Janet and Jody were very similar, but I believe Jody stands on her own and was doing things different from Janet, besides also collaborating with someone associated with Prince. Her influences included Diana Ross and MJ. Janet's formula made it easy for other artists to follow, but Jody wasn't a biter. And yes, she's amazing, I love those clips. If anything, that Still a Thrill scene with the leather jacket is like what Janet would do later for RN 1814 long form video

[Edited 8/10/11 20:34pm]

I have been avoiding this thread for a long time, because I knew the massive amount of trolling this discussion was going to entail, but something inside told me to finally read it and I see that the mod came in bearing some great news.

Now, with Janet Jackson, I think she's mostly a US related phenommenon. That being said, I think that she's been a HUGE influence to black American women though. I'm sure that many of them, today, would cite her as an influence without a doubt. That being said, when someone talks about legendary acts, such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Jimi hendrix, and etc., there's a good chance that you're not going to hear her name being listed. I hope that changes in the future, before she dies, but it's probably because her lack of significant impact on culture though. Even though she works very hard and she helped to put the fire under the ass of r&b...everything she's done someone else already has. (Well...she did have the first nipple slip during the Superbowl half time performance, so that was new...)

I know she kinda kick started the the entire military type dancing, but even synchronized dancing wasn't exactly new at that point. It was different, but was it new? Not really sure.

I could be wrong about this though.

[Edited 8/10/11 22:24pm]

Yeah I do tell a lot of fans it seems like it was mostly US and Japan, but in the 90's it became worldwide for sometime and she had the biggest contract and all. I do wish her songs got credit and airplay like Madonna's more often. I'm more likely to hear 80's Madonna or 80's Janet on the radio. If I hear Janet nowadays, it's Together Again, All For You and Let's Wait Awhile on the radio. I've heard Janet era and Control era tracks on r&b radio, but that was in the 90's, and I haven't heard RN songs on top 40 since the mid 90's. If Janet has current singles out, those get a lot of airplay, but then I don't hear them again.

alphastreet said:

Yeah I do tell a lot of fans it seems like it was mostly US and Japan, but in the 90's it became worldwide for sometime and she had the biggest contract and all. I do wish her songs got credit and airplay like Madonna's more often. I'm more likely to hear 80's Madonna or 80's Janet on the radio. If I hear Janet nowadays, it's Together Again, All For You and Let's Wait Awhile on the radio. I've heard Janet era and Control era tracks on r&b radio, but that was in the 90's, and I haven't heard RN songs on top 40 since the mid 90's. If Janet has current singles out, those get a lot of airplay, but then I don't hear them again.

Really? I've janet a few times recently. I just heard rhythm nation in a sports store the other day

I heard Love will never do at the gym and pleasure principle on the radio. As a matter of fact I was staying at this hotel and a girl group was paying tribute to her, performing all her popular songs. AND it was my birthday!!

I hear people play her, I was talking about the radio, and it could be in public or people who were into her when those songs came out. Apparently runaway played at the grocery recently. My cousin has a friend who played if in her car a few years ago, and a young cousin that likes 20 yo era for call on me and I do hear stuff like that sometimes, but radio airplay? Not as much as before now.

I mostly hear Miss You Much or Escapade.

Unholyalliance said:

I have been avoiding this thread for a long time, because I knew the massive amount of trolling this discussion was going to entail, but something inside told me to finally read it and I see that the mod came in bearing some great news.

Now, with Janet Jackson, I think she's mostly a US related phenommenon. That being said, I think that she's been a HUGE influence to black American women though. I'm sure that many of them, today, would cite her as an influence without a doubt. That being said, when someone talks about legendary acts, such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Jimi hendrix, and etc., there's a good chance that you're not going to hear her name being listed. I hope that changes in the future, before she dies, but it's probably because her lack of significant impact on culture though. Even though she works very hard and she helped to put the fire under the ass of r&b...everything she's done someone else already has. (Well...she did have the first nipple slip during the Superbowl half time performance, so that was new...)

