After 20 Years, Janet Delivers Average LP
20 Y.O. (2006)
1. Intro (20)
The album opens with pieces from Janet's past song, including oddly enough "China Love". Janet then starts talking about the past 20 years and all the topics she's covered in those 20 years. Even at one point saying, "I've covered a lot in my 20 years. And I've uncovered a lot!" Followed by a quick laugh. Oh Janet! She goes on to say that she wants to keep it light and not be serious. That she wants to have fun...sigh. She talks a bit more before Jermaine comes in with "Whatchu talkin' bout shawty!?" over a sound beat from "Miss You Much".
The album opens with pieces from Janet's past song, including oddly enough "China Love". Janet then starts talking about the past 20 years and all the topics she's covered in those 20 years. Even at one point saying, "I've covered a lot in my 20 years. And I've uncovered a lot!" Followed by a quick laugh. Oh Janet! She goes on to say that she wants to keep it light and not be serious. That she wants to have fun...sigh. She talks a bit more before Jermaine comes in with "Whatchu talkin' bout shawty!?" over a sound beat from "Miss You Much".
2. "So Excited" (Featuring Khia)"
Of the dance singles that Janet released during the 2000s, this one was my least favorite. I remember when I listened to "So Excited" for the first time online in '06 before the album was released and thinking...it was just ok. Over time, the song just has gotten worse for me. Sampled from Herbie Hancock's 1983 song "Rockit, the song feels over produced and completely overshadows Janet's voice has she whispers most of the lyrics sans the chorus. The video wasn't much better. The new age X-Ray effects used were cool...too bad it was used to make Janet and her female dancers' tops disappear at random. Khia comes in for a catchy chorus but the fact that her ungrateful a$$ got made that she was stuck in the TV for the majority of the video is off putting. Stay hatin' you irrelevant trick! [blah] Anyway, the choreography was also only decent, not Gil's best and the fact I don't enjoy the song that much doesn't help.
(C-)
Of the dance singles that Janet released during the 2000s, this one was my least favorite. I remember when I listened to "So Excited" for the first time online in '06 before the album was released and thinking...it was just ok. Over time, the song just has gotten worse for me. Sampled from Herbie Hancock's 1983 song "Rockit, the song feels over produced and completely overshadows Janet's voice has she whispers most of the lyrics sans the chorus. The video wasn't much better. The new age X-Ray effects used were cool...too bad it was used to make Janet and her female dancers' tops disappear at random. Khia comes in for a catchy chorus but the fact that her ungrateful a$$ got made that she was stuck in the TV for the majority of the video is off putting. Stay hatin' you irrelevant trick! [blah] Anyway, the choreography was also only decent, not Gil's best and the fact I don't enjoy the song that much doesn't help.
(C-)
3. "Show Me"
Ok, this is a fun song that feels a bit like what Janet was trying to do with this album by giving some songs allusions to her previous work with an update sound. It's R&B/Hip-Hop infused with 80s synthesizers throughout that makes for a vibrant beat. I get some serious "Nasty" vibes to this song, especially when Janet calls out to the ladies to "Show Me" as well as spelling "Back It Up". It's sassy song with a sincerity to it that'd you'd expect from Janet as she demands respect from her man. Pretty solid!
(B-)
Ok, this is a fun song that feels a bit like what Janet was trying to do with this album by giving some songs allusions to her previous work with an update sound. It's R&B/Hip-Hop infused with 80s synthesizers throughout that makes for a vibrant beat. I get some serious "Nasty" vibes to this song, especially when Janet calls out to the ladies to "Show Me" as well as spelling "Back It Up". It's sassy song with a sincerity to it that'd you'd expect from Janet as she demands respect from her man. Pretty solid!
(B-)
4. "Get It Out Me"
This is an incredibly upbeat dance track! I love the tribal drums mixed with a hard beat and more 80s synth music layered on it. It's honestly one of Janet's most infectious club bangers that was never released. I honestly would have preferred it over "So Excited". Her vocals are better, the music is better produced and you just can't help but move along to this. A song about Janet's man being the only man to "get it out her" (up to your own interpretation but we know what she means!) It's an overall good song for the dance floor.
(B)
This is an incredibly upbeat dance track! I love the tribal drums mixed with a hard beat and more 80s synth music layered on it. It's honestly one of Janet's most infectious club bangers that was never released. I honestly would have preferred it over "So Excited". Her vocals are better, the music is better produced and you just can't help but move along to this. A song about Janet's man being the only man to "get it out her" (up to your own interpretation but we know what she means!) It's an overall good song for the dance floor.
