Ranking the Best Songs on Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope

These 25-year anniversary posts makes me feel ancient. I may have just been learning to drive in this era, but I’m so grateful to have future classics as my riding music.

Janet Jackson’s The Velvet Rope turns 25 years old today, and as someone who was around on release day, I’ll tell you that her new sound was, initially, slightly jarring but instantly embraced. This wasn’t the Janet bellowing alongside her brother in “Scream,” or the bouncy tour-de-force that was “Runaway,” or even boasting the carefreeness of the Janet album. The Velvet Rope gave us a deeper, moodier Janet who obviously had a lot to share with listeners.

What resulted still reigns as one of her best albums to date.

Back again for this convo is my boy Darius Keeton. The Velvet Rope holds a special place in his heart so I had to bring him in to break it down.

Let’s talk your pick for the best track on The Velvet Rope.

Darius: “My Need”

“My Need” is a masterpiece. They way she has an ear for harmonizing and you can hear it on this song along with the Marvin & Tammi melody. She does this song justice and is one of the best deep cuts in her catalog. When it comes to this album, my choice of best song always vary but this is always a top contender.

Edd: “My Need”

See, this is why Dary is my dude. I expected to come here to plead the case for “My Need” as No. 1 but we’re in total agreement and he nailed why in his breakdown. “My Need” is quietly Janet’s best deep cut to date, expertly marrying those “Love Hangover” and “You’re All I Need to Get By” samples flawlessly. Y’all have heard me complain for a whole decade now about lifeless midtempo cuts – here’s the blueprint for creating an energetic track while keeping the vibes mellow and sexy. Incredible track.

What’s the album’s most underrated song?

Darius: “Empty”

I swear “Empty” doesn’t get the love that it deserves. As a song that came out in 1997 when the Internet was still fairly new, it’s truly ahead of its time and aged extremely well. Looking for love through the worldwide web is the norm now and she sings about a lover she’s never met in person. Hot take, that one FKA twigs song or Kelela song you like was birthed through this song. The production here is INSANE and is probably an argument for the blueprint of alt-R&B.

Edd: “My Need”

I’m gonna feel like a broken record by the end of this post but Velvet Rope’s best song is almost its most underrated song. Certainly it gets love in Janet’s hard core circles but it’s barely a blip on the radar of many fans. By 1997 Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were far from strangers in terms of working with Janet, so it’s no shock that this song is such a perfect compliment to her tone and energy. Even the breathy pacing of the verses add to the song. I can go on for days about this track. It deserves more love.

Name an album cut that should have been a single.

Darius: “My Need”

“My Need” definitely would have easily been a great single especially for Black radio. It probably would have gave her another Billboard R&B #1. Another contender is “Anything.”

Edd: “Anything”

I’M NOT GONNA SAY MY NEED AGAIN. But I agree with Dary’s hat tip to “Anything.” It’s a pretty obvious successor to “Any Time, Any Place,” sure, but it’s the type of sultry slow-burner that would have been all over Quiet Storm radio playlists in 1997. Despite Velvet Rope’s unabashed sexuality, we didn’t really get a Sexy Janet Single on this project (unless you stretch and count “Go Deep,” I guess). I think it would have made a better choice for final single than “You” or “Every Time.”

Janet is the queen of iconic visuals. What’s the video video from this project?

Darius: “Got til it’s Gone”

First off, “Got til it’s Gone” has one of the best cinematography for a Janet video and she looks amazing as usual.

She was subconsciously promoting the Black Lives Matter movement way back in 1997 while the video is alluded to take place during Apartheid. My favorite part is when all the Black people are having a dance party in the Whites Only bathroom. She gave us plenty great videos from this era but this one takes the cake for me.

Edd: “Got til it’s Gone”

A no-brainer. I was always struck how the shadowy cinematography flew in the face of the overly-flashy, glossy visuals of the era. In many ways, it set the template for neo-soul artists in the coming decade. And, as Dary mentioned, the video’s real draw is its subtle commentary on race relations, which still hold up today. It’s understated yet strikingly powerful.

Tons of remixes were spawned from this album. Which one is best?

Darius: “Together Again (DJ Premier 100 in a 50 Remix)”

There are some great remixes that came from this era but that DJ Premier mix of “Together Again” is literally top tier! I love the performance of it at the 1998 American Music Awards. Honorable mention is the “Jimmy’s Deep Remix” of “Together Again” which is not the “Deeper Remix” that had a music video.

Edd: “Go Deep (Timbaland and Missy Remix)”

Can’t lie, I totally forgot about that Preemo remix – I hadn’t heard it in years. While I’m sure the obvious choice is the TNT Remix of “I Get Lonely” with Blackstreet, I gotta show love to Timbaland and Missy’s “Go Deep” remix, which completely reimagines the hyperactive original as an intergalactic block party. A great remix always brings a whole new perspective to a track – Timbo and Misdemeanor understood that assignment.

Is The Velvet Rope Janet’s best album?

Darius: Even though this is my favorite album of ALL TIME, I can’t front that when it comes to cohesion and an immaculate set of tracks, Rhythm Nation is that one. I will say that The Velvet Rope is her most experimental and artistic album and it’s essential to her discography.

Edd: The Velvet Rope is my personal favorite Janet album – by FAR the album I revisit the most – but I can’t in good faith say it’s her best, not when Rhythm Nation is staring me in the face. You could make an argument that The Velvet Rope is her most artistically daring album, and its influence was certainly felt across the next generation of artists. But I can’t say it’s her best. Coming in at second place ain’t too bad, after all.

Is The Velvet Rope a classic?

Darius: My heart says yes but i think the most correct title would be that it’s a cult classic. Janet was pushing the boundaries of both Pop and R&B music, and for a specific group of people, especially Black Queer people, this is our holy grail album. She wasn’t afraid to put herself in Queer lyrics and speak about discrimination, depression and abuse. Music comes to you in certain times in life and I discovered this in the most darkest days in my life, literally shed tears while listening to it. While this album might not be everyone’s go-to Janet album, it definitely deserves the praise it gets.

Edd: I’ll go further than Dary and say that’s bigger than a cult classic – it’s a CLASSIC classic. Is it home to incredible music and groundbreaking tracks? Check. Did it mark a turning point in Janet’s career? Check. Did it impact the genre as a whole, and influenced generations of artists afterward? Check.  Just re-read Dary’s personal account if you want to know how powerful this album is. And he’s not alone. The Velvet Rope is raw, unapologetic and defiant. And legendary, too.

Who did you agree with, Edd or Darius? Also DO YOU LOVE MY NEED TOO? Let us know below.