Always Imitated, Never Duplicated: Everything In Pop Music That Janet Jackson Did First

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1. Janet Set The Record For Top 5 Singles from A Single Album

 

All seven of RN‘s commercial singles - “Miss You Much,” “Rhythm Nation,” “Escapade,” “Alright,” “Come Back to Me,” “Black Cat,” and “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” - hit the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, even breaking the record previously set by brother Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Her record still hasn’t been broken.

 

2. Janet Was The First Woman To Create A Long-Form Music Video

 

Long before Yonce left us in shock and awe over her surprise self-titled visual album, Janet was blowing our minds with the groundbreaking long form “Rhythm Nation” video. Her iconic unisex militant attire, complex choreography and black and white coloring of the video was meant to erase the barriers between people of different races. Janet has said, “There were so many races in that video, from black to white and all the shades of gray in between.” Her song and video tried to start a movement, while other pop singers, like Madonna, were creating videos like this.

 

3. Janet Rocked High Waisted Pants And Chiseled Abs Before Everyone Else

 

 

Janet coined this signature look of the 1990s and later used by just about every pop star and model of the era and you know it.

 

4. Janet Took Music Video Choreography To The Next Level

 

Before Britney Spears and Beyonce, Janet truly raised to bar on dancing in her music videos. While Madonna was still frolicking and rolling around in a wedding dresses, Janet was getting down with her bad self. Next time you see a pop singer working it with intricate group choreography while singing, know that Miss J did that shizz first.

 

5. Janet Was The First Female Artist To Have Multiple No. 1 Hits From A Single Album In Three Separate Years

“Miss You Much” (’89), “Escapade” and “Black Cat” (’90), and “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” (’91) were all from Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 and rose to the top of the charts in three consecutive calendar years.

6. Janet Was The First African-American Pop Singer To Promote Feminism Through Music

“Listen up. I’m not a prude, I just want some respect.” Until the ’80s, feminism in music was hard to find and when you did it was it mostly the provence of marginal white artists operating on rock’s fringe.  It was “crossover” music star Jackson who really explored the subject and brought the perspectives of African-American women into the conversation. As noted rock critic Anthony DeCurtis said , the combination of Janet’s lyrics and presence allowed for  “[a] product that has as one of its aims the betterment of black people and the creation of role models for black women.” Janet was teaching women everywhere not to take any s–t from men, long before Beyonce preached feminism with “***Flawless.”

7. Janet Jackson Was The First Women  To Break Down The Racial Barriers In Pop

In Rhythm Nation‘s introduction, Janet states: “We are a nation with no geographic boundaries… pushing toward a world rid of color lines.” Just years prior to the album’s release, radio was strictly segragated between white rock and pop bands and black R&B singers and rappers. Then Janet came on the scene and helped build the bridge between these isolated genres, fusing hip-hop hooks with R&B soul and a sleek pop sheen, starting a new revolution through music and dance.

8. Janet Was The First Female African-American Artist To Explore Her Sexuality In Public

With hits like “Anytime, Any Place” and “If,” it was clear that Janet was striking against the taboo of women talking about their sexuality. Although Madonna beat her to the punch by making jaws drop with her 1984 hit “Like a Virgin,” Janet was the first black singer in the pop genre to do the same. Tina Turner and Whitney Houston were not telling men to call out their name or ask who it belonged to and they certainly wouldn’t go to the extremes of The Velvet Rope album where Jackson explored themes of BDSM.

9. Janet Jackson Was The First Female To Win A Grammy For Best Long Form Music Video

Janet Jackson took home the Best Music Video, Long Form gold for “Rhythm Nation” in 1990, the first female artist in music history to do so.

 

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Sorry if it was already posted. If it wasn't then don't bitch about it belonging in the Pop Culture thread or one of those other ones

[hotboy06]

Basic bitches to the rear..

 

 

[jarrylf]

I just love that theres so much still not even mentioned, but YES this list slays

[Laveaux]

all this praise is just to much for my voodoo soul to handle. YAS!!!

[ThatOtherFan]

Basic bitches to the rear..