Customer Reviews

Control

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It seems like this stage of Janet is much better than her Damita Jo stage. Control was a point when she tried her best to use the voice that she didn't really have. She is definetly not blessed vocally like her brother Michael. I know its annoying to Janet fans to compare her to Michael, but you have to in this case.

She made some great tracks on this album, but I think that they all sound the same. Actually I know they all sound the same.

Her best artistic period was Velvet Rope. As the years went by after the Velvet Rope, All For You and Damita Jo discovered a Janet who wanted to make crappy albums.

Control-Great way to start off the album...great dance tune:9.5/10(4th single)

Nasty-Best song on the cd.....awesome song to dance to..."It's Janet Miss Jackson if ur NASTY!"...love tht part:10/10(2nd single)

What Have You Done For Me Lately-Another good song on the album but it can't beat "Nasty":9.5/10(1st Single)

Pleasure Principle-Another Good dance tune on the album:10/10(6th Single)

When I Think Of You-I don't exactly care for this song but it's better than some songs:7.5/10(3rd Single)

Let's Wait Awhile-Best ballad on the album:9.5/10(5th Single)

Far take it from today's Janet who chooses to showcase her sex appeal in today's sexually-charged universe but back in 1986, Janet Jackson eluded sex from her button-down black getup. And it was with her groundbreaking masterpiece, "Control", that the world finally began to look at the youngest member of music's royal family a little differently. While less edgier than brother Michael and rival Jody Watley on some levels, "Control" was an edgy record for its time mainly because of the funk beats that encompassed this album. Coming from Minneapolis funksters Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, this album not only became such a big success in the Black community but it had the Pop mainstream first embrace Janet. The love would continue for 15 years and pretty much dimmed by Janet's Super Bowl mishap but besides that, Janet was already an R&B veteran by this, her third album. Having already scored several R&B Top 40's in a period of four years, this record just truly blew up and it just proved to the world that the Jacksons weren't playing around. But because I had said that it wasn't as edgy as people had percieved it to be, it wasn't all on anger and wanting to be independent. In fact, songs like "You Can Be Mine", "When I Think of You", "He Doesn't Know I'm Alive" and "Funny How Time Flies" are the most care-free and in the case of the last song, deep songs that talked about love. But as for these triumphs of a song:

"Control"
"Nasty"
"What Have You Done For Me Lately"
"The Pleasure Principle"
"Let's Wait Awhile"

These songs fit into what Janet wanted to talk about: independence of anyone controlling her and independent of a relationship and also no pressures to fall in love in the case of the last song posted.

The last record, which was the first baby-making song Janet had made, truly showed that the 20-year-old Jackson had grown up right in front of us.

But in this case, it wouldn't be until the next record afterwards that would prove that Janet was here to stay for a while and people were gonna have to deal with it.

Although Janet has been critically acclaimed for her more recent albums that showcase her sexual independence, her aggressiveness and rawness I would take CONTROL over VELVET ROPE or DAMITA JO anyday. This was a refreshing, light and totally fun album that was released when I was about four years old. Years later when I was on a reminiscent strike and wanted to purchase some old skool 80s music, I picked up her cassette of CONTROL and listened to it so much I almost wore a hole in the cellophane!

The stand-out songs for me are "Control," (the title cut, affirming her newly found independence from her parents' control and what is expected of her by society) "What Have You Done For Me Lately," (a great song about a young woman with a real lay-about of a boyfriend who ought to be putting more investmet in the relationship), "He Doesn't Know I'm Alive (one of the cutest, sweetest and most upbeat tunes I have heard about a puppylove crush), and, "Let's Wait Awhile" (this was before Janet decided that having sex was central to having an "adult" relationship and was actually putting some thought into taking responsiblity and not moving into something too quickly--this perspective is something long gone in her albums of today).

The sound is what I would best describe as "very 80s." This is not necessarily a bad quality either! I mean, the synthesized sound of the keyboard, the drums and the very "plugged in" sound really charge me whenever I put on the tape. It's fun and great for working out or getting your spirits up for a new day. I am not too proud to admit that I miss this kind of music. We definitely don't hear this kind of pure, innocent music anymore on the radio. It's all about how many men you can take home for the night, bragging about exploits, and talking trash. At the time this album was first released 18 years ago, troubles in the world still existed and there were people who talked trash but at least we had a little bit of a respite with great albums like this.

This album is definitely worth it for the memories, and for those of you too young to remember the 80s (or maybe were born later on) it is a fun change of pace from the heavy metal, heavy rap and repetitiveness of today's music.

Those were the words that little Miss Jackson finally uttered out after so many years of her father,Joe Jackson,ruling her with an iron fist.But,let's go back a little.Before this breakthrough classic came out,Janet previously released two well...mediocre albums that just showed Janet as a cutesy,bubblegum type of girl,all because everyone wanted her to...but she didn't want to.Well,just like every other teenage girl would,Janet finally stood up and said "I'm not taking this anymore",with the help of veteran producers Jimmy Jam&Terry Lewis.So,Janet went out on her own and made an album on her grounds...and she made musical history with "Control".First and foremost,this album is definitely good for anyone who feels like they have been controlled all their lives,and want to dance to some damn catchy songs while they're at it.Some of the best "Declaration Of Independnce" and "I'm am woman,hear me roar!" tracks on this album are the hard-hitting title track,the mega hit "Nasty",and the question every girlfriend wants to know:"What Have You Done For Me Lately?".But,this is a great album for anyone who is in a relationship,too,examples being the ode to slowing it down "Let's Wait Awhile" and the terribly sad "He Doesn't Know I'm Alive".And,of course,the producing,just like every other Janet album to come:5.5/5 stars.Mostly because the beats are so easy to remember and are so fun to dance to.And Janet's voice may not be the best,but it's so sweet and so loveable that you'll enjoy hearing her sing as well.

