Customer Reviews

Janet Jacksons Rhythm Nation

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was never a huge Janet Jackson fan until I heard the song "Rhythm Nation". I picked up this album and listened to it. I was close-minded when I first bought the CD, thinking that the only song I would like would be "Rhythm Nation". But as I listened to more and more of the songs, I began to like more and more.

There are several songs on this album that sound the same. "Escapade" begins to sound like "Miss You Much" after a while, and so does "Love Will Never Do (Without You)". The disturbing "State of the World" is a rude awakening for our society, as is "Livin' In A World (They Didn't Make)".

Jackson's thin voice is well hidden with loud rhythms and excellent musical arrangements, which actually saves the album in a way. It is obvious that the beats and rhythms in this album play a very important role.

The highlights of the album are obviously "Rhythm Nation" in addition to "Black Cat", "Come Back To Me", and the unlikely "Someday Is Tonight". (After spending 3 hours in a car listening to this CD over and over, I found "Come Back To Me" and "Someday Is Tonight" to be actually the BEST songs on the album, with the exception of "Rhythm Nation".)

For your first Janet Jackson CD, invest a few dollars in "Rhythm Nation 1814". This is Jackson's strongest album.

This was such a defining moment in this woman's career. Fans may have expected (and I'm sure the label were probably hoping for) Control Part 2, but Janet did not deliver that. Instead she took fans and new listeners to where few pop artists have: reality. Janet's social commentary on racism, bigotry, intolerance and prejudice was a smack to the face that nobody saw coming. Here, she sang about the harshness of a pregnant runaway teen, the terror of gunshots being fired on a school playground and the hope of communities breaking down colour barriers. This was a woman determined to make a difference.

It's funny to think, after looking at the album cover's dark and direct image that it contains such colourful and light tunes such as Love Will Never Do (Without You), Alright and Escapade. Towards the album's closing moments, we are also reminded of Janet's innocence on Lonely and Someday Is Tonight (a second chapter to Control's Let's Wait Awhile).

The fact that Janet spoke up on such issues is a true testament to the kind of person this woman is. A landmark album.

This is the only Janet album that I still enjoy. Every following release was completely dissapointing and her newest album "Damita Jo" is worst piece of filth I've ever heard. "Rhythm Nation" however is an important and powerful album with really powerful messages of social conscience on the title track and "State of The World" and yet also having lots of fun like on "Alright" and "Escapade". Every song on here is brilliant and this is Janet's strongest outing without a doubt. The Janet and Velvet Rope were boring, All for You was bad and don't get me started on "Damita Jo". RN is the best album to close out the 1980s and is a must have. A pity she never came close to being this good ever again.

While "Control" was funky, "Janet" was sensual and "The Velvet Rope" was introspective, this album, released in the fall of 1989 was DEEP and raw in terms of its messages on some songs, the New Jack Swing beats that accompanied it, and Janet's own voice which showed much strength here on this album. As a matter of fact, it's Janet Jackson's best album ever. I really don't need to explain why because generally 10 million worldwide seemed to get the message. This album made you think, made you cry, made you fall in love, and made you dance. Janet followed behind Tina Turner, her brother Michael, Prince and Donna Summer by singing a full-fledged rock song. That song was put into the R&B, soul, ballads and hip-hop of the rest of the album and was a perfect mixture. This album also proved to people that "Control" wasn't a fluke and that Janet Jackson would truly be a mainstay. While not all the time political (it has its share of love and relationship songs), this album truly proved to people at the time that this legend-in-the-making had arrived...and she hasn't looked back since. If there's one reason why she should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame years from now, this is it. It don't get better than this. This is the Janet I missed. You really wanna cop the best of Janet, go pick up "Control" and this one and it will take you back or for those who just saw Janet at the Super Bowl or those who thought her first record was "All For You", it's a great history lesson just to tell you who Janet Jackson truly is, this is it! Get the point? Good, let's dance.