I know she kinda kick started the the entire military type dancing, but even synchronized dancing wasn't exactly new at that point. It was different, but was it new? Not really sure.

I could be wrong about this though.

[Edited 8/10/11 22:24pm]

And I wouldnt really say that's because it's the LACK of contribution, I could honestly say that it's because of Her being MJ's sister that she is not as respected. Nothing but a bunch of EXCUSES to why she wasnt good enough. "She's Only Famous Because She's A Jackson" then it was "She's only Famous Because She's with Terry and Jimmy" then it was "Paula Abdul taught her how to dance". A bunch of bull shit. And When you hear something over and over again people start to believe it. For instance people really think that MJ choreographed the RN video! I mean Really?

It's like people were making up excuses to not like her when in reality when you listen to other female artist in the 80's and then her songs from control, Janet's shit sounded ahead of it's time.

But that's just me though.

Funny how rumors grow legs. MJ said Janet was inspired by Captain EO and wanted to use the military moves for her next video. He wanted to do it, but let her. I highly doubt he sat there and taught her everything, and it would be so unlike Janet to be chasing him down for that when she's competing with him I found it funny how he talked about that, cause I noticed the similarity before too and thought it was just me.

ThePopLover2 said:

And I wouldnt really say that's because it's the LACK of contribution, I could honestly say that it's because of Her being MJ's sister that she is not as respected. Nothing but a bunch of EXCUSES to why she wasnt good enough. "She's Only Famous Because She's A Jackson" then it was "She's only Famous Because She's with Terry and Jimmy" then it was "Paula Abdul taught her how to dance". A bunch of bull shit. And When you hear something over and over again people start to believe it. For instance people really think that MJ choreographed the RN video! I mean Really?

It's like people were making up excuses to not like her when in reality when you listen to other female artist in the 80's and then her songs from control, Janet's shit sounded ahead of it's time.

But that's just me though.

I don't agree with the bolded. I think that she's proven herself enough to not be under MJ's shadow. I really think it's lack of cultural impact. The more of a cultural impact you have had on society, the bigger the difference it will make on your legacy.

Also, Janet's shit was ahead of it's time. It's not just you.

Speaking of ahead of time, I'm still so mad Trust a Try didn't get a release. Unforgivable. So many songs with a similar vibe came out for the rest of the 00's, and Janet knew she had a masterpiece on her hands.

alphastreet said:

Speaking of ahead of time, I'm still so mad Trust a Try didn't get a release. Unforgivable. So many songs with a similar vibe came out for the rest of the 00's, and Janet knew she had a masterpiece on her hands.

I absolutely HATE It when she does that! There was this one song called "Work" that she didnt release off her RN album and that Song had one Nasty beat to it. I listen to it every other day

Unholyalliance said:

ThePopLover2 said:

And I wouldnt really say that's because it's the LACK of contribution, I could honestly say that it's because of Her being MJ's sister that she is not as respected. Nothing but a bunch of EXCUSES to why she wasnt good enough. "She's Only Famous Because She's A Jackson" then it was "She's only Famous Because She's with Terry and Jimmy" then it was "Paula Abdul taught her how to dance". A bunch of bull shit. And When you hear something over and over again people start to believe it. For instance people really think that MJ choreographed the RN video! I mean Really?

It's like people were making up excuses to not like her when in reality when you listen to other female artist in the 80's and then her songs from control, Janet's shit sounded ahead of it's time.

But that's just me though.

I don't agree with the bolded. I think that she's proven herself enough to not be under MJ's shadow. I really think it's lack of cultural impact. The more of a cultural impact you have had on society, the bigger the difference it will make on your legacy.

Also, Janet's shit was ahead of it's time. It's not just you.

No. I'm sorry, as I said before the day I go on a site and NOT see MJ brought up, then I'll believe it. I hate to admit it But everything the woman did they tried to compare it to her brother, even stuff that sounded nothing like MJ wouldnt record.

