Janet, Mariah And Madonna Fight For The Diva Crown

Posted Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:43am PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

Well, what do you know? I looked up Madonna's new single "4 Minutes" on a competing site that sells MP3s and it said, "Customers who bought this song also bought this album" and it pointed to Janet's Discipline. Underneath Discipline, it read, "Customers who bought this album also bought this item" and--you guessed it--Mariah's "Touch My Body" was at the top of the list.

Madonna, Janet and Mariah are such huge pop divas that it makes sense that there would be some overlap among their fanbases even though each offers something quite different. It is interesting that all are returning to the market with new records.

Janet's Discipline debuted at No. 1 following its February 26 release. Mariah's E=MC2 is due out on April 15 and Madonna's Hard Candy hits the shelves on April 29.

Since all are releasing new albums I'd like to call for a special three-way session of MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch. I'd love to see claymations of the music icons duking it out, America's Best Dance Crew style--Jabba Wockeez masks and all--to see who is the most beloved American Idol.

However, since I can't wait for the fantasy battle to materialize and I lack the technical ingenuity to pull a knockoff version, I'll instead resort to my familiar blog format.

In gauging who is the Most Significant Pop Diva, I found it only fair to judge them in few areas--singing ability, dancing, acting and lifetime achievement.

Best Singer: Mariah, can you please come to the stage to receive your award? There wasn't a need to handout ballots for this category. It was unfair to even pit Madonna and Janet against Mariah. Even though Mariah's recent choppy, hoarse performance on The Hills pre-show gave the delusional Heidi Montag a vote of confidence that she might have marginal singing talent, Mariah has never been accused of being anything less than a great vocalist. Well done, MC.

Best Dancer: Clearly, Mariah could be omitted from this category and that's not to say that she does not have rhythm; dancing just isn't her focus. Ten years ago, I would have given this honor to Janet without discussion based on her choreography in her "Control," "Rhythm Nation" and "Pleasure Principle" videos. During the late '80s and early '90s, Janet set the curve for dance and created the formula used by followers Britney, Ciara and the late Aaliyah. But the release of Janet's All For You album revealed that she reached a benchmark with "Rhythm Nation" and would no longer attempt to set trends.

All of her choreography displayed since appears to be rehashed routines. I must sadly admit that the Discipline videos "Feeback" and "Rock With U" have confirmed for me that Janet is content. And with that, I do strongly consider giving the honor to Madonna, who turns 50 this August, and continues to push it to the limit with every record. But I can't.

Janet's contribution to dance is too great. But as I hand Janet over this award, I pull her in closely for the congratulatory hug and whisper into her ear:

"Janet, you know you been slacking. Quit being scared. Let Ciara sponsor you at You Got Served camp and show everyone that you can do more than that same old two-step, shoulder pop that you did on Diff'rent Strokes 24 years ago.

Best Triple Threat: Janet, Mariah, and Madonna, have proven that they can sing, dance, and act to varying levels. But the true question here is: who is the best actress? Clearly, Janet has the most credits, including a number of television series (Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, Fame) and movies (Poetic Justice, Nutty Professor, Why Did I Get Married). Still, Janet's shockingly unconvincing performances as the foul-mouthed, South Central homegirl in Poetic Justice and the "oops I had a wardrobe malfunction" victim of Super Bowl XXXVIII disqualify her from this category. The same goes for Madonna's portrayal of Evita in the biopic. The Nice Try honorable mention goes to Mariah for playing a teenager in that movie that starts with a G and ended with a flop. Let's just say that the winner of the Best Triple Threat honor is not here to receive her award tonight. This category has been nixed.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Drum roll please, though this should not come as a surprise. You must acknowledge this woman for having minimal vocal talent, yet managing to become one of the most significant voices in pop music. She has sold more than 275 million records worldwide which makes her the top selling female artist of all time.

Despite her music's consumption with sex and her public romps with everyone from Sean Penn to Vanilla Ice to Dennis Rodman to Warren Beatty, she still miraculously used her voice to speak out against the war and to write children's books.

Her music reflects that of a chameleon as she reinvents her sound with each record, always preferring to be cutting edge as opposed to safe.

Earlier this month, she was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Ironically, during the same time, GQ magazine ranked her husband No. 1 on its list of the 25 Most Whipped Men On The Planet. She is so powerful, I'm sure that Guy doesn't care if the fellas call him Mr. Madonna.

Madonna Louise Ciccone, from Bay City, Michigan, will you please come up on this stage and receive Hip Hop Media Training's Most Significant Pop Diva award?

Now, I have to make myself a Madonna mixtape with "Music," "Justify My Love," "Material Girl"... I'd better stop here before I further incriminate myself.

808 Comments

1. 4mlk -
cechotel is a hatter

2. nightchild -
Janet is ugly she reminds me of Micheal the CHOMO and she is related!

3. dogsinmaine -
Before anyone jumps the gun, I'd wait for Donna Summer's new release, Crayons, in May. THE QUEEN IS BACK!

4. EarthWindFire82 -
Mariah has the best voice, Janet can dance her a** off, and Madonna has the ability to evolve without looking like an old woman fighting to stay young. I don't think there is one artist out now that can top these three hands down. Besides, very few of the best performers out here have real voices.

5. khaalid s -
whitney is still better than these three...maria comes in second, madonna and janet tied i guess....n where's celine?

