Friday 16th May 2014 by Gaby Whitehill

Happy birthday Janet Jackson: 9 classic hits we must never forget

'Nasty' to 'All For You', we salute you, Ms Jackson

'Got Til It's Gone' ft Q-Tip, Joni Mitchell [1997]: This sultry, downtempo trip-hop number marked a departure from Janet's previous polished-pop sound. It garnered extensive praise from critics at the time, who congratulated Jackson on her new "fresher" sound.

'All For You' [2001]: Following the darker tones of The Velvet Rope, Janet flipped back to accessible dance pop for seventh studio album All For You. The album's title track is a breezy, maddeningly catchy slice of perfect R&B. There's nothing to dislike about this.

'What Have You Done For Me Lately' [1986]: The track that made Janet a superstar, 'What Have You Done For Me Lately' is a timeless, sassy anthem that encapsulated the new jack swing/R&B craze that dominated the airwaves at the time.

'That's The Way Love Goes' [1993]: Janet's biggest hit to date, this woozy, lust-filled romantic ballad shocked but impressed critics upon its release. Many considered 'That's The Way Love Goes' the moment Janet shed her 'little sister' image and evolved into an adult, female musician not afraid to embrace her sexuality.

'Black Cat' [1990]: Taken from her concept album Rhythm Nation 1814, 'Black Cat' saw Jackson make a foray into roof-raising hair metal. It paid off, with the strong beat underscoring Janet's powerful lyrics about substance abuse. It's rumoured it was written about her then-husband, James DeBarge. 'Black Cat' was nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammys.

'Together Again' [1997]: Written about a friend who died of AIDs, 'Together Again' is a genuinely heartwarming, uplifting, blissful dance-pop anthem that simultaneously gives you a lump in your throat and makes you want to dance.

'Any Time, Any Place' [1993]: A soul-filled, downtempo slow groove, Janet's vocals sound at their loveliest here. It was reincarnated in 2012 when Kendrick Lamar sampled it for track 'Poetic Justice'.

'Nasty' [1986]: Featuring the now-iconic phrase "My first name ain't baby, it's Janet � Miss Jackson if you're nasty", 'Nasty' is an attitude-packed anthem with the same amount of sass as previous single 'What Have You Done For Me Lately'. It's the best dance track about abusive men being put in their place you'll ever hear - fact.

'The Best Things In Life Are Free' ft Luther Vandross [1992]: Cheesey? Of course, Luther Vandross is in it. But it's a deliriously uplifting track, and just so nineties-sounding in the best possible way. You'd have to be Voldemort to dislike this track.

Tags: Janet Jackson

To say Janet Jackson had a lot to live up to when she embarked on her solo career in 1982 would be somewhat of an understatement.

However, it's safe to say throughout her extensive career, Janet has defied all the critics and proved everybody wrong. One of the world's most awarded artists, Janet is the only musician in history to recieve Grammy award nominations spanning five genres, and has collected over a whopping 30 Billboard awards.

Constantly evolving, experimenting and pushing her boundaries throughout her career as both a recording artist and an actor, Janet remains one of the most important and iconic names in pop and R&B. On her 48th birthday, we take a look at her best tracks. Happy birthday, Janet!