alphastreet said:

Anyone else that enjoys this ballad? I feel like she’s singing about mj though it could be about herself too following the super bowl

Such a sombre song. It makes me so sad for her whenever I hear it. I think it's about MJ too. I never thought about it being self-reflective like "You" was...interesting take on it.

oslobro said:

"Unbreakable" is arguably one of my favorite albums by Janet. She finally embraces The Jacksons sound on this album. After many years of avoiding trying to sound like them. "After U Fall" shows off her sultry vocals as an underated singer she is.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

alphastreet said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Unbreakable is arguably one of my favorite albums by Janet. She finally embraces The Jacksons sound on this album. After many years of avoiding trying to sound like them. "After U Fall" shows off her sultry vocals as an underated singer she is.

I felt she sounded more authentic vocally than she did on 20 Y.O. and Discipline where she sounded like her voice was forced and quiet, but came out Jackson-esque on tracks like "Get It Out Me," "Enjoy" and "What’s your name."

Frankly, most of that is because of Jermaine Dupri. While Discipine and 20 Y.O. are fair album, they just ain't the same. J&L are fully part of 20 Y.O., but it's obvious Dupri just rolled them over. There's so little on that record that says "Janet, Jimmy, & Terry." Those two albums seem so different, and it's hard to fit them in the canon sometimes, to me. When you have a shit songs like "Do It To Me" or "This Body," something was very wrong. It's Dupri.

I think it's partly why Unbreakable did so well. It had been a long time - seven years - without a new Janet record, and she got back with J&L, and just did whatever. There's a freedom and a flow on it that is where the authenticity comes into it. She's working with who she should have been.

As far as "After The Fall," what a beautiful song. It could be about MJ, maybe just a personal moment, or a friend we don't know about. Piano & a voice reminds me of when she did a simpler version of "Again" (on the single and/or video). Musically, it pulls you in, and even without lyrics it seems to ask a question, it's just in this case it's "who's gonna care for you after it all?" It feels like a loop of a question and you may not get the answer. It actually builds tension, as simple of a song as it is. Then, at the very end, she lets you off the hook emotionally and musically, when she sings, "I will...." AHHHH! It's just so satisfying!!!

RJOrion said:

RJOrion said:

speaking of Janet Jackson...i was listening to Rhythm Nation 1814 this morning..."Livin In A World(They Didnt Make)" comes on and 30 seconds into it, i start crying like a fuckin baby...what a beautiful, powerful song...maybe JimmyJam & Terry Lewis' greatest ballad....

I'd say it was one of their best non-love ballads with Janet.

alphastreet said:

I got the rhythm nation compilation video back in the 90s and this song was playing in the background while Janet talked about two girls who went back to school after hearing the RN album. It was really touching to see

I remember that. It was very touching. They gave her the tassels from their graduation caps. I think Janet had them framed or something and gave them back to the girls in more recent years.

PS the girls were referencing "The Knowledge."

[Edited 2/22/20 20:10pm]

RJOrion said:

speaking of Janet Jackson...i was listening to Rhythm Nation 1814 this morning..."Livin In A World(They Didnt Make)" comes on and 30 seconds into it, i start crying like a fuckin baby...what a beautiful, powerful song...maybe JimmyJam & Terry Lewis' greatest ballad....

I concur!!

TrivialPursuit said: