Thursday, June 4, 2009

5 for playing: Janet Jackson

the other successful Jackson out of Gary, Indiana (sister city of Fuxin, China - not kidding!), Janet stepped out of the family shadow in general, and in her brother Michael's, in particular, and carved out a pretty good musical career for herself. her musical peak in the mid to late '80s was rooted deep in her Minneapolis sound, masterminded by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (that decade's Neptunes, if you will). with a hit song list rivaling her now-white freak brother's, it was difficult narrowing down five (well, i always fudge it with six, hahahaha) i'd always have for my iPod. but here you go. notice that they're all pre-'90s and pre-wardrobe malfunction. just like most pop-slash-rockstars, they never know when to quit and leave with their dignity intact. or i'm just an old-school fart.

5. What Have You Done For Me Lately, Control (1986)


4. tie - Runaway, Design of A Decade (1995)


Love Will Never Do (Without You), Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)


3. Control, Control (1986)

kinda long: jump to the 3:20 mark.

2. When I Think of You, Control (1986)


1. Miss You Much, Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)

2 comments:

Jego said...

And pray tell where it the AM radio staple Let's Wait A While, eh?

Perhaps youre annoyed at the fact that it stole its opening melody from America's Daisy Jane?

grifter said...

that was in the Top 10. too bad, the series is called 5 for Playing (more or less).

let's have you put up your Janet staples.