One critic tried to say that Janet's "That's The Way Love Goes" was a rip off of some song off of MJ's Dangerous album. DESPITE the fact that "Dangerous" had some rip offs of Janet's rhythm nation stuff. See?

Oh and I didnt mean that She "Hasnt" proven herself to be cast out of Mj's shadow , I just meant that Lots of People especially his stans make dumb comparisons him and her, making it seem as if she was trying to ride his coattails

[Edited 8/10/11 23:27pm]

[Edited 8/10/11 23:53pm]

Work is a pretty cool song, I actually didn't hear it till a few months ago.

That's the Way Love Goes very very slightly reminds me of Who Is it maybe, that's what comes to mind, but it's only cause of listening way too hard.

NaQu said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Janet has all the awards including many platinum plaques to show her what she accomplished. She still breaking records today with her current tour. So the haters will continue to hate. We who know what she is a icon. including Beyonce, Rhianna,Kelly,Ciarra,K$sha,Kate P, Lady GaGA, Jody,Paula,Pebbles, Karyn,Shanice,Ginuwine. None of them would be here if it wasn't for her.

[Edited 8/10/11 12:07pm]

See, this is why I tend to not like Janet fans.

So many of you love to insinuate her alleged influence on every damn singer with uterus. None of them would be here if not for her? Really? I'm sorry, does Janet own some talent agency that they are signed to?

Jody? Did you really cite Jody? As in Jody Watley, who was in Shalamar a decade before Janet finally broke with Control? Who has never had *any* personal or professional ties to Janet...

Paula? As in Paula Abdul whose career started with the L.A. Lakers, got her break in the entertainment industry via Jackie, and choreographed the "Torture" video. Don't act like Janet put her on. If anything, in addition Jam & Lewis making her sound decent enough, Janet is the one who owes Paula a debt of career gratitude for making those Control videos look like something. Before Paula, this is what a Janet video looked like:

I know you're a fan of hers and all, but no. Just, no.

I could call bullshit on several of the other names dropped on that list too, like Katy Perry and Ginuwine, but I've made my point. Hell, I'm surprised you didn't list Taylor Swift, Alanis Morissette and Courtney Love in there as well.

First off, DEAD@ you posting the "Dream Street" clip as if it'll prove something. That is not even a proper video. It was taken from a Debbie Allen-directed episode of "Fame". And no, Janet may not have inspired every female performer who dared perform, but she has certainly inspired a legion of female performers from the '80s up until today. Let's have a look at history.

Every single one of these albums came in the wake of "Control". Every one of them. Before "Control", the pop music industry was devoid of dance/pop females of color who danced. You had your Evelyn "Champagne" Kings, your Cheryl Lynns, your Cherelles, but there were no females of color with elaborately-staged dance videos. When "Control" came out and dominated in 1986, it changed that, and helped usher in albums like these from artists like these. It's a perennial occurrence in pop music. When one thing is successful, let's duplicate it. And, as much as I love Jody Watley and respect her as the diva and original artist that she is, her debut CD was certainly made possible because of the success of "Control". Do I think she would have released a CD after splitting with Shalamar? No doubt. But you can best believe that record companies were a little more eager to sign her to a deal when they saw the niche market "Control" was making.

@ 1:35, Pebbles says that if it wasn't for Janet, she wouldn't be where she was

...And these are just artists from the '80s.

Let's have a look at the '90s...

With the '90s came a softer, sexier Janet. Gone was the woman known for her up-to-here black outfits and tomboy image. Several other female artists followed suit with this trend. TLC, who burst onto the scene as three tomboys in overalls with condoms as accessories would later, in 1994, transition into three sleek, sensual ladies in charge of their own sexuality. Salt-N-Pepa were known in the '80s and early '90s for their street-wise, urban look with rider boots, big jackets and chunky gold earrings. In late 1993, with the release of their "Very Necessary" album, they went from street to sexy, and had the videos to accompany their new look. Hell, part of the choreography in their "Whatta Man" video is so close to a piece of the "If" routine that I'm almost certain Tina Landon had a big WTF look on her face when she caught it. Have a look at "If" from 0:48-0:52, and then "Whatta Man" from 1:26-1:31...

