Axchi696 said:

Janet is R&B
Genre: r&b
sub-genre: dance

Janfriend said:

Well, the authority has spoken.

god the same tired ass things about Janet come up here all the time

1. Is she pop or R&B: WHO GIVES A FUCK?!?! She's a superstar, who like her brother, Tina, Prince, Madonna, George Michael, Annie Lennox, etc transcends those kind of labels. Technically I would say that her music veers more toward the side of pop with the big choruses and lyrics, but the R&B influence (and samples used by JJ & TL) is never far behind. But who gives a fuck, either you like her music or you don't.

2. Blaming JD for all her problems/career issues: look, All For You was shit. JD? Not involved, except on a remix of one song. Damita Jo, though a great album, bombed. Was JD a producer? I think not. So how is 20 YO magically his responsibility? Much of the material on there sounded like outtakes from "Janet" IMHO.

3. Virgin: who knows. Label politics are label politics. Do I think they might have discarded her as a profitable star and therefore stopped pushing her at radio, pop promotions, urban promotions, strategic marketing, after the Superbowl fiasco, the 2nd Michael allegations, and when she was nearing 40 anyway? YES. Are they completely to blame if the general public isn't that pumped for a new release from her? NO. Will a new label be that different? Who knows?

4. The sex image: lord, let it go. The woman is sexy. She is hot. She embodies sex. She is sexual. And she has maintained her looks, voice, and overall appeal very much since 1993. Why do you all assume that her being oversexed is a turnoff to EVERYONE? Maybe to YOU, if you are a fan of only her Control/RN1814 days, if you are a gay man, a jealous woman, or adverse to music and artists being sexualized in general, but it's SUCH a double standard: Prince still sings about sex. Albeit in a much more subtle, subdued way; every song Justin sings is about wanting to stick it in; Fergie goes on all day about "My Humps"; Mariah is skanked out in every magazine and video; R. Kelly? Need I say anymore? Why's it not OK for Janet? Please. There are many oversexed pop stars. Give it a rest.

at all of you trying to define janet's sound.


yes she was r&b. yes she has always had pop elements that watered down the r&b.

and yes her last couple albums have not had the pop element that made the r&b accessible to the mainstream audience.

but above all that her marketing has just been down right awful pushing an oversexed underdressed overaged for it all performer whose efforts reek of desperation rather then honesty.

At least most of us agree on one thing:

The first 6 career albums (Janet Jackson to The Velvet Rope) are THE only Janet albums worth fighting over.

Janet is OVA.....as long as Dupree is around. Can u say SO SO DEAD?

TonyVanDam said:

um, minus Dream Street! Replace that with DJ or 20 YO and I agree

i wonder which "diva" would get top billing, or rather attention at the label. especially if they have a single or album release around the same time.

mariah carey or janet jackson

Well Mariah was about a "single" away from being dropped from Def Jam. MIMI started very slow, "its like that" was a bomb for her and this album was make or break at that point. Though Charmbracelet sold well, it didnt do good business in the states, overseas it was a different story. But now Def Jam is banking on MAriah, alot of records this year and last year have BOMBED for def jam and its not exactly making money. They are hoping that her new cd due late this year will bring in the 5+ million in US sales and the 10+ million of overseas sales. But lets be real, the only reason Mariah pulled that off was because of her ability to cross over, if Janet wants a Big record its got to be something that crosses over, it cant be this "low tone whisper shit" anymore. A good suggestion would be for Janet to bring in some new blood to the mix, and NO freaking guest rappers like Nelly, u wanna sound fresh, stop trying to sound like everyone else.

lastdecember said:

true.
so is Mariah their top artist? or who else is on their roster? i was just wondering since JD is the president and Janet's his girl.

CHIC0 said:

I would think Mariah is or at least one of the top. Other notable artists they have are Bon Jovi, The Killers, Lionel Richie, Sum41 and Babyface.

RZR said:

Her sex goddess image is played out.Unless she changes her image,tries some new sounds and re-invents herself,she won't experience much success in the future.People aren't gonna keep buying the same album over and over.

JackieBlue said:

didn't know that.

thanks JackieBlue

TonyVanDam said:

She should call up Gorillaz and their producer (Dangermouse) and do some edgy,uptempo dance tracks with them,and have Robin Thicke write and produce some ballads/slow jams for her.

I'm just going to take this wait and see approach about Janet from here on out.

I do think it's increasingly apparent Janet has never been In Control of much of anything artistically really. She takes direction pretty well. She's really more of a performer which is an artform in itself, but I'm not so sure about her being as visionary as I once thought. But that's OK, a lot of great music artist have not necessarily been visionary.

I still love her though.

I've also read that Janet said herself, she's not sure if she's going to tour, so.... that's why there has been so much vacillating from her team. It's really more representative of Janet's indecisiveness than anyone else's--which is fine. I have a feeling she's up for it one moment, then in the next, dragging her feet. So people are just responding to her enthusiasm one minute, then lack there of in the next.

