Her video for "So Excited" just premiered on BET. I'm still not a complete fan of the song, but that video was GREAT!!!!!

I loved it; I loved it; I loved it. I loved the concept, the costumes, THE CHOREOGRAPHY, the DANCERS.... Janet looked AMAZING and danced FABULOUSLY!!!!!
I loved the cinematography!!!!!

Yeah... It should be a hit!! And the video should help the song and the album become hits as well.

REally Janet's performance was just terrific. Nobody moves like Janet..

JD was even cute, too!!lol
[Edited 9/13/06 17:51pm]

It reminded me a little of All Nite.

JackieBlue said:

Yeah it did a little--with that smokey sort of background. Gil Duldulao is still choreographing for Janet--I think he's more of the artistic director. Ed Moore, a choreographer in his own right and a dancer on this project (I think) also worked with Gil on the number.

I'm still not a huge fan of the song though. I don't really know why?? But at least the video is interesting--well I think it's very good.

I think I liked it more toward the end.

When I first saw her with the group of dancers behind her it felt real repetitive. I liked the 'flashing'. Interesting idea since she seems to enjoy that. Sorta picked things up. I liked her with the guy but did not need to see JD. Guess we're stuck with him.

bitch is back and workin it to death... choreography was slammin, i didn't think gil could do it, but he brought it

love it. Janet was working it.

The song is boring and the choreography was stale. Janet's done it b4. I did like some of the effects though. So far, I am not motivated to buy her new disc at all.
[Edited 9/13/06 19:19pm]

i'm convince more than ever that janet is a lesbian and all her men have been cover ups, both for them and for her. debarge, rene, and now jd. sorry but they all scream gay to me.

but, the video...

i preferred it when it was called "all nite (don't stop)" but it was cool nonetheless. the song doesn't do it for me and like a few others have said, the video seemed a little stale. i think janet needs a more creative team all around.

or maybe my interests are changing. it could be that. maybe i'm growing up, lol, and janet is just stuck in some 20-something haze.

sallysassalot said:

I've never said this outloud or written it anywhere before, but the thought crossed my mind that Janet was a lesbian and her men were beards, too. I'm sure you have heard the stories about Shawnette. And yes, for some reason JD screams gay to me, too, or on the down low. I don't know if you were joking or not, but I've have had the same feeling about it.

I can't believe some of you all thought the choreography was stale? Ah man... I didn't think so. Honestly, I thought it was more hip-hop oriented than All Nite. To me it was sort of like "Just A Little While," but not so
frantic.

Let me ask you all this question: I sort of think that the singer-with back-up dancer thingie like with Madge, Janet, and even Britney is a little passe. As much as I loved the video, I had this thought that ... it was the thing of the past. I know there is Ciara and others--but I'm talking more about the way it was years ago. Or maybe you are correct. As much as I hate to admit it, maybe it's just odd to see a 40 year-old up there dancing with a group of kids. That's why I eventually retired from dancing outside of injuries. At one point, even though I still was in great shape and could dance, I was just too old to be a chorus girl, ya know? Even though Janet isn't a chorus girl, per se, and she looks very young, maybe a performer just can't escape time?? I don't know if I explained that or asked that very well.

I'm curious as to how well it will do. I want it to do well because I'm a long-time Janet fan. I thought it was a good effort--well more than good.

Plus I adore Blake McGrath--one of the dancers. lol He was on SYTYCD. That guy is incredible.

I dunno. I understand where you all are coming from, but I was really excited about the video. It was MUCH BETTER than I expected.
[Edited 9/13/06 21:24pm]

sallysassalot said:

haha why "more than ever", Jason?


As a teen she was considered a tomboy

Isel said:

Yeah, I didn't want to say it--altho I think I did in so many words--but I thougth it was stale too. When she broke the chair I thought something was gonna be off and poppin'--more of RN1814 reference than Control but whatev.

I reeeally think that's what I've completely outgrown. Does Janet still call her dancers 'the kids' too? People in their 40s can still do the damn thing but maybe in a different way. I don't even know if it's her age so much as it is we've seen this ish before. And before that.

I don't think she's a full out lesbian I really think she likes the D too much but I do think she enjoys a little kitty kat too. If there were no other Jacksons around I think she'd be out there more than she already is.

I don't get a DL vibe from JD but I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was.

And I thought that was Janet in the shower scene, even moreso after they talked about how JD had 'some girl in the shower'.

I was just curious about something. In a way, I don't know what we fans want from Janet. Even though the genre, might be passe(that's the only thing I can think of?????) I really thought Janet's S.EX video was Janet doing what she does best. I was reading some other criticisms about her video, but what I don't really understand is what do her critics want Janet to do? Do people want Janet to morph into Beyonce or Alicia Keys?