(B)
5. "Do It To Me"
A bouncy, upbeat R&B track, "Do It To Me" also could very well have been a single as well. I always thought the video should have gone like this: Janet is stuck in the desert, on the road, outside of Las Vegas waiting a ride when JD shows up to pick her up. The song begins as she sings and JD drives into the city. They arrive and her surrounded by paparazzi as security protects them and they make their way inside the venue where Janet will be performing. We have a quick dance number as Janet meets up with her dancers in the lobby. Then we cut to Janet in her dressing room getting ready as JD comes in. She starts singing to him and make their way to her bed. They begin kissing and cuddling in bed as we cut to her performing on stage with her band behind her to an empty venue. As she continues to perform, people begin magically appearing in seats until the whole stadium is packed and cheering her own. Her dancers then appear for the last dance sequence when Janet spots JD at the side of the stage. They smile at each other as he walks over and they look at each other for a split second which leads them to eventually kissing. The video then ends. Seriously, why didn't I go to college for directing!? [eek] Back to the song, I like it. It's one of the better JD produced tracks on the album as the R&B/Hip-Hop tone works for Janet here and her vocals are great.
(B)
A bouncy, upbeat R&B track, "Do It To Me" also could very well have been a single as well. I always thought the video should have gone like this: Janet is stuck in the desert, on the road, outside of Las Vegas waiting a ride when JD shows up to pick her up. The song begins as she sings and JD drives into the city. They arrive and her surrounded by paparazzi as security protects them and they make their way inside the venue where Janet will be performing. We have a quick dance number as Janet meets up with her dancers in the lobby. Then we cut to Janet in her dressing room getting ready as JD comes in. She starts singing to him and make their way to her bed. They begin kissing and cuddling in bed as we cut to her performing on stage with her band behind her to an empty venue. As she continues to perform, people begin magically appearing in seats until the whole stadium is packed and cheering her own. Her dancers then appear for the last dance sequence when Janet spots JD at the side of the stage. They smile at each other as he walks over and they look at each other for a split second which leads them to eventually kissing. The video then ends. Seriously, why didn't I go to college for directing!? [eek] Back to the song, I like it. It's one of the better JD produced tracks on the album as the R&B/Hip-Hop tone works for Janet here and her vocals are great.
(B)
6. "This Body"
This has this bizarre industrial beat with rock and hip-hop music that surrounds it. It makes for a very interesting listen, that's for sure. It's a song where Janet sings about what the men would do if she came out of the magazines that they are looking at. It's a sexy and fun song, with a hilarious rap verse from JD who augmented his voice to some much deeper and robotic almost.
(B-)
This has this bizarre industrial beat with rock and hip-hop music that surrounds it. It makes for a very interesting listen, that's for sure. It's a song where Janet sings about what the men would do if she came out of the magazines that they are looking at. It's a sexy and fun song, with a hilarious rap verse from JD who augmented his voice to some much deeper and robotic almost.
(B-)
7. 20 Part 2 (Interlude)
Janet does her "Dees" and Dahs".....yeah....
Janet does her "Dees" and Dahs".....yeah....
8. "With U"
Ok, now we have what many were complaining about JD's producing when it came to Janet. It's not that "With U" is a bad song, it just wasn't a good song for Janet...at all. I mean, it sounds like a clone/hybrid of Mariah's "We Belong Together" and Usher's "Confessions". It's like Jermaine was trying to give Janet that same type of hit/success but what worked for those artists simple doesn't for Ms. Jackson. It's a song I actually like when it starts but quickly becomes dull and doesn't hold your attention. Nothing terrible, but it's not good like I said either.
(D+)
Ok, now we have what many were complaining about JD's producing when it came to Janet. It's not that "With U" is a bad song, it just wasn't a good song for Janet...at all. I mean, it sounds like a clone/hybrid of Mariah's "We Belong Together" and Usher's "Confessions". It's like Jermaine was trying to give Janet that same type of hit/success but what worked for those artists simple doesn't for Ms. Jackson. It's a song I actually like when it starts but quickly becomes dull and doesn't hold your attention. Nothing terrible, but it's not good like I said either.
(D+)
9. "Call On Me"
Yet another song that seemed to be produced to only to recapture the success of a previous successful hit, "Call On Me" isn't bad, but it's by no means as good as "Dilemma" 4 years earlier. I will say this, the album version always sounded better than the single version. The music sounded crisper and Janet's vocals are much clearer, leaving you not having to decipher what she is saying during the verses. Nelly is fine as suppose, but I just don't feel the chemistry between the both of them. Not on the song and especially the video. Janet should have just left his a$$ on the ship and "called" for a better hit. Just saying!
(C)
Yet another song that seemed to be produced to only to recapture the success of a previous successful hit, "Call On Me" isn't bad, but it's by no means as good as "Dilemma" 4 years earlier. I will say this, the album version always sounded better than the single version. The music sounded crisper and Janet's vocals are much clearer, leaving you not having to decipher what she is saying during the verses. Nelly is fine as suppose, but I just don't feel the chemistry between the both of them. Not on the song and especially the video. Janet should have just left his a$$ on the ship and "called" for a better hit. Just saying!
