PatrickS77 said:

between 92 and 96 she had a hit moive, 2 hit albums #2 for Erotica which has sold 3million #3 for Bedtime Stories which has sold 5million in the states.

one sold out world tour

6 top ten hits
1 number one

a slew of videos that were really good.

Yes she suffered from Major contrversy, but she was still able to produce.

Janet just has lost her touch point blank.

Rodya24 said:

That does not mean that Janet isn't still an icon. you don't like janet, we get it. But you cannot ake away what she has accomplished. You will not see Janet jackson on Sureal Life anytime soon. As far as talent, yes, Madonna and Janet are on the same level. Neither one are vocal powerhouses, both made careers at selling ass. Again, Just because madonna has outsold Janet worldwide (and put out more albums) does not shrink Janets improtance. Neither should be put on the same level as Prince or michael jackson, but all are very global sucessful artist. Also, let me put this out there, besides Michael Jackson, White artist (no matter how similar in style) usually outsell the Black artist(even singing the same type of music)

As far as talent, yes, Madonna and Janet are on the same level. Neither one are vocal powerhouses, both made careers at selling ass. Again,

White artist (no matter how similar in style) usually outsell the Black artist(even singing the same type of music)

sosgemini said:

Please. I never said Janet Jackson is or was not an icon. I said she is not an icon (global, I mean) on the same level as Madonna, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, and Elvis Presley. One does not need to have been alive in the '80s to know this. Why is this fact so difficult to accept amongst Janet Jackson fanatics?

Rodya24 said:

Ok, we get it, you are a Madonna fanatic. I am moving on to more important world issues-like britney losing her kids.

totaldiva said:

I am laughing. I am not at all a Madonna fanatic. Michael Jackson - yes. Not Madonna. I am just being honest in comparing the significance of Janet Jackson and Madonna -- unlike some people.

totaldiva said:

I am laughing. I am not at all a Madonna fanatic. Michael Jackson - yes. Not Madonna. I am just being honest in comparing the significance of Janet Jackson and Madonna -- unlike some people.

Rodya24 said:

I am a fan big fan of all these artist (I have seen Michael, Janet, Prince, and madonna numerous times and own all albums), but i have to disagree when you say that Janet (although may not have sold as many records) is any less of an icon than Madonna. If Janet follows my advice (like she is listening to me), she will get back to the top, maybe not in record sales of the younger artists, but her due respect in the industry like Madonna.

Rodya24 said:

Like I've heard before and stated on here, Before 1982 Madonna only refered to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

after 1982 Madonna refered to Dance/Pop Singer from Detorit known for her clothes, her style, her attitude, her music, her dancing, and her lack of being able to appear convincing in a lead role of a movie.

janet hasn't had that impact with the world.

Lol, how is this even up for debate? I mean it is a fact that Madonna is bigger than Janet. This is not even a diss to Janet because she is a very accomplished artist in her own right, but to even suggest that Janet is as big an icon as Madonna is ridiculous. Everyone knows that Madonna has had a bigger impact on pop culture and is a bigger icon than Janet Jackson.

Cinnamon234 said:

I am not arguing that Madonna is more talented than Janet Jackson, but that the former is a global icon unlike the latter.

I hope Janet gets smart with her next album. The last two albums' promotional tours have been comedies of errors. Maybe with a new label, she'll get a new lease on life. Time will tell.

And for the record, love Janet, but Madonna obviously has had a bigger worldwide impact than Janet though I say both of them come from the schools of Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Donna Summer IMO in terms of "impact" (Donna for a lesser degree), lol.

Timmy84 said:

Janet needs to get JD out of the picture

honestly as a JJ fan... i dont' care if she sells a million.. but i do care if she tours.. and i care if she makes music that i can enjoy... so hopefully she can capture more fans but if not ohwell...

and she really does need to do something extremely different from any other artist out right now.. she needs to come out with a bang....

and NO janet's career is not over... i can actually argue she has better songs then madonna... and controversial does not equate to good songs.. because i know most madge fans will argue that madonna's songs are "great" because they are controversial..

but at the age of 14... when i was able to really listen to radio and watch tv... I was an open tablet... and was open to any kind of music, rock, dance, rnb, even rap... and i only was interested in songs that i believed sound great... and i heard madonna's songs but only a few songs from the 80's i thought were great... janet's song selection was more and better then madonna's music...

