When it comes to Janet Jackson, the girls are going to always make it clear that she is the Queen of Pop.
Though Janet has lots of musical daughters, one who many have often miscategorized is Britney Spears. Early in her career, the “Toxic” singer easily drew Madonna comparisons; however, it was Janet who was the blueprint to her fashion, dance style and even vocal stylings. Now, the singer is making it clear that the youngest Jackson was always her North Star.
“At 13 years old, if a Janet Jackson video came on the TV, my mouth dropped open,” Britney wrote in a post. “I kept repeating in my head, “No, No … Please come back, I wanna see that again … Where the hell did that come from ???” It was her ability to be incredibly mysterious, so dark with a vibe that sucked you in immediately, and then this haunting simple angelic tone… The feeling she gives with her voice when she sings is so pure and genuine …
“She’s not trying to be sexy … She just is … She can’t help it … She has always been god to me. She’s not just a singer, she is an entertainer in people’s eyes. Not only do adults feel her presence in such a spellbound way … She’s able to captivate the hearts of children as well !!! I was so young, and she spoke to my heart and soul like no one else … I have no idea why I’m writing this, but I do believe people like her are here for a reason … Just her smile alone changed the world forever.”
Aside from being two of music’s most hailed and praised pop entertainers, Britney and Janet also suffered, unjustly, from the effects of misogny in mainstream media, spearheaded by their connection to singer Justin Timberlake. Justin and Britney famously dated at the height of their individual success and later broke up amid rumors of cheating on Spears’ end. Justin would later use thinly veiled accusations to help promote his debut solo album, Justified, resulting in a media firestorm that directed ire towards Britney.
In 2004, he collaborated with Janet at the Super Bowl, where he infamously exposed her breast on television and then left her to bear the brunt of the fallout surrounding the moment; including never being allowed to perform on the stage again, being shunned by CBS and Viacom and ridiculed by conservative groups. Timberlake would later apologize to them both after Spears’ memoir hit shelves, debunking the myth of their one-time relationship and erasing his “good guy” image.
“I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right,” he wrote at the time. “I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism. I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.”
Mmmmhmm.
