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Pop Rock Nation

Tag: Janet Jackson

  • J5 Live!

    Because the charts can wait till tomorrow…
    …What’s this I hear about a Jackson 5 reunion tour?
    The thought of Michael (and Janet) Jackson touring the U.S. once again makes me very, very happy. Especially since I was 12 the last time Michael toured the States.
    Does the man still have it at 50?
    Will he be worth the astronomical ticket prices?
    Does anyone realize that tomorrow is the 25th Anniversary of the release of “Thriller” and I will probably wind up blogging about Michael Jackson again? (I’ll squeeze the charts in there somewhere. Josh Groban Alicia Keys blah blah blah)
    Hmmm…pondering happily…

  • The Return Of "At The Wrecka Sto’"…Albeit A Day Late…

    There will be a weekly updated new release portion of the actual musichelpweb.com site soon, but in the meantime, there are a million new albums out this week. So, no matter what genre of music you’re a fan of, you should be able to find something to enjoy.

    Country fans: While you’re basking in the glow of Reba McEntire’s #1 Album debut (the best first week of sales in Reba’s long and venerable career), you also might wanna check out “Still Feels Good”, the latest release from country
    darlings Rascal Flatts. They had 2006’s biggest
    selling non-soundtrack album (thanks, “High School Musical”), and this one should be another biggie. For those who like their
    country of a somewhat more mature, rootsy variety check out
    alt-country troubadour Steve Earle and his Washington Square
    Serenade

    Rap fans: You a Black Eyed Peas fan? I’m not, but it’s OK if you are. Band leader will.i.am has a new album out called Songs About Girls. Rumor has it that it’s quite eclectic and artistic in a way that his fellow bandmate Fergie’s album was decidely not.

    Classic Pop fans; Not only are there a few Tony Bennett reissues hitting stores, but Queen Latifah unleashes another set of sunny covers with Travelin’ Light. Listen to the Queen (who I caught last night on a very funny “Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air” rerun…it was strange watching her and Will Smith on the screen knowing that they both have gone on to be Oscar nominated) tackle classics such as “I’m Not In Love” on this release. Meanwhile, not only is Joni Mitchell covered on the new Chaka Khan album (see below for details)…not only is she the subject of a Herbie Hancock-directed tribute album (featuring Corinne Bailey Rae and others), but the Queen of Singer-Songwriters issues her Starbucks-backed Hear Music debut, Shine-which I’ve already heard and HIGHLY recommend.

    Rock fans: The Foo Fighters are back! “The Pretender” is the latest in a long line of winning rock songs from Dave Grohl and company. The name of the album is Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

    Indie Folks: Iron & Wine (who I remember from the Garden State soundtrack) and Devendra Banhart (who I remember because his name sounds like the name of some girl I went to school with) have new albums out today. I’m sure Pitchfork is already drooling all over both albums.

    R&B fans: This is the R&B Super Tuesday of 2007. To wit: Mary J.-in-training Keyshia Cole attempts to conquer the sophomore album demon with Just Like Me. First single “Let It Go” has already had #1 success. Meanwhile, Jill Scott returns for round three with The Real Thing. The singer/songwriter/spoken word artist also has what is a reportedly career-defining role in “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married”, in theaters 10/12 (co-starring Janet Jackson). Fans who prefer their soul a little more on the esoteric side will rejoice in albums from bassist/provocateur Meshell Ndegeocello (The World Has Made Me The Man of My Dreams) and singer Rahsaan Patterson’s Wines & Spirits> Finally, a singer who many soul fans say Rahsaan resembles vocally is back. Chaka Khan is back with Funk This!, her first album of all new material in a decade. Chaka rolls with producers Jam & Lewis on this one, and it also features contributions from former Rufus bandmate Tony Maiden, Michael McDonald and Mary J. Blige.

    Lovers of music? This should be a very good week for you!!

  • Friday (I Mean Monday) Throwback – The Pleasure Principle

    I tried to get this done on Friday, but oh well. Monday it is. I’ll still try to write them on Fridays in the future.

    Did you know that when Janet Jackson was 17, she did what people told her?

    The Pleasure Principle was the last of the singles from her coming out party album Control. And while it might’ve only been the 6th single of a 9 song project, it’s video is one that I adore. It’s bootyful.

    • Janet was looking a little like Michael with the knee pads. Wait, MJ wears shin guards.
    • I now want to dance in a warehouse in my bare feet like Kevin Bacon. Ok, maybe not, but it looks cool.
    • She’s even wearing a wristband. I wonder if she stole that from James DeBarge.
    • It’s the pleasure principle, principle, oh ohhhh ohhhh oh.
    • How many people have broken something trying to run and tip the chair like that?
    • Check out that cabbage patch. That was like Jerry Rice in the end zone.
    • I see an ode to her big bro in there.
    • My buddy Kenny Threeths, Arsenio Hall, and me were there three biggest Janet Jackson fans I knew.
    • Everything about this video is cool except that fake back flip off the box.

    Now that Janet has left Virgin and is going to be making records under Island/Def Jam, can she take it back to her glory days? Probably not. The one thing that can take her back to the top is risky. But if she wants to make it back to the top, it might be something she simply has to do. The first thing is that she has to politely dump Jermaine Dupri. We don’t want him trying to ruin her in the industry. Do it nicely. Secondly, call up Willis Jackson. Third, change your name to Charlene, and you and Willis can be together once again. I think it can happen. And then maybe he can be happy again.