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Posted on Sep 3, 2014

What Makes A Legend/Icon: Popularity Or Impact? Janet Jackson Answers The Question

These days, many music fans believe that because an "artist" is extremely popular, they are icons/legends/the next...But when you stack up their achievements, they haven't made an impact. Janet Jackson is an ICON, a LEGEND, and a QUEEN because she IMPACTED the music industry and more! Let us count the ways! (Follow me on Twitter: @KeastonWhite and/or @JDJfan1814)

by jdjfan1814

Community Contributor

With her song "Nasty", she gave girls who were surrounded by cat calls and aggressive men the courage to demand respect.

One of the most incredible things about Michael Jackson is that on almost every album, he sang about injustice, hunger, animal cruelty, protecting the earth, and other important issues. But not only did Janet tackle important issues with the Rhythm Nation album, she was the first (and arguably the only artist) to make it cool.

Unlike most of today's pop stars who put out nothing but self-indulgent music, Janet rejected the idea of a "Control 2" album. Instead she chose to use the gift she had been given to speak out about important issues. She didn't just do one song; she did 4 songs: Rhythm Nation, State of the World, The Knowledge, and Living In a World (They Didn't Make). Not even Michael did this many socially conscious songs on one album. Doing that many songs is very risky, as it can come off preachy and cliché. But she did it the right way.

Again, Janet tackled real serious social issues on the Velvet Rope album. "What About That" dealt with domestic violence. When it came time to perform at the Fashion Awards, she took a risk and performed the song, instead of going with a safer song as she was asked. She received a standing ovation.

Humility for an artist at Janet's level in the game is rare at best. However, Janet embodies the word. She, like her brother Michael, has mastered the art of walking with a quiet confidence. While competitive, she blushes at the labels "icon" and "legend" (even though she was honored as MTV's first ever Icon and was also honored as a legend by the Black Glama…).

While other artists (including my beloved MJ) let the hype push them to use symbolism to self-proclaim their iconic status, Janet just walked the walk and put her money where her mouth is. But the irony is that because she has not taken the approach to brand and promote her legendary status, it is often forgotten and not recognized in younger generations. Nonetheless, the fact that she has remained grounded and relatable is another reason why she is not merely popular, but impactful.

Like her music, Janet’s fashion is eclectic. From the military suit to her sexy midriff-bearing ensembles, Janet's been setting trends for over 20 years. Her costumes and clothing show she is the tomboy, girl next door, the lady in the streets, and the freak in the sheets.

Via en.wikipedia.org

Janet has been a long-time supporter of the LGBT community. On the Velvet Rope Album, her hit "Together Again" celebrated the lives of the friends she lost to AIDS. Two of the album's other songs "Free Zone" and "Tonight's the Night" were not as popular in the mainstream, but the messages of same sex love and intolerance of homophobia had a big impact in the LGBT community. She's also supported AIDS charities and the Trevor Project. More recently she signed a deal to produce "Truth", a documentary about Transgender people around the world.

Via en.wikipedia.org

Janet has been a long-time supporter of the LGBT community. On the Velvet Rope Album, her hit "Together Again" celebrated the lives of the friends she lost to AIDS. Two of the album's other songs "Free Zone" and "Tonight's the Night" were not as popular in the mainstream, but the messages of same sex love and intolerance of homophobia had a big impact in the LGBT community. She's also supported AIDS charities and the Trevor Project. More recently she signed a deal to produce "Truth", a documentary about Transgender people around the world.

Michael Jackson brought dance to the mainstream music videos, but Janet set the standard for eye-catching choreography by weaving intricate diverse dance sequences throughout.

Like her brother Michael, Janet pushed the visual medium, rather than rely endlessly on the "inspiration" of others to operate within it. She collaborated with creative directors and used original high concept ideas to tell stories in her iconic music videos and live performances.
The ''Got Til It's Gone'' video was critically acclaimed as a "masterpiece". Above, Janet, Joni Mitchell, and the director Mark Romanek talked about the project.
"It won a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video, and was also ranked number ten on a list of the "100 Greatest Music Videos of All Time" by Slant Magazine. It also received the most nominations at the seventh annual MVPA Awards, including "Pop Video of the Year" and "Best Art Direction"."

She also proved in her Up Close & Personal Number Ones Tour that she didn't need a big stage production with a bunch of costumes and pyrotechnics to match the success of her former tours. Opting for a scaled down show in more intimate venues as a love letter to her legions of fans, Janet put on a fierce performance while still connecting more deeply with her fans. Only Janet could perform an entire show in jeans and tank top and have the crowd and critics alike praising the superstar.

"Joe Lawler of the DesMoines Register said, 'Ms. Jackson clearly knows how to work a crowd, and they showered her with affection'...'A number of artists have been tagged with the honorific “Queen of Pop” title over the years, but Jackson’s longevity and body of work make it clear that she is worthy of it.'"

Although Justin Timberlake was the one who ripped off Janet's bra, his career was allowed to thrive, while Janet was blacklisted from several music channels and radio formats. It was 10 years before the former FCC Chairman Michael Powell admitted that the commission went too far with it's punishing Janet. Any other singer's career might not have survived the ordeal, but her album debuts for Damita Jo and 20 Y.O, are a testament to her staying power. Had she not been blacklisted, they would have undoubtedly debuted at #1 (making 8 consecutive #1 albums).