Bark + Bite

You ain't gots to lie, Janet Jackson

Photo: Wireimage

Janet Jackson is a legendary stage performer. Not because she could moonwalk like her brother Michael, or sing like him. But because she mastered the art of the spectacle.

Quiet as it may be kept, Janet Jackson helped lay the template that many pop stars follow today, with their heavily-choreographed, back-tracking-assisted, live extravaganzas. (Oh, hey, Britney!)

Given the amount of dancing that Janet Jackson does in her live shows, her use of a backing track has never really been all that controversial. Unlike Britney Spears, one of Janet's successors to the throne, Janet actually mixes live singing in with her pre-recorded vocals. So no, her shows aren't ALL live, but some of it is. And that's good enough for the kind of music that she does.

So why is Janet Jackson trying to paint a different picture? In an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the paper asked her straight-up if she lip synchs and she sort of lied and told the truth at the same time.

Q: Over the years, some people have said that Janet lip-syncs in concert. What's the situation on this tour? Is all your singing live?

A: Yes, I am singing live.

Nice try, Janet. But that ain't gonna cut it.

Watch a live example of Janet mixing her live and pre-recorded vocals below

Concert Review: Janet Jackson is restored to her pop throne in Washington DC

Fiercely clawing her way back to musical relevance, Janet Jackson performed to a sold out (Yes, sold out) crowd in Washington, DC on March 22nd & 24th at D.A.R. Constitution Hall.

Ever since her accidental “wardrobe malfunction” at the Super Bowl, Janet Jackson's brand as a recording artist has taken a freefall straight to rock bottom.  Flop album after flop album, a dry spell on the singles charts for almost seven years, followed by a universally panned and subsequently canceled arena tour with disappointing ticket sales and lackluster critical reviews, citing Janet’s weight gain and lethargic performances...let's just say that Janet's comeback was a bit overdue.

How Janet Jackson can turn her "Idol" momentum into lots of goodwill

The start of the millennium seemed to foreshadow another era of pop domination for Janet Jackson. She had a number one single and a hit movie. Her divorce from long time husband Rene Elizondo spawned an album, "All for You," celebrating the freedoms of the single life, which subsequently then spawned another successful, massive tour. Fast forward to half-time at Super Bowl XXXVII in 2004. After performing a medley of her own hits, out comes special guest Justin Timberlake and with one line ("Bet I have you naked by the end of this song") and a "wardrobe malfunction," everything went down hill from there.

What followed for Janet post-Superbowl was a string of failed albums and a tour plagued with illness. All the while there was talk of career extinction. To top it all off, her family suffered a dizzying blow when her brother, the King of Pop Michael Jackson, died suddenly in the summer of 2009. Things weren't all bad though. Jackson revived her long neglected movie career by taking a leading role in Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married" and "Why Did I Get Married Too".

But most recently Lady Luck seems to be looking Janet's way. After a few lackluster award show performances,  a surprise appearance on last week's "American Idol" finale had all the trappings of a comeback. Starting off with the tender ballad "Nothing" from the "Why Did I Get Married Too" soundtrack, Janet looked regal while singing the sweet love song.

The second part of the performance is when Janet really turned up the heat. Dressed in a body-hugging, black catsuit, Jackson exuded confidence and control of the stage as she performed her classic "Nasty." Though the stage was full of dancers and awash with lasers, all eyes were on Janet. Her curvy figure and palpable confidence were impossible to ignore. On the heels of such a dynamic performance it seems that Ms. Jackson is ready to once again take her rightful place at the top of the pop heap. But before she gets there, she'll need to make a few things happen first.

Darkchild hits 2010 hard with new Janet Jackson and Verse Simmonds

Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins made Janet Jackson fans' dreams come true by leaking the full official version of her new song "HeartBeatLove" featuring Pitbull and Caribbean artists Rock City and Machel Montano on his website on Friday. The heart-pulsing track borrows the infectious energy of Caribbean Carnival and marries it with Janet's signature sultriness. While Janet may have had a difficult time scoring a home run with her last few records, this song seems to have hit written all over it.

Janet Jackson featuring Pitbull, Machel Montano and Rock City - HeartBeatLove

In another Darkchild track, the superproducer teams up with Pitbull again on a song for Puerto Rican-born but Virgin Island-raised "Island B" artist Verse Simmonds and his ode to the grand ol' USA, "America." The song has hints of Akon peppered throughout it and Pitbull puts his foot in the song, playfully turning America (the nation) into a desirable woman metaphor. While it's unlikely to replace the "Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem, it gives patriotism a different twist. Forget Uncle Sam, let's replace the mascot of America with this scintillating lady Verse and Pitbull are describing.