(C)
10. 20 Part 3 (Interlude)
Janet and her friend talk about how long they known each other. It's short and kinda cute.
Janet and her friend talk about how long they known each other. It's short and kinda cute.
11. "Daybreak"
This is without a doubt "Escapade" 2006! I love the clever mix of the heavy R&B beat and the sounds of a carnival/amusement park music. It's a fun, upbeat song that strangely brings back some of Janet's innocence from her pre-"Control" days. I mean the whole idea of sneaking off to meet up with a lover from some childish fun feels slightly odd, yet kinda heartwarming. It's songs like this that show the album had potential to in fact be "Control: 20 Year Later".
(B+)
12. "Enjoy"
I swear, I look forward to this album for this song alone! When I first heard this song before the album's release back in '06, I thought we were in for Janet's best album in years! Sure, we didn't get that but "Enjoy" encompasses why Janet's music holds a special place in my heart. One of the few Jimmy and Terry produced tracks, they once again show they know how to make excellent music for Janet. My God...her vocals...just speaks to my soul! The message of living life to fullest is effortlessly delivered and I dare you not to be moved by that children's choir toward the end of the track. This is Janet at her finest people! Why was this immaculate song not a single!?
(A+)
I swear, I look forward to this album for this song alone! When I first heard this song before the album's release back in '06, I thought we were in for Janet's best album in years! Sure, we didn't get that but "Enjoy" encompasses why Janet's music holds a special place in my heart. One of the few Jimmy and Terry produced tracks, they once again show they know how to make excellent music for Janet. My God...her vocals...just speaks to my soul! The message of living life to fullest is effortlessly delivered and I dare you not to be moved by that children's choir toward the end of the track. This is Janet at her finest people! Why was this immaculate song not a single!?
(A+)
13. 20 Part 4 (Interlude)
We hear backgroud music and rain as Janet dials someone. "When are you coming home?" She says; followed by "I miss you" as she hangs up, the interlude slowly fades out into....
14. "Take Care"
...to this no so bad sex song from Janet surprisingly!! O_O Maybe it's because it's not really a sex song as "Take Care" is a sensual ballad about...yes.....masturbation as Janet even sings "I'll lay here and take care of it/Until you come home to me". I think what helps this song despite it's near graphic subject matter is how soothing and calm it is compared to Janet's other 2000s sex ballads. It's a tolerable tune is all I'm saying and Janet's vocals are sweet. As the song ends, we hear rain and thunder....
(B+)
(B+)
15. "Love 2 Love"
With it's heavy synth beat and soulful instrumentation, "Love 2 Love" is often compared to Prince's work as it has that production aesthetic to it. I really like it as Janet sings this with almost the kind of cool and smoothness that'd you'd expect from Prince. She strains her voice to the point where it sounds a bit painful but also quite beautiful.
(B+)
16. (Outro) 20 Part 5
Janet concludes the album by once again talking about 20 years and how fast it flashes by like lightning in the sky. Even thanking God! Well JJ, at least you're be appreciative of what you have been given, I just wished the album lived up to it's hype! Then there's a hilarious moment where Janet tries to kick her friend Lenette out of the studio and shut her up...lol cute!!!
So, 2 years after the disappointing release that was "Damita Jo" and the serious career fall out that was the Superbowl Halftime Show that year with Nipplegate, Janet saw once again to reclaim her spot on top of the charts. But more noticeably, Jermaine Dupri, her boyfriend at the time,, took over as head of this project. Sure Jimmy and Terry were there to produce a few tracks as usual but it was Jermaine who was set out to give Janet another hit. The results? Overall, they were VERY mixed! You see what Jermaine was trying to do was recapture the success he had with Usher and especially Mariah with "Confessions" and "The Emancipation of Mimi", but unfortunately, what worked for those artists just does NOT work for Janet. Songs like "Do It To It" are good, but not up to her caliber and then you have "With U"; a cardboard copy of "We Belong Together" and "Confessions" that just sounds weak as hell. I'd say the album is at it's strongest when Jimmy and Terry get to shine with the beautifully produced "Enjoy" that really showcases why Janet's music is so touching and timeless. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the effort Jermaine put into the album, but for the most part it just doesn't work. What we have here is another heavily flawed album with moments that actually remind us of Janet's greatness but as a whole, it's nothing special at all. The album, once again, under performed! Only selling only a little under 300,000 copies it's first week and over 1.2 million worldwide. It seems that "20 Y.O." was more of a contractual obligation once again than an album she truly wanted to make, which is a shame since there definitely was some effort put into the album even though there should have been more! Anyway...
"Celebrating 20 years since her breakthrough blockbuster album, "Control", "20 Y.O." is a sadly, only decent record with very small glimpses of what made Janet the memorable Icon she has always been. The lukewarm productions by Jermaine Dupri don't help matters either!"
(C)
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