Let's Wait Awhile
"Let's Wait Awhile" is a ballad by American singer Janet Jackson from her third studio album, Control (1986), advocating premarital abstinence amid rising concerns over the AIDS epidemic.[1][2] Co-written by Jackson, producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Melanie Andrews—inspired by Andrews' teenage conversations with her boyfriend—the song was released as the album's fifth single on January 6, 1987, by A&M Records.[2][3] It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in March 1987, marking the fifth top-five single from Control, an album that produced five such hits and sold over 14 million copies worldwide.[4][5] The track's gentle R&B production and Jackson's vulnerable delivery contributed to its enduring appeal, positioning it as a counterpoint to the album's more assertive empowerment anthems like "Nasty" and "Control."[5]Production
Background and writing
The development of "Let's Wait Awhile" occurred during the songwriting sessions for Janet Jackson's third studio album, Control, which began in mid-1986 after Jackson asserted her independence from her family's management influence. Having divorced singer James DeBarge in November 1985 and dismissed her father Joseph Jackson as manager, Jackson relocated to Minneapolis to work exclusively with producers and songwriters Jimmy Jam (James Harris III) and Terry Lewis, prioritizing themes of self-empowerment and autonomy that defined the album.[6][7] This context shaped the track's inception as an extension of Control's narrative on personal agency, with Jackson co-writing to express restraint as a form of strength amid relational pressures.[8] The song's core idea stemmed from a specific anecdote shared by co-writer Melanie Andrews, Jackson's longtime friend and background vocalist, who recounted advising her teenage boyfriend, Le'Mon Combs, to delay physical intimacy during a moment of temptation. This real-life conversation, involving young partners navigating desire and boundaries, directly informed the lyrics' plea for pausing to build emotional connection first.[9][7] Jam later recalled Andrews describing the scenario—"she and her boyfriend were getting close, and she said, 'Let's wait awhile'"—which the team recognized as a compelling hook for a track promoting abstinence and mutual consent, aligning with the era's growing awareness of safe sex practices post-AIDS crisis.[9] Initial writing involved collaborative sketches among the four creators, evolving into a deliberate ballad structure to underscore vulnerability and introspection, diverging from Control's energetic uptempo tracks like "Nasty" and "Control" to highlight relational patience as empowerment.[7] This choice allowed Jackson's breathy delivery to evoke fragility, reinforcing the song's message without aggressive confrontation, and positioned it as her first co-produced single.[9] The sessions, conducted in late 1986 at Minneapolis studios, captured this essence before full production, ensuring the track complemented the album's broader assertion of female self-determination.[6]Recording process
The recording sessions for "Let's Wait Awhile" occurred at Flyte Tyme Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as part of the broader production for Janet Jackson's album Control, spanning August to October 1985.[10][11] Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis directed the process, handling keyboards, drum programming, and overall arrangement, while Jackson recorded her lead and background vocals on-site after relocating to the city for the project.[8][5] The track emphasized a piano-centric arrangement with minimalistic instrumentation, including contributions from guitarist and synthesizer player Monte Moir, to underscore its intimate, restrained mood through layered vocal performances and subtle builds.[7] Recording was completed prior to the album's February 1986 release, with the single version finalized ahead of its January 1987 issuance.[12]Composition
Musical elements
"Let's Wait Awhile" employs a conventional verse-chorus form augmented by a bridge section that provides emotional buildup.[13] The arrangement opens with delicate acoustic guitar and piano elements, establishing a soft, introspective mood before introducing subtle synthesizers and programmed percussion.[14] Acoustic guitars, both six- and twelve-string variants played by O' Nicholas Raths, contribute to the track's organic texture, while producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis layer in piano, synthesizers, and restrained drum programming characteristic of the Minneapolis sound's emphasis on precise, synth-driven rhythms over dense orchestration.[15][16] Janet Jackson's vocal performance features breathy, layered delivery in the verses, escalating to fuller harmonies and a crescendo during the chorus and bridge, supported by background vocals arranged by Melanie Andrews.[14] The song runs 4:37 in length, composed in D-flat major at a moderate tempo of 86 beats per minute, with a fade-out ending that aligns with radio-friendly pop-R&B conventions of the era.[17] This setup differentiates it from contemporaneous ballads like those by Whitney Houston, which often relied on sweeping string sections; instead, the track's percussive subtlety and electronic undercurrents reflect Jam and Lewis's production techniques, including analog tape saturation for warmth and Ensoniq synth contributions akin to those on other Control tracks.[18][19][8]Lyrical themes
The lyrics of "Let's Wait Awhile" center on a narrative in which the protagonist urges her partner to postpone sexual intimacy, emphasizing emotional caution amid physical temptation.[9] The song portrays a moment of imminent consummation halted by foresight of potential regret, as the singer reflects on the risks of advancing without sufficient relational maturity: "You see I've got to be sure / Before we go any further."[2] This restraint stems from recognition that impulsive actions can precipitate emotional discord, contrasting immediate desire with long-term relational stability.[9] Key verses highlight the rationale for delay, invoking the youth of the relationship as a causal factor: "Our love is young, there's no need to rush / Let's take it slow / When we get to know each other / And we're both feeling much stronger."[20] Here, the lyrics apply a principle of sequenced development—building familiarity and strength precedes vulnerability—implicitly acknowledging that premature physical union often correlates with subsequent dissatisfaction or breakup, as observed in personal anecdotes that inspired the track.[9] Jackson drew from discussions with a friend who experienced regret after rushing into sex, framing the song as advocacy for deliberate pacing over unchecked urges.[9] Within the broader context of Jackson's Control album, which thematizes personal agency and autonomy following her marital annulment and professional independence, "Let's Wait Awhile" embodies self-mastery in intimate decisions.[6] It positions the singer as an agent of volition, rejecting hedonistic immediacy in favor of reflective consent, thereby reinforcing a persona of calculated empowerment rather than passive acquiescence.[7] This thematic restraint diverges from contemporaneous pop's frequent endorsement of uninhibited sensuality, prioritizing causal foresight—wherein deferred gratification fosters enduring bonds—over transient impulses.[9]Release and formats