Verse Simmonds featuring Pitbull - America

Janet Jackson: The hostess with the mostest

Janet Jackson is still dipping her toe back into public waters after the death of her brother the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Janet is overseas in Milan for fashion week and while there, she hosted a dinner for amFAR in an effort to raise money for AIDS research. Damita put on a bewitched looking wig/weave, slipped into an evening gown and hit the red carpet for the event. Jermaine Dupri was nowhere in sight. (Though there were pictures of the two together at an after party. Boo.) The singer remained tight-lipped with the media, declining all interviews at the event.

Watch Janet Jackson on the red carpet, hosting the dinner for amFAR in Milan.

Interestingly, Kanye West was on the guest list for the event. While lots of people might still be mad at Kanye for stomping all over Taylor Swift's ego, (and with new reports of yet another tantrum at Common's concert not helping matters) it appears that Kanye is not yet persona non-grata at industry events. Or maybe it was just too late to refund his money.

Blast from the Past: Janet Jackson's "I Want You"

In the aftermath that was nipplegate, the Kanye West-produced single "I Want You" simply got lost in the wash. The starry-eyed, Motown-inspired ballad had Janet vulnerable and lovesick, boo hooing for her lover's attention.

The video for "I Want You" received little rotation. MTV had Miss Nasty blacklisted after the Super Bowl incident and save for its premiere on BET, it didn't get much love there either. The video follows Janet from the block as she strolls through the hood, on her way to meet her boo. Janet walks through the grocery store, rides a bus and hollas at her girls. See, she's just like us. Watch the video for "I Want You" below.

Unfortunately, the last 30 seconds of the video are marred by the appearance of Janet's then real boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri. Now that Janet has officially confirmed that things are over between her and Jermaine in Harpers' Bazaar, what do you think Janet thinks when sees the last 30 seconds of this video now? Vote in the poll below.

The sympathy train continues, Taylor receives flowers from Janet

The mic snatch heard round the world is still bouncing around in the news cycle as more media outlets continues to press Taylor Swift and other celebrities for their reactions. Taylor, of course, is being portrayed as the unsuspecting damsel in distress who had her MOMENT stolen from her by that vulgar brute, Kanye. Celebrities have bashed Kanye left and right and Taylor Swift has pretty much been given a throne, robe and a pedestal for her princess routine.

Who's the latest celebrity to sympathy shower sweet, innocent Taylor Swift? None other than Miss Nasty herself, Janet Jackson.

According to People Magazine, Janet sent flowers to Taylor Swift's hotel room the day after the incident. Source: People.com

"Artists that I didn't even assume knew who I was [have supported me]," Swift, 19, told Elvis Duran during an interview on his Z100 radio show Friday. "I woke up the next day and I had flowers in my hotel room from Janet Jackson.

Really? Flowers? Did the girl lose a puppy or something? At best, Taylor's pride was wounded and Kanye was inconsiderate and selfish. But the way some of these celebrities are carrying, one might wonder if Kanye didn't punch Taylor in the gut and steal her milk money. It was a stupid act of hubris and celebrity stunting; nothing more, nothing less. Taylor isn't an Iraq War veteran so can people stop decorating her as though she suffered some horrendous tragedy?

There was at least one celebrity who was willing to stick by Kanye: Big brother Jay-Z. Source: MTV.com

"[I told him] I think it was rude, [and] that he has to watch his passion. At the end of the day, we're going to celebrate him for his passion more than vilify him [for it]," Jay said. "Because his passion, which caused him to make Graduation and all these great records, is the same thing that causes him to step out of line sometimes. So as he grows, he has to learn how to balance that. And he'll learn that in years to come. That passion right there ... that wasn't fake or staged — it was how he really felt, and it was just inappropriate. It wasn't fair to Taylor."

At least someone on Team Kanye. The only one who's stayed silent is the person whose video sparked the whole controversy to begin with: Lady Beyonce. Beyonce essentially pulled a Barack on Kanye and had to Rev. Wright him proper, throwing Kanye under the bus and setting Taylor on her pedestal. It's unclear if Beyonce has reached out to West at all or vice versa, but Beyonce seems to be keeping her distance from the whole calamity. If any fans were holding their breath for a live rendition of "Ego" anytime soon, please inhale now.

Janet Jackson fanbase strong in the streets

Janet Jackson has had two back-to-back modestly-performing albums, "20 YO" and "Discipline." But Janet's fanbase in the streets hasn't given up on her at all. Check out this grimey, gangsta rendition of Janet's "Rock With You" by one of her devotees. Watch.

Homeless Tyrone pranced, posed and purred for the crowd and they still ain't throw any change his way. What's up with that?