The Leak - 09.21.09 (Part 4 of 7)

Future club, radio and video hits, featuring Janet Jackson

MUSIC
Alesha Dixon – “To Love Again” – [We Are Pop Slags]

Dolly Rockers – “Bingo Freak” – [We Are Pop Slags]

Honor Society – “Not Over You” – [Pop Music Scene]

Janet Jackson – “Make Me” – [Mixtape Maestro 2.0]

Jordin Sparks – “Road to Paradise” – [Bring Da Beat Back]

Leona Lewis – “Happy” – [People]

Madonna featuring Lil Wayne – “Revolver” – [We Are Pop Slags]

Super Junior M – “Super Girl” – [Pop+Nation]

The Leak - 09.21.09 (Part 4 of 7)

iTune-Up - Michael vs. Justin

There have been comparisons between Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake, but how do they compete? Their dancing, their sounds, their subject matter, that’s for you to decide in this playlist matchup between the two pop powerhouses. Twenty performances in a variety of categories and one together. Who do you think comes out on top?

Click here for the playlist

The Categories

Aggressive Love
Michael Jackson – “In the Closet” vs.
Justin Timberlake – “SexyBack”

For the Disco
Michael Jackson – “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”
vs. Justin Timberlake – “Rock Your Body”

A Song of the Same Name
Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
vs. NSYNC – “I Want You Back”

With Janet…Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty!
Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – “Scream” vs.
Justin Timberlake featuring Janet Jackson – “(And She Said) Take Me Now”

In a Group Setting
Jackson 5 – “ABC” vs.
NSYNC – “Bye, Bye, Bye”

Pure Funk
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” vs.
Justin Timberlake featuring T.I. – “My Love”

Often Imitated, Never Duplicated
Michael Jackson – “Smooth Criminal”
vs. Justin Timberlake – “Like I Love You”

Those Darn Women
Michael Jackson – “Dirty Diana” vs.
Justin Timberlake – “Cry Me a River”

So the Drama
Michael Jackson – “Thriller” vs.
Justin Timberlake – “What Goes Around (Comes Around)”

Power Ballads
Michael Jackson – “She’s Out of My Life”
vs. NSYNC – “Gone”

Together!
NSYNC featuring Michael Jackson – “Pop” (Live from the 2001 MTV VMAs)

iTune-Up - Michael vs. Justin

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 10 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. Did your favorite make the list? Did we get right? Let us know. Click here to view the entire countdown.

1. “If”
2. “The Pleasure Principle”
3. “Miss You Much”
4. “All Nite (Don't Stop)”
5. “Rock With U”
6. “Rhythm Nation”
7. “All for You”
8. “So Excited”
9. “Alright”
10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 10 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 9 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.




2. “The Pleasure Principle”
3. “Miss You Much”
4. “All Nite (Don't Stop)”
5. “Rock With U”
6. “Rhythm Nation”
7. “All for You”
8. “So Excited”
9. “Alright”
10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 9 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 8 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.

3. “Miss You Much”
4. “All Nite (Don't Stop)”
5. “Rock With U”
6. “Rhythm Nation”
7. “All for You”
8. “So Excited”
9. “Alright”
10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 8 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 7 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.

4. “All Nite (Don't Stop)”
5. “Rock With U”
6. “Rhythm Nation”
7. “All for You”
8. “So Excited”
9. “Alright”
10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 7 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 6 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.

5. “Rock With U”
6. “Rhythm Nation”
7. “All for You”
8. “So Excited”
9. “Alright”
10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 6 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 5 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.



6. “Rhythm Nation”

7. “All for You”

8. “So Excited”

9. “Alright”

10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 5 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 4 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.

7. “All for You”

8. “So Excited”

9. “Alright”

10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 4 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 3 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.


8. “So Excited”

9. “Alright”

10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 3 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 2 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.

9. “Alright”

10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 2 of 10

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 1 of 10

That's My Jam dares to do the impossible: rank Janet Jackson's best dance videos/routines. See if your favorite made the list and if we got it right.

10. “Nasty”

Janet Jackson's Best Dance Videos/Routines - Part 1 of 10

Playlist - Ladies of New Jack Swing

Bored at work? Need an energetic soundtrack to keep your day moving? Ready to learn some old-school dance moves? If you answered yes, or are ready to explore some "new" old music, check out That's My Jam's continuously playing Ladies of New Jack Swing playlist.

