Customer Reviews

Janet Jackson - Design of a Decade

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I saw this video for sale a couple of years at the mall, I was so very happy. Most music video compilations feature only three to five songs, in conjunction with a particular album that an artist might be promoting. For example, Janet had already come out with two VHS editions for her 'Control' videos in 1987 (out of print), and then she also released the 'Rhythm Nation Compilation' video in 1991.

So when I saw this VHS - that is, all of her videos from 'Control', all of her videos from 'Rhythm Nation 1814' and bonus videos like "That's The Way Love Goes", "Runaway" and "Oops Now", I was sold. She (or A&M records) really didn't have to do this for her fans. Very cool...

Just so you know, the "Alright" video on this VHS does not contain the rap break w/Heavy D; you can only get that version on the 'Rhythm Nation' compilation video, which I think is a great one to own as well since it contains interviews and other extras. Also, the "Miss U Much" on here is the shorter version w/out the brilliant dance sequence incorporating chairs. You'll have to get the 'Rhythm Nation Compilation' or the 30 minute short film that came out in 1989 to see it.

Thanks for your time...

Janet was truly done it all in her videos and done her best to change the genre that started out as funny European art clips into modern pieces of urban fun. At best, she's a mind-blowing performer that takes control of the stage and makes you love her. Some of the highlights of this set of hits are include funky scenes in such upbeat songs as "What Have You Done For Me Lately" and "When I Think Of You". Stage presence is proven on faire like "Control" and the rocking "Black Cat" (even a panther can't take your eyes off Janet). Her choreographed to perfection solo apartment romp in "Pleasure Principle" combines her excellent moves and sex appeal. Janet gets downright epic on dance masterpieces like "Rhythm Nation" and "Miss You Much". These videos really made the big dance number essential to all pop songs. The videos are only shot in black and white, but the are revolutionary even in cinematography. Continuing on the epic front are a trip back in time in "Alright" (warning, not the Heavy D long version). Innocence be damned when Janet lets her waist line show in the sexy yet charming "Love Will Never Do Without You" and the steamy scenario of "That's The Way Love Goes". A trip across the world is seen in "Runaway". The cute "Whoops Now" is a big bonus of home video. And I should also mention the song is on the end of the "Janet" record. Sorry if I forget to mention that in the review of the album.

Now at worst, well, it's not her fault. It's boring direction for emotional ballads that just can't work. "Let's Wait A While" is just to sweet and loving while "Come Back To Me" is fair to lush. In all, some of the best videos of the eighties and nineties that can be enjoyed a lot. Janet fans, this is a must for you. It might be worth looking into her video sets for albums like "Janet" as well.

With This DVD You Can See Janet Grow Up.. Even Doh It Was Missing A Video From Her Design Of A Decade CD "Twenty Foreplay".. But This DVD Is Still Cool..

Track List...
1. What Have You Done For Me Lately
2. Nasty
3. When I Think Of You
4. Control
5. Let's Wait Awhile
6. The Pleasure Principle
7. Miss You Much
8. Rhythm Nation
9. Escapade
10. Alright
11. Come Back To Me
12. Black Cat
13. Love Will Never Do (Without You)
14. That's The Way Love Goes
15. Whoops Now
16. Runaway
17. Runaway Documentary

The DVD Comes With Dolby Digital 2.0 Sound And PCM Sound... No Subtitles...

The Runaway Documentary Is Like MTV'S Making The Video... LOL...

This tape features the music videos for "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Nasty","When I Think of You","Control","Let's Wait Awhile","The Pleasure Principle","Miss You Much","Rhythm Nation","Escapade","Alright","Come Back to Me", "Black Cat","Love Will Never Do(without you)", "That's The Way Love Goes","Whoops Now", and "Runaway". This video also has a Runaway documentary. I watch this video over and over and I never get tired of it. It's amazing. Janet is the BEST dancer ever. I encourage all of you to buy this video. It is a wonderful collection of Janet's greatest hits!

I've always been a fan of Janet's music and videos, and this DVD serves as a good representative of big-budget dance video making from the late 80's to early 90's. The vast majority of this disc contains songs and video works that are absolute classics worthy of any video aficionado's library. My big problem in rating this DVD is that, although I'm inclinded to rate this 5-stars just for the songs, what appears on the disc are too many adverse surprises and omissions that wound up leaving me disappointed more often than I expected.

