When I first saw Janet Jackson’s name among this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, I thought it was a stretch. Has she really accomplished enough for this kind of accolade?
A little research revealed how hopelessly ill-informed I was about Jackson’s legacy. Turns out she has a résumé every R&B performer would kill for. She has rewritten the record books for dance and R&B music — a genre I have never gotten into, which explains my ignorance in this matter.
Jackson was Rock Hall eligible starting in 2007 and was nominated twice (2016, 2017) before making the cut this year. She joins brother Michael, who is in the Hall twice, as a solo artist and a member of the Jackson 5.
Janet has sold more than 100 million albums and is the 12th highest-selling solo female artist of all time. She is the only performer to score #1 singles in the 80s, 90s and 2000s. She is the only artist in history to score five top ten singles from three different albums. And, most impressively, she owns the longest-ever streak of consecutive top ten singles, with 18.
That’s incredibly impressive. And yet, I couldn’t hum a single one of her songs from memory other than today’s SOTD. I just don’t listen to this genre.
My most enduring memory of Janet Jackson is the conflicting feelings I had as a younger man when she started showing off her newly toned body while her face still looked eerily like Michael’s.
Gimme a beat!
[Verse 1]
Sittin’ in the movie show
Thinkin’ nasty thoughts
Better be a gentleman
Or you’ll turn me off
That’s right, lemme tell it
[Chorus]
Nasty, nasty boys, don’t mean a thing
Oh you nasty boys
Nasty, nasty boys, don’t ever change
Oh you nasty boys
[Verse 2]
I don’t like no nasty car
I don’t like a nasty food
The only nasty thing I like
Is a nasty groove
[Ad lib]
Will this one do?
Uh huh, I know, say
[Chorus]
Nasty, nasty boys, don’t mean a thing
Oh you nasty boys
Nasty, nasty boys, don’t ever change
Oh you nasty boys
[Modified Chorus]
Nasty, nasty boys, give me a nasty groove
Oh you nasty boys
Nasty, nasty boys, let me see your nasty body move
Oh you nasty boys
[Ad lib]
I could learn to like this, listen up
[Bridge]
I’m not a prude (no), I just want some respect (that’s right)
So close the door if you want me to respond (ooh ooh yeah)
‘Cause privacy is my middle name
My last name is control
No, my first name ain’t baby
It’s Janet, Miss Jackson if you’re nasty
[Chorus]
Nasty, nasty boys, don’t mean a thing
Oh you nasty boys
Nasty, nasty boys, don’t ever change
Oh you nasty boys
Nasty boys don’t mean a thing
Oh you nasty boys don’t mean a thing to me
Nasty, don’t mean a thing
Oh you nasty boys
[Ad lib]
I love this part
[Breakdown]
Hey! Who’s that thinkin’ nasty thoughts?
(Nasty boys!)
Who’s that in that nasty car?
(Nasty boys!)
Who’s that eatin’ that nasty food?
(Nasty boys!)
Who’s jammin’ to my nasty groove?
(Nasty boys!)
Ladies?
[Outro]
Nasty boys don’t mean a thing
Oh you nasty boys
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m largely indifferent to Janet or her inclusion in the Rock Hall. However, I always thought “Nasty” was funky and catchy as hell.
By the way, I heard that, while Janet appeared at the ceremony to accept her award, she refused to perform, purportedly because the show airing on HBO-the same network that put out the recent documentary about Michael.
I don’t know any of Janet’s songs and the one thing that I remember about her is the wardrobe malfunction.