Janet Jackson Song Life

Since the days when there was a Jackson 5, we've been delighted to know and experience the family's youngest member, Janet Jackson. From her debut performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as a mere child, her roles on Good Times and Fame, to her uber successful career as a Grammy winning recording artist and performer, you would have to have been living in a cave to not know the mega talent that is Janet Jackson.

Launching her own solo singing career in 1982 under the management of her father, Joe, she came out with her first albums, "Dream Street" and "Janet Jackson". While not screaming successes, the albums yielded one or two minor hits. In 1986, Janet teamed up with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to produce "Control", her breakthrough album, which launched her well on her path to becoming the mega star she is today.

In those days, Janet portrayed a funky, fierce, yet toned down version of herself that showcased her dance talents and performance ability. The songs, like her image, were sassy, defiant, and spoke of her need to be her own person. She also gave us a sneak peek of her more sensual side on the song "Funny How Time Flies", but still showed some innocence on the hit "Let's Wait Awhile". After the multi platinum success of Control, Janet fired her father as her manager. It marked the beginning of her declaration of independence from her father's stern rule and management of her career.

Control was followed up by Rhythm Nation 1814, an instant smash. More fierce dance diva routines, and a bit of a global perspective, as evidenced on songs like "State of the World", "The Knowledge" and "Living in a World They Didn't Make". She also showed a soulful longing on the lushly produced "Come Back To Me".

The last single on Rhythm Nation, "Love Will Never Do Without You", saw Janet break out of her cocoon and show a sexy, sultry side of her we had not really, fully seen before. Suddenly showing us her body and heretofore amazingly hidden breasts, she left the old 'Daddy's girl Janet' completely behind, and let the world know "I am woman, and I want SEX". Janet fans ate up this new vixenly side of Ms. Jackson like cake. The freshness of this new, sexy image fit her well.

Her follow up albums, "Janet", "The Velvet Rope", and "All For You" delved further into Janet's new breathlessly sexy persona, exploring themes like bisexuality, bondage, and all types of sex play. On songs like "That's the Way Love Goes", "Rope Burn", "All for You", and "Just a Little While", Janet let us know how much she wants it, how often she needs it, what she's gonna do with it, and that she's more than just a little bit of a freak. If you believe the lyrics of all these songs, then Janet Jackson has sex on the brain 24-7. Undoubtedly a woman that is every man's dream.

3 more CD's and one Superbowl half time debacle later, Janet seems to still be singing the same old tune. The artist's last 3 offerings, "Damita Jo" (2004), "20 Y.O." (2006), and 2008's "Discipline", find Janet once again regaling us with visions of sex, lust and more sexual innuendo than can be found at the Playboy mansion.
Discipline's lead single, "Feedback", while as catchy and dancey as we've come to expect from Ms. Jackson, once again leads us down the same old sex laden path with typical lyrics such as:

"So here's my demonstration

A peep show

Tonight my body's an exhibition, baby

Though it's on display, don't be scared to

Touch It. It said so

So come and get it babe"

Her recent deluge of nearly nude pictorials in every magazine known to man show her still playing the sexy, sex obsessed vamp, practically hitting us over the head with her hot bod and over the top sexuality ad nauseum. However, at this point, it's gotten more than just a bit stale. I mean, we've seen and heard it all before, yes? More times than we can count, as a matter of fact.

Janet, we know you're sexy. Janet, we know you're freaky. Janet, we know you've got an amazing body. However, at this stage in the game we have to wonder, what else goes on in that head of yours, Janet? Is it really just all sex all the time? After having lived so much life, traveled the world and back, and having been one of the most successful female performers of all time, is that really all that you have to offer?

Is your emotional self just indefinitely caught in some sexual limbo, unable to advance to the next level? For a woman who's done and achieved so much, I'm finding it puzzling that you're so redundantly stuck on the "sexy" part of yourself. That you seem to feel that this is the only part of you worth revealing. Meanwhile, I'm sure there's a ton more in there. There has to be!

When are we going to get to see it, Janet When are you REALLY going to go "deeper"