TLC have long given Janet props. Their FanMail tour had a Janet-esque segment in which Chilli pulled a guy from the audience and danced for him. Chilli also said on a VH1 special about the "Control" video that, when she first saw it, she thought, 'Now that's how I've gotta do it!'

Aaliyah had always cited Janet as a major inspiration. In this video, from 2:47-3:11, she tells Rosie O'Donnell that she's long been a HUGE fan, and that she mentions her in every interview.

As for Britney Spears, people are quick to compare her to Madonna, but I have never seen a bigger Janet clone in pop music than Britney. Everything from her videos, to her photos, concerts, the inflections in her singing and her dance routines scream Janet. She's also performed "Black Cat" several times in concert. JC Chasez once said on an E! special about the Mickey Mouse Club that, when they were all on the show, Christina was known as Little Mariah and Britney was called Little Janet. I can see why.

And then came the 2000s. Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Ciara, Mya, Cassie (whose "Me & U" video is a veritable rip-off of "The Pleasure Principle"), Rihanna, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland have all cited Janet as an inspiration and/or had videos that are similar to Janet videos. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see Rihanna, Britney, et.al bring a guy on stage to dance seductively for him, ala Janet.

Jennifer Lopez says "Pleasure Principle" inspired her to get into the business

Gaga speaks on her admiration for Janet, and calls her a...what's that word?...LEGEND!

Kelly Rowland gives Janet props beginning @ 5:07

Kelly paying homage to Janet's 1998 "I Get Lonely" performance at this year's BET Awards

"Janet was definitely one person I loved to watch growing up and I think she's such an amazing performer and she's contributed so many great things to the musical trend. Because of that I am inspired by her as an artist."--Ciara

CiCi sportin' a Janet shirt

"Janet was one of the first female pop icons that I could relate to ... She was so vibrant, she had so much energy. She still has power. I’ve seen her on stage, and she can stand there for 20 minutes and have the whole arena scream at her. You have to love Janet."--Rihanna

"I saw the video for 'Nasty' and was blown away. There were no other girls like her. I had my mom take me shopping to buy clothes like hers. I permed my hair and dyed it black. I wanted to dance like her. I wanted to be Janet Jackson."--Carmen Electra from Blender Magazine in 2002

**To see what Beyonce has had to say about Janet, go to the Aaliyah video from above and watch from 1:02-1:36

Foxy Brown sampled "What Have You Done for Me Lately"

Teairra Mari "Come Back To Me" cover

Kat Graham Janet Remake Mash-up

"It’s a tribute to Janet , from me. It’s not like I’m trying to take anyone out, I just wanted to say, 'Oh my god, I love you so much, let me pay my respects now.' I know I’m going to get comparisons [to Janet] because of my whole acting, dancing, singing thing — so this is me taking the bull by the horns and thanking her first and foremost."--Kat Graham, of "The Vampire Diaries"

Robyn's excellent live cover of "When I Think of You"

Kelly Clarkson covers "If" in concert

“My dream role is to play Janet Jackson, if she ever does her life story while I’m still alive – and I’m young enough to play her."--Keshia Knight Pullium

Looks like even megastars get starstruck by other celebrities! Singer and actress Raven Symone could not contain her emotions as she met Janet Jackson for the first time at a recent concert. The former ‘Cosby’ star has been a die-hard Jackson fan for quite some time and attended one of her shows earlier this year.