Basically im saying that at that age i was not being bias towards any artist.. i was just discovering people... and seeing what music i enjoyed.. so what im saying is people who do NOT know about the technical things about music.. are the BEST candidates for judging the music... because they aren't bias... and are more open....

you should actually get a person who doesn't know anything about janet or madonna and let them watch janet's videos and madonna videos.. and play the music.. and see which artist they think has the better songs and videos... but i will say i believe it will be JANET JACKSON...

when people mention madonna i always think whats the big deal about her...??? her music and videos arent great.. she just uses controversy to sell music...

MADONNA IS NOT and ICON in my eyes.. im not impressed with her "hyped image" fromt he media.. her music has not touched me or inspired me like janet's...

madonna in my opinion has not even created anything that is have as decent as the Rhythm nation tour and complication

when people mention madonna i always think whats the big deal about her...??? her music and videos arent great.. she just uses controversy to sell music...

MADONNA IS NOT and ICON in my eyes.. im not impressed with her "hyped image" fromt he media.. her music has not touched me or inspired me like janet's...

madonna in my opinion has not even created anything that is have as decent as the Rhythm nation tour and complication

Madonna also seems more sincere to me, I believe her when she sings. With Janet however, her message just never really seemed sincere to me in her songs. While I do enjoy a lot of her work and think "Rhythm Nation" is a great album I never really believed her when she was singing about "making the world a better place" on songs like "State of The World" and "The Knowledge". Nice songs, but I didn't buy it for one second. Janet is only believable when she's singing about sex IMO whereas Madonna is believable when it comes to singing about a variety of things. She just comes across as more sincere. When Janet sings these songs she just comes across as phoney to me and she has never created anything as incredible and thought provoking as "Like A Prayer". "Velvet Rope" is the only album that came close. It exhibited a moment of true creativity on Janet's part, but that of course did not last for long.
[Edited 10/1/07 20:41pm]

Look. I think all of us can agree (with the exception of a couple of individuals) that Madonna is a global icon unlike Janet Jackson. However, comparing these individuals in order to argue who is better is tiring. Yes, Madonna has sold more albums and singles than Janet. Yes, she has had a much greater impact on popular culture, music, and entertainment.

However, I think everyone is entitled to have an opinion on who is "better" musically and creatively. While I disagree with TotalAlisa's logic ("I like Janet better so she is the greater icon"), I think she is entitled to have her opinion on whose music and videos she prefers.
[Edited 10/1/07 21:34pm]

and back your sh*t up with facts cause i don't have the time to search the net to totally disprove you...but my memory is telling me janet was huge in places like japan and europe..i remember mtv doing a newsbreak on her 1814 tour and japanese kids were crying and screaming for her...so to say she wasn't big globely just doesn't ring like the truth.

and how you gonna tell me janet wasn't a global success when wiki states the following:

she probably thought because no one was interested in 20 Y.O that no one would be interested in her tour...

she just completely gave up.. and I don't understand how and why they would have tour practices....

this NEXT album better be great... or its just over for janet... and she could have some babies.....

even if it is great... i doubt people will buy it anyways... they give all that other musical crap a chance... but when it comes to blacklashed artist like janet.. they won't even try....

but then it goes back to janet for doing that nipple stunt..

I see some Americans still haven't realised that Janet was a phenomenon in the US only. In Europe, she was a star, but not a phenomenon. There's a big difference. As for this touring business some of you need to wake up and realise something. Your girl was only ever in it for ego food, and her fragile self esteem was fed by success, not love of music. I guarantee you if Prince never sold another record, he would still tour because it's who he is. It's what he does. Cyndi Lauper hasn't had a hit in 18 years, but she's never stopped regularly performing and touring. Because it's who she is. It's what she does. The same goes for a hundred other ex-stars who still tour. Janet is not in that bracket. She has no love of the craft because she knows in her heart what her fans are blind to, and that is that she's only ever been as good as her choreographer and her budget. She's the kind of star who could not have emerged in the pre MTV days when you had to pay your dues before live audiences.

She CANNOT perform without dancers. Those dancers need to be paid for. If she were to tour without them, her shortcomings would be too obvious. She was a construct from day one. She could never sing and her every move was choreographed by others. You all were worshipping a muppet. The muppet took validation from numbers. The numbers are down now, so what's left to motivate her to tour? Remember, Janet had her career handed to her on a plate. She never performed in shit dives for chump change like Madonna did. Janet wouldn't have had the dedication to go through that. She's a spoilt rich girl. She ain't gonna turn into a hard grafter now.
[Edited 10/2/07 11:48am]