May 18, 1993. A date that will live in infamy...at least to me. On that day, Janet Jackson released her janet. album, intensifying my growing passion for her and her music. In the weeks leading up to the CD's arrival, I began counting down the days until I could purchase my own copy. Not surprising, right? Particularly since countdowns and I have history and fit together so well. Still, you may find my anticipation and excitement not all that noteworthy, until you take into consideration the rest of my classmates were preoccupied with how many days of school were left until summer vacation. I could not be bothered by that. Clearly, the new Janet Jackson CD proved far more important than the last day of sophomore year for 16-year-old Chris.
"That's the Way Love Goes," the album's lead single, introduced the world to a different, more mature Janet. The song's laid-back, sensual mood deviated from the more dance-driven, Minneapolis sound featured on her Rhythm Nation and Control albums. On the new CD, Jackson traded social consciousness for sexual exploration and individual assertiveness, most overtly showcased on the sizzling "Any Time, Any Place" and "Throb." Her infamous semi-nude Rolling Stone cover symbolized the singer's maturation and announced the arrival of the new Janet, not only on the magazine but on posters, too. My infatuation dictated I had to have that poster, and my friends often share their memories of seeing it in my room. Though none of them has admitted as much, they probably asked themselves why a gay guy would have a picture of a woman whose breasts were bare save the cupping hands of a man otherwise unseen. The easy answer to that question is: Because Janet Jackson, of course! Have I not mentioned I was (and still am) obsessed? It wasn't the only poster of the singer that adorned my walls, either. I wanted everyone who came to my room, both at home and at college, to know how much I loved her, so I snatched up any poster I could find and proudly displayed each one. (Update: I no longer own any of those posters, not that Bryce would let me hang them anywhere in our house. I lost them in the apartment fire my roommate, Maggie, and I experienced in the fall of 2000.) Once janet. hit stores, I rushed to obtain a copy and proceeded to listen to the entire CD on repeat until I knew it by heart. Thinking back to the days of Chris's Top 40, the album's impact on my life was evident. Each one of the songs eventually made its way onto my countdown regardless of whether or not Jackson released them to radio. Many of them found their way #1, including "That's the Way Love Goes," "If," "You Want This," "Because of Love," "Again," "This Time," and "Where Are You Now." One of the standout tracks from the album, "If," quickly catapulted to the top of my favorite Jackson songs, earning it the #2 position on my Hot 101. The song also spent more weeks on Chris's Top 40 than any other, hanging around on the chart from the summer of 1993 until I discontinued the weekly ranked list at the end of 1995. And as much as I loved Rhythm Nation and thought Jackson would never be able to outdo herself, janet. proved that assumption wrong. In just about every way, the CD defined my high school experience and served as my soundtrack to 1993, 1994, and 1995. Few other albums can boast such longevity and prevalence in their impact on my life.
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I am a self-proclaimed pop culture geek and list enthusiast who is celebrating the big four-zero by counting down the most important, influential, and favorite music, movies, television shows, books, and video games of my life so far. Categories
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