If All For You followed janet. and Velvet Rope followed All For You, would Janet's A4U sales been higher in 1997 than how much Velvet Rope actually sold? I prefer VR of the two and think it's her underrated masterpiece, but it seems like people enjoyed bright, bubbly Janet more and in that sense it was similar to janet. era, even with the stylings of the era.

I do remember more people enjoying Janet during All For You era than Velvet Rope (youth) but I loved both.

This would have also meant more singles since VR got 5-6

I really believe that musically, they would have fit into the switched years too, and possibly even more.

[Edited 2/23/13 8:55am]

alphastreet said:

If All For You followed janet. and Velvet Rope followed All For You, would Janet's A4U sales been higher in 1997 than how much Velvet Rope actually sold? I prefer VR of the two and think it's her underrated masterpiece, but it seems like people enjoyed bright, bubbly Janet more and in that sense it was similar to janet. era, even with the stylings of the era.

I do remember more people enjoying Janet during All For You era than Velvet Rope (youth) but I loved both.

This would have also meant more singles since VR got 5-6

I really believe that musically, they would have fit into the switched years too, and possibly even more.

[Edited 2/23/13 8:55am]

Not necessarily.

I dont think timing is 100% the issue.

All 4 U is not a strong album besides a handful of songs. She also made very poor single choices but this is the same case for all her 00's albums

It was a weak follow up from VR.

My favorites from the album was Someone to Call My Lover, When We Ooo, Better Days (I really could relate to that song), and Come on Get Up, China Love.

I dont find myself listening to the ENTIRE album that much although I might go back and listen to certain songs from the album.

The thing is, when VR came out most of the type of music that was hot during the period was neo soul, R&B, alternative music especially around 97-98 with acts like D angelo, Erykah, Fugees, J Dilla producer ruling everything. The VR was a success because it was a good album and it also reflected that period of music. Also, VR is a mature/retro album its not a teeny pop album.

If VR was released in 2001, I dont think it would have been a major pop success because by that time the neo soul/alternative movement had peaked (mainstream wise).

For the record, I really wish she would come back so she could snatch the weave off a certain heffas head...... that is all

Virgin flopped with A4U and it was somewhat weak in comparison to TVR

[Edited 2/23/13 11:36am]

I will concur with the poster who commented about "poor single choices" in her 00's era. InDEED. "All For You" could have been a SMASH album had the abysmal "Son Of A Gun" NEVER have been considered for single release. WTF were they thinkin'?! Never mind. They WEREN'T. "Velvet Rope," on the other hand," got off 2 a really slow start, but once it kicked, it SMOKED. Not sure if "Got 'til It's Gone" was a wise introduction (I tend 2 think NOT.,) but thankfully, "Together Again" helped it 2 pick up steam. After these two, I don't know WHAT happened. She just continued on a downward spiral w/o Jam & Lewis.

I agree VR was similar to a lot of r&b music of 1997, but it seemed like youth were more into hip hop or teen pop, and some were too immature to "get" janet or were over her since the janet. album. I found more mature people, whether mature for age, or older like in their late teens and 20's appreciated the album or singles more. But I also find that these neo soul songs, though they were doing well were more appreciated in urban formats than mainstream with the exception of lauryn hill, and in 2001, alicia keys, musiq soulchild, jill scott and india arie were being branded neo soul and were having mainstream success, so it's possible VR could have fit in then too

All for You was really messed up. Though I like son of a gun, I was upset with the single choice myself and ended up hating the video though now I love it. It was really bland for it's time and shortly after, Britney made a similar video using the same director while walking in the hotel lobby. Trust a Try should have been the next single if not second, though someone to call my lover fit in so well with summer. Come On Get Up with it's dance vibe would have been fresh for 2002 like all for you was for 2001 and kept the album on the charts with Feels So right being a nice chill single if not a B-side as the final single.

carousal: when we oooh was definitely a hot number!

[Edited 2/24/13 18:35pm]

whitechocolatebrotha said:

I will concur with the poster who commented about "poor single choices" in her 00's era. InDEED. "All For You" could have been a SMASH album had the abysmal "Son Of A Gun" NEVER have been considered for single release. WTF were they thinkin'?! Never mind. They WEREN'T. "Velvet Rope," on the other hand," got off 2 a really slow start, but once it kicked, it SMOKED. Not sure if "Got 'til It's Gone" was a wise introduction (I tend 2 think NOT.,) but thankfully, "Together Again" helped it 2 pick up steam. After these two, I don't know WHAT happened. She just continued on a downward spiral w/o Jam & Lewis.

But they were with her the whole time. The only album she did without them was Discipline. As far as All 4 U, it was a weaker follow up to VR, but it actually did pretty well sales wise. But Virgin did start dropping the ball with this album.

If anything, that damn Damita Jo album was a mess. Individual songs were good- but it doesn't make for a good album. Even the interludes were annoying. It was the first Janet album where there was no real theme.

All 4 U had a theme- she was a woman coming out a divorce and finding the joy of dating/being single. But she also wrote honestly about how the relationship went bad.

