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Celeb News: EW: Janet deserves to be as big as Madonna
Member Since: 10/5/2006
Posts: 9,829
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EW: Janet deserves to be as big as Madonna
From Entertainment Weekly
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Not many artists so far removed from a hit record can fill up a venue as large as Radio City Music Hall. Nearly a decade has passed since Janet Jackson last topped the Billboard hot 100 singles chart (“All For You,” 2001). But there she was Friday night—hair short and slicked—in a sexy, tight gray jumpsuit singing to a packed house on the first of three nights of her Number Ones tour at the famed New York venue.
Oh, how easily we forget. Or perhaps it was just me… Janet’s got hits! Obviously, it’s called Number Ones for a reason. She has ten that have reached the No. 1 spot on the hot 100 during her career, 26 altogether in the top 20, and of those smashes several have ranked above all in their respective R&B and dance charts.
Jackson opened with her 1987 R&B chart topper “Pleasure Principle” and continued with a blitz of classics. Somehow I remembered the words to them all. As did my fellow fans, pausing from reciting lyrics only to squeal or hoot. “Alright,” “Miss You Much,” and “What Have You Done for Me Lately” all came partnered with the crisp choreography from there ’80s videos. Her voice, both feathery and gruff at times, was strong all evening. There appeared to be no lip-syncing, which she’s often accused of.
In true Janet fashion, the show was sexually charged. Cleavage and crotch-grazing was at a maximum during Ms. Jackson’s “Nasty.” Noticeably absent, however, was the notoriously X-rated portion of her set. In the past cuts like “Anytime, Any Place” or “Rope Burn” (not a former No. 1) led to racy S&M action. Unfortunately, at least for this writer, none of that stuff went down. She didn’t even perform “Anytime.” Maybe the 44-year-old’s over stripteases. Hope not!
Aside from the absence of absolute freakiness, the show was superb. A montage of her acting gigs in Poetic Justice and sitcoms Good Times and Diff’rent Strokes ran during a short intermission. There wasn’t any pretentious storyline; this was a concert displaying her growth as an artist and the tracks released during the journey. She wrapped with a brief, but emotional go at “Scream,” the duet with her fallen brother Michael Jackson, as the video played on the jumbo screen. Then she left with the tear-jerking “Together Again” while childhood pictures of the siblings flashed.
It’s tough to decipher Janet’s place in music history. Statistically, the fact that she’s one of the most successful artists of the last 25 years is unquestionable. She’s in a class with Madonna, though not mentioned as much. She should be. As I’ve been reminded, Jackson’s got an extensive résumé, boasting more jams than one can count on their fingers and toes. Neither they nor she should be forgotten.
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From BET
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On Friday night, legendary pop icon Janet Jackson hit New York's Radio City Music Hall for her Number Ones: Up Close & Personal Tour with the first of three sold-out performances at the venue. This is the diva's first time in the Big Apple since the Rock WitchuTour in 2008.
And for anyone who worried that 44-year-old Jackson would have trouble pulling this off after the cancellations and problems that plagued her last tour, there was no need for concern. Focused less on massive productions and more on intimacy with her fans, the six-time Grammy winner brought the pop and soul to a diverse New York crowd and cemented why she is a legend. She flowed with confidence and commanded the stage with not a step out of place.
In each venue, Janet dedicates select No. 1 hits to that particular city. For New York City, the videos to "Rhythm Nation" and "The Best Things in Life Are Free," her duet Luther Vandross, played before she stepped out on stage. This amped the crowd for her arrival, in a space-age cat suit, the same that wowed audiences on last year's American Idol. Janet opened with a fan favorite "The Pleasure Principle," a 1987 hit that was originally written for Prince.
Her fluidity, focus and precision were evident in every strut, point and vintage dance move. This was a different Janet than the one who toured in 2008, and the best I have seen her since The Velvet Rope Tour, well over a decade ago.
The fans clearly appreciated her ferociousness as she went through more hits like “Control,” “What Have You Done For Me Lately?,” “Feedback,” "You Want This" and "Nasty." After over 30 minutes of aggressive performing, Janet went for a wardrobe change and the audience got a taste of her acting career with a montage of clips from Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, and Poetic Justice. The hardcore fans dramatically shouted out the lines to her "No, mama, no!" monologue as Penny from Good Times.
