banks said:

Damn Straight! They betta' recognize!

DawnD said:

You too?! The whole song gets me!

banks said:

now that is the surprise I'd be looking for, next to Prince performing but that's not happening. Unless Prince and Janet duet

Could Janet be opening up the show?


I was on an entertainment board where there's someone apparently working close with the production of the award ceremony. He was giving some hints away about what Beyoncé & Tina Turner have put together for their performance. He then went on to say that they will not be opening the show, but it will be another legend that's opening. He wouldn't give it away but he said this person has not performed on the Grammy's in a long while but they have an album coming out this year. Supposedly, this guy has been correct about other details in the past too. One thing about this though is that he said "a bigger legend"...I don't if he meant that primarily in comparison to Beyoncé b/c I don't know too many ppl that would be considered "bigger" than Tina Turner.

Scorpion said:

Well, the only artists I could think of is Michael or Janet. Then, some said Cher would be the special guest. And, then well they said there was suppose to be some BEATLES thingy going on. But, Janet said on the radio it was either FLEX or the Wendy Williams show when asked if she would perform,"Just wait and see." She has been in rehearsals for something. It's either this or THE GOODMORNING AMERICA performance appearance coming up.

Video of Janet backstage at Grammy Awards soundchecks

Philadelphia radio station Wired 96.5 has posted video on their website of Janet being interviewed backstage yesterday at the Grammy Awards soundchecks at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Janet spent the day yesterday doing radio interviews at the Staples Center. It is unknown at this point if the only reason she was at the arena was to do these radio interviews, or if she is also somehow affiliated with the Grammy show.

The Grammys have not made any announcements about Janet being involved with the show.
http://www.youtube.com/wa...nIFWSxlehg

banks said:

Thanks, banks.

Change Is Good For America...And, For Janet Jackson
Nathan Hale Williams

Posted February 8, 2008 2:28 AM


Last week, I met with the pop icon to talk about her new album, Discipline and where she is today. First, I must admit that I am a huge fan of Janet Jackson. I have been to every concert tour since Control (thanks Mom) and I have every album she's ever made, including Janet Jackson and Dream Street. Despite my long-standing love for Janet, I am an objective fanatic.



Nathan Hale Williams is a Film/TV producer and the Arts & Entertainment editor for The Daily Voice.


-----

It is only February, but 2008 is shaping up to be a year of great change and growth. Our political landscape is changing and by years-end we will thankfully have a new president-elect. This society is also changing. Our common contempt for the way things have been going in this country is silently uniting us in ways we may not yet realize. The New York Giants made some changes and won the Super Bowl. Barack Obama changed his message to "change," and just won the Democratic primaries in 13 states. Change is good for our country, but it has also been good for Janet Jackson.

Last week, I met with the pop icon to talk about her new album, Discipline and where she is today. First, I must admit that I am a huge fan of Janet Jackson. She is in my "Fave 5." I have been to every concert tour since Control (thanks Mom) and I have every album she's ever made, including Janet Jackson and Dream Street. With that said, I haven't been thrilled with the last few albums she has released. She has had some great songs, but overall the albums haven't been her best effort, in my opinion. Despite my long-standing love for Janet, I am an objective fanatic. Therefore, I was a bit anxious to hear the new CD and to speak with Ms. Jackson last week.

Neither Janet nor the CD disappointed me. Janet was everything you expect her to be: funny, very nice, extremely thoughtful about her work and approachable. In an instant, she made me forget that I was speaking to one of the biggest stars in the world. As for the CD, it is classic Janet. It has all of the elements that make a great Janet record. I believe, it is her best album since janet. or All For You, depending on your taste. It is the album for which Janet fans have been waiting to silence her critics and put her back on top.

Now back to this whole change concept and what it has to do with Janet Jackson. If you look back at her career, all of her mega albums came after she made some huge changes. With Control, she took "control" of her music, switched management, signed with a new record label and hooked up with two guys named Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Well, we know what happened with Control; it catapulted Janet's career out of her brothers' shadows. In 1993, Janet signed with Virgin Records (leaving A&M), lost a significant amount of weight, sexed up her image and released janet. It was the first album, in the Soundscan era, released by a female solo artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 (Whitney Houston was the first in the non-Soundscan era). The janet. album went on to sell more than 8 million albums worldwide that year and produced a string of top 10 hits.

