Soulflower

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is the 9th of 9 brothers and sisters. She comes from one of the biggest musical show business families of all time. Despite having successful established brothers in the music business, she began to carve her own career by acting on various shows such as Good Times, Different Strokes and Fame in the 70's. She had two albums that were released that had marginal success but she became a superstar with her 1986 successful hit Control album. Despite having the biggest and most successful artist as her older brother, she still manage to become an icon by her own merit. She became her own act and star separate from her family and more successful older sibling.

She has produced a number of eclectic songs that covered a wide range of topics such as social injustice, politics, spousal abuse, domestic violence, poverty, homosexuality, etc. Her production is also very eclectic and experimental and covers alot of different genres such as soul, funk, new jack swing, rock, opera, neo soul, jazz, hip hop, etc.

She has also done many elaborate stage shows, concerts and performances. Dancing is something that definitely runs in the Jackson family because she is the best female pop dancer that has came out within the last 25 years.

She has went on to produce other classics such as Rhythm Nation, Janet and Velvet Rope. Currently, Janet is tremendously underrated. Her influence on today's female pop entertainers are undeniable.

Necromancer

I liked Janet Jackson back in the day maybe even more than MJ's music, her choreography was good as well. Paula Abdul and Jody Watley had a couple of songs I liked around that same time period.

Soulflower

It is odd that she hasn't had a thread on her in this section yet. She is one of the biggest selling female pop stars of all time. I am going to tribute each of her albums and just give some facts, info, photos on each of them. I will be back with goodies.

neardeathexperience

Has she done anything lately?

Soulflower

Janet Jackson's self titled debut: Janet Jackson 1982


Fun fact: The album cover photo of Janet was taken at the Jackson family home in Encino California.

Tracklist:


1.Say You Do

2.You'll Never Find (A Love Like Mine)

3.Young Love

4.Love and My Best Friend

5.Don't Mess Up This Good Thing

6.Forever Yours

7.The Magic Is Working

8.Come Give Your Love to Me

Producers: René Moore, Angela Winbush, Foster Sylvers, Bobby Watson, Jerry Weaver

Singles: Young Love, Come Give Your Love to Me, Say You Do, Love and My Best Friend, and Don't Mess Up This Good Thing



Chart Peaks: from wiki
New Zealand Albums Chart: 44
U.S. Billboard 200: 63
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album: 6

I personally do not listen to this album alot so I can not offer a whole lot of information on it. I do know that Janet did not really want to have a singing career and her father really pushed for her to have a singing career. She wanted to go to college but Papa Joe had other plans for her. Remember, prior to this album release Janet was an actress an appeared on multiple shows: Good Times, Fame and Different Strokes. She did not want the help of her brothers when she made this album.

Janet was 16 when she recorded this album.


More rare album photos:






1982 Era photos of Janet:












Fun fact: Before Janet debut with her solo album, Janet singed back up vocals for someone else first. Her backup vocals on this song was actually the first time Janet recorded in a studio.

Guess who record that was? YEP, her big brother MJ. Janet as well as La Toya Jackson singed backup on P.Y.T. for MJ's Thriller album.


So next time you listen to P.Y.T. off of MJ's Thriller, remember those "Na Na Na Na Na Na" female voices are really Janets and La Toya's!!

neardeathexperience

I think Joe had aspirations of all his children going into the music business. It seemed to turn out well for most of them......

Soulflower

Joe did and they all dabbled with the music thing even if they did not pursue it as a career. Joe had good intentions for all his children but he should have concentrated more on being a father to them instead of a manager figure. Yes, they are celebrities and superstars but the dynamic of the family is not good and I think he emotionally affected them for the worse.

They could not call their father "daddy". They had to call him Joseph or Joe.

Janet does not seem that interested in music anymore. Her last album was in 2008. She has been acting more in movies since then. Maybe she can take the opportunity and go back to school since that was something she wanted to do anyway.

Soulflower

Her last movie was "For Colored Girls" 2010. She primarily has appeared in a number of Tyler Perry movies and besides a single she did for the last Why Did I Get Married sequel titled "Nothing", she has not done anything musically.

She got married in 2011, kept it a secret and revealed it in 2012. Here is a pic of her and her new hubby. His name is Wissam Al Mana and he is Middle Eastern (not sure his ethnic specifically, he is mixed with different things but he is from Qatar). He is from Qatar and he is a fashion billionaire over there. He is 37 and about 10 years younger than Janet but who cares because Janet does not look her age herself. Janet is 47.



She was in Dubai for the longest with her husband and she recently came back to the states about a month ago. I really want her to come back with one last album and show these current wannabe's how it is really done!

Soulflower

"Dream Street" is Janet's second studio album and it was released on October 23, 1984




1. Don't Stand Another Chance

Fun fact: Jackie Jackson, Michael Jackson and Tito Jackson sing background vocals.

Also, Marlon Jackson produced this song.

2. Two To The Power Of Love
3. Pretty Boy

Fun fact: Jesse Johnson from "The Time" produces this song

4. Dream Street
5. Communication
6. Fast Girls

Fun fact: Jesse Johnson also produces this song
7. Hold Back The Tears

8. All My Love To You
Fun fact: Marva King and Marlon Jackson sings background vocals
Drum Programming and producing is done by Marlon Jackson

9. If It Takes All Night


Credits:
Other producers: Co producer- John Barnes
Other backing vocals:Beth Anderson, Gary Falcone, Cliff Richard, Maxine Waters, Julia Waters


Fun fact: This album is only available in US, Canada, Israel, Australia and Germany. Physical copies of the album are out of print, thus very rare, and especially hard to find in the United States. As a result, "Dream street" is Janet's hardest album to find and most sought out by die hard fans.


Dream street album photos:








Album chart positions: from wiki
U.S. Billboard 200:147
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: 19

Similar to Janet's debut this album mostly is bubble gum soul/pop. I don't really listen to this album much either. The single "Don't Stand Another" received modest success.

Fun fact: Janet did a music video for Dream street (the song) and that was her very first music video which was shot from the Fame t.v. show set

Dream Streat music video




1984 Era Photos of Janet






On Fame t.v. show





MJ invited all his beautiful sisters on stage to help him accept his Grammy at the 1984 Grammy's award show.
From left to right: Rebbie, Janet and La Toya

Black Francis

Not that it is relevant or anything but Janet Jackson still gives me a boner i thought you should all know that.

She is also one of the most talented female pop singers ive ever heard but not because she has an amazing voice but because she knows how to make a catchy song that just sounds good

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