Single release details
"Let's Wait Awhile" was released as the fifth single from Janet Jackson's third studio album Control on January 6, 1987, by A&M Records. The release followed the title track "Control", which had reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1986, capitalizing on the album's momentum after four consecutive top-five singles.[21] Positioned strategically as the album's first ballad single, it served as an emotional counterpoint to the preceding uptempo, assertive tracks like "Nasty" and "Control", highlighting Jackson's vocal vulnerability amid the record's theme of personal empowerment.[21] [22] The single's packaging, including its 7-inch vinyl format with red injection-molded labels, featured artwork depicting Jackson in a poised, introspective pose that aligned with her maturing public image of poise and self-assurance during the Control era.[23] Promotion focused on an initial radio airplay campaign targeting urban adult contemporary stations, leveraging the song's ballad structure to broaden appeal beyond rhythmic formats and secure early chart traction.[24]Track listings and versions
"Let's Wait Awhile" was issued as a single by A&M Records in various physical formats in 1987, primarily 7-inch vinyl and 12-inch vinyl singles, with regional variations in track configurations. The standard U.S. 7-inch single featured the remix of the title track on the A-side and "Pretty Boy" on the B-side.[25] U.S. 7-inch vinyl single (A&M 290) In international markets, such as the UK and Germany, the 12-inch maxi-single often paired the "Let's Wait Awhile" remix with extended mixes of "Nasty," reflecting promotional bundling strategies for the Control album era.[26] [27] UK/German 12-inch vinyl single (e.g., A&M USAT 601/AMY 468)- A1: "Let's Wait Awhile" (remix) – 4:30
- A2: "Nasty" (Cool Summer Mix, Part 1) – 7:57
- B: "Nasty" (Cool Summer Mix, Part 2) – 10:09 [26]
Promotion
Music video
The music video for "Let's Wait Awhile" was directed by Dominic Sena and released in 1987 to promote the single from Janet Jackson's album Control.[31] It features Jackson alongside co-star Taimak, portraying a couple in a romantic relationship set in New York City.[7] The narrative depicts the pair navigating temptation in an intimate moment before opting to step outside for a walk, symbolizing a deliberate choice for restraint and patience in their connection. Filmed in black and white, the video emphasizes a narrative-driven approach with scenes primarily shot on New York streets, diverging from the live performance style of the prior single "Control."[7] Sena's direction highlights the emotional expressions of the leads through close-up shots, aligning with his emerging style in music videos during the era. The clip aired on MTV, supporting Jackson's growing prominence as an artist independent from her family's shadow following Control's commercial breakthrough.[32]Live performances
"Let's Wait Awhile" received its televised live debut on the BBC program Top of the Pops on March 26, 1987, shortly after the single's release.[33] The performance featured Jackson with her backing band, delivering the ballad in a straightforward arrangement that highlighted its R&B ballad structure and message of premarital abstinence. It quickly became a concert staple, integrated into setlists for her early tours promoting the Control album, including renditions during the 1987 itinerary that emphasized the track's emotional vocal delivery over choreographed spectacle.[34] Throughout the 1990s, the song appeared in major world tours, such as the 1993–1995 Janet World Tour, where it followed high-energy numbers like "What Have You Done for Me Lately" to provide a mid-set ballad respite. In the Velvet Rope Tour (1998–1999), Jackson evolved the rendition into a medley with "Again," blending the two slow-tempo tracks for a seamless narrative transition while retaining the original's piano-driven intimacy and lyrical focus on relational caution.[35] Similar medley formats persisted into the early 2000s, as seen in the All for You Tour (2001–2002), positioning it amid a sequence of Control-era hits to underscore thematic continuity in her catalog.[36] In the 2010s and 2020s, live interpretations shifted toward stripped-down arrangements during residencies, notably in Las Vegas. During the Metamorphosis residency at Park MGM (2019), it served as a vocal showcase in the latter portion of shows heavy on hits. More recent outings, including the Together Again Tour (2022–present) and performances at Resorts World Theatre (2024–2025), featured acoustic or acapella variations—such as a December 30, 2024, acapella delivery—stripping away instrumentation to foreground Jackson's phrasing and the song's core plea for patience, avoiding the sensual staging of her dance-oriented material. [37] These evolutions preserved the track's non-sexualized essence, aligning with its lyrical advocacy for restraint amid evolving production styles across decades.[38]Commercial performance
Chart trajectories
In the United States, "Let's Wait a While" entered the Billboard Hot 100 on January 17, 1987, and climbed to its peak position of number two on the chart dated March 21, 1987, marking Janet Jackson's fifth top-five hit from the Control album.[4] The single also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for one week in May 1987, becoming Jackson's fourth number-one entry on that ranking.[39] It finished as the 48th highest-ranking single on the 1987 Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart.| Chart | Peak Position | Peak Date |
|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | 2 | March 21, 1987[4] |
| Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 1 | May 1987[39] |