Janet's "IF" vs Michael's "Blood On The Dance Floor"

kindofdisco

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Hey guys,

I've been recently getting back into Janet's "Janet." album from 1993, and I had forgotten how much her single, "If" reminds me of Michael's "Blood on The Dance Floor".



Let's not forget that BotDF was intended for Dangerous in 1991, so perhaps Janet had heard a tape of it before her album was released in 1993.

Stylistically, they both have that industrial/metal r'n'b feel that a lot of music had during that period of time, but I think it stretches further into how the songs were composed. Notice the lower, faster paced verses combined with the more soaring vocals of the bridges/choruses, and how the phrasing is put together. Tell me I'm not going crazy here, because I really hear some distinct similarities!

I almost want to put "Morphine" into the mix here too, just for that same "industrial" sound.

Thoughts? Comments? I want this to be a respectful and insightful discussion, no "Janet is just a copy of Michael yadda yadda yadda". I think Michael and Janet were constantly influencing and bouncing ideas off each other which led to some great results, and I think these similarities between the two songs could be a part of that. I respect both Janet and Michael each for their own strengths, and sometimes its great to really dig deeper and draw up fun similarities between their work.

So, I want to hear your thoughts guys! :)
 
I agree with you! Great post, I love Janet's music too. :)
 
Conversely, I thought I'd throw in this Savage Garden hit from a few years later -

 
If is a masterpiece, definitely one of my favourite songs of hers. I do see what you mean with the similarities, Michael did say him and Janet would come up with the same ideas, maybe this is one of those times :)
 
^ That's what I was thinking, and I love it! IF is definitely up there with Janet's greatest songs, in my opinion. And BotDF is an underrated classic.
 
Oh yes, BotDF is so underrated, the new songs on the album are amazing, I'm not crazy about the remix's but they are fine, it's a great album :D
 
Yeah the remixes were definitely a bit of a let down, but the five new tracks are just astounding. Morphine for me is the pinnacle of Michael's creative genius.
 
What a great topic. I had the great pleasure of seeing Janet twice in concert and IF is one of my favorite songs. I never connected BOTDF with it, but I love the thought that Michael and Janet would have the same ideas. Now I really wanna play each one and think more about it, but I'm at work!
 
^ Oh wow, you lucky thing! I was too young to see Janet last time she was here in Australia, but she's added Sydney to her list of places for the Number Ones tour and I'm hoping I can get her 20 under 20 thing!
 
uhhh BOTDF is a kool song but IF is just an epic song all together, not just for janet, but as a song in general. I've loved IF ever since i heard it back in 93 and its my fav song PERIOD, so im gonna have to go with IF on this one. But i kan see the similarities ur describing.
 
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