Top 100 Soul/R&B Songs
#42: Janet Jackson 'The Pleasure Principle'
Picture a seven-year-old nOva knowing the words to Janet Jackson's "Pleasure Principle" verbatim but not knowing what any of those words meant, namely "principle"--which wasn't the guy whose office I was often called into in those days. I would later come to understand what this all meant, phrases like "feed your insecurities" and "human differential." It all boils down to her not wasting her time on a lover that just couldn't sustain something that started off satisfying. It was produced and composed by The Time's Monte Moir, and is one of only two tracks from Control that don't involve Jimmy and Terry. While the song definitely has legs of its own, it was the video of Janet dancing alone in a warehouse studio, jumping off the backs of chairs and flinging sweat left and right that really set the single off. The simple, yet high-energy approach would eventually inspire the Britney's and Ciara's of current times. Control was Janet's breakout album and the clip for "The Pleasure Principle" is probably what can be considered a signature one, as it informed the better part of her musical and visual execution for years to come.
The only other artist that rocked this hard back then was Michael Jackson.
Tags: janet jackson
Comments
The best Janet video ... ever.
S. Flemming | June 21, 2008 7:44 AM | PermalinkA couple of weeks ago me and my 10 yr old niece were hanging out looking at video's on you tube. She was showing me all the ones she like such as Ciara and Cassie. I said ok baby, but let me show the artist they got their inspiration and ideas from. I showed her this video and she LOVED it! But how could she not, when I was a little younger than her I loved it too and still do. Glad to see it on the countdown. Oh yeah and now she is so into Janet, wanting to hear and see more. See folks, we have to teach the young, that their favorite artist are really just copy cats.
TiP | June 20, 2008 11:04 AM | PermalinkSo many classic combos in this joint. Yes she did hit a cabbage patch into a wop. Barry Lather merked it! This was a young Stylus VHS classic. Tracking button took a beating from hundreds of replays!
Young Stylus was also intrigued by Penny being THICKER THAN A MUG!
Dang.
DJStylus | June 20, 2008 10:12 AM | PermalinkIronically I am not the biggest Janet fan; however, this is one of my all time favorite songs and DEFINITELY my all time favorite video!!!
mia. | June 20, 2008 1:58 AM | PermalinkI found an LP of Control yesterday @ a record store, and this song truly stands out even now.
Barry Archie | June 20, 2008 12:02 AM | PermalinkBaddest Janet single and video ever. I could watch this for days (even if the backflip was done by a stunt double as the rumor goes).
Mike | June 19, 2008 11:52 PM | PermalinkTwo snaps up for yesteryear!
ww4pdotcom | June 19, 2008 8:54 PM | PermalinkOne of my fav Janet songs. I did a little research on it and was shocked to discover it was not a massive pop hit, went to number 1 on R&B charts though. Like stated above this arguably is one of her most influential songs ever.
J | June 19, 2008 6:20 PM | Permalink