The thing is maybe some people just don't like the genre, and never will. But for her former fans who are so far a little lukewarm about this whole project, what can Janet do that will still be Janet, and keep all of her fans interested??

This is something interesting. A couple of nights ago, I watched Scaborough(??) country, and he and guests were talking about Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks. There was this representative from the music industry there stating that most of the general public DON'T WANT music artists to engage in making political statements--at all. In fact, a lot of people are just sick of hearing what celebrities have to say about anything. (Even though the DC's cd went to #1, apparently their tour is tanking.)

So really artists like Janet are damned if the do and damned if they don't. I'm sure people are going to complain about Janet being sexed-up, but then again if she did make a political or social statement at this point in our culture, well the public would bitch about that, too. So what exactly is Janet supposed to sing about? How is she supposed to perform? To me at least her video had some stylized, more theatrical type of choreography, concept, and costuming. In fact, the cinematography(??) was really interesting, too. It wasn't all about "booty-shaking." I just don't understand what we want from her? And I'm including myself in that "we." I really don't know what I want from Janet except within the confines of what Janet is, well this video is representative of what Janet has been throughout her career.

I do understand about the age thing. Heck, when I go to class now(I have to rest me knee again due to "runner's knee," so I won't be going for a while, )it's difficult being old enough to be most of kids mother. I still can dance when I'm physcially able because I've had students who've told me that they hope to be dancing when their my age! lol lol lol But the bottom line is that I"m not 18--I'm not even in my 20's and I'm gonna be 40 in a few years... I don't look 18 either, ya know? So age does make a difference just as far as the aesthetics or being in a chorus or dancing as a part of the chorus like Janet sort of seems to do. So that's a point well-made. She is still beautiful and youthful looking--don't get me wrong. She's just not 18 or in her 20's like most of the dancers with whom she works.

As far as the chair, I think on Access Granted, that prop was a nod to "Pleasure Principle." It would have been cool if Barry Lather had come back to help with the choreography even though I still think team Gil did a good job.
[Edited 9/14/06 6:22am]

Interesting point and a good question.

I don't want to see Janet morph into Beyonce or Alicia and she doesn't have to sing about politics or kids but I did want to see her grow as an artist and performer. What would that entail? I suppose going into a different musical direction, trying different producers, better songwriting or different songwriters, learning an instrument. While TVR was strong it was btwn there and AFY I realized she's just not that type of artist. I didn't want to but I just outgrew her.

When you do pop music you've got to keep it interesting because there's always 10 other people out there doing the same thing.

Isel said:

Oh yeah, Pleasure Principle! Okay cool. I still aways equate the chair with Miss You Much uncut version.

Hmm, maybe Pleasure Principle 2006 would be hot. Janet by herself dancing but new choreographer please.
[Edited 9/14/06 6:17am]

JackieBlue said:

I edited my other post to respond to your previous post, but I want to add something else.

As far as dancing, Janet would not even be able to audition even though she can dance as well as her back-up dancers because she would be typed-out due to age. (Maybe even height, too, but that's another story. lol)

I think visually, Janet is going to have to somehow separate herself from her dancers rather than being one of them, ya know? I know it's about fantasy, but at one point the illusion doesn't work. I would say the same thing about Madonna to a certain extent even though "Hung Up" was a very good video and Madonna still has it as a dancer. She is just a little too long in the tooth to be part of them. I say that with all due respect because I'm too long in the tooth, too. lol

Musically, I'm not sure what Janet is going to have to do. I really think that Janet's next step will probably be acting because I don't think Janet is going to be able to change as drastically as we might like. I think that even Justin Timberlake will eventually have to morph into something else as well because that is the nature of pop music. See, that's the advantage that someone like Prince has. He is so versatile that any genre is accessible to him, and we fans would buy into. With Janet, I'm not so sure. I think that many fans want to keep Janet in this type of pop dance diva role. I don't think many of her fans really want her to grow as a music artist, per se. That's what I've come to realize. They want to her continue to be Janet. And like I said, as far as what Janet does, well this video as far as concept--visual elements- is probably the best at what she does. It's the illusion that's wearing a little thin. As I said, I'm still not sold on the song, but it works with the video. It's just that Janet isn't playing a role, ya know? I mean, she's not cast as at 20-something. The reality is that we know she is 40 still dancing and in the mindset of a 20-year old. There is nothing wrong with that--but unfortunately I guess we older fans have grown-up, and we want to see Janet grow-up as well.
[Edited 9/14/06 6:27am]

I wish Janet was a lesbian!!!

I think Janet will move more into films too. If you're not a musician, songwriter and you don't have a strong voice I don't know how you make a solid transition being an over 40 artist.

While Madonna brings it, I consider her an exception.

I agree with a lot of your comments upthread. So many thoughts in my head right now, I don't know where to begin or how to properly edit them. But yeah, what you said.