Fast forward to 2008. Janet Jackson has once again switched labels, she has new producers and is poised for a return to form. I pointed out this trend of change to Janet and she had not realized it. "I've never sat back and thought about it in that way," she said. "And now that you bring it up, you're absolutely right." If history is a true teacher then, Janet is on her way to a big album and Discipline has the stuff to deliver it.

Another major change is that Janet did not write any of the songs on this album. Instead, she has enlisted the help of recent hitmakers, Ne-Yo, Rodney Jerkins and her longtime beau, Jermaine Dupri. It kicks off with the Darkchild produced first single "Feedback," truly one of her best dance/club songs in at least three albums. Then, to give you a brief moment to exhale from "Feedback's" hard-hitting bass line, Janet comes up with "Luv" next. Another Jerkins joint, "Luv" is reminiscent of the hit "Love Will Never Do Without You." It's a classic Janet mid-tempo groove with an unforgettable hook and superb production.

Discipline then takes a "Bathroom Break" with two interludes and a somewhat forgettable Jerkins song, "Roller Coaster" that is salvaged by a memorable chorus. However, the next three tracks are some of the hottest on the album. It begins with "Rock With U," which is destined to be a summer club hit. With simple lyrics and a drive it home beat, "Rock With U" is the first song penned by Shaffer Smith (aka Ne-Yo) and Janet's boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri who also produces the track. Janet says this track and the following one, "2nite" make her, "wanna kinda space out and feel like I'm in a house club." That's exactly the feeling you get from both songs.

Newcomer, StarGate's production on "2nite" is excellent as he takes all of the elements that make a great Janet song (stacked harmonies, breathy delivery, hard beat) and throws those elements into a bridge/breakdown section you will have on repeat. Ms. Jackson ends this trilogy of tracks with my favorite song on the album, "Can't Be Good," another Ne-Yo penned tune. It is pure Janet for '08 and, after just one listen, I still remember the chorus.

Other standout tracks include: "So Much Betta" (another favorite), "What's Ur Name," and "Never Letchu Go." When asked what her favorite is, Janet can't decide. "I don't have just one...I'm not just saying that either. They really are all my favorites." It's understandable because Discipline offers the most even set of tracks that the singer has delivered in a while. Janet sums it up best, "it's a fun album. I want people to dance. There's something that everybody can relate to...even if they haven't approached that moment in their lives, they will."

In speaking with Janet, you can tell that this is a happy time for her. Walking through Island/Def Jam's offices, I could also see that her new label loves her and they are working hard to make this album the big success it should be. So far, Janet is very happy there too. "I love what I am feeling from the new label," she said, "it's like what I had in the beginning with Virgin...and, that's such a wonderful feeling." With that said, she is hoping for success because that's how she gauges whether or not her fans like it. She explains, "hopefully, it will be a big album that will bring happiness to people's lives. And obviously, I will know that from the record sales if they like it or not."

Some great news is that you might get the opportunity to let her know in person. Janet told me (although she wasn't supposed to) that she definitely plans to tour with this project beginning mid to late summer. In fact, she says she was a "full blown tour head" last year when new label head, Antonio "L.A." Reid asked her "to consider going back into the studio and making another album. I just kinda had to stop and switch gears, which was a little difficult because I like to concentrate on one thing at a time."

It paid off. Displine is one of the best albums she has produced in years. You can put it on and play it from beginning to end and then, repeat. It is Janet Jackson's personal discipline and her willingness to make changes that has kept her around and successful for over two decades. With these new changes, she has once again infused some energy and freshness into her music and her career. And as Martha Stewart says, "it's a good thing."

Daily Voice

Janet backstage at the Grammys soundcheck

Entertainment Today is the first site to report that Janet WILL be performing.

http://www.entertainmentt...ew/502/30/

The writer of this article is a former Hollywood Reporter editor and Billboard news director.
[Edited 2/9/08 18:20pm]

Thanks to banks for these!!