6. JAMES T -
I think they are all getting too old, and are trying to stay young, Face it ladies, you were great in your day, but maybe you all need a music makeover?!?

7. Joy W -
YOU ALL QUIT HATING ON JANET. AND THE QUESTION WAS WHO IS THE BIGGEST DIVA, THAT IS MARIAH BY FAR. AND WHEN IT COMES TO TALENT, WE ALL KNOW MARIAH IS THE BEST SINGER, AND JANET IS THE BEST DANCER AND ACTRESS, AND MADONNA IS THE BEST....... HUH FUNNY, I GUESS BEING THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL. BUT DIVA WISE IT IS SURELY MARIAH AND THAN MADONNA. JANET IS A SWEETIE, AND DESERVES MORE RESPECT THAN YOU ALL ARE GIVING HER.

8. mommahips -
Mariah is know where near Madonna and Janet, these two women are BAD BI*&#$%'s

9. Rick -
Madonna is old and washed up, Janet is well - no comment, and Mariah is better looking, full-bodied in a nice way, has an incredible voice range, little acting talent and should clearly be the winner among the three. I am amazed that the other two even got mentioned!

10. viKtor k -
Janet is best of the three...Madonna is working Justin Suckerlake...nuff said.
Janet learned her lesson

11. missthickums09 -
JANET JACKSON ALL DAY!!!!!!!

12. VALERIE H -
Janet use to be the bomb, now it seens like she is just throwing a bunch of garbage together and singing it. Same goes for Madonna. Mariah's comeback cd was OUTTA SIGHT!!! I am a big fan of Janet so I'm going to say she get's the Diva Crown as far as I'm concern.

13. Judy P. -
Sorry Khaalid, but Whitney's time came and went while Janet, Madonna and Mariah can still sing. Can Whitney...NO!

14. Jose R -
Hands down Madonna. Has more hit songs than Mariah and Janet combined. Has also done some movies (maybe not oscar winning but she's done some) and recently inducted to the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame...can Mariah or Janet best that? Besides Madonna looks just as good at her close to 50. (Mariah still look gorgeous but how will she look when she's Madonna's age? Janet...ditto)
Long live the Queen!

15. LouEva C -
In order to be a Diva you have to be able to sing. No one can beat Celine Dion. Only Mirah has a voice with the choices you picked.

16. dudeindanude -
I agree with you, Mariah best voice, Janet's choreographies are the same but different song... Madonna has to be the ULTIMATE DIVA. Not the most talented but she has managed to be the Queen for 20 something years... and keeps going and going and going!!!

17. khaalid s -
there are no singer who can match the vocals of whitney and mariah today or who can match the entertainment value of janet or madonna...so i don't care how old they get...they are still the best...the only new singers who show potential are beyonce and alicia keys and they are not all that....so more power to mariah and madonna and janet and celine and whitney....show them how its done...

18. Mike B -
Which one is the biggest Diva? Which one is sleeping with the biggest celeb?

19. sexilady -
um they left sum people out where's celine and whitney?? well i guess whitney's out 4 doin drugs n not havin come up with a new album in years but she was a good vocalist. and as 4 celine dion she should definetly b up there her voice is amazing!!!

20. Cee Ron -
Janet takes the cake
I'm am not a homosexual, but the Velvet Rope concert video still entertains me today
Page:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 
Next »
Leave Your Comment
You must sign in to leave a comment
Select a Blog Posts
And The Winner Is...
by Lyndsey Parker
12
As Heard On...
by Suzanne Baran
10
Better Living Through MP3
by Ken Micallef
138
Chart Watch
by Paul Grein
45
Framed
by John Kordosh
54
GetBack
by Matthew Sweet
57
Hip-Hop Media Training
by Billy Johnson, Jr.
38
List Of The Day
by Rob O'Connor
228
Maximum Performance
by Suzanne Baran
76
New This Week
by Dave DiMartino
58
On the Road With JamBase
by Aaron Kayce
22
Reality Rocks
by Lyndsey Parker
243
Rock's Backpages
by Barney Hoskyns
65
Rolling Stone Song Of The Day
by Chuck Eddy
41
Stop The Presses!
by Billy Altman
6
That's Really Week
by Lyndsey Parker
61
The ARTHUR Blog
by Paul Krassner
34
The Lefsetz Letter
by Bob Lefsetz
181
The MOJO Blog
by Lois Wilson
40
The NME Blog
by Dan Martin
21
The Spin Blog
by David Marchese
20
The URB Blog
by Brandon Perkins
9
The Y! Music Playlist Blog
by Robert of the Radish
273
Video Ga Ga
by Lyndsey Parker
34

Music Blog Archives

August 2008 (2)
July 2008 (4)
June 2008 (5)
May 2008 (2)
April 2008 (1)
March 2008 (2)
February 2008 (2)
January 2008 (2)
December 2007 (2)
November 2007 (2)
October 2007 (2)
September 2007 (4)
August 2007 (3)
July 2007 (5)
'Suge' Knight posts bail after Las Vegas arrest
AP
Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:41pm PDT
AP - Marion "Suge" Knight was jailed Wednesday on assault and drug charges after he was accused of beating his girlfriend while brandishing a knife near the Las Vegas Strip, police said. Knight, 43, posted…
More »
More Music News
My Music


Create your very own radio station based on your music tastes.