Before the days of showing flesh (not that I mind that but it has its place), Janet was more about being a serious artist. After the success of "Control", she came back with Rhythm Nation 1814. The title track didn't do much for me at first but the other tracks such as "Escapade", "Come Back To Me" and especially "Alright" (still my favorite Janet song of all time) sold the album for me!

Would highly recommend it to someone that only knows Janet as the assets-bearing, flesh showing Janet just to show them that there was (and still probably is) more to her than body parts at one time!

This CD is amazing. Janet's wonderful (but not that strong) vocals mixed in with amazing rhythms makes this a great album. Each song tells a story. Definetely worth checking out.

After Janet came out with her classic breakthrough album "Control",she all of a sudden deservingly became a mega star.But,Janet never really made herself a GENIUS with "Control",not to say that the album was bad or anything,I loved it,but she never really came out with any REALLY important or any classic message.Well,that all changed with "Rhythm Nation 1814".This time,Janet came out with an extremely genius and needed message about politics,making one of the greatest politically charged albums since Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?".But,she doesn't just want to bore you,so she makes you dance along with it,too,making it reach out to the youth,also.Some of the best political dance songs on this classic are:the hard-hitting title track(without the 1814!) and the "State Of The World".But,this album isn't ALL politics.Actually,come to think of it,most of the songs aren't about politics,but are still a goldmine of musical history,espeically the classics "Miss You Much",the rock-inlfuenced and most genius track on the album "Black Cat",and the song with the classic sexed-up video "(Love Will Never Do)Without You".And the ballads are something to hear,too.This ain't just a dance album,after all!And,it's intelligent,and doesn't just have Janet complaining about stuff in the world,Janet is adressing what is going on in the world in an intellectual and socially conscious way,which is why this is considered to be a great album.

Yet,this album does do a little fake presentation;I can name half of the songs here that aren't about politics,but I won't,because I don't wanna make Janet look bad!

The Verdict:Janet Solidified Her Presence With This Sophomore Classic,And Also Makes You Dance 'Til Your Legs Are Numb!

Recommended:Yes

After shocking the R&B world with 1986's Control - a gutsy, risk-taking triumph that was a radical departure from her first two albums - Michael and Jermaine Jackson's younger sister reached an even higher artistic plateau with the conceptual Rhythm Nation 1814. Once again, she enlists the help of Time graduates Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (one of the more soulful production/songwriting teams of 1980s and '90s R&B) with wildly successful results. In 1989, protest songs were common in rap but rare in R&B - Janet Jackson, following rap's lead, dares to address social and political topics on "The Knowledge," the disturbing "State of the World," and the poignant ballad "Living in a World" (which decries the reality of children being exposed to violence). Jackson's voice is wafer-thin, and she doesn't have much of a range - but she definitely has lots of soul and spirit and uses it to maximum advantage on those gems as well as nonpolitical pieces ranging from the Prince-influenced funk/pop of "Miss You Much" and "Alright" to the caressing, silky ballads "Someday Is Tonight," "Alone," and "Come Back to Me" to the pop/rock smoker "Black Cat." For those purchasing their first Janet Jackson release, Rhythm Nation would be an even wiser investment than Control - and that's saying a lot.

TV served as the catalyst for Janet Jackson's seventh number one single, "Rhythm Nation." Songwriting/production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were channel switching between BET, MTV, and CNN and came across coverage of the Stockton playground murders. The tragedy deeply affected both the two men and Jackson. Combing the multiracial, multicultural ethic of New York dance clubs, the trio came up with a "nation" of people united by positivism. The danceable million-selling "Rhythm Nation" went to number one R&B and number two pop for two weeks in the early part of 1990, giving the single her seventh number one R&B hit. The track's music video won kudos and awards for its stylish look. Initially selling over 14 million copies, the Rhythm Nation 1814 album stayed at number one R&B for six weeks, number one pop for four weeks, and also included the platinum ballad "Miss You Much" and five gold singles: "Rhythm Nation," "Escapade," "Alright," "Black Cat," "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," and "Come Back to Me."