The only bad thing about this CD is that there are only 9 songs,and most of them are singles,anyway!But,9 songs is still good in this landmark album.

The Verdict:The Album That Put Janet On The Map And The Album That Made Her Janet,And Not Just Michael Jackson's Sister.He ll,I Even Forgot They Were Related A Few Times!

Recommended:Definitely!

This is great album from someone who didn't want to just be labeled "Little Janet, the baby of the Jackson family." She had two albums, Dreamstreet and Janet Jackson, which fared badly. then, came her third album, Control, which was the hit!!.
1.The title track, Control is so fun and enjoyable!
2.Nasty is a great, "harsh" song. I say "harsh" in a good way. She was "harsh" by being assertive and just a little aggressive. I love this part where she goes, "Nastayyyyyy"! I also love the part where she goes who's that in the nasty car...nasty boys!(that whole verse)
3.What Have You Done For Me Lately. She sounds a bit stuffed up, as if she has a cold in the song, but it is still an enjoyable song. I like the part where she says "Good thing I cook, or else we'd starve to death." Funny lyric!:-)
4.You Can Be Mine. This was supposed to be a hit single, but they(producers) thought that 7 singles out of nine songs would be too much. Anyway, it is a good song and i like the part where she says "Better get on your job now, time to make me happy if you want to be mine" so aggressive(good way).
5.The Pleasure Principle. It sounds as if she is smiling throughout the song. It seems as if she is "flying". This is such a happy, good song. But to me, the video does not match the song. watch the video to see what I mean. One of my favorites from this song.
6.When I Think of You. I really don't like the fact that this became an important single hit and You Can Be Mine didn't. But I like the song too. I'm just disappointed with it.
7.He Doesn't Even Know I'm Alive. I like the "lalalala" in the end of the song. the whole song is good, funky, and fresh.
8.Let's Wait A While. Honestly this song gave me the chills in a good way. It is a loving song about waiting a while before going too far(abstinence). It has nice, sweet, beats and is a sweet ballad.
9.Funny How Time Flies.A relaxing, nice song. I like to go to sleep to this song.

Janet, Jimmy and Terry had a purpose to create the funkiest record in history that would have to be in every black household in America. But it was more than that and Control became the album that made her a superstar in her own right. She got better with time over the years with the follow ups rhythm nation, janet and velvet rope, then I'm not sure what happened, but this is for everyone who's a fan of janet, or music with a funky twist in general

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis tailored their contemporary dance-pop to the emerging personality of Janet Jackson, who attempted to take control of her life on this record. In the course of that attempt, she came across as an aggressive, independent woman, notably on "What Have You Done for Me Lately." But the album was primarily a production showcase; it may have been tailored to Jackson's persona.

Almost two years after its release, Janet Jackson's 14 million selling Control album was still yielding singles. Written and produced by former Time keyboardist Monte Moir, "The Pleasure Principle" was a popular radio-aired album cut and dance club hit when it was issued as the album's sixth single. Moir came up with the song when improvising against a drum machine beat and improvising on lyrics that revolved around getting out of bad situations. It continued Janet Jackson's string of number one singles, going to number one R&B and number 14 pop in the summer of 1987.

"Let's Wait Awhile" was the fourth single from Janet Jackson's multi-platinum Control album. It was a sweet soft departure from the hard funky veneer of #1 hits "What Have You Done for Me Lately," "Nasty," and "Control." The song confused one music reviewer who thought it was a contradiction to be singing "Nasty" one minute and singing "Let's Wait Awhile." Co-writer/co-producer Jimmy Jam in a written response said a closer listen would find that on "Nasty," Jackson is saying that she doesn't want "nasty." The song was written by producers Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson, and her best friend, Melanie Andrews. While Jam and Lewis looked at "Let's Wait Awhile" as a simple love song ("let's wait awhile, let's take our time"), some school teachers adopted the song as a teaching tool to help steer clear students toward sexual abstinence. "Let's Wait Awhile" went to number one R&B and number two pop in the spring of 1987.

Janet's breakthrough album....the one that really kicked her career into superstardom. FANTASTIC COLLECTION OF FUNKY TRACKS!

Okay this is probably the 90th review you've read but it can't be stated enough-THIS IS MS.JACKSON'S BEST ALBUM!!!!Yes it is close to 1984's "Dream Street" in parts but on "Nasty",
"What Have You Done For Me Lately","When I Think Of You","The
Pleasure Principle","You Can Be Mine" and that UNDISPUTED title
cut Janet parlays her newfound independance into KILLER electro-funk grooves and yes-her catchy songwriting,coy vocals and quiet
assertiveness make this THE album of 1986 in it's place.And the ballads even punch you out-especially the sensuous closer
"Funny How Time Flies (When Your Having Fun).Get this album and
the two video collections that go with it!Janet was (and is still to me) at the peak of her powers and has more then outlasted her contemporaries on the virtues of her artistry,
talent and reputation.Great pop music WORTH putting in your shopping cart.