MANILA, Philippines—Janet Jackson, Madonna and Mariah Carey, the top female pop icons of the ’80s and ’90s, are still at it after all these years—and they’re back with new projects to reassert their supremacy on Billboard’s music charts:
This week, Elvis Presley’s durable chart records get a drubbing from Madonna and Mariah: When “4 Minutes,” Madonna’s collaboration with Justine Timberlake (culled from her 11th studio album, “Hard Candy”) landed at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the Material Girl surpassed the King for the most number of top 10 hits—her 37th!
But, Carey does even better: With “Touch My Body,” the carrier track from her upcoming album, “E=MC2,” she delivers her 18th No. 1 hit—a feat that enables her to take over the No. 2 spot from Presley for the most number of No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, second only to the Beatles, who have 20.
Milestones
Jackson’s latest projects also mark a couple of milestones: “Discipline,” the 41-year-old singer’s 10th studio album, recently topped the Billboard 200 chart—her first No. 1 album since 2001’s “All for You.”
And, Janet’s recent movie comeback, Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?,” not only gave her a Best Supporting Actress trophy at this year’s Image Awards, but it was also the third consecutive Jackson starrer to open at the top of the box office, following 1993’s “Poetic Justice” and 2000’s “The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.”
Predecessors
Like its predecessors, “Discipline” is a collection of exquisitely arranged, slickly-crafted tunes and sexy, slinky harmonies. And, except for the sadomasochistic banality of the title track ("I misbehaved, and my punishment should fit my crime.../ Daddy, make me cry.../ Take out your frustrations on me...”) and the blandly derivative “Greatest X,” Jackson keeps the lyrical content and interpretive execution light, sultry and flirtatious.
Beautifully arranged harmonies—a Jackson trademark—lend sass and elegance to the collection’s dance tracks (the carrier single, “Feedback,” “Roller-coaster,” “Luv”), and hit-bound singles ("Never Letchu Go”) populate the hefty track listing.
Top picks
Our top picks: “Can’t B Good” is a song reminiscent of “Twenty Foreplay” and Michael Jackson’s “I Can’t Help It”; the exquisitely phrased “Curtains” boasts of Janet’s sleek, soothing vocals; “Never Letchu Go” is reminiscent of “Anytime, Anywhere”; “Rock With U” has the soaring, optimistic spirit of “Together Again.”
“What’s Ur Name” is powered by a rhythm-driven groove; the techno-funk dance number, “So Much Betta,” features interweaving melodic acappella interjections, and the naughty song, “The One”—Janet’s collaboration with Missy Elliot—is an aurally sumptuous cymbal-and-drum fusion with indelible pop hooks!