We'll just have to see what the future will bring for her.

Isel said:

It wouldn't be a bad thing for her to cancel the tour and re-group.She should go back into the studio,make a kickass,inspired album (with NEW producers) and then come back next year with a thrilling tour.That would be a better idea.If she tours this summer,she would be out on the road,supporting a flop album and a tired image that most people are sick of.The critics would be brutal.Janet's better than that.She might wanna wait til everthing is right before she tours again.

SoulAlive said:

I would like her to do a full on POP\DANCE album, maybe Trevor Horn and murlyn music who worked on some of the tracks for Damita Jo and Rockwilder. Dallas Austin and Scott Storch would also do a good job. NO WAY should JD apper or produce on her album. I also would like to see some better album covers, Iam guessing Damita Jo was designed within a day or two. remember how well The velvet rope was designed.

Like Michael, I used to really want Janet to try working with different producers. Then after awhile I gave up hope. After being severely mislead by this last project, I don't know what to expect from Janet anymore.

Sounds like a great idea....Her career is totally over now!

yall need to make up your minds for real . and Janet has worked with other producers and then when Damita Jo came out . it was Janet should stay with Jimmy and Terry

I'll hold my judgement until the next CD under this label drops. that will tell me if it's a good move or not.

speaking of Island Def Jam.....

http://www.sohh.com/artic....php/11586

After laying off several employees already this week, it is rumored that Island Def Jam will let go of around 40 people by Friday (May 11).

According to Billboard several layoffs happened early in the week on Monday (May 7) and Tuesday (May 8). Among those let go include IDJ's Senior National Director of Mixshow Promotions Crystal Isaacs, A&R manager Ray Romulus; an artist development staffer; a member of the creative department and the entire staff of Roc La Familia, which handled the label's international promotions.

In related news Island recently hired Jermaine Dupri in February, appointing him president of urban music. So far he has signed R&B group Jagged Edge and Compton rapper Hot Dollar to the label.

badujunkie said:

And, you've taken Mariah to task several times for her being "skanked out." So pleas to excuse Janet just sound hypocritical.

lastdecember said:

That's not true. It's Like That was HUGE for Mariah. It had been YEARS since a Mariah single got even medium rotation. People didn't even think she'd get medium rotation. So, that single hitting #19 was a big deal. Besides that, Doug Morris said before the album even dropped that it would be the biggest album of the year. So, Universal was banking on Mariah before TEOM came out. I'm not sure why but for Doug to say that what else can be derived? The album was a make or break for Universal and Mariah, but more importantly public perception.

Well true and not true. TRUE it was a bigger than she had in recent years with that single, but Def Jam was not happy with a #19 showing, plus it peaked really quick. Also his prediction about the record is what all label people say, this is the same guy that said 2007 s going to be a record breaking year in music for sales, hmmm he's right but in the WRONG way, sales are lower than ever.

Trust me label people are WEASELS and they talk out their ass when they say these things, mainly because they are paid to do it. One time i went to this Listening party for the Band the JAYHAWKS and they were signed to sony for an album and this weasel got up and said "Heres the song thats going to be number one this summer" then he played one of their tracks. Such crap! The label dropped the band right after the record came out, the song got no push, and it was business as usual for the band.
[Edited 5/10/07 15:45pm]

Hell, the way all these damn record labels are all owned by three or four huge corporations, she will probably just be moving to another floor of the same building.

lastdecember said:

Umm yeah, remember the song was out long before the video ever came out. By the time the video came out We Belong Together was getting play. And, Universal never really pandered any of Mariah's singles to ITunes. They didn't want ITunes cutting into album sales. And, they did hurt her positioning on the Hot 100 at times. And, getting her on radio like I said was a triumph in and of itself. IT was a far cry from the reception of the Glitter singles and Charm singles. Mariah was seen as over. Please tell me what label CEO declares an artist like that as going to have the biggest album? He's over Universal not Def Jam. A stable full of artist like Eminem. Why would he even be interested in pointing out a barely platinum, Mariah. I still don't get that at all.


I totally understand what you're saying but Doug isn't some smarmy A&R guy. He had no reason in hell to single out Mariah. And, he did it in a speech to Uhiversal/Vivendi investors. This wasn't a crowd of street teamers, journalists, and pack rats. You only present your sure thing and best thing to the investors.

VinnyM27 said:

CHIC0 said:

Hey, I love Janet but she has got to get away from the troll who is making awful choices for her..."Enjoy" is still not a single and Virgin has dropped all interest in "20 YO"...I wonder why,...oooh!

roundables said:

are you kidding? We Belong Together was a free giveaway at iTunes. In fact, there was some controversy about the song charting a week early because the free downloads were mistakenly counted as sales.