Janet returned for a set of ballads, which included "Nothing," "Come Back to Me," "Let's Wait Awhile," and her Oscar-nominated song "Again." In a venue like Radio City Musical Hall, which is known to feature some of the greatest vocalists of all time, Jackson finally had a chance to use her voice in a controlled and powerful way.
Miss Jackson was deeply grateful for the love New York gave her as she rocked other classics like her No. 1 hit "I Get Lonely" (a song that got the most love of the night), "If" and "Scream" (R.I.P. Michael Jackson). She ended with one of the best-selling singles of all time, "Together Again."
At one point, Janet declared, "They can't stop me, New York!" No one ever has. This is a woman who has survived the brutal entertainment industry with class, style, and a humble spirit. Even when she stumbled, Damita Jo has pulled herself up by her garter belts and proudly paved the way for so many artists after her. Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Beyoncé Knowles, Rihanna—you can see Janet Jackson in all of them. This is one tour not to miss, a tour on which you can see a pop icon who has done it all, giving you her all.
The North American leg of Janet Jackson's Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour will run until the end of April. Click here for more information.
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Member Since: 12/1/2010
Posts: 23,572
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Janet getting the respect she deserves, good.
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Member Since: 9/6/2006
Posts: 15,696
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Janet is a legend all right but she is NOT as big as Madonna. What other girl in the industry earned the title of the queen of pop? 
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Member Since: 12/16/2008
Posts: 59,380
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Go Janet 
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Member Since: 2/9/2008
Posts: 32,819
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Member Since: 10/5/2006
Posts: 9,829
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Quote:
Originally posted by beyoncefan1
Janet is a legend all right but she is NOT as big as Madonna. What other girl in the industry earned the title of the queen of pop? |
This isn't a Janet vs Madonna thread.
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Member Since: 10/5/2006
Posts: 9,829
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Quote:
Originally posted by eli's_rhythm
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I'm glad you've come back to Janet after all that time in "Britney and Robyn"land.
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Member Since: 3/7/2011
Posts: 813
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She is truly a Legend/Icon!! Queen Jan!!!
UGH! These reviews making me even MORE pissed I'm gonna miss the show.
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Member Since: 2/9/2008
Posts: 32,819
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Quote:
Originally posted by ashuduff
I'm glad you've come back to Janet after all that time in "Britney and Robyn"land.
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I never left, babe. 
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Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 34,961
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People are forgetting Janet is an icon.
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Member Since: 3/18/2008
Posts: 40,057
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I don't think Janet is on the same level as Madonna, cuz she don't have the worldwide sucess that Madonna has.
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Member Since: 10/28/2009
Posts: 26,465
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No she's not, tho she may deserve to be.
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Member Since: 11/2/2009
Posts: 19,838
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She is, her sales aren't.
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Member Since: 9/6/2006
Posts: 15,696
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Quote:
Originally posted by ashuduff
This isn't a Janet vs Madonna thread.
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It wasn't meant be my friend. Just stating my opinion on EW's opinion which I remember freedom of speech is aloud in America.
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Member Since: 3/13/2011
Posts: 5,886
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Her influence on the female artists that came after her is.
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Member Since: 8/21/2010
Posts: 733
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Maybe their quality in music, but definitely not when it comes to popularityy
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Member Since: 3/18/2008
Posts: 40,057
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But don't have that much "cultural impact" as Madonna.
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Member Since: 11/3/2010
Posts: 563
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Quote:
Originally posted by GeezusHaberdash
No she's not, tho she may deserve to be.
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+1
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Member Since: 8/22/2009
Posts: 50,646
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Quote:
Originally posted by beyoncefan1
Janet is a legend all right but she is NOT as big as Madonna. What other girl in the industry earned the title of the queen of pop? |
Madonna called herself the Queen Of Pop first and the media went with it.
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Member Since: 10/5/2006
Posts: 9,829
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Quote:
Originally posted by Gui Blackout
But don't have that much "cultural impact" as Madonna.
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That's not right. How can you measure impact?
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