topped the Billboard charts nor went multiplatinum.)

Anyway, Jackson sat safely on a cushioned wicker chair, next to an end table on which two bottles of Fiji water, a glass and a candle were placed just so.
The moderator asked our most pressing question, as we wondered why Jackson was doing this. Press junkets are an atypical way for a recording artist to promote a new project. Discuss, please.

“I think it’s nice to come up with something that’s a little unique, to try to switch it up,” Jackson said. “And it makes it more fun for me, too.”

Later, she contradicted herself, when the moderator asked, on somebody else’s behalf, what’s good and bad about being Janet Jackson.

Good: Sharing your life with Jermaine Dupri! (Dupri dutifully nodded from the back of the room, where he was observing the proceedings from behind a pair of designer aviator glasses.)

Bad: Press conferences. (We dutifully nodded from the middle of the room.)

Note: This was the second of five news conferences Jackson’s camp has scheduled, with others to come in Chicago, Atlanta and New York.

For the final question, the moderator read something passed along by a Voice of America listener in Iraq.

How do you want to be remembered?

Jackson seemed to want to get this one right. She squinted. She sighed. She leaned forward. She said, “I want to be remembered for making people smile.”
Nobody in the room smiled. And then, it was over.

http://www2.ljworld.com/n...ters/?arts

Why is this person trippin on Janet? Fuck this writer.

why bother even writing this article, i think this is the worst piece of journalism i have ever heard, he/she could have slimmed it down to "i went to a janet jackson press conference, i dont like her" .... article over

FunkyBrotha said:

This same writer covered her GMA performance in 2004. It was one of the funniest vitriolic rants I've ever read.

Very funny piece. Thanks for posting.

She gives the WORST interviews. I don't really like her to talk. Just dance, dress sexy and strap a head mic on, please. And stick to speaking through your great music, Jan.

badujunkie said:

i agree...her people have created a horrible persona of her...and she seems about as dumb as a doorknob not to notice.



damn, i cant believe im more annoyed by janet then i am madge and her hollier then thou attitude...

something in the computer does not compute....

sosgemini said:

You've always hated Janet more than Madge. Nothing new there

That was awful. So much for unbiased journalism.

VoicesCarry said:

what? what in the world are you smoking? what have said that would remotely make you think i didnt like janet? dont play games here cause i have never ever ever said that i hated her. in fact i've been very upfront with my love for her.

+

1) 1814 was my first concert ever.

2) i had janet posters and paintings up on my wall as a teen.

3) i buy all of her albums on the day of the releases and have loved them all until...

1) damita jo sucked...her one and only album i refuse to listen to. because it sucked.

2) her last couple concert tours have had a "sameness" to them, her costumers are horrid and the shows uninspiring...but what does that have to do with her music?

3) she cant dress at public events...she dresses horribly whenever she's on the red carpet...but what does that have to do with her music?

those are my observations and opinions on an artist that i would consider in my top five favs of all time...so i think ive earned the right to voice my views on her without a janfam totally misrepresenting my view...man, theres too much of that shit going within this forum as it is...you aint gotta add fuel to the flames...



ps...have i mentioned how hard i think damito jo sucks?

sosgemini said:

Considering that your hate for Madonna is legendary around here, I *thought* people would take my post for the JOKE it was. I guess not.

Still, your reply was hella funny.

VoicesCarry said:

how could anyone tell your post was supposed to be a joke when you defend janet to such extremes? i figured you were willing to lie just to defend your "precious"...

I thought the article was funny mostly because it seemed like the journalist didn't want to be at that press conference.

sosgemini said:

[Edited 7/23/06 11:27am]

sosgemini said:

Now you're spreading lies about me. Everyone on here has their opinion about Janet, and I don't go around trying to kill them if they don't like her music or think she looks like a tranny. It's just not that serious.

VoicesCarry said:

I wanna read this.

Krytonite said:

What's up with Janet's attitude?



Washington is a big city?




I'm suprised she didn't say being Michael Jackson's sister for both good and bad.




Did Janet made you smile?

I read this in the Post on Friday. And my and a co-worker of mine had the same reaction --- b*tch please. Too bad this thread didn't have the pictures that accompanied the article.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

VoicesCarry said:

Nope. That wasn't one of the pictures that was with the article in the Post. She wasn't wearing that outfit at the press conference which where the pic were taken from.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

This is the one in Atlanta. I don't have the DC pics yet. But you can see the candles and Fiji water Janet love her Fiji water.

The title of this thread should be "Nasty" Queen doesn't enjoy Janet press confrence.

VinnyM27 said:

or

"Nasty Queen doesn't enjoy Jason's future wife's press confrence."

JJ gives awful interviews. She hides behind a childish, fake demeanor while being known for doing slinky and revealing dance routines.

Her Letterman appearance after her Super Bowl stunt was the worst.

ThreadBare said:

sometimes thats true... like she will act like she is all shy... like if someone ask her a certain question... how can you be so shy... but then in your albums get all personal... about what you do in bed with JD... so basically her DAmita jo album was saying she gives the best oral sex to JD... i dont want to hear or even know about that... why cant she be shy when it comes to that kinda stuff...

ThreadBare said:

that was because he was making her fell uncomfortable, she's not exactly going to open up to someone who is criticising her. You should see her interviews with Leno, there is a better chemistry between them and hence a better interview

Letterman was questioning Janet about the Superbowl incident which made her uncomfortable.

Jay Leno didn't.

mancabdriver said:

well then maybe she shouldn't have been on the show...cause hugh grant was able to turn his embarassing moment into a career saver while janet couldnt.

press conference pics