:Can't B Good
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{{Infobox song
| name = Can't B Good
| cover = Janet Jackson Can't Be Good.png
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Janet Jackson
| album = Discipline
| released = {{Start date|2008|03|18}}
| recorded = 2007–2008
| studio = SouthSide (Atlanta)
| venue =
| genre = R&B
| length = 4:13
| label = Island
| writer = {{Flat list|
| producer = {{Flat list|
- D. DoRohn Gough
- Ne-Yo}}
| prev_title = Luv
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = Make Me
| next_year = 2009
}}
"Can't B Good" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her tenth studio album Discipline (2008). It was written and produced by D. DoRohn Gough and Ne-Yo. The song is a soulful, "jazzy" R&B track about Jackson's relationship with Jermaine Dupri. It was released as the fourth and final single from Discipline on March 18, 2008 by Island Records.
"Can't B Good" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who praised it for being smooth, tender and lovely, and picked the song as one of the best tracks on Discipline, with some others comparing the song to "Human Nature" (1983) by Jackson's brother Michael. Commercially, "Can't B Good" peaked at number 76 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 20 on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.
Recording and production
File:JermaineDupriApr05.jpg (pictured).]]
"Can't B Good" was written and produced by D. DoRohn Gough and Ne-Yo. It was recorded between 2007 and 2008 at SouthSide Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Although Jackson didn't write the song, Jackson described "Can't B Good" as a song reflecting her seven-year relationship with songwriter and producer Jermaine Dupri, saying: "I'd been hurt before, and I was trying to protect myself. I'm glad I allowed myself to accept it. He's very attentive and affectionate, a beautiful soul".{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-02-25-jackson-side_n.htm|title=Still youthful Janet Jackson runs on imagination|last=Gardner|first=Elysa|date=February 25, 2008|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company, Inc.|access-date=June 26, 2011}} A remix of the song was recorded, featuring Jamaican rapper Red Rat, and was produced by HardWork.{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20080502T000000-0500_135174_OBS_RED_RAT_TAKES_ON_THE_WORLD.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605145526/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20080502T000000-0500_135174_OBS_RED_RAT_TAKES_ON_THE_WORLD.asp |archive-date=2008-06-05 |title=Red Rat remix |newspaper=Jamaica Observer |date=June 5, 2008 |access-date=June 18, 2012}}
Music and lyrics
Princess P. from MWZA described the lyrics as "standard falling-in-love-too-deep far", with the thwack of the snare contrasting heavily with the layers of cooing vocals.{{cite web|last=P.|first=Princess|title=Janet Jackson "Discipline" Album Review|url=http://www.mwza.com/janet-jackson-discipline-album-review/|access-date=August 24, 2013|publisher=MWZA|date=January 23, 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913232807/http://www.mwza.com/janet-jackson-discipline-album-review/|archive-date=September 13, 2012|url-status=dead}} Musically, the song is a mid-tempo "smooth and jazzy" R&B ballad,{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/26697/Janet-Jackson-Discipline/|author=BSX|title=Janet Jackson - Discipline|date=August 11, 2008|access-date=May 24, 2014|website=Sputnikmusic}} featuring thundering bass and piano, with 1980s-inspired keyboard sounds and cooing harmonies. Princess P. also wrote the song resembles Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat" (2001) with a more "punishing" beat, Jackson's brother Michael's "Butterflies" (2001) and Janet Jackson's own track "Spending Time with You" from Damita Jo (2004).
Critical reception
File:Michael Jackson1 1988.jpg songs, including "Human Nature" (1983).]]