Thumbs-Down #1: Some of the black-and-white videos are overly contrasted, and thus are lacking detail. I noticed this when comparing "Miss You Much" and "Rhythm Nation" to the same videos on the "Rhythm Nation Compilation" DVD, which has a much better digital video transfer.

Thumbs-Down #2: "Miss You Much" doesn't show the 35-second choreographed "chair sequence" (that's my name for it) which follows the shortened ending that MTV reverted to after the video had been in heavy rotation for awhile. I always love watching the extended part, and I can't on this disc.

Thumbs-Down #3: "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" is the alternate (partly colorized) version that is simply not as good as the original, all black-and-white version. This video shows Janet at her all-time sexiest, and the flip-flopping between color and b/w turns out to be more of a distraction to me than anything else.

Thumbs-Down #4: "Alright" doesn't contain the extended version (including Heavy D's rap and some other things). This video is still great, but it leaves me longing for the deleted sequences that I know are supposed to be there.

[Note: The "Rhythm Nation Compilation" DVD has none of the deleterious aspects mentioned above]

Thumbs-Down #5: The "Whoops Now" video is not enjoyable to me at all. The film is so overly grainy it doesn't look artistic; plus, I'm not wild about the song. Whoops, sorry.

Thumbs-Down #6: Aside from the "Runaway" documentary (see following comment), there are virtually no DVD extras . . . not even cool intros to the songs. No liner notes either.

Thumbs-Up (credit where it's due): The "Runaway" documentary is very good; albeit short. I love behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, and I wish this DVD contained more. This documentary has interviews with Janet and well as some good footage of the choreography and production crew.

[Trivia -- Number of videos in which Janet wears a dangling key earring: 8]

Janet Jackson is one of the best music video artists of our time. Yes, not all of her videos are all winners, but there's not too many bad ones. Pick up this DVD to watch the best videos of the begining of her career. Personal faves: What Have You Done For Me Lately, Miss You Much, Rhythm Nation and Love Will Never Do (Without You).

I agree with the other reviewers about how essential a collection of Janet videos is. The choreography is amazing and her attention to detail rivals that of her brother. I'm giving this only four stars because it could have taken better advantage of the DVD capacity (read: more videos, please!:)

The Control videos are pretty much here in their entirety, but Rhythm Nation is where we begin the edits. I loved the extended chair sequence at the end of "Miss You Much", but it is missing here. They certainly had room for the additional 30 seconds. Come to think of it, they could have included the entire Rhythm Nation movie. Perhaps in a future release. The "Alright" video is also truncated, but even in its edited form is still long enough and enjoyable (very cool to see Cab, Cyd, and the Nicholas Brothers).

Absent from the "janet" release are "If" and "Again". Another reviewer mentioned a few other vids from this CD, but these are the only ones that stood out for me. "If" had this cool Asian underground theme and some interesting choreography, while "Again" was basically just clips from "Poetic Justice". I would rather have seen either of these videos in favor of "Whoops Now".

I'm guessing the omission of some of her later videos was to maintain consistency with the format of the Design CD (but then what is "Whoops Now" doing here?). I'm hoping a more complete retrospective is released soon, but I found this for $9 and couldn't resist. It's hard to sit still while watching these videos, they make you want to dance. :)

Early in their career: Check out JLo (from her "In Living Color" dancer days) in "That's the Way Love Goes". And of course Paula in the "Nasty" video.

Wonderful video. Includes all of her videos from Control, and Rhythm Nation 1814. Plus, it features "That's The Way Love Goes", "Whoops Now" and the making of "Runaway." An absolute must for any Janet fan or adorer of her earlier short films. I might also add that all of the videos in this encapsulation are full-length (which is an added treat, especially when you watch "Control"). Worth the money. I fully stand behind this video.

this complimation DVD is great!!! it has most of all her videos in the 80s and most of her early 90s hits.... janet is a video star...

what held me back on a perfect score was that they dont have one of my favourite videos by janet 'twenty foreplay'... i like this video because she reminded me of a dorthy dandridge in the video.... at least janet pays homeage to the original divas before her.... we dont get that luxary because people are just taking beats left and right and there is not originality anymore...

to sum it up... janet is original and i will look past her latest album and i know she could do way better....

this is a collection of music videos from janet jackson in her prime and at her creative peak. I only wish more videos from the janet album were featured and that miss you much was extended, but I know that this is representative of mostly her A&M work and barely her Virgin work. My favourite videos are nasty, control, pleasure principle and all the videos from rhythm nation as well as the multicultural runaway. Get it today and see what janet did before britney and those kids came along