Concluding my look at the albums of 1986…
I didn’t grasp exactly how popular Janet Jackson was until many years later. At the time of her commercial dominance (from 1986 through the end of the last century), she rewrote the record books and achieved feats topped only by her brother Michael. Imagine being that successful and still being #2 in your own family.
It’s even crazier to think that success was halted largely due to the controversy surrounding Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. What a different time that was.
At any rate, Janet’s tremendous winning streak started with the 1986 album Control, which was her first of five consecutive multi-Platinum releases. Control went 5X Platinum in the U.S. and sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.
It marked her first time reaching the Top 40, ultimately putting six songs in the Top 20 and five in the Top 5. The dance-pop track ‘When I Think of You’ became her first #1 hit, with ‘Nasty,’ ‘Control,’ ‘Let’s Wait Awhile,’ and ‘What Have You Done For Me Lately’ falling just short of the top spot.
All those hits made this album very familiar to me, though I had never heard it in its entirety before now. Control is fun and sexy and a little bit corny, which kind of sums up the appeal of Janet Jackson in general.
“What’s up, girl?”
“He stood me up again”
“Again?”
“Mmhmm”
“Well, what’s up with this guy?
Do you really like him that much?”
“Yes honey, I love him, he is fun
He does a lot of nice things for me”
I know he used to do nice stuff for you
But what has he done for you lately?
[Verse 1]
Used to be a time when you would pamper me
Used to brag about it all the time
Your friends seem to think that you’re so peachy keen
But my friends say neglect is on your mind
Who’s right?
[Refrain]
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
[Verse 2]
Used to go to dinner almost every night
Dancing ’til I thought I’d lose my breath (Ah)
Now it seems your dancing feet are always on my couch
Good thing I cook or else we’d starve to death
Ain’t that a shame?
[Refrain]
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
[Bridge]
I never ask for more than I deserve
You know it’s the truth
You seem to think you’re God’s gift to this Earth
I’m telling you, no way
You ought to be thankful for the little things
But little things are all you seem to give
You’re always putting off what we can do today
Soap opera says, you’ve got one life to live
Who’s right, who’s wrong?
[Refrain]
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
Get with it
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
(This is wild, I swear)
Meet Me In Montauk 
Another great album from 1986! Thank you for this look back to my college years. It’s been truly nostalgic and enjoyable.