“Damita Jo” showcased Jackson’s resilience as an artist. No matter how the landscape of pop music morphed, she was able to carve out a sonic space for herself. In 2004, R&B and Hip-Hop dominated the charts like never before. Producers like Dallas Austin, Rich Harrison, and Kanye West dominated the charts by producing hits for younger pop stars, all of whom Jackson had inspired. On “Damita Jo,” Jackson brought in a wide array of producers to work alongside the tried and true trio of herself, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. It made for an album that sounded refreshing, yet still classic Janet.

We’ll be exploring the album in further detail in Issue 2 of THE 97 ZINE out this summer. We’re still ironing out the details, with the formal announcement and preorder coming in May, but you can subscribe now to receive Issue 1 starring @MariahCarey’s “Me. I Am Mariah…” album, as well as Issue 2 starring “Damita Jo” and Issue 3 starring “Destiny Fulfilled” by Destiny’s Child. If you’d like to pitch an essay for the zine, email vincent@the97.net.

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Until then, check out my top 5 songs from “Damita Jo.” Each track I selected represents one of the five prevailing moods on the album.

Damita Jo: My Top 5

5. “Damita Jo”

The ever-innovative Ms. Jackson was ahead of time with this succinct track, clocking in at just under 3 minutes long. Some may consider the track as a sort of second intro song for the album, and thematically, it is, but it’s a fully fleshed out track … and a complete banger. With quips like “A little lady, a whole lotta class, but do me wrong and I’ll get in that ass,” how can you not get your entire life? This track represents the more playfully revealing, “behind the velvet rope” sort of vibe of several other songs on the album, like “My Baby,” “Thinkin’ Bout My Ex,” “Truly” and the poetic interludes.

4. “All Nite (Don’t Stop)”

This club-ready jam deserved to be a smash hit. Effortlessly showing us why she, and not Madonna, is Britney Spears’ true pop mother, “All Nite” proved that Ms. Jackson was still ready and able to hang with the young girls. Unfortunately, the powers that be made that impossible. “All Nite” represents the album’s more contemporary dance-pop sound, also found on “Strawberry Bounce,” “SloLove” and the elusive “Love Me” remix of “Just a Little While.”

3. “Like You Don’t Love Me”

Perhaps her most unabashed album to date when it comes to sexually-explicit lyrical content, “Like You Don’t Love Me” is my favorite of the hyper-sexual tracks on “Damita Jo.” It’s a high-energy bop that’s filled with confidence and swag. “Sexhibition” also does this well, as does “Strawberry Bounce.” There’s also the pair of bedroom (or, rather, backseat) ballads, “Moist” and “Warmth” if you need an oral instructional manual.

2. “R&B Junkie”

This battles for #1 in my book, and for a long time, it was. The throwback fun of “R&B Junkie” is irresistible and infectious, and a highlight of the album. Atop the funky Evelyn King sample, the song is impossible to skip. “Junkie,” as well as lead single “I Want You” and bonus track “Could This Be Love?” perfectly play with this soulful, R&B vibe. “R&B Junkie” is the album’s best uptempo, for sure.

1. “Spending Time With You”

If the album’s interludes are any indication, Jackson must’ve spent a lot of time in the Caribbean while recording “Damita Jo.” This groovy jam encapsulates the breezy beach vibe echoed on other tracks, like “Island Life” and bonus track “I’m Here.” While perhaps best known for her danceable uptempo tracks, Jackson’s slow jams are severely underrated. Filled with intricately layered background vocals and soulful leads, “Spending Time With You” is the perfect example of that aspect of Jackson’s artistry overall, and the sensual, slower side of “Damita Jo.”

Listen to Janet Jackson’s “Damita Jo”

The post Top 5: Janet Jackson’s “Damita Jo” appeared first on THE 97.

Okay, well maybe she doesn’t have an infinite amount – but she has 18, more than any other solo artist. As we mentioned last week, we’ll be doing a lot this year to celebrate Mariah Carey’s 25th anniversary in the music business. To coincide with our retrospective write ups of each of Mariah’s #1’s, we would like to solicit the opinions of YOU, the fans, to put together a definitive, fan-voted ranking of her #1 singles.

Each submission will also enter you into our contest to win a copy of the Mariah Carey #1 to Infinity vinyl, released in August. Additional runner-ups will win a digital download of Mariah’s new single, “Infinity,” when it becomes available on iTunes.

Please submit your ranking via the form below. Select your choice for each position in the ranking, from 1 through 18, #1 being your favorite, #18 being your least. Please also respond and tell us why your #1 choice is your favorite, and which other single you feel deserved to be #1 most. We may use some of your quotes in future posts, with credit, of course!

To be entered into our contest and help us announce our ranking in a timely fashion, please submit your responses no later than April 30, 2015. The decided ranking will dictate the order in which we will post our retrospectives on each #1, from #18 to #1. (However, our “Vision of Love” retrospective will still be posted first in honor of its 25th anniversary).

The post A Definitive Ranking of Mariah’s Infinite #1’s appeared first on THE 97.