With 1989's "Rhythm Nation 1814," Pop diva Janet Jackson gave her music an edgy that demanded social justice and public companionship, but the latter was overshadowed by her military image. 1993's "Janet," found Ms. Jackson focusing on the joy of love, and with its controversial original cover, the joy of SEX. The comparisons of this and Madonna's "Erotica" are unfair. "Erotica" had deep but cold grooves, making sex nothing more than pure intercourse. Janety balances sexuality, romance, loneliness, and revenge in a way she did with the record's earthshattering follow-up, "The Velvet Rope," but "Janet." might be Ms.. Jackson's best album the way it strippes down her industrial sound to make a record that balances from the sexy, independent, yet fun, teasing of "You Want This?" to the best song "Anytime, Anyplace" which just oozes witht the longing to be touched. "Janet" seems like a double LP, the way the first part has heavy dance grooves that "climaxes" with the sexy workout feel of "Throb" to the pissed off "This Time", while the seond part smoothes to soft adult contemporary R&B of the morning after ballad "Where Are You Now" as well as "Again" and "The Body that Loves You" which undeniably rinds Jackson of the love that was so good. any female artists ironically turn to Jackson for sexuality themes in music, from Beyonce to Britney to Christina. But the reason "Janet" was such a moment was how Janet was not only afraid to proclaim herself as a sex icon, but brought eveything good and bad that goes along with it, making "Janet" a more consistent record than "Rhythm Nation", and possibly even more life-changing. Sex and Pop music never sounded so good together.
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