Janet Jackson is set to visit Perth this week playing the Burswood Theatre on Tuesday night. Jackson’s intimate world tour is playing smaller venues and featuring all her greatest hits. We thought we’d ask some people around town what they’re favourite Janet Jackson songs were.
With ten albums of material to choose from, not to mention countless collaborations with other artists, narrowing it down to just five top songs was no easy task for these die hard fans.
Liam, cast member Drag
Control
‘I got my own mind, I wanna make my own decisions’. This song was most relevant to me when I was in my late teens, early twenties – a time when my family was telling me to do one thing while my heart told me to do another. I eventually started listening to heart and following my own dreams – ignoring outside influence.
Rhythm Nation
Rhythm Nation’s trifecta of infections dance beat, stunning choreography and morally charged lyrics makes it one of my favourite songs of all time. Janet challenges her listeners to seek unity, social justice and ‘a better way of life’. If Janet wanted to present her version of her brother Michaels ‘Man in the Mirror’ she certainly did a fantastic job.
Black Cat
Best female rock song ever! I love this song because it is about a partner who likes to party, is wild, and will never settle down. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend who is annoying you, playing games and fooling around – blast this in your car while on the freeway – it will make you feel a whole lot better. Janet understands your frustration.
If
Ever met someone so attractive that you wish you could do anything and everything with them in the bedroom? ‘If’ not only conveys the sexiest lyrics, the choreography in the music video is sassy, exciting and fun. They still play this song at my gym – I don’t get much of a workout done because my eyes would be glued to the TV screen.
Together Again
The song is one of the best-selling international singles of all time – also cementing Janet Jackson as a gay icon. The song was written for friends who had died of AIDS, obvious when you listen carefully to the lyrics.
Jesse D’Vauz, entertainer The Judas Twins
If
From as far back as I can remember, I’ve been dancing in front of the TV to Janet Jackson concerts. This song and Janets performance of it along with the dancers always give me incredible amounts of energy. It’s such a powerful and intense song, you can’t help but dance. Like every Janet fan, I fell in love with the breakdown and I try to include it in as many performances as I can!
Rhythm Nation
This song has such a strong message and moves me every time I hear it. The entire Rhythm Nation project inspired me to stay in school and to do what I can to make this world a better place. The song speaks of Janet’s mission to push for a world free of prejudice and ignorance. ‘To break the colour lines’. I love that Janet used her position in the industry at that time to speak out for something that affects so many.
What About
From Janet’s most deep and personal album The Velvet Rope, ‘What About’ is a very powerful song that speaks in the perspective of the many women that have suffered from spousal abuse. I admire the track because it’s like Janet is being the voice for those who feel like they don’t have one. Making them feel like they are not alone, and they have the right to escape.
Throb
Who doesn’t love a dirty Janet track that gets you in the mood to dance? My brother and I would always dance to this song in the living room while my mother would force us to change the track due to the ‘inappropriate’ sounds that blasted with the music through the speakers.
Again
Janet’s most beautiful track in my opinion. Her vocals are to die for and the story she tells is beautiful. Tells of the power love can have on somebody. I’m very sure this will be a very memorable moment of her show when she comes to Perth.
Graeme Watson, OUTinPerth Editor
That’s the Way Love Goes
The lead single of Janet’s self titled fifth album is one of my favourites. It’s such a beautiful easy going track, when it was first released everyone was so surprised that Janet put out this mellow song. I was such a fan of this album my local record store gave me their huge block mounted photograph of the cover that’s shot by Herb Ritts. It hung on my bedroom wall for years.
When I Think of You
Taken off Janet’s breakthrough hit album Control, this is a song I used to dance around my bedroom to, recreating Paula Abdul’s choreography. This is just such an uplifting song and captures the head rush feeling of young love. My friends and I used to watch the supposedly one-single-shot video trying to spot where the cuts were.
Throb
This album track off the Janet album is just such a great deep sounding dance floor groover. David Morales’ awesome 9 minute long remix is just brilliant, such a sexual song with that repetitive line of ‘I can feel your body, wrapped around my body’.
Diamonds
When Janet first became huge with her album Control she was on A&M Records, the label founded by Jazz legend Herb Alpert. She did a guest spot on his very funky 1987 album Keep Your Eye On Me. The combination of Janet’s strong voice and Alpert’s trumpet is classy.
Together Again
This song is so catchy. It’s about remembering friends lost to HIV/AIDS so the lyrics are really meaningful. The song was originally a ballad, maybe that’s why the DJ Premier 100 in a 50 remix has always been a favourite of mine, it’s about half the pace of the album version and the sentimental vibe really shines through.
What’s your favourite Janet Jackson song? Send us an email at editor@www.outinperth.com
