Forty years ago, Janet Jackson decided it was time to take control of her own narrative, sound, style, and life.
She released her third studio album, Control, on February 4, 1986. Four decades later, the project’s impact is seen in the styles of many artists. To celebrate the album that changed her career, Jackson posted a nostalgic reel that gave me chills.
Its caption is simple: “Happy 40th Control! 😉🥳 @flytetymejam @flytetymelewis Edit & Remix: @solaimanfazel,” the Gary, Indiana native wrote. The edit of Janet from that era, along with the opening words of her hit song (with the same name as the album), showed me how powerful the project was then and now.
Being the youngest Jackson sibling, Michael Jackson’s little sister, and Joe Jackson’s daughter and artist was no longer Janet’s identity.
“This is a story about control. My control. Control of what I say, control of what I do. And this time I’m gonna do it my way. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Are we ready? I am. Cause it’s all about control. And I’ve got lots of it,” she says in a robotic voice in the reel (in a regular tone on the song).
Jackson was just 20 years old and had enough of people in her life monitoring her every move. Rebellious isn’t even the perfect word to describe what Janet did with Control; it was revolutionary. She didn’t just resist an image being forced on her, like America’s sweetheart or girl next door. The singer and actress transformed into Janet Jackson, the unstoppable pop star, on her own terms.
From songs like “Control” to “Nasty” and “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” Janet took her personal experiences and turned them into one of the most definitive albums of all time, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
I wasn’t born in the ‘80s, so I didn’t get the chance to experience the project when it first dropped, but listening to it now gives me the courage to stand firm in what I want to do with my life.
Header photo credit: Amazon Music/Instagram/@janetjackson