How do you follow-up a surprise 14 million selling album that spawned five number one singles? That was the question Janet Jackson must have faced as she began recording her Rhythm Nation 1814 album, the next album after her sensational 1986 LP Control. Stalled deal renegotiations and a management changeover at A&M Records almost nixed her working with songwriting/production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis again. Thankfully all the legalities were ironed out and the singer was reunited with Jam and Lewis in the fall of 1988. Jam's one-time girlfriend's "dear John letter" served as the inspiration for the ballad "Miss You Much." He thought it would be perfect for Jackson and he was right. The first track that she recorded after being re-teamed with the Minneapolis-based pair, "Miss You Much" sold over two million copies, staying at number one R&B for two weeks and number four pop for four weeks in the fall of 1989, becoming her sixth number one R&B hit.

Janet Jackson considered during a remake of Martha Reeves & the Vandellas' 1965 hit "Nowhere to Run." Songwriting/production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis suggested that she do something with a groove in the same vein. Flipping through the handwritten notebook of title ideas, they came across the word escapade. While the singer sat in an adjoining room writing lyrics, Jam and Lewis began recording a sparse demo for a song titled "Escapade." After the song was finished and Jackson recorded her vocals, the producers decided to keep the track just as it was, retaining the raw feel and song of the original demo, including finger snaps by Johnny Gill and guitar by Dave Barry. The third single from her multi-platinum Rhythm Nation 1814 album, the million-selling "Escapade" went to number one R&B and number one pop for three weeks in the spring of 1990.

This album is so amazing & still a great listen 15 years later! Standouts include "Miss You Much" "Love Will Never Do..." "The Knowledge" and "Come Back To Me." This album had a superb message of equality, peace and freedom that rang well as we exited the selfish late-80s world of Reaganomics and its disasterous effect on the urban world. Unfortuantely it is after this album that Janet would focus on sex. While a worthy subject indeed, she is now beating a dead horse and her celebrity and musical talenst are suffering for it. (...) Thankfully we still have this great disc to remind us of what a wonder she used to be.

It's kinda hard for me to rate which album I like the best, because they all seem to shine in their own way. Plus, they are usually on different levels. This album is good for when you wanna dance or need awareness on the world.

However, I like when an artist goes out of the boundaries of relationship and talk about what's going on in the world. There is so much good to say about this album. It's one that I can listen to straight through without skipping through any of the tracks. Depending on the mood, I'm in, of course.

"Rhythm Nation"- This is a tight dance song with good lyrics and fun to sing with. I can see why this was a hit.
"State of the World"- Following Rhythm Nation with even stronger lyrics. It's like she's telling a story. I like that.
"The Knowledge"- A song that can really make you think...Deep thoughts here. Good delivery.
"Miss You Much"- The words are kinda poetic in this one, even tho it's not one of my favorites. But it is still tight.
"Love Will Never Do (Without You)"- When I first heard this song, I thought that she was singing it with someone else. But, when I didn't see anyone else's name, I was amazed that she sung both verses different.
"Livin' in a World (They Didn't Make)"- This has got to me my favorite song on the album. I love everything about it. They compassion in her voice, composition, lyrics, music...
"Alright"- Sometimes I think that this song is too long, but it's cool to dance to. I enjoy songs about friendship.
"Escapade"- This track makes me feel free when listening to it. It's like taking a vacation from your life.
"Black Cat"- I always avoided listening to this song at first, but gave it a chance. I regret that I didn't listen to it earlier. I think that this one is pretty dope. Almost a hardcore Rock track. Makes me smile.
"Lonely"- This is such an encouraging song about offering her friendship. It inspired me to make a few songs of my own.
"Come Back to Me"- I love Janet when she sings songs from the heart. With honesty and emotion. I think she can display them very well. My second favorite song on the ablum.
"Someday is Tonight"- This is a like a sexy part to "Let's Wait Awhile".