I noticed this song didn't have its own thread yet, so i thought i'd help out.

Discuss

I actually sorta liked Love 2 Love just wish her voice were a little heavier or stronger. The light whispers start to wear on me when I'm trying to dig the music. I'm not trying to be funny or anything but an instrumental would be perfect.

jayaredee said:

this song has a Prince vibe.... its one of my favorites on the cd

JackieBlue said:

That's my issue with the album in general. She doesn't have the strongest voice but she could at least try to be a little louder.

jayaredee said:

It doesn't sound like she's singing from her diaphragm. Her voice sounds full on Together Again. For some reason the thinness of her voice stands out to me more than ever on 20YO and I try to listen past it but I can't.
[Edited 9/28/06 5:14am]

it isn't that her voice is heavy enough or strong enough, it's because she can't sing. she don't have a voice i mean let's be honest here, its her producers that make you want to dance to the song. she's like her own background singer.

I like Janet, I really do, and I like some of her music, but i can admit that she can't sing, although she is a great entertainer.
[Edited 9/28/06 5:16am]

It always comes down to that doesn't it? I was trying to be delicate about it but that's pretty much it.

It has a nice quality to it though.

JackieBlue said:

I'm going to have to agree with you on this. I told you I can be pretty objective about Janet. Even though I enjoy the cd overall, its main weakness is Janet's vocals. I don't know if the heavyness of the production is just over powering her voice, but I have never heard her voice as weak. To me Janet's voice was even stronger on Damita Jo. Scorpion wrote in a thread somewhere that she could imagine some of the songs being sung by other artists, and they would have even more of an impact. I have to agree with her that. It's not the "songs" that are weak: it's Janet's voice subsquently her performance of them.

Now.. I've defended Janet's voice before because I don't think every singer in the music business has to have a "belt" voice or even a good voice--in the traditional sense of the word. In fact, sometimes the quality of a voice like say Bob Dylan's makes a song distinctive, plus Dylan is such an amazing songwriter. So I've always considered Janet's voice more distinctive than great. Plus she's more of an entertainer: a lot of her appeal is the entire package with the videos and the dancing. But I agree that this particular production nearly drowns-out her voice or something? It certainly doesn't enhance her voice at all.

Isel said:

Janet's voice may not be technically great, but I've always enjoyed the sweetness to her voice.
Also the way a song is delievered through vocals is important too, and Janet has made many great deliveries in her songs.
I think she emotes very well the feelings of the lyrics.

I just wish in some of the new songs she would turn up the volume a few notches.

jayaredee said:

The 'sweetness' is exactly what I mean by quality. It's pleasant to the ear and it's what I liked about Aaliyah's voice and what I don't like about Britney's or Ashanti's voice.

I always preferred Janet singing alto, when she sings higher it thins out. I wonder if she works with a vocal coach to get the best out of her voice that's possible.

jayaredee said:

Yes, Jay. I absolutely agree with you. I've always loved that purity of her voice. In fact, I have a couple of friends who really don't like "belt" voices at all because they view it as screaming rather than singing. A singer like Bebel Gilberto, for example, has the same sort of soft quality to her voice. There are a number of jazz singers who might have a better range than Janet's and be technically stronger--like Madeleine Peyroux-- and even Nora Jones to a certain extent, but the have a softer quality.

Do you know that song "Island Life," from Damita Jo? To me in that song, Janet demonstrated that she could sing. Still I would agree that if a trained singer is evaluating her voice, Janet's still doesn't have the singing-from-the-diaphragm-support or quality/resonance of say Madeleine's or Nora's, but Janet's vocals sounded very nice on that song.
[Edited 9/28/06 6:34am]

Isel said:[/quote]

Yes, Jay. I absolutely agree with you. I've always loved that purity of her voice. In fact, I have a couple of friends who really don't like "belt" voices at all because they view it as screaming rather than singing. A singer like Bebel Gilberto, for example, has the same sort of soft quality to her voice. There are a number of jazz singers who might have a better range than Janet's and be technically stronger--like Madeleine Peyroux-- and even Nora Jones to a certain extent, but the have a softer quality.

Do you know that song "Island Life," from Damita Jo? To me in that song, Janet demonstrated that she could sing. Still I would agree that if a trained singer is evaluating her voice, Janet's still doesn't have the singing-from-the-diaphragm-support or quality of say Madeleine's or Nora's, but Janet's vocals sounded very nice on that song.[/quote]

Isel, this is precisely why I thought Janet could have success seguing into a different genre if she wanted. She could do the Brazilian jazz album she spoke of once upon a time. She could do that downtempo loungy triphop stuff. For one album--one album--she could take a chance on something new. Since she's consistent with her outputs it would just be one of many albums in her discography. It doesn't have to be a huge blemish or a huge success but at least she took a chance.

