Author: Darren

You can now download Janet’s TRL UK performance (well most of it anyway!) at Janet Multimedia.

{{popup janet-listening-large.jpg Janet 267×409}}Janet last night hosted “A Night with Janet Damita Jo Jackson” held in celebration of Janet her career achievements at Mortons Restaurant on March 21, 2004 in Hollywood, California. It also gave those present the chance to hear her new album, Damita Jo. Visit our gallery now to see a full set of photos!

From Reuters: And the award for strength and endurance goes to … Janet Jackson.

The R&B singer, whose “wardrobe malfunction” at the Super Bowl last month, sent shockwaves through the nation, paid tribute to her special qualities Saturday when she received a career achievement honor at the Soul Train Music Awards.

With her breasts safely ensconced in a white gown, the 37-year-old singer thanked her fans, without specifically mentioning the infamous fallout.

“You’ve been there for me during the good times as well as the bad, and you’ve lifted me up with your love. Your love and support has always been a great source of comfort, especially in these last few weeks.”

Her speech frequently punctuated by cheers of love and support from the audience, Jackson said she was “amazed” to have endured in showbusiness for 30 years.

“That endurance is my heritage, as a woman, and especially a black woman. I’m convinced that we black women possess a special, indestructible strength that allows us to not only get down but to get up, to get through and to get over.”

The onset of canned music prevented her from continuing at length, and she avoided reporters when she went backstage afterward — surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards — to pose briefly for photographers.

Jackson’s prize — a.k.a. the Quincy Jones Award for outstanding career achievement (female) — forms part of her promotional duties for her new album, “Damita Jo,” which is set for U.S. release on March 30, and internationally the day before.

The winner of the corresponding male prize was similarly controversial: R&B singer R. Kelly, who faces child pornography charges in his home state of Illinois. He, too, has a new album coming out, and also dodged reporters. Kelly also won a prize in the main competition with his “Chocolate Factory” CD being named best R&B/soul album by a male.

The big winner of the night was hip-hop duo OutKast, which received two prizes, R&B/soul/rap album of the year for its Grammy-winning opus “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,” and the video prize for its infectious dance anthem “Hey Ya!”

Destiny’s Child frontwoman Beyonce Knowles, who had led the nominees with nods in four competitive categories, won a single award. Her solo debut “Dangerously in Love” was named best R&B/soul album by a female.

OutKast and Knowles additionally took home Sammy Davis, Jr. awards for entertainer of the year. As with the Quincy Jones prizes, these had been previously announced.

The 18th annual ceremony, which took place at the International Cultural Center, was broadcast live in syndication.

TO SEE PHOTOS, CLICK HERE.

Tonight, after the Soul Train Awards, Janet will attend an album launch in Los Angeles along with many A-list celebrities. The sponsor, Cigar Aficionado, will give special cigars to each person to attend. Meanwhile, a new photo of Janet has been circulated which can be seen on the left.

Press release from Cigar Aficionado: 19 March 2004: C.A.O. International Inc. has a cigar for controversial music artist Janet Jackson. The cigarmaker is serving as cigar sponsor for tomorrow evening’s “A Night With Janet ‘Damita Jo’ Jackson,” which celebrates Jackson’s release of her “Damita Jo” album.

The event follows the 2004 Soul Train Awards. Several cigar-smoking celebrities are expected to attend, including Jay-Z and Denzel Washington. The evening’s VIPs will receive a selection of C.A.O. cigars, including premium C.A.O. Criollos and L’Anniversaire Maduros from Nicaragua and a flavored C.A.O. Moontrance made in the Dominican Republic.

Justin Timberlake is among the invited guests. C.A.O. is providing headgear for the event, but not shirts with tear-away panels, so a repeat of the infamous Jackson/Timberlake performance from the Super Bowl is not expected.

CD:UK have removed their backstage gossip about Janet’s demands from their website. Perhaps Virgin caught wind of it?!

From Associated Press: David Letterman, who got an eyeful of Courtney Love ‘s breasts during Wednesday’s “Late Show,” has booked another noted breast-barer, Janet Jackson .

The singer will grant Letterman her first network TV interview on the “Late Show” on March 29, the show announced Thursday.

Starting that week, Jackson is making a round of media appearances to promote her new album, “Damita Jo.” She’ll appear on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and Fox’s “On the Air With Ryan Seacrest.”

She’ll also be on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Her appearance on Letterman is a coup for the talk-show host, considering it was also on CBS where Jackson had her controversial Super Bowl halftime show exposure. She later stayed away from the Grammy Awards on CBS, reportedly because the network wanted her to apologize for the Super Bowl performance.

Letterman’s show is pre-taped, allowing for editing. When Love leaped on Letterman’s desk Wednesday and lifted her shirt to expose her breasts, the shot was edited to obscure the view.

Jackson will be Seacrest’s sole guest and will perform for a crowd outside the Hollywood-area complex where the show is taped.

Fox spokesman John Rizzotti said it was uncertain whether she’ll perform one or two songs after Seacrest (also host of Fox’s “American Idol”) interviews her.

A seven-second delay, standard for the show, will be in place for her April 2 appearance, Rizzotti said.

The fallout from Jackson’s Super Bowl antics has been extensive, with the public and politicians clamoring for the TV industry to clean up its act.

Did you know that part of Island Life was recorded in the UK? When Janet was in the UK in February 2003, she attended the Brit Awards secretly and also London Fashion Week. But not only that, she penned the track with British songwriter Cathy Dennis. Cathy is responsible for hits like Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.

In addition, the track SloLove is written with former Alisha’s Attic singer Shellie Poole who was born in Essex, England. The track SloLove was produced by Swedish music producers BAG & Arnthor.

Due to popular demand, this news entry is for those of you that have downloaded the album. Comment on any tracks in this thread. If you have not downloaded it and don’t want to know about the album then don’t read any further!

According to a press release, Janet will perform on the Ryan Seacrest show and her performance will be open to the public! Taking place on Friday April 2nd 2004, it will be filmed at Hollywood & Highland Entertainment Complex, Corner of Hollywood and Highland Blvds, Hollywood, California. The show will take place between 12:00pm-1:00pm PT and will also feature a sit-down interview with Ryan Seacrest.

{{popup jalwtotp1.jpg Janet on Top of the Pops 233×240}}The photo to the left shows Janet performing Just A Little While on Top of the Pops on Friday night. Click the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.