Click here to see the full playlist or watch part of the presentation here.

Playlist - Ladies of New Jack Swing

Best of the VMAS - Janet Jackson: "That's the Way Love Goes/If"

The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards air on Sunday, Sept. 7. It's not That's My Jam's intention to make this year's edition look whack by posting some of our favorite, most entertaining performances from the past, but if that's the conclusion you draw after watching these memorable snippets, we understand.

From 1993, here's Janet Jackson with a sultry medley of "That's the Way Love Goes" and "If."

Best of the VMAS - Janet Jackson: "That's the Way Love Goes/If"

Opinion - Janet Jackson: Three Strikes, You’re Out?

By That's My Jam

Janet Jackson recently made public her frustrations with her label, Island Def Jam, who she claims has discontinued promoting her latest effort, Discipline. The album has moved nearly 400,000 copies since its release in February, dismal numbers based on her label’s expectations and by Jackson’s own standards. Additionally, Jackson and IDJ reportedly had disagreements about which songs should be released as singles, and Janet has said she’s cancelled the European leg of her Rock Witchu Tour because of the lack of promotion.

It goes without saying that Ms. Jackson has experienced a number of challenges in her career since the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2004, where one of her breasts was briefly exposed on national television during a performance with Justin Timberlake. What has remained constant since then is her music, 2004’s Damita Jo, 2006’s 20 Y.O. and the previously mentioned Discipline, though, that isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Take into consideration how well Janet executed her thematic albums. Control was about growing up and declaring independence. Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 explored topics of race, social justice and education. janet. was a record devoted to sexuality. The Velvet Rope delved into the darker side of Jackson’s emotions brought on by her then-recent divorce. All For You was simply about being happy, having fun and feeling good. Each of the albums are very clear-cut and difficult to not notice their themes.

Casual fans ― and even Janet die-hards ― will experience less ease in doing so with Damita Jo, 20 Y.O. and Discipline. To guess, one would likely think the theme of each is “sexy.” While never a dull subject, how many times and how many ways will Janet explore the topic before those same casual fans, and especially die-hards, get bored? Additionally, many of the tracks display an interchangeable quality, as in “Strawberry Bounce” (from Damita Jo) could easily be on 20 Y.O., “So Excited” (20 Y.O.) could easily find a place on Discipline and “Discipline” would fit smoothly between Damita Jo’s “Warmth” and “Moist.”

This isn’t to say that there weren’t some great cuts on all of these albums (That’s My Jam is still in a love triangle with “All Nite (Don’t Stop)” and “Rock With U”). The problem is that Janet’s albums have become more hit-and-miss, with a few songs grabbing recognition rather than the entire albums maintaining attention. Could this be due to Jackson working less and less with Jimmy “Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis? No one expects an artist to stick to a formula, but when Jackson, Harris and Lewis teamed up, they proved their own ability to produce original music that was both timely and timeless, as well as consistent with the tracks that surrounded it. As time progressed, specifically with the three albums discussed here, that chemistry was very much missed by fans and definitely lacking on the efforts. (Jackson’s contributions were missing entirely from Discipline, as she did not write any of the songs on the disc.)

It appears that we will see no further videos from Discipline, with the number produced (“Rock With U” and “Feedback) matching that of 20 Y.O. (“Call On Me,” “So Excited”) and falling short of those from Damita Jo (“I Want You,” “Just A Little While,” “All Nite (Don’t Stop)” and the unreleased “R&B Junkie”). This is sad considering Rhythm Nation had seven videos, nearly as many as these three albums combined.

What will it take for Janet to regain her status as a solid songstress? Some will say it’s all in the hands of radio and video outlet programmers. Others will say she needs to expand her fan base and embrace current sounds. Others still will demand a return to the Harris-Lewis formula that worked for 15 years. Whatever it is, That’s My Jam would like a solution to be found before we see a fourth option: a complete write-off of Ms. Jackson because of the forgettable “sex” strikeout we’ve been subjected to for the last four years.

Opinion - Janet Jackson: Three Strikes, You’re Out?