JackieBlue said:

I was going to edit my post to add something AGAIN because my mind is racing, too, but I'll respond to your response. I just didn't want to have a converstion with myself!!

Ya know even in acting, Janet would be typed-out in some parts. I don't think that she would be able to play a 20-year old except in a flashback scene or something like that. So really, I think that's one of the major problems for some of us--well for me. Like I said, the video is amazing, but when I look at Janet, I see this beautiful, older woman who looks younger than her age, but is still a woman and not a girl,dancing with a bunch of "kids," literally. lol I agree with you that if she continues to go in this direction (I really don't think she will) she might considered losing the back-up dancers and doing something solo or something that keeps them in the background--and more a part of a statement like maybe Madonna has done on her tour??

When she was younger, she could obviously get away with it because she was closer to their ages, but no... it's wearing just a little thin now.

I understand why some people have the opinions they do. I guess, I just still want to believe in the illusion in my heart even though my mind is telling me something different. I'll always be a Janet fan. Sooooo. This might be a great way to go out--like Andre Agassi, ya know? I don't want her to become a charicature of herself. I'd rather her leave at the top or near top of her game. I think this video represents Janet at the near top of her game at the very least.
[Edited 9/14/06 6:54am]

What about the MUSIC?

Graycap23 said:

I was talking about the video. I'm not so excited about the song "So Excited," BUT I think the video works with it and might even make the song a hit!!

It's amazing what the right visuals/video can do to make an ok song GREAT.

Of course, some people already think that "So Excited" is a GREAT song. I'm just not one of them.

In regards to the age thing, I think many women are sort of caught in the middle. Especially when you look youthful but you’re considered ‘older’, how do they cast you? They don’t fit the stereotype of a typical 40 year old but yet get a line on your face and they’re casting an actress that doesn’t have the experience to pull some of these rolls off. And Janet is a black actress too? Fuhgettaboutit.

As for the video, I just watched it again and I really like the end where the camera cuts to her covering herself and then to the foot stomps. Then when they’re all dancing at the end. I think the other reason why I like the 'flashing' is because it brings color to the vid for a minute. But I think she could have done it by herself in a slightly brighter room and it would be just as good. Her arms are crazy tho!

Isel said:

This is MAIN reason why video has changed the game. This song is WACK on it's own merits.

Isel said:

This statement just sounds so incredibly wrong.

Music industry today.

JackieBlue said:

Yeah... I love the flashing, too. It's so cool. Yeah, it would have been really interesting to do a full-out nod to Pleasure Principle by doing a solo.

minneapolisgenius said:

Now, now. It ain't all that serious. It's worked for other artists, too. The bottom line is that the nature of the industry has changed. But that's OK because there is room for a lot of different artists to which people can relate. What's wrong with that?

More importantly, AS I'VE SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY LIKE "SO EXCITED," so just because I don't think it's one of Janet's best doesn't mean I'm right. Everyone has an opinion. Many fans do appreciate the song on its own merits. I just happen to like the video more than the actual song. Now some might like the song more than the video. Then there will be others who will be so impressed with the video, that they won't be able to forget the song.
It's not such a big deal, really.

Question: Why do alot of Janet fans not feel so great about So Excited? I understand Call On Me. For a Janet song, it was weak. But So Excited is typical Janet Jackson. It's a strong dance number. Maybe nothing innovative, but it's Janet doing what she does best.

I think Janet entering a Tina Turner phase in her career. Much like many associate Tina with the short ass skirts and flashy backup dancers, it's the same with Janet. She's always been known for stylized choreography, catchy dance/pop numbers and having top notch backup dancers. So she's just giving her fans what she does best and what they love(or at least think they love, after reading some of the latest feedback on the song). Not necesarily an artistic growth, but it's not the worst place to be either.

It's gonna be interesting seeing how this album does.

newskin69 said:

Last response, and then I'm out of here. lol

Just from one fan's perspective, I just don't like the song. It's as simple as that. I've tried to analyze it, but in the final analysis, for whatever subjective reason, "So Excited," just doesn't appeal to me much. I'm not suggesting the song is bad necessarily, it just is only ok FOR ME personally.

But obviously, I love the video. The video is everything a hard-core Janet fan could want. She has it all in that video. So I don't have any complaints outside of the observations I've made as to why some fans might still have problems with it. Then again, maybe some fans just will not subjectively not enjoy the video for whatever reason. They have right to not like it without having to be convinced otherwise. So I'll respect those opinions as well.

Bye.

what i like most about this video is how she's sayin fuck MTV with the whole dissapearing act of her top.... Genius

looks like i need to see this video

I saw it for the first time today. Am I the only one that thinks it's utter utter CACK?

It might be OK played loud in a club, but the video sucks donkey balls. It's up there with You Rock My World in the unoriginal stinker video charts.