Janet Jackson
The Velvet Rope

THE REVIEW

Many things have been said about this highly sensitive character. I'm not interested in that. I only want to talk about her work: "The velvet rope", probably the pinnacle of this African-American artist, released in 1996, after a long period of depression. The cover, a deep crimson velvet. In art, red represents emotional drama. Janet is with her head down and eyes half-closed.

The result was her most touching and intense album, which received excellent reviews, was hugely successful in Europe but was not understood by Americans, partly due to the sophisticated sound that markedly deviated from the singer's previous productions.

The album can boast 7 successful singles among which stands out for its global and undisputed success "Together Again", a festive and cheerful up-tempo that Jackson dedicates to a friend who died of AIDS. Other hot topics are addressed in the album: domestic violence in "What About" to the fate of young people in "Velvet Rope" and sexual freedom in "Free Xone" (a true gem). The result is an album very well thought out in terms of content. A substantial album with 23 tracks allowing for a thorough analysis and selection to satisfy different listening moments. We're in full R&B, with black and hip-pop veins, funky and rock parentheses, refined and deep sounds, captivating and enveloping rhythms. For example, I find the remix (something of the old piece "Big Yellow Taxi" is hidden) in "Got 'til it's gone", a truly captivating track, rap school, but sophisticated and evening-like.

It's the soft sounds, the harps, the strings, the good orchestration that make the work complete, lively, and reflective. Go from the depth of "Empty" or from the strongly fraternal nature of "What about". The audience enjoyed "Every Time", with its serene softness and the remake of "Tonight is the night" by Stewart. Formidable freshness and introspective analysis in "I Get Lonely", whispered, soulful, and full of suffering. Sad and delicate too, "Anything" ends in a languid lapping: nocturnal. Summery, green, sweet, and resurgent the very elegant "Special".

A succulent album, for those who want to taste a very modern, R&B, soul, black, electronic, and elegant sound. Who cares if it sold 1 or 10,000,000 copies. The content is vast and fulfilling, at times very commercial, at others not at all.

Janet will not repeat herself at this level again.