The tenth and youngest child of the Jackson family, she began her career with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, and Fame. After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third and fourth studio albums Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music.
In 1991, Jackson signed the first of two record-breaking multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest-paid artists in the industry. Prior to her first studio project with Virgin, she appeared in her first of several lead film roles in Poetic Justice (1993). Her two studio albums which followed, Janet (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997), saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol. These records, along with their promotional music videos and live performances in concert tours, branded Jackson as one of the world's most erotic performers, garnering both criticism and praise. By the end of the 1990s, she was named by Billboard magazine as the second most successful recording artist of the decade after Mariah Carey. The release of her seventh studio album All for You in 2001 coincided with a celebration of her impact on the recording industry as the subject of the inaugural MTV Icon special.
The backlash from the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy resulted in an industry blacklisting under the direction of Les Moonves, then-CEO of CBS Corporation. Jackson subsequently experienced reduced radio airplay, televised promotion and sales figures from that point forward. After parting ways with Virgin Records, she released her tenth studio album Discipline (2008), her first and only album with Island Records. In 2015, she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label, Rhythm Nation and released her eleventh studio album Unbreakable the same year. Since then she has continued to release music as an independent artist.
Having sold over 100 million records, Jackson is one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has amassed an extensive catalog, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "That's the Way Love Goes", "Together Again", and "All for You"; she holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with 18. She is also the only artist in the history of the chart to have seven commercial singles from one album (Rhythm Nation 1814) peak within the top five positions. In 2008, Billboard placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". In December 2016, the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist after Madonna. One of the world's most awarded artists, her accolades include five Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, eleven American Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and eight Guinness World Records entries. In 2019, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jackson has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers and credited with elevating a standard of sound, showmanship and sex appeal expected of pop stars.
Can
Janet Jackson Lyrics
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It always ends up not good
This why I know this can't be good"
Open my eyes first thing I see
Your lively smile smiling at me
Kiss my forehead up out of bed
Off to start your day here in bed I stay
When you touch me there
Ooh ooh it feels so right...
What am I doing
Get up out of bed
To myself thinking
This can't be good
(This can't be good)
This can't be good
(This can't be good)
This can't be oh
What's going on what's happening to me
Promised myself I would never let this be
Never again, never that way
Cut me so deep that I haven't been the same
What I feel right now, I felt before
When I hear your name
And my feelings are floored
I'm fighting it but I can't
But I don't know if I should
The one thing I know
This can't be good babe
This can't be good
(This can't be good)
This can't be good
(This can't be good)
This can't be oh
Oh I think I'm falling in love again (oh no)
Told myself I never would
I think I'm falling in love again
This cannot be good
This can't be good
(This can't be good)
This can't be good
(This can't be good)
This can't be oh
The song "Can't B Good" by Janet Jackson talks about the inner struggle in a new relationship. The lyrics imply that the singer has been hurt before and is being cautious about falling in love again. It seems that they are conflicted about their feelings and unsure if this new love is a good thing or not. They are torn between their desire to be with this person and the fear of getting hurt again.
The opening lines, "I can't believe I let this happen to me, It always ends up not good, This why I know this can't be good" reveal the singer’s fear of getting hurt again. They are hesitant to get close with someone new and afraid of the pain that might come with it.
As the song progresses, the singer seems to be struggling with the idea of falling in love again. They are tempted and drawn towards this person but are also scared. The line "What am I doing, Get up out of bed, To myself thinking, This can't be good" portrays their inner turmoil.
In the end, the singer admits that they are falling in love again but are unsure if it is good for them. The line "I think I'm falling in love again, This cannot be good" confirms the singer's feelings, even if they are unsure of where it might lead.
Overall, the song "Can't B Good" is a powerful representation of the emotional conflict that people experience when they are falling in love again after being hurt before. The song highlights the doubts and caution that come with opening up to someone new.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't believe I let this happen to me
I'm surprised that I allowed myself to fall in love again, despite the risk of getting hurt.
It always ends up not good
In the past, my relationships have always ended badly.
This why I know this can't be good
Because of my past experiences, I'm convinced that this new relationship is unlikely to end well.
Open my eyes first thing I see
As soon as I wake up, I see your smiling face.
Your lively smile smiling at me
Your happy expression is contagious and puts me in a good mood.
Kiss my forehead up out of bed
As you get out of bed, you give me a sweet kiss on the forehead.
Off to start your day here in bed I stay
You're starting your day, but I'm choosing to stay in bed and think about our relationship.
Thinking bout last night playing in my mind
I'm replaying the events of last night in my head, trying to make sense of my feelings.
When you touch me there
I feel physical pleasure when you touch me in certain places.
Ooh ooh it feels so right...
I enjoy the physical sensations of being with you, but I'm not sure if this is enough to sustain a relationship.
This can't be good
Despite the positive aspects of our relationship, I'm convinced that it's not sustainable in the long run.
(This can't be good)
(This can't be good)
What's going on what's happening to me
I'm confused by the strength of my emotions and unsure of what to do next.
Promised myself I would never let this be
I made a vow to myself to never fall in love again, but I'm struggling to keep that promise.
Never again, never that way
I'm determined to avoid the hurt that comes from falling in love, but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to avoid it.
Cut me so deep that I haven't been the same
My past relationships have caused me pain and trauma that still affects me today.
What I feel right now, I felt before
The emotions I'm experiencing in this relationship are similar to what I felt in my past relationships.
When I hear your name
Even the thought of you provokes strong emotions in me.
And my feelings are floored
My emotions are overwhelming and difficult to process.
I'm fighting it but I can't
I'm trying to resist my feelings, but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to do so.
But I don't know if I should
I'm uncertain of whether I should pursue this relationship or walk away to avoid getting hurt.
The one thing I know
Despite my uncertainty, I'm sure that this relationship cannot end well.
Oh I think I'm falling in love again (oh no)
I'm starting to fall in love with you, despite my reservations and fears.
Told myself I never would
I made a promise to myself to never fall in love again, but I may be breaking that promise.
This cannot be good
I'm convinced that this relationship will not end well, despite the positive feelings I'm experiencing.
This can't be good
I'm still not convinced that this relationship is sustainable or healthy in the long run.
(This can't be good)
(This can't be good)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID DOROHN GOUGH, SHAFFER SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind