Janet Jackson Archives

May 20, 2018August 20, 2019

Janet Jackson: LGBTs Are An All-Embracing Community That Has Always Inspired Me

(image via Instagram)

Speaking to Billboard, Janet Jackson shares how the LGBTQ community has inspired her work:

It’s a loving, all-embracing community that has always inspired me.

I don’t often listen to my own work, but when I go back to [1997’s] Velvet Rope, I put on “Together Again” and remember the friends I lost to AIDS.

It was important to me to honor them not mournfully but joyously in a celebratory song. Their spirit did so much to bolster mine.

Sometimes when people talk about Velvet Rope, they call it my edgiest or sexiest record. Yet the heart of the record is not about sex at all. It’s about how, in defiance of death, we will all be “together again.”

It’s an anthem to undying love.

October 6, 2017August 20, 2019

#FlashbackFriday – Janet Jackson “Rhythm Nation”

Some #FlashbackFriday action as we take a trip on the “way back machine” to 1989 and Janet Jackson’s powerful “Rhythm Nation.”

I think it’s fair to say the song and video take on an even deeper cultural meaning as time goes by.

January 3, 2017August 20, 2019

News Round-Up: January 3, 2017

Fitness model Nick Sandell

Some news items you may have missed:

• Nick Sandell wishes you a shirtless Happy Happy New Year!

• Debra Messing says new Will & Grace episodes are not a done deal.

• Only 46% of Americans believe Donald Trump can handle an international crisis versus an average of 71% of his predecessors.

• Janet Jackson gives birth to her first child at 50.

• The Alabama NAACP is holding a sit-in at Sen. Jeff Sessions office until he withdraws his nomination for U.S. Attorney General.

• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed to offer free tuition at state colleges to hundreds of thousands of middle- and low-income New Yorkers.

• On New Year’s Eve, a federal judge issued an injunction blocking enforcement of federal protections that would have barred those in healthcare services to deny reproductive health services as well as services to transgender people based on “religious beliefs.”

• It’s been 159 days since Donald Trump held a press conference. Back in the summer days of the campaign, he excoriated Hillary Clinton for going 179 days with answering questions from the press. Hypocrisy?

May 16, 2016August 20, 2019

Happy 50th Birthday, Janet Jackson!

It is almost unfathomable that Janet Jackson turns 50 today.

Forever youthful, the youngest of the Jackson family released her debut album, the self-titled Janet Jackson in 1982 at the age of 16.

With record sales of over 160 million units, she is undeniably one of the best-selling artists in contemporary music. Click over to her iTunes page just to remind yourself of her huge catalogue.

The list of honors and awards she accumulated are far to long to enumerate, but I’ll just note that she’s received twelve American Music Awards, five Grammy Awards, nine MTV Video Music Awards, and thirty-three Billboard Music Awards, (the most of any artist).

I think my personal favorite of her superlative creative output has to be her HUGE Rhythm Nation album. Creatively and socially-aware, it set a new high bar for music artists in 1989.

Happy birthday Janet!

May 5, 2016August 20, 2019

New Music: Janet Jackson “Dammn Baby”

This girl can NOT be almost 50.

The black and white videography, the dance moves, the perfectly “Janet” vocals – Janet Jackson is in fine form here with her latest music video for “Dammn Baby” from her Unbreakable album.

Kind of a “Throw-back Thursday” except it’s all new.

And fab.

Enjoy.

September 4, 2015August 20, 2019

First Listen: Janet Jackson “Unbreakable”

Janet Jackson’s 11th studio album – Unbreakable – finds her again with longtime Janet collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

A statement from Jam and Lewis said:

“It’s wonderful to be creating again with Janet. From songwriting, producing, arranging, singing, dancing, acting, she deftly does it all and truly personifies the word artist. ‘Unbreakable’ is a gift to all of her fans who have steadfastly stood by her. It is a subject for conversation, a plea for compassion, and a call for action from someone who’s come a long way, but’s got a long way to go, and has much to say about it. In other words, if you want to know what’s on her mind you only have to listen.”

The album is due October 2nd. Listen to the title track below. Classic Janet:

August 23, 2015August 20, 2019

Janet Jackson Teases New Song: “The Great Forever”

Janet Jackson released dropped a teaser for a a new song, “The Great Forever,” from her upcoming album and tour, AND the gorgeous “time has stopped” promo pic above.

The track finds the 49 year old Jackson making studio magic again with longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

I’m liking the feel and richness of what we get here, even if it’s only 24 seconds. More uptempo than “No Sleeep,” and more radio friendly, in my opinion.

Listen below.