Who Has a Better Repertoire of Songs?

Janet KILLED it last night! Maybe this is spoken by a true fan of Janet but I loved virtually every minute of Janet Jackson’s “Rock Witchu” Tour. Who has a better set of songs than Ms. Jackson?

This is the tour I’ve been waiting for, complete with three earlier hits for true fans (those closer to her age or older fans) that were there to buy the 45s of “Young Love” and “Don’t Stand Another Chance.” My loving Janet Jackson didn’t begin with the Control album as it did for many. Previous tours I often left wondering why she left off the earlier jams for those of us there from the beginning. Surely, that was my favorite part of last night’s show; the earlier jams that took me back to high school days of Janet posters on my wall from Black Beat Magazine and scratched records that I played ‘til the needle broke. Y’all young kidz don’t know nothing about that!

Janet worked hit after hit, every song a layer of memories – truly one of the best soundtracks to my life. When I moved to London, Janet was in my ear singing “now I’m all grown up, I’m in Control.” When I fell back in love with someone, Janet gave me “Again.” As I learned my freaky side, Janet learned hers too and gave me “Any Time, Any Place.” She covered all the hits reminding me of moments in my life that her songs were right there with me.

Bump what the haters have said, and skip that I know her ticket sales haven’t been premiere like previous tours, Janet still has it! For the young girls releasing music after studying at Janet’s School of Entertainment, take more notes because Janet is still teaching class.

Now to be fair, there are just a few observations I must admit to. This is Black girl Janet from Control days, thick hips and all which I heard some of the kidz criticize. I was happy with it. Janet is 42 and dropping 30 pounds to tour isn’t necessary for me to enjoy the show. I love watching Black girl Janet gyrate, especially during “Discipline” where she has her hot dancers strap a man in a straight jacket and performs all over him. I would have simply died. And I will say I’m ready for her to grow up. I’m hoping this is the last tour for her that she can be dismissed as attempting to keep up with 20 year old artist (her students) as some has written. I’m ready for an “Intimate Evening with Janet Jackson” a la red dress section of “Rock Witchu” Tour, not in an arena but a small venue where she talks about the days of dancing for two hour shows and how now she likes to slow it down, play with the hits, reinventing them for a more mature set. Jody Watley can school Janet on this. I still want the hits, but I would love a show where artistry prevails over holding onto pop star status. Janet has been there and done that, taught the class and failed a few young artists who wish to deliver her level of entertainment.

Overall, Janet KILLED it last night. Bump what the haters have said, “Rock Witchu” Tour is all that and worth every bit of the ticket price.

An Early Vote for Change

Today, I cast my vote for Barack Obama. I didn't ever believe I would live this moment in my lifetime, often times believing that a female, even a Black female would be President before a Black man and again believing that neither would be President in my lifetime. This may still be the case but it won’t be because I didn’t cast my vote. I probably would have noted this occurrence as surreal but this historic political process of campaigning has made what I did today, more real than ever. Barack Obama, with his brilliant campaign and plan for change, has truly earned my vote.

Why vote early? For me, it was two-fold. First, I honor that tomorrow is not promised. I wanted my vote cast today, a day I know I’m alive and healthy enough to make it to the polls. My car is working perfectly, no unplanned engine light or flat tire. And isn’t that just how crucial each vote will be in this election? Although I don’t foresee not being alive and healthy on November 4th, I also did not foresee a year ago being privileged to cast my vote for Barack Obama. But that’s how swift change can come. Not even funny, but if my car breaks down or worst, if I’m dead on November 4th, today I voted for Barack Obama.

Second and more the case, I wanted my 17 year old daughter to once again travel to the polls with her parents to vote (her first conversation about voting occurred at age 5 on the way to vote for President Clinton), starting her early in the process of understanding the value of making it to the polls and casting a vote. This is my daughter’s, at least 4th time to a polling location and she won’t be eligible to vote until the next election. By her going with me today, my daughter will have a chance to surely go with her mom to vote on or before November 4. My daughter making it to the polls with us twice is how a 17 year old can vote. Her mom will vote for Barack, but today, her daddy VOTED (past tense) for Barack Obama.

I remember standing in the lines of the last election, feeling discouraged at the tricks the Republican Party pulled to steal the election, before and after voting. After the election, let’s just say Florida. But even before Election Day, it was the promotion of gay marriage concerns that had many, even registered Democrats placing a vote to put George Bush back in office. For them and others that voted based on this one divisive issue, I ask - for that one issue (which has been ironically absent from this election – guess they couldn’t pull the same trick twice) – was it worth sacrificing our economy, the price of gas, so much more to continue Bush’s even then failing economic policies and tunnel vision view of the Iraq War? Was it really worth it?

Another reason I voted today was because I don’t need another debate, another joke of an answer or sentence to nowhere from Palin or McCain, another on-point Saturday Night Live spoof to help me decide my vote. Today, I voted for Barack Obama. Not just because he is Black, but too because he is a Black man and the best person up for the challenge of leading our Nation, restoring the promise of America.

What a historic moment in our history! I’m so proud to be an American.