She tells Sister 2 Sister magazine, “I met her – well, I didn’t meet her, I just, like, cried all over her. I went to her concert… I was a hot mess. I looked at her (backstage) and said, ‘I can’t do it!’ I ran and went to go sit in the back of a truck and her band conductor said, ‘Raven, what’s wrong?’ I said, ‘She’s so beautiful; I can’t take it.’ And my mom called me out. She said, ‘Girl, get your butt back here and take a picture with Janet! (There’s) something about the Jackson family, their aura, their energy, it overwhelms you. Especially if you’re a fan.”

Symone wants to tame her infatuation, so that she can play the popstar in a biopic. She says, “My dream role is to play in Janet Jackson’s life story, if I could ever talk to her without crying. If I could actually meet Janet and not cry and run away and make a crackhead of myself, then I’d like to play her.”

Gabrielle Union admits she was such a huge fan of Janet Jackson that she even let her fixation enter her professional life.

She says, "My love affair with Janet Jackson began when she was CHARLENE on DIFF'RENT STROKES.

"Once, before a big audition, I asked my hairstylist to make me look like her. I did my make-up like Janet, and I walked into WARNER BROTHERS listening to Janet on my headphones, and who else walks out of there but Janet Jackson..."

**

More female performers speak about Janet, from 3:00-3:22 in the following vid...

So, maybe now it's a little more clear for you why Janet fans tend to get ticked off when people so ardently dismiss her legacy as "Oh, she's just famous because of so-and-so", or "she's only known as Michael's little sister," and all such utter bullshit as that. And, like I said, she may not have influenced every performer with a uterus, a vagina, boobs, or what-have-you, but you can best believe that she has certainly influenced, inspired and paved the way for a slew of artists, past and present, male and female (take a look at page 2 of this thread for more artists--with penises and vaginas--who have taken a page out of her book). In short, she IS influential, she IS a trendsetter, and she IS a pop legend. Deny it all you want, but you can't take that away from her. Oh, and since you mentioned Courtney Love, NaQu...

You think maybe Janet influenced her to wear that red lipstick?

*And about Alanis, well, her first Canadian dance/pop CD was labelled a "faux-Janet Jackson album" by the Kansas City Star (I love her first two CDs, by the way). I believe I read once that she even saw Janet live during the RN tour. This would seem likely, since her style and videos back then were very Janet-esque...

[Edited 8/20/11 16:31pm]

I'm not going to lie, I love early Alanis, check out Feel Your Love

but I hope the Courtney Love lipstick inspiration was sarcastic, I enjoyed the rest and have seen them before

Though I want to like Britney, she has a terrible voice and it makes me really, really sad that she copies so much of Janet and gets credit and sells more just cause of being white. There, I said it. I never understood Madonna comparisons at all when she came out, I saw Janet all over her too in poses and dance moves and so on.

And That's All For tonight!!!

I seriously need to take my ass to bed though

Uh, Courtney Love has nothing to do with this discussion.

Man, we all talked for hours about Madonna and Janet It was fun

Timmy84 said:

Uh, Courtney Love has nothing to do with this discussion.

Hey, NaQu brought her up...

alphastreet said:

I'm not going to lie, I love early Alanis, check out Feel Your Love

but I hope the Courtney Love lipstick inspiration was sarcastic, I enjoyed the rest and have seen them before

Though I want to like Britney, she has a terrible voice and it makes me really, really sad that she copies so much of Janet and gets credit and sells more just cause of being white. There, I said it. I never understood Madonna comparisons at all when she came out, I saw Janet all over her too in poses and dance moves and so on.

Me too. Feel Your Love, Too Hot, An Emotion Away...they're all good pop tunes. I'm glad she hasn't completely turned her back on that period in her career.

