Janet's settled into a new relationship and, if songs like "After You Fall" and "Broken Hearts Heal", are any indication, ruminating with love on her brother's life and death. The warm, acoustic guitar sway of the title track sets the tone: these are giddy, grateful grown-woman songs. It's her first album since Michael Jackson's death in 2009, and the dissolution of her relationship with Jermaine Dupri. It came out in June, in time for warm summer nights, but fits in better with the enveloping dark of fall. Cole feature can't prevent it from being one of the best songs of the year, a conscious curving of the melismatic summertime bombast of chart-toppers like the Weeknd, Jidenna, OMI, and Bieber. A sweet melody and ribald Isley Brothers sample builds a sultry Quiet Storm groove. "No Sleeep," the dusky R&B single, is quintessential Jam & Lewis-abetted Janet. "2 B Loved", with its cavalcade of hoots and hollers, is probably the album’s most "now"-sounding song. Instead, Unbreakable is a synthesis of ideas Jackson’s collected and tested throughout her career. "The Great Forever" and "Night" are formally ambitious pop songs, but don’t deliver as much personality as 2004’s underrated Damita Jo. Missy Elliott gives it a try, two-stepping in with a squirmy synthesizer for "BURNITUP!" and the lazy bass and airy vocals of "Dammn Baby" sounds like Tinashe-meets-Teena Marie. Probably the only downside to Janet’s 11th album *Unbreakable-*aside from it running about three tracks too long-is that it doesn’t contain that kind of axis-shifting single. And even though it’s been out in the world for three years, the tour DJ on Jackson’s current tour runs it pre-show. It’s playful and funky and sensual it sounds like something Janet would make for herself.
That gauzy vocal loop, floating in on an elastic bassline, nudged along by dense handclaps and pin-sharp hi-hats, deaded the lumbering, surly dominance of brostep in one fell swoop. What Kaytranada did with the remix is what Janet’s long accomplished over her musical career: she won hearts and bridged imaginations on the dance floor.
The remix was unique, not just because it lingered on DJ playlists far longer than most major-label hits, but because it created an entry point to then-rising nu-house operatives like Soulection and HW&W via a cross-generational touchpoint like no other: Janet. Sexy.Montreal producer Kaytranada put out a remix of Janet Jackson's 1993 single "If" in the fall of 2012, but the edit, which reimagines the misty original as bubbling, whimsical house, became a party staple. So beautiful. She did also sample some of her new album which I am really excited to receive when it comes out, and while it is a different sound and vibe, it is still true to who she is – Outrageous. Decked out in white – which is just so her – connotations of innocence and re-birth – she gave us a show to remember! Promoting her upcoming studio album Unbreakable, and this being her first tour in four years, she dazzled and delivered! Entering the stage with her club banger featuring Missy Elliott, she set the tone for the evening! Taking us down memory lane and proving to us that she still has the moves, she performed all of her major hits that we know and love and so many more – Together Again, All For You, Escapade, I Get So Lonely, Rhythm Nation and Scream … I could go on for a while! I found that she moved in her own way but reminiscent of her brother, the late Michael Jackson. She graced us with her humble soul and beautiful voice on the opening night of her Unbreakable Tour.
This woman, who is not defined by a single genre but encompasses the definition of a creative artist a musician – a true performer. I had been long-awaiting this show since I had bought my ticket online, so when they day came, I was super stoked!!