While I do think All Night or R&B Junkie should have been the first single off Damita Jo, "Just a Little While" was, and still is, a fantastic song. 

 

Thoughts? 

 

I also love this performance

 

all nite should've always been the lead just a little while is cute but it's kind of unremarkable esp in the 2000's music landscape.

 

the singles for damita jo were all just all in the wrong order i want you should've been the final single!

 

A catchy forgotten bop! It still sounds fresh to this day 

 

but like others said, All Nite should've been the 1st single

idk it didn't really reflect the album vibe very well

 

kinda like yes, and?

 

 

if i had to pick the singles: 

1. all nite (don't stop)
2. r&b junkie
3. my baby
4. island life
5. slolove
6. i want you
7. strawberry bounce

A great song but yeah, not a good representation of the album's sound and a strange choice for a lead single

 

All Nite - R&B Junkie - Island Life - I Want You (then maybe My Baby or Just A Little While) would have been a cute singles run

Sounds like a Pepsi commercial. Don't like it. Kinda like the Prince Dirty Mind nod tho.

Rushed in here for "Let's Wait Awhile." 

 

But it's cute. 

Spending Time With You should've been the lead. It's the centerpiece of the album. Could've been a new That's The Way Love Goes.

 

All Nite, I Want You, R&B Junkie are obvious single choices.

I love 2000s Janet!

Damita Jo, All For You, and Discipline>>>>>

I kinda dislike 20 Y.O. though 

 

All nite is like the perfect lead single idk why they went with this song instead 

While it's kinda out of place on the album, the song itself is great. I love how joyous Janet sounds on it and it has held up rather well.

 

@naval23 get in here

31 minutes ago, Supernatural94 said:

All nite is like the perfect lead single idk why they went with this song instead 

I'm pretty sure the premature leaking of the song is what led to it being chosen, because I don't even know if it was in consideration for the lead single.

If I were a betting person, I'd wager both "Just a Little While" and "I Want You" were chosen in quick succession following the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show fiasco. The so-called 'safe', non-controversial picks with radio-friendly appeal and sounds. Were they the best representation of Damita Jo? No, they weren't.

 

Songs considered for lead: (per Janet)

• "All Nite (Don't Stop)"
• "My Baby"
• "R&B Junkie"

Songs radio were interested in for follow-up:

• "Sexhibition"
• "Island Life"
• "Thinkin' 'Bout My Ex"
• "My Baby"

The trajectory of this album could have been vastly different had the 'controversy' never happened.

Island Life should have been the lead, followed by a dual release (All Nite for international, I Want You for domestic)

 

 JALW is cute though, it would have made a good 4th or 5th single

21 minutes ago, livelikemusic said:

I'm pretty sure the premature leaking of the song is what led to it being chosen, because I don't even know if it was in consideration for the lead single.

Supposedly there was going to be 2 different mixes of the song served to radios in the US, one for pop radio stations and one for the R&B/Urban radio stations to play.

 

The original released version with mainly guitar riffs was the pop version while the Just Blaze remix below with all new melody and lyrics was the urban hip-hop version. I guess the whole superbowl fiasco intensifying in the US made them scrap the R&B version and moved straight to releasing I Want You instead for the R&B stations.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Moth 2 The Flame said:

Supposedly there was going to be 2 different mixes of the song served to radios in the US, one for pop radio stations and one for the R&B/Urban radio stations to play.

 

The original released version with mainly guitar riffs was the pop version while the Just Blaze remix below with all new melody and lyrics was the urban hip-hop version. I guess the whole superbowl fiasco intensifying in the US made them scrap the R&B version and moved straight to releasing I Want You instead for the R&B stations.

 

 

Omg this remix changed the entire song... and kind of upsets me we didn't get it as an official release.

I always thought they wanted to ride the Avril-esque pop rock wave with this.

It's cute but kinda generic, I feel like many other artists could've sang it. I think even without the backlash it still would've underperformed (albeit not as badly)

I always really liked this song - but it's not a Janet standout to me. Though I think it does suit as an encore to Damita Jo. 

It's a shame this was chosen to lead us to the masterpiece of Damita Jo. So many r&b gems that should've had their moment to shine

I don't like it, she had too many bops to pick for a lead and went with this b-side sounding mess. A big misstep.

I always thought Thinkin Bout My Ex would have done well on radio back then, it's a very mid-2000s sounding r&b ballad 

5 hours ago, blown away said:

While it's kinda out of place on the album, the song itself is great. I love how joyous Janet sounds on it and it has held up rather well.

 

@naval23 get in here

And touching all my favorite fruitssssss 

 

It was the first Janet song I heard in my life actually which is probably why it has a special place in my heart! Such a bop 

 

It deserved to be her next #1 - the GP did her so dirty with the #45 peak 

I think it's a fresh choice for her to do this sound. They probably want to lead with this with some fresh hype and then release all nite during the album release week. JALW is always a cute little lead that wasn't here to stay but just sparkle the water.