Ethan Says

Janet Jackson Chats with Instinct

Instinct Magazine is wrapping up the year as only Instinct can, and they’re starting things off on a very high note with their exclusive sit down with one of the gay community’s fiercest allies (and fiercest divas), Janet Jackson! After three decades of dominating the music world, Ms. Jackson made 2010 the year to really flex her acting muscles—and flex she did!

In “The Quiet Power Of A Drama Queen,” Janet talks candidly with Instinct’s editor in chief Mike Wood about her pair of emotionally charged roles this year, adding “author” to her multi-hyphenate talents and also clues us in on how she sees music fitting in with her growing and critically acclaimed acting career. And of course, being only the fourth female in 13-years to get her own Instinct cover, Janet also opens up about that long-standing connection to the gay community, as well as her commitment to HIV/AIDS advocacy.

As we all mark World AIDS Day, Instinct also examines the confusion surrounding “undetectable” statuses, as well as the medical advances in treatments that have occurred in 2010. Plus, Gay Travel News takes on two very different types of Santas this winter: Santa Fe and Santa Cruz. They also bundle up and head into the woods for their winter fashion feature, “River’s Edge.” And in Instinct tradition, the mag also roasts the people and moments that made this year one for the record books in their annual “Best & Worst” round-up, plus they’ve got your shopping covered with their “HoliGay Gift Guide” highlighting their favorite tech, decor and more.

All this, plus a chat with their favorite TV dad, a diva Christmas battle and their exciting announcement of the 2011 AIDS LifeCycle Team Instinct in the December 2010/January 2011 issue of Instinct Magazine—now available in print and in iPad and iPhone versions.

Janet Jackson Gon' "MAKE ME" Move

Classic Janet Jackson is BACK and she's makin' me move with her new music video for “Make Me”, the only new single from her new album "Number Ones". Baby Ms. Janet says the album is "classic me. Dance, upbeat and lots of harmony." Agreed! C'mon, We gon' dance it up! WATCH!

Classic is right. That photo in the upper right is so "Design of a Decade" (1995). The video below reminds me of a more refined "Control" (1986).

Janet Jackson: Number Ones

Did you happen to catch Janet Jackson's interview with ABC's Robin Roberts last night? I thought she looked great...and she seemed to be "okay", despite the forced (but beautiful) smile she had on her face. She even apologized at one point saying, “I have this thing where I tend to smile when things get uncomfortable.” The show focused a lot on her brother "Mike" and their relationship, as well as the "old school" discipline imposed on her and siblings by her father Joe. So, of course, she was a little unsettled.

Ms. Jackson also talked about her struggle with weight, her relationships with James DeBarge, Rene Elizondo Jr., and Jermaine Dupri (from whom she recently split, but is still friends with), and of the solace she now finds in her work - since Michael's death this past summer - saying, "It helped me get through it. I was able to put a lot of my focus elsewhere."

On a happier note, Jackson talked about her new album "NUMBER ONES", which features one new single titled "Make Me"...a song that Jackson says is "classic me. Dance, upbeat and lots of harmony." I, for one, am LOVING it!

A preview clip of "Make Me" released a couple days ago (watch above). The full-length video is said to premiere during ABC's 20/20, airing at 10pm, Friday, November 20.