"Can't B Good" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman from AllMusic picked the song as one of the album's best tracks, highlighting that "it's a descendent of her brother Michael's 'Can't Help It,' with that gentle and affecting self-examination that only a Jackson can do so well."{{cite web |first=Andy |last=Kellman |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=discipline-r1313319/review|pure_url=yes}} |title=Discipline – Janet Jackson |publisher=AllMusic. All Media Network |access-date=2013-08-24}} Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine wrote that "'Can't B Good' serves up a smooth, jazzy groove and Jackson's soft, supple vocal, fluffed with multiple background layers that duly merit adult R&B love."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3i58d0ae2b422f1ceed05b6a2f8362d8e8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022155743/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3i58d0ae2b422f1ceed05b6a2f8362d8e8 |archive-date=October 22, 2008 |title=Can't B Good |magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=October 22, 2008 |access-date=June 18, 2012}} Princess P. from MWZA saw that, "The layers pile and pile so that by the bridge, the song is virtually dizzying", calling it "extremely well-produced." The Boston Globe writer Joan Anderman perceived the song is "eerily reminiscent of 'Human Nature', one of brother Michael's most elegant records."{{cite news |last=Anderman |first=Joan |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/02/26/janet_jacksons_hot_and_heavy_act_grows_old/ |title=Janet Jackson's hot and heavy act grows old |work=The Boston Globe |publisher=John W. Henry|date=February 26, 2008 |access-date=July 19, 2010}} Margeaux Watson of Entertainment Weekly agreed, calling a "tender" throwback to the same song.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/02/15/discipline/ |title=Discipline Review |last=Watson |first=Margeaux |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=July 19, 2010 |date=February 15, 2008 |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528181123/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20178215,00.html |url-status=live }}
Los Angeles Times' Ann Powers called it "a waterfall of mixed emotions enfolding a sunlit morning-after," and "the most emotionally vulnerable ballad Jackson's recorded in years."{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-25-et-albums25-story.html |title=Still nasty after all these years - Los Angeles Times |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=July 19, 2010 | first=Ann | last=Powers | date=February 25, 2008}} Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music wrote that the song "proves that ballads don't have to be inane and that she doesn't have to spell out exactly where she wants it and how to be sexy."{{cite web|url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/080304/33/21y8r.html |title=Janet Jackson Discipline Album Review, New album reviews and latest album releases on Yahoo! Music |work=Yahoo! Music UK |access-date=2010-07-19 |date=May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613142854/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/080304/33/21y8r.html |archive-date=June 13, 2011 }} Glenn Gamboa from Newsday praised the track, writing that it could be one of her best songs ever.{{cite news |last=Gamboa |first=Glenn |title=Review: Janet Jackson's latest CD 'Discipline' |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-etdrops5590607feb26,0,3889834.column?track=rss |access-date=November 7, 2013 |newspaper=Newsday |publisher=Cablevision |date=February 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313050858/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-etdrops5590607feb26%2C0%2C3889834.column?track=rss |archive-date=March 13, 2008 }} Caroline Sullivan, writing for The Guardian, simply wrote that "Can't B Good" is completely lovely.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/feb/29/popandrock.shopping3 |title=CD: Janet Jackson, Discipline |newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=July 19, 2010 | date=March 2, 2008 | first=Caroline | last=Sullivan}} Andy Battaglia of The A.V. Club called it a "majestic" song produced by Ne-Yo.{{cite news|last=Battaglia|first=Andy|title=Janet Jackson: Discipline|url=https://www.avclub.com/janet-jackson-discipline-1798203925|access-date=November 8, 2013|newspaper=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion, Inc.|date=March 10, 2008}} Tom Young of BBC Music called it "a potential diamond."{{cite news|last=Young|first=Tom|title=Review of Janet Jackson - Discipline|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/hmw6|publisher=BBC Music|access-date=May 24, 2014}} For Nick Levine from Digital Spy, the song was created to recall classic Jackson ballads like "Come Back to Me" (1990) and "Let's Wait Awhile" (1987), but failed to do so, due to its lack of melody.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a90643/janet-jackson-discipline.html |title=Janet Jackson: 'Discipline' |publisher=Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation|date=February 25, 2008|access-date=April 30, 2008}} Chad Grischow of IGN was less favorable, calling it "cheesy late-eighties ballad, featuring wafer-thin breathy vocals that sounds like someone calling you to their hospital bed rather than the bedroom."{{cite web|last=Grischow|first=Chad|title=Janet Jackson - Discipline|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/28/janet-jackson-discipline|access-date=November 7, 2013|website=IGN|date=February 28, 2008}}
Commercial performance
"Can't B Good" was the fifth most-added song on Radio & Records{{'}}s urban adult contemporary panel, debuting at number 40 on the Radio & Records Urban AC Chart dated March 28, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/Uac_Chart.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314061127/http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/UAC_chart.asp|archive-date=March 14, 2009 |title=R&R - Radio & Records, Inc |work=Radio & Records |access-date=June 18, 2012}} The song debuted and peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs the week ending April 5, 2008. Furthermore, it peaked at number 76 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Discipline.{{cite AV media notes |title=Discipline |others=Janet Jackson |year=2008|type=LP, Vinyl, CD |publisher=Island Records|id=1762969}}
- Janet Jackson – vocals
- David DoRohn Gough – songwriter, producer
- Shaffer Smith – songwriter, producer
- Jermaine Dupri – vocals production
- Manuel Seal – vocals production
- Ian Cross – vocals production, mixing assistant
- Phil Tan – mixing
- John Houghkirk – engineer
- Carlos Oyanedel – assistant
Charts
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Janet Jackson}}
{{Janet Jackson singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:Songs written by Ne-Yo