Janet: Number Ones
For the first time, 33 of Janet Jackson’s global Number One hits, plus the new “Make Me,” are available together in a two-disc set. Number Ones takes us from the early days of “What Have You Done For Me Lately” and “Nasty” to her more recent work with her late brother Michael, Busta Rhymes, Blackstreet, Q-Tip, and Nelly.
Number Ones celebrates the career and creativity of one of the most successful and influential artists of our time. It spans more than 20 years of hits from Janet’s original albums-from her 1986 stellar breakthrough Control, which included five chart-toppers, to the most recent set Discipline.
Rhythm Nation 1814 was the best-selling album of 1990. Rhythm Nation 1814 contained “Miss You Much,” “Rhythm Nation,” “Escapade,” “Alright,” “Come Back to Me,” “Black Cat,” and “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” which all peaked within the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first and only album to achieve that feat. All these hits are here!
From the later albums, hits like “If,” “Together Again,” “All For You,” “All Nite (Don’t Stop), and “Someone to Call My Lover” are included. Other highlights are “Scream,” her only duet with her brother, “What’s it Gonna Be?!” with Busta Rhymes, and “Got ’Til It’s Gone” with Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell.
Number Ones is Jackson’s first greatest hits compilation since 1995, and is a must-have for Janet fans, especially those of us who had some of the earlier albums on cassette.
Rhythm Nation
Janet Jackson Love Will Never Do (Without You) (live)
That’s The Way Love Goes
Again
Together Again
All For You
Will You Be There
Today, the world said a final goodbye to Michael Jackson. I was able to view the memorial service on the big screen in a movie theatre in New York City. No matter what negative opinions people had of Michael Jackson or how much the media liked to poke fun of him in hurtful ways, it didn’t matter today. I am not defending any of his questionable behaviors, but I first blame Michael’s own father and the gold-digging parents of those kids more than him, the supposed perpetrator. And since there wasn’t enough evidence, I guess we’ll never really know what did or did not happen. But I digress. Celebrating the life of Michael, and not judging, was the purpose of today’s farewell. He sure meant a great deal to a lot of people. That was obvious. He clearly opened the door for and inspired a great many musical artists, and some of them were there to pay their respects by singing for him.
Yes, he was a legend, a marvelous dancer, songwriter, and singer but what became especially clear to everyone today was that he was human. He was also one of those artists whose songs changed with the times. For example, Heal The World and Earth Song addressed his concerns for the current state of our world and our environment.
Those who knew him personally emphasized that he was a real man with feelings, fears, and a good and generous heart, and that he was good friend. And to those who will suffer the loss of Michael the most – his children- he was Daddy. We saw him in different roles – an icon, a pioneer in music and video, but not as someone’s father. It wasn’t until the last 30 seconds of the memorial that it became clear, really clear. His 11-year-old daughter Paris took the microphone and said that her Daddy was the best father you could imagine and that she loved him – so much. It was a defining moment.
One of The Jacksons’s first songs was “I’ll Be There.” And it seems that Michael was “there” for his friends and for his fans throughout his life. Eventually, the man, who apparently was so so gentle and generous to so many people, had to ask a question of the world in a another song “Will You Be There,” where he tells the listener what we were reminded of today. Michael states, “But I’m only human.”
Michael Jackson, King of Pop (1959-2009)
For those who grew up in the 80s, it was his music that got us up to dance and kept us dancing at every party. It was his videos that kept us up late on Friday nights to watch Friday Night Videos. Almost everyone I grew up with attended a “Thriller” video premiere party. For my 15th birthday in May of 1983, I received two Thriller albums (yes, vinyl) as gifts. I already had the album, of course, so I returned one to the store and re-gifted the other.
What are your Michael Jackson memories? Let me know by commenting on here.
It’s understandable to be shocked and saddened but let’s remember and celebrate the music that added so much to our lives. Thanks for the boogie, Michael!
Everybody say, “Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coo Sa!”
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
With The Jacksons:
ABC
With Janet:
Solo:
Dirty Diana
Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
They Don’t Care About Us
Earth Song
Wanna Be Startin’ Something 2008 – Michael Jackson and Akon
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. was born on March 14, 1933. He is a man of many talents and accomplishments – music conductor, record producer, arranger, film score composer, and trumpeter.
He has been active for more than five decades in the entertainment industry and Jones has earned 27 Grammy Awards and the Grammy Legend Award in 1991. He’s worked with such legends as Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin. He worked closely and was good friends with Sinatra. Their last project together was 1984’s “L.A. Is My Lady.” He produced Michael Jackson’s album Thriller and “We Are the World,” and the film The Color Purple.
Happy Birthday, Q!
For more on Quincy’s contributions to the music industry visit: http://www.quincyjonesmusic.com
Happy Halloween!
While artists don’t generally release Halloween albums as they do for the Christmas season, there are some songs out there that are appropriate for this witchy holiday. I’ve put a few on the jukebox for your enjoyment.
Monster Mash leads the way. Spooky, a folk (non scary) version of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, and Black Cat by Janet are included. Speaking of the Jacksons, I’ve included some tunes (not originals) from the man who’s always in costume. Michael Jackson used to be the color of the unlucky cats we see on Halloween, but he’s opted to look like one of the other symbols of the holiday – the pale ghost! But his music is still funky, so Beat it and have a Thriller of a Halloween!
Adeli's Music Blog 
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