"Control" | ||||
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Single by Janet Jackson | ||||
from the album Control | ||||
B-side | "Fast Girls" "Pretty Boy" |
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Released | October 21, 1986 | |||
Format | ||||
Recorded | August 1985; Flyte Tyme Studios (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 5:55 (album version) 3:26 (single version) |
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Label | A&M | |||
Writer(s) |
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Producer(s) | Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis | |||
Janet Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"Control" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson for her third album Control (1986). It was written by Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The song was released as the fourth single from the album on October 21, 1986 by A&M Records. Its arrangement, built upon complex rhythmic tracks, showcased state-of-the-art production. The song is about Jackson wanting to finally take control of her life.
In 1988, the song won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video, beating out her brother Michael, Whitney Houston, and Jody Watley.
Pitfork include the song in their Best 200 Songs 80's of all-time list at #126.
Jackson has performed the song on many of her tours, including Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, Number Ones: Up Close and Personal, and Unbreakable World Tour. The only tour that it was not included on was the janet. Tour. It has been included in two of Jackson's greatest hits albums, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 (1995) and Number Ones (2009).
Released in 1986, the single peaked at number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming Jackson's fourth consecutive top five hit on the chart; it also peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the Hot Dance Club Play charts. The song captured a pivotal moment off the album by showcasing a female streak of independence. It was the 37th biggest Hot 100 single of 1987, the fifth biggest Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs single of 1987, and the ninth biggest-selling 12" single of 1987. In the UK it missed the top 40, peaking at number 42.