The Jonas Brothers and artists who don’t act their age

Janet Jackson

Album: “Discipline,” 2008

Age at the time of release: Early 40s

Age captured by the album: Mid-20s porn star

Evidence: One needn’t expect Janet to give up sexually explicit lyrics just because she’s getting older. But there’s a line between being sexy and silly, and asking “daddy” to “come punish me” crosses that line -- nevermind the heavy panting that serves as the song’s rhythm. Indeed, “Discipline” seems to have a directive to out-sex any other diva to ever live, and one would think four decades of life would inspire something beyond asking to be strummed like a guitar.  (Bryan Bedder / Getty Images)

Blink-182

Album: “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,” 2001

Age at the time of release: Mid-to-late 20s

Age captured by the album: 13

Evidence: Two years before the release of “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,” Blink-182 declared that they wanted to act their age on “What’s My Age Again?” The cut was about the difficulty of growing up, and the band apparently abandoned any effort to do that by the time this album was released. From the juvenile title (say it slowly) to the pandering nostalgia of “First Date,” the album isn’t about looking back on youth, it’s about selling to it. Just see “Rock Show,” in which the band members embrace their mid-20s by singing about a summer break from school. Thankfully Blink recovered and actually acted their age on 2003’s self-titled effort.  (Perry C. Riddle / Los Angeles Times)

Duffy

Album: “Rockferry,” 2008

Age at the time of release: Early 20s

Age captured by the album: Late 50s

Evidence: Like Amy Winehouse, Duffy is aping another era, in this case ‘60s soul. And it’s easy to get the sense that she’s trying to sing as if she’s got four decades of experience to boot, bringing a smoky, late-night feel to songs such as “Serious” and “Warick Avenue.” At the opening of “Stepping Stone,” she sings, “I remember way back, way back when / I said I never want to see your face again.” Way back in, what, junior year?

Related:

Grammys midway: 2008’s notable newcomers  (Alberto Trevino / Chicago Tribune)