The tenth and youngest child of the Jackson family, she began her career with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, and Fame. After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third and fourth studio albums Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music.
In 1991, Jackson signed the first of two record-breaking multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest-paid artists in the industry. Prior to her first studio project with Virgin, she appeared in her first of several lead film roles in Poetic Justice (1993). Her two studio albums which followed, Janet (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997), saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol. These records, along with their promotional music videos and live performances in concert tours, branded Jackson as one of the world's most erotic performers, garnering both criticism and praise. By the end of the 1990s, she was named by Billboard magazine as the second most successful recording artist of the decade after Mariah Carey. The release of her seventh studio album All for You in 2001 coincided with a celebration of her impact on the recording industry as the subject of the inaugural MTV Icon special.
The backlash from the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy resulted in an industry blacklisting under the direction of Les Moonves, then-CEO of CBS Corporation. Jackson subsequently experienced reduced radio airplay, televised promotion and sales figures from that point forward. After parting ways with Virgin Records, she released her tenth studio album Discipline (2008), her first and only album with Island Records. In 2015, she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label, Rhythm Nation and released her eleventh studio album Unbreakable the same year. Since then she has continued to release music as an independent artist.
Having sold over 100 million records, Jackson is one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has amassed an extensive catalog, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "That's the Way Love Goes", "Together Again", and "All for You"; she holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with 18. She is also the only artist in the history of the chart to have seven commercial singles from one album (Rhythm Nation 1814) peak within the top five positions. In 2008, Billboard placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". In December 2016, the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist after Madonna. One of the world's most awarded artists, her accolades include five Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, eleven American Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and eight Guinness World Records entries. In 2019, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jackson has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers and credited with elevating a standard of sound, showmanship and sex appeal expected of pop stars.
"That's the Way Love Goes"
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burned by the fire
My love is blind
Can't you see my desire
That's the way love goes
Like a moth to a flame
Burned by the fire
Can't you see my desire
That's the way
Like a moth to a flame
Burned by the fire
That's the way
My love is blind
Can't you see my desire
That's the way love goes
Like a moth to a flame
Burned by the fire
That's the way love goes
My love is blind
Can't you see my desire
That's the way, that's the way love goes
Come with me don't you worry
I'm gonna make you crazy
I'll give you the time of your life
I'm gonna take you places
You've never been before
And you'll be so happy that you came
Oh I'm gonna take you there, ooh
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
Don't mind if I light candles
I like to watch us playin'
Baby I've got on what you like
Come closer baby closer
Reach out and feel my body
I'm gonna give you all my love
Oh sugar don't you hurry
You've got me here all night
Just close your eyes and hold on tight
Oh baby don't stop don't stop
Go deeper, baby, deeper
You feel so good I'm gonna cry
Oh I'm gonna take you there, ooh
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
Don't you know
Like a moth to a flame
Burned by the fire
My love is blind
Can't you see my desire
Like a moth to a flame
Burned by the fire
My love is blind
Can't you see my desire
That's the way
That's the way love goes
That's the way
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love goes
That's the way love
That's the way love
That's the way love
That's the way love
That's the way love
That's the way love
That's the way love goes
In "That's the Way Love Goes" Janet Jackson sings about the intensity of love, comparing herself to a moth that is drawn