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I just got home from Janet’s epic 2.5 hour Rock Witchu show, and I’m still so excited (har, har) that I had to dump my thoughts out as soon as possible. So bear with me, cause this could be a long ride.

(”janet” album playing in background… check.)

Ok, where to start without sounding incomprehensible and blubbery.. *collecting thoughts* … Janet Jackson is a f**king superstar. That, fellow jerks, is a fact. I’m going to admit that I had my reservations about this tour because I honestly haven’t been following her music on “Damita Jo”, “20 Y.O.” or “Discipline”, aside from the stand outs (I kind of feel like she’s kind of lost herself musically - no writing credits on “Discipline”, JJ?). But when I heard that she wanted to make this a tour for the fans - a hits tour, if you will - I started frothing at the mouth. Five of Janet’s albums are life staples for me, and a chance to see Miss Jackson in her element is a chance worth taking.

Earlier this year Janet set up a phone line where fans could request songs they’d like to hear on the tour, and the result is a 37 song setlist spanning her entire career, including her pre-”Control” days (which has never been done). Even though many of the songs were given the medley treatment, she gave us enough time to relish them and I didn’t feel like I was cheated of anything (with two exceptions: I wish “You Want This” was longer than 45 seconds and I don’t condone anything less than a full “Anytime, Anyplace”). Anyhoods, as I was about to say, the setlist was fabulous with the following song-per-album breakdown: “Janet Jackson” (1982) - 2 songs, “Dream Street” (1984) - 1 song, “Control” (1986) - 7 songs, “Rhythm Nation 1814″ (1989) - 7 songs, “janet.” (1993) - 5 songs, “The Velvet Rope” (1997) - 3 songs, “All For You” (2001) - 2 songs, “Damita Jo” (2004) - 1 song, “20 Y.O” (2006) - 2 songs, “Discipline” (2008) - 6 songs (plus one bonus track from “Design of a Decade”). There were no real glaring omissions, although I’m sure everyone would add a personal favourite or two to the list. But what really matters is that we got two-and-a-half hours of action!

Standouts for me were “Alright”, “Again”, “All Nite” (complete with video-esque “power outage”), “Got ‘Til It’s Gone”, “I Get Lonely” and “If”. And “Miss You Much”. And pretty much the whole thing. I have to say, a couple of my fave songs weren’t *on* tonight (cough, cough, “That’s The Way Love Goes”), but maybe I’m just being picky cause the last time I saw them live they were perfect. And was that a vocal slip-up I heard in “Again”? (she’s human!!)

And the answer is YES, she’s still picking a dude from the audience to bless with blue balls in an S&M-lite show. Whereas on previous tours she was a little more hands off with the teasing, this time she got very involved and the results were supa amusing. While she sang “Discipline”, Janet paraded around her harnessed victim… WITH SEXY RESULTS. She cooed in his ear, playfully whipped at his chest - you know, the usual - and then she planted a big smooch right on the kisser! And THEN she grabbed his johnson! Hai gurl hai! Whoa.

Some people/reviewers have mentioned the tour’s simplicity in production, which I have absolutely no beef with. There are no extravagant sets (looking at you, Velvet Rope tour), there’s no blatant concept - unless you count the fan’s choice element (which I do). She kept it very simple: crisp dancing, minimal set pieces, occasional pyro and HIT AFTER HIT Y’ALL! The occasional weird ‘good vs evil’ video vignettes were totally superfluous (aside from the fact that they passed the time during costume changes). I want my JJ dancin’ and sangin’… not dressed up like the Gatekeeper from the Nightmare game.

J and her dancers worked the stage like crazy, making use of the huge U-shaped catwalk that took up a good third of the floor. It’s weird, cause Janet has this way of making you feel like she’s looking right at you when she waves to the audience. OR MAYBE SHE WAS LOOKING AT ME. After all, I was fangasming only 8 rows up from the stage. Gotta say though, we had kind of a weak crowd in terms of noise and sing-a-longs. Show ya girl some love, you know?!

In near-conclusion, and to bring this full circle, JANET IS A STAR. She’s an entertainer first, and she knocked this show for fans out of the park. This show is not about vocals, it’s not about musicianship; it’s about losing your thoughts for a couple hours, reminiscing and having a good time. And a crazy good time it was!

SET LIST

Pleasure Principle
Control
What Have You Done For Me Lately
Feedback
You Want This

So Excited
So Much Betta
Nasty
All Nite (Don’t Stop)
Rock With U
Together Again

Pre-”Control” Medley
Young Love
Say You Do
Don’t Stand Another Chance

Luv
Runaway

PS: LL Cool J opened, and I’ve been wanting to see him perform forevs. Gotta say, as hott as it was to see him onstage I was kind of let down by his set! It was like LL-Lite … perhaps the stuff you’d expect him to perform as an opener but not enough of what you really want to hear. He licked his lips and flexed his muscles and brought girls on stage, and it was all kind of meh. But at least he did “Around The Way Girl” - otherwise somebody we know (read: me) would’ve had a fit.

(Photos by Wendy)