VoicesCarry said:

I'm so excited for tomorrow...

LMAO! Pics from the Clive David pre-Grammy party:



Janet reacts when Big Bird pops up out of nowhere.



"You got some 'splainin' to do for that Beat It remix"

VoicesCarry said:

CHECK OUT THIS JJ INTERVIEW

http://music.guardian.co....27,00.html

banks said:

YES! YES! IN THE FACE!!! YES! YES!

papaaisaway said:

That was not a flattering interview. I do not think the reporter is a fan. The interview starts with a quote about her brother -- the irony, of course, being that she does not want to talk about him.

But she also came off as honest. Confessing of writing songs that she wrote with others who did not get credit. Confessing that while she is a singer she does not sing much.

I wonder: would ANY of the Jacksons have been in show business without the pushing of their father?

Rodya24 said:

I only skimmed the article, but I notice it's written by a British journalist for a British newspaper which explains the realistic perspective. Over here she is largely seen as Michael's little sister. The article also confirms what I've been saying about her passive nature. She is someone who needs to be told what to do. LA Reid made a tacit admission of that when he said it was strange working with her because "Janet is not the most....outspoken person." Translation: "She doesn't know what she wants".

Notice also that Janet used the same word I pointed out earlier in describing the Rene situation. "Fraudelent". I think she was right to feel that way. Rene brought the concepts, themes, lyrics (and probably some melodies for all we know) to her work. The difference when he left was stark.

As for your question, I believe Michael would have found his way into showbusiness eventually even without Joseph's prodding, but obviously his career and life would have been totally different. Jermaine had a good voice so he would have taken a stab at it too, but would have failed. The rest would've joined Joseph at the steel mill. Janet would either be a hairdresser or a housewife.
[Edited 2/10/08 7:40am]

midnightmover said:

Damn! That's really, um amazing what you've just written. Um, yeah really amazing. So, in other words PRINCE made an album called CRYSTAL BALL and you have and must quite often look into one.

midnightmover said:

At least she is honest. I respect her for that. Madonna steals. I have never read an interview where she admits to feeling bad about stealing from others. Beyonce is infamous for taking credit for writing songs for which she is not responsible for writing. I have never read an interview where she admits to this.
[Edited 2/10/08 7:48am]

Rodya24 said:

For once she was honest, yes. Now if she can apply the same principle to Nipplegate I might develop some respect for her.

btw, there is no comparison to be made with Madonna. She has never had anyone directing her career except herself.

at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party

PricelessHo said:

OMG! LEONA LEWIS!!!

midnightmover said:

I don't think that will ever happen. CBS and MTV would hound her even more if she told the truth. I think everyone has to pretend that no one thinks it was done on purpose.

Rodya24 said:

It's was an accident!!!

MikeMatronik said:

I think Janet is right. The US needs to become much more civilized with nudity. If your children are traumatized by a breast, for goodness sakes!

Rodya24 said:

He wasn't being sarcastic.

midnightmover said:

On another note: My heart goes out to the Jackson children. From reading this article, it's pretty clear how much psychological and mental abuse they endured and the sacrifices each had to make in becoming entertainers at such a young age.
[Edited 2/10/08 12:42pm]

bboy87 said:

It's official! Janet is awesome! Even Madonna is so damn civilized with her British bullshit she would just huge and smile with those assholes!
[Edited 2/10/08 18:00pm]

And how about Janet performing...oh, wait! Now they are going to do some classical crap with some kid that was in some program. Oh boy.

The Grammys, like every other awards shows, are never spontaneous. Anything that is decent, they will tell you about somehow to get you to watch. Glad we all got our hopes up. At this rate, Virgin's promotion engine isn't looking so bad.
[Edited 2/10/08 20:02pm]

Nobody talking about Janet anymore?

What happened with the Grammys? I wonder if LA Reid has the right strategy...She's going to wait for the actual day to do any real TV (I'm not talking abut appearing on garbage like "Extra" to talk about the making of the video).