The Pleasure Principle: How Janet Jackson Took Control Before Control became an album, it was already a series of choices. An essay on Janet Jackson, self-efficacy, and the years that made Control inevitable. Image: Tony Viramontes/A&M.

#JanetJacksonAppreciationDay feels like the right moment to revisit the years before the Control album – before the hits, videos, and awards – when Janet was already making power moves behind the scenes.

#Control40

Man wat een goede herinneringen dat ik heb aan dit album, en wat een productie door Jam & Lewis!

“You might think I’m crazy but I’m serious…” 🖤

#Control40
#JanetJackson

The Pleasure Principle: How Janet Jackson Took Control Before Control became an album, it was already a series of choices. An essay on Janet Jackson, self-efficacy, and the years that made Control inevitable. Image: Tony Viramontes/A&M.

Before she recorded Control, Janet Jackson was unhappy with her career, filming a tv show she didn’t want to do, and navigating a marriage that was unraveling.

This essay looks at Janet's power moves that made the album inevitable.

#JanetJackson #Control40

a woman is holding a piece of food in her hand and eating it . ALT: a woman is holding a piece of food in her hand and eating it .

control bc it and i share a bday
#control40 #knee28

#nowplaying #JanetJackson #Control 💗🎶 #control40

This was such a serve! #Control40

Congratulations on the 40th anniversary of Janet Jackson's Control album. This exquisite album has been a staple in my life, playing continuously for what feels like an eternity. #erinblackirish #janetjackson #control40 #control

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of #JanetJackson ‘s groundbreaking album “Control” 🥂

The album established Janet’s independence and kick-started her decades-long dominance in the entertainment industry.

#Control40 #80sMusic #80sSky #80sNostalgia #BlackSky #BlackMusicSky #MusicSky #RnBSky

After Let's Wait Awhile I thought Janet was done with her run on the Control album. But there was a 6th & final single. And it was my favorite - The Pleasure Principle!!! I rocked this all through the spring & summer of 1987 #Musicsky #JanetJackson #Control40 #80s

youtu.be/Q-gu1KETjVY?...

I'm a more of an uptempo music guy but when I liked a slow song or ballad I really liked it. Janet Jackson - Let's Wait Awhile #Musicsky #JanetJackson #Control40 #BellStrongMusic🎧 #80s

youtu.be/GPTK7LOj24k?...

Janet Jackson - Control!!! #Musicsky #JanetJackson #Control40 #BellStrongMusic🎧

youtu.be/LH8xbDGv7oY?...

Janet Jackson’s ‘Control’: A 40-Year Legacy of Empowerment and Innovation in Music Happy 40th Anniversary, ‘Control!’

“Janet Jackson’s ‘Control’: A 40-Year Legacy of Empowerment and Innovation in Music“ by Shamarie Knight on Medium: medium.com/@ShamarieKni... #JanetJackson #Control #Control40 #Music #PopCulture

Janet's 1st number one on the pop charts!!! When I Think Of You!!! #Musicsky #JanetJackson #Control40 #BellStrongMusic🎧

youtu.be/EaleKN9GQ54?...

Happy 40th to Janet Jackson's Control, released Feb 4, 1986. This was the first album I bought with my own money as a kid. I can't even put into words how much I adore this era in her career. Her style, the singles, the music videos... all truly iconic. #Control40 @janetjackson.bsky.social

Happy 40th birthday to Janet Jackson’s iconic third album “Control,” released on February 4, 1986!

What are your top 5 songs on this album?

#JanetJackson #Control #Control40 #SoulBounce #BlackSky #BlackMusicSky #MusicSky #RnBSky

Seeing as #JanetJackson's #Control has hit 40, I just fired up my video player and for the first time in forever watched my VHS of #ControlTheVideos, which I got in 1987. Also, as you do, randomly scanned in the VHS sleeve. 💗😌📼 #Control40

A picture of a turntable playing the album "Control" by Janet Jackson.

Happy 40th anniversary! @janetjackson.bsky.social #Control #JanetJackson #Control40 #Vinyl #VinylCollection

We're celebrating the album Control today! Do you remember hearing it for the first time? #Control40

And when I thought this song couldn't get any better...The Cool Summer remix of Nasty took it to another level #Musicsky #JanetJackson #Control40 #BellStrongMusic🎧

youtu.be/4A3sUzxveFw?...

One more before I head to work. Nasty had a beat I just couldn't get enough of. #Musicsky #JanetJackson #Control40 #BellStrongMusic🎧

youtu.be/ujnq2v6R02U?...

Control turns 40 🎶✨
Janet Jackson changed the sound, the style, and the power dynamic of pop music with one album.

What’s your go-to track?

And don't forget to check out our episode celebrating Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
buff.ly/7vrUvQ7

#JanetJackson #Control40 #MusicHistory #musicsky

The song that started her incredible run!!! Janet Jackson - What Have You Done For Me Lately. It was also cool seeing Paula Abdul who did the choreography for this video. #Musicsky #JanetJackson #Control40 #BellStrongMusic🎧

youtu.be/r9uizdKZAGE?...

Wow. The Control album by Janet Jackson is 40 years old today. It wasn't her 1st album but it launched her into superstardom!!! Production by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis made this a masterpiece & it spawned 6 singles. I'll be posting some of those throughout the day!!! #Musicsky #JanetJackson #Control40

Happy 40th Anniversary to the "Control" album!

🗣That was long ago.... I'm in control.... now I'm all grown up...

#Control40

Happy 40th Anniversary to the "Control" album!

🗣You seem to think you're God's gift to this earth....

#Control40

The Pleasure Principle: How Janet Jackson Took Control Before Control became an album, it was already a series of choices. An essay on Janet Jackson, self-efficacy, and the years that made Control inevitable. Image: Tony Viramontes/A&M.

The Control album turns 40 today.
But this article isn’t about the album’s success. It’s about the years before it, the control Janet Jackson had already taken, and what she'd already sacrificed.

#Control40 #JanetJackson

Happy 40th Anniversary to the "Control" album!

🗣Who's that thinking nasty thoughts?

#Control40

🗣️What have you done for me lately?

#Control40 #EddieMurphyRaw

Happy 40th Anniversary, Control! 🎉🎉🎉

"When I Think Of You" is Janet's 1st #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart…still jams!

#Control40 #JanetJackson

Happy 40th Anniversary, Control 🎉

"The Pleasure Principle" was & is still my jam... I tried all the moves in this video except the flip.... because naw lol #Control40 #JanetJackson