[Edited 2/24/13 20:14pm]

chh you remember during the 20 YO era Janet called Jermaine Dupri the modern day Quincy Jones

musicman said:

whitechocolatebrotha said:

I will concur with the poster who commented about "poor single choices" in her 00's era. InDEED. "All For You" could have been a SMASH album had the abysmal "Son Of A Gun" NEVER have been considered for single release. WTF were they thinkin'?! Never mind. They WEREN'T. "Velvet Rope," on the other hand," got off 2 a really slow start, but once it kicked, it SMOKED. Not sure if "Got 'til It's Gone" was a wise introduction (I tend 2 think NOT.,) but thankfully, "Together Again" helped it 2 pick up steam. After these two, I don't know WHAT happened. She just continued on a downward spiral w/o Jam & Lewis.

But they were with her the whole time. The only album she did without them was Discipline. As far as All 4 U, it was a weaker follow up to VR, but it actually did pretty well sales wise. But Virgin did start dropping the ball with this album.

If anything, that damn Damita Jo album was a mess. Individual songs were good- but it doesn't make for a good album. Even the interludes were annoying. It was the first Janet album where there was no real theme.

All 4 U had a theme- she was a woman coming out a divorce and finding the joy of dating/being single. But she also wrote honestly about how the relationship went bad.

[Edited 2/24/13 20:14pm]

I didn't feel like All For You had a theme when it came out though janet, jimmy and terry kept talking about her dealing with life after her divorce. I could only hear the superficial side of being lovey-dovey back then, but since it's release, there's been divorce in my family and I've had failed dates and relationships and heartbreak, so I think it may be more relatable now and I've come to like it again. I really do think it deserved higher sales for the strongest tracks.

Damita Jo contains some of her best and some of her worst ever, but sounds more updated for it's time than All For You.

20 YO, janet's head was literally up someone's booty

edit

[Edited 2/24/13 20:32pm]

HAPPYPERSON said:

chh you remember during the 20 YO era Janet called Jermaine Dupri the modern day Quincy Jones

One word: Dickmatized

mjscarousal said:

HAPPYPERSON said:

chh you remember during the 20 YO era Janet called Jermaine Dupri the modern day Quincy Jones

One word: Dickmatized

hahah love that!

mjscarousal said:

HAPPYPERSON said:

chh you remember during the 20 YO era Janet called Jermaine Dupri the modern day Quincy Jones

One word: Dickmatized

YEP!!!

alphastreet said:

musicman said:

But they were with her the whole time. The only album she did without them was Discipline. As far as All 4 U, it was a weaker follow up to VR, but it actually did pretty well sales wise. But Virgin did start dropping the ball with this album.

If anything, that damn Damita Jo album was a mess. Individual songs were good- but it doesn't make for a good album. Even the interludes were annoying. It was the first Janet album where there was no real theme.

All 4 U had a theme- she was a woman coming out a divorce and finding the joy of dating/being single. But she also wrote honestly about how the relationship went bad.

[Edited 2/24/13 20:14pm]

I didn't feel like All For You had a theme when it came out though janet, jimmy and terry kept talking about her dealing with life after her divorce. I could only hear the superficial side of being lovey-dovey back then, but since it's release, there's been divorce in my family and I've had failed dates and relationships and heartbreak, so I think it may be more relatable now and I've come to like it again. I really do think it deserved higher sales for the strongest tracks.

Damita Jo contains some of her best and some of her worst ever, but sounds more updated for it's time than All For You.

20 YO, janet's head was literally up someone's booty

But I can't deny- Take Care from 20 Y.O. I love that song.

It's one of my favourites too off the album. I love the fact it's so sexual without being vulgar like her others

musicman said:

alphastreet said:

I didn't feel like All For You had a theme when it came out though janet, jimmy and terry kept talking about her dealing with life after her divorce. I could only hear the superficial side of being lovey-dovey back then, but since it's release, there's been divorce in my family and I've had failed dates and relationships and heartbreak, so I think it may be more relatable now and I've come to like it again. I really do think it deserved higher sales for the strongest tracks.

Damita Jo contains some of her best and some of her worst ever, but sounds more updated for it's time than All For You.

20 YO, janet's head was literally up someone's booty

But I can't deny- Take Care from 20 Y.O. I love that song

alphastreet said:

It's one of my favourites too off the album. I love the fact it's so sexual without being vulgar like her others

musicman said:

But I can't deny- Take Care from 20 Y.O. I love that song

Exactly!!!! It's mature.

That groove oozes sexy, and I love the part in the second verse just before the chorus too.

Other favourites off the album include Enjoy, Daybreak, Get It Out Me, So Excited.

alphastreet said:

That groove oozes sexy, and I love the part in the second verse just before the chorus too.

Other favourites off the album include Enjoy, Daybreak, Get It Out Me, So Excited.

Oh yeah, those tracks are great too. I still can listen to 20 Y.O. it wasn't all bad, but her heart just wasn't in the project.

musicman said:

mjscarousal said:

One word: Dickmatized

YEP!!!

she sure was