Forty years on, Janet Jackson remains firmly in Control. According to complex.com, the music icon recently took to Instagram to celebrate the milestone anniversary of her transformative third studio album, sharing a nostalgic compilation of footage from the era.
The video is appropriately set to the title track’s famous opening monologue, where Jackson declares her independence: “This is a story about control/My control… and this time, I’m gonna do it my way.”
The 1986 record marked Jackson’s first collaboration with legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Reflecting on the sessions, the duo recalled how the hit “Nasty” served as the album’s turning point.
Lewis previously told Rolling Stone that Jackson was initially hesitant to experiment with a deeper vocal register. “We said, Janet, what if you sang it an octave lower?” Lewis recalled. After hearing the playback the next day, her apprehension vanished. “She got this look on her face… surprise and satisfaction. That fuelled us.”
Control ignited a legendary run of career-defining albums, followed by Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) and janet. (1993). The record earned Jackson three Grammy nominations in 1987, including Album of the Year, while Jam and Lewis secured the Producer of the Year award.
Decades later, Jackson’s defiant message of self-determination continues to resonate with fans across the globe.
•Featured image: Janet Jackson/Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