I consider her the sister of Michael Jackson.

isnt ironic that you people consider Whitney And Mariah legends and not janet even though she probably has influenced more of today artists that the two mentioned above..its like because shes a jackson she cant win because in someway you feel thats the reason for her success so no matter what she acomplishes its taken So lightly ...if she was Janet Smith she would be considered a legend after velevet rope dropped ..SMFHH

IDRAG4MJ said:

isnt ironic that you people consider Whitney And Mariah legends and not janet even though she probably has influenced more of today artists that the two mentioned above..its like because shes a jackson she cant win because in someway you feel thats the reason for her success so no matter what she acomplishes its taken So lightly ...if she was Janet Smith she would be considered a legend after velevet rope dropped ..SMFHH

I have never heard ANYBODY here call Whitney or Mariah a LEGEND and they bash Whitney WAY MORE than Janet here. She gets no credit here whatsoever.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

SEANMAN said:

Pretty sad, isn't it? She's the only one in that family who was able to not only make it out of Michael's giant shadow, but to become a pop icon in her own right. Even if you don't like or respect her as an artist, you can at least give her that.

Janet has all the awards including many platinum plaques to show her what she accomplished. She still breaking records today with her current tour. So the haters will continue to hate. We who know what she is a icon. including Beyonce, Rhianna,Kelly,Ciarra,K$sha,Kate P, Lady GaGA, Jody,Paula,Pebbles, Karyn,Shanice,Ginuwine. None of them would be here if it wasn't for her.

[Edited 8/10/11 12:07pm]

Maybe its me but I'm not impressed with that list. If these are the people she paved the way for then shame on Janet! I also serioulsy disagree of having Jody Watley on the list who had a career before Janet. I think that's kind of insulting. Just my two cents.

wonder505 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Janet has all the awards including many platinum plaques to show her what she accomplished. She still breaking records today with her current tour. So the haters will continue to hate. We who know what she is a icon. including Beyonce, Rhianna,Kelly,Ciarra,K$sha,Kate P, Lady GaGA, Jody,Paula,Pebbles, Karyn,Shanice,Ginuwine. None of them would be here if it wasn't for her.

[Edited 8/10/11 12:07pm]

Maybe its me but I'm not impressed with that list. If these are the people she paved the way for then shame on Janet! I also serioulsy disagree of having Jody Watley on the list who had a career before Janet. I think that's kind of insulting. Just my two cents.

Yes, but at the end of the day the fact remains that she has inspired/laid the groundwork for many artists. Whether or not they had one hit or ten is irrelevant. And, she's been doing it since "Control" hit big. As for Jody, you are correct, she was/is her own artist, but if you'd read what I wrote in my post above about that big influx of the "dance divas of color" in the mid to late '80s, it may give you a broader perspective.

NaQu said:

To reiterated what I said several pages ago...no, I don't consider Janet at all legendary. At best I consider her a "singer" who had enough big hits to be amongst those years bigger movers and shakers during her peak '86-'94 years, but that's about it. She never ruled the scene; there was always someone bigger than her.

She never ruled the scene? Wha-wha-what??? Fom 1986 until the early 2000s she was absolutely a dominate force in the pop music industry. I'll go you one better: from around 1990 until 2000, she absolutely ruled the scene, and with minimal CD output, when you compare her to the Mariahs and the Celines. And the CDs she did put out were tying and breaking records with MJ and Springsteen, and setting debuting and singles records as well. There's a reason she was the highest paid female performer during that period. No other female artist was bigger. Not even Madonna, who could barely get a #1 album until 2000's "Music".

TotalAlisa said:

luv4u said:

The is

Move along folks.

i have to quote this for emphasis. when a mod calls u a troll its official. and tueopian had the nerve to call me one. F**K that. i have always been a popular poster on here.

People on the org including posters on this thread want to call each other trolls when they dislike your posts. Trueopian would actually personally attack other memebers and say things to get people riled up. Thats a fucking troll

So, very true. You'd think that after being banned before, she would've learned her lesson. Apparently not.

I think the most appropriate answer to the question is a big, resounding...

Her body of work and dance has influenced many a generation of female pop singers, all of whom borrow and steal from her. Even brother Michael raves about the awesomeness that is Rhythm Nation 1814.

Boom! Done deal.

Also, I'ma pull a Timmy84 and say..."as long as people forever say "Miss Jackson, if ya nasty", she will forever be remembered."