I don't care for belters myself with the exception of a few artists. Island Life is actually my favorite song on DJ. It's the only one I played repeatedly. It's so smooth and refreshing (think I'll play it now). It has a nice melody and a good groove.
[Edited 9/28/06 6:45am]

JackieBlue said:

Yes, Jay. I absolutely agree with you. I've always loved that purity of her voice. In fact, I have a couple of friends who really don't like "belt" voices at all because they view it as screaming rather than singing. A singer like Bebel Gilberto, for example, has the same sort of soft quality to her voice. There are a number of jazz singers who might have a better range than Janet's and be technically stronger--like Madeleine Peyroux-- and even Nora Jones to a certain extent, but the have a softer quality.

Do you know that song "Island Life," from Damita Jo? To me in that song, Janet demonstrated that she could sing. Still I would agree that if a trained singer is evaluating her voice, Janet's still doesn't have the singing-from-the-diaphragm-support or quality of say Madeleine's or Nora's, but Janet's vocals sounded very nice on that song.[/quote]


Isel, this is precisely why I thought Janet could have success seguing into a different genre if she wanted. She could do the Brazilian jazz album she spoke of once upon a time. She could do that downtempo loungy triphop stuff. For one album--one album--she could take a chance on something new. Since she's consistent with her outputs it would just be one of many albums in her discography. It doesn't have to be a huge blemish or a huge success but at least she took a chance.

I don't care for belters myself with the exception of a few artists. Island Life is actually my favorite song on DJ. It's the only one I played repeatedly. It's so smooth and refreshing (think I'll play it now). It has a nice melody and a good groove.
[Edited 9/28/06 6:45am]
[/quote]

I absolutely AGREE WITH YOU!! Yes, Janet would be wonderful with Brazilian jazz or a downtempo. But ya know what, I really think that Janet is too concerned about charting?? I don't really know what. Plus, I wonder if some of her fans could really handle her taking that sort of risk and/or transition.

I could--but obviously I love that style of music anyway. I think it would be worth a shot. Why not?

You don’t know how much I would love that. But you’re right about the charting. I think it would be viewed as a step down for Janet to do such a thing and no, I don’t think her fans would like the idea at all. Those genres are either too specific or eclectic for the masses and especially since she hasn’t shown much branching out previously in her work it could be too much. But I would love it and most of all I would respect her effort.

I also thought she was more into underground club music than she appears to be. So when I heard dance album I thought she was really going for some hard stuff, which could still turn up in remixes but I thought it would really be along the lines of Throb or Basement Jaxx. That’s my own fault. I set myself up for that.

JackieBlue said:

I absolutely LOVE throb. I don't really know what I was expecting. I guess was expecting a sort of funky, uptempo sort of cd.

I do think your points are well-made. I've been playing 20 Y.O. quite a bit, and I'm starting to enjoy more for what it is rather than what I thought it was going to be. There are some nices tracks on the cd. I really love "With You" and "Enjoy" as well. But to tell you the truth, I think "Island Life is one of my most favorite Janet mid-tempo songs. I played that song so much--and still do. But then again, I'm into to that sort of music as well sooooo.

Oh, on 20 Y.O. I am really starting to appreciate "So Excited." At first, I was... about it. But now I'm really liking it. I also like Show me, too.

does this song really need a thread?? There's so many talented artists out there...

starbuck said:

Probably not especially since there are like 5 other threads on songs from the album but I'm not a moderator so....

No offense Jayaredee...
[Edited 9/28/06 7:38am]

Isel said:

Island Life gets the most regular play from Janet if I had to pick something. But this is how I know I lean toward the left... I don't think one person yet, has claimed to like Do It 2 Me and see I like that song. I stated previously that it gets a tad redundant, I wish there were a little more development but I really like the arangement.

I also liked China Love and When We Ooo--they're not great but they're good enough that I played them but not good enough to buy. Most fans don't like those songs so I really don't think I fall amongst her die-hards opinions.

starbuck said:

More talented than Janet? Get outta here.

This is possibly the worst non-R Kelly song EVER!

jayaredee said:

i've said what i wanted to say... just tryna keep the Janet thread on top

please use the sticky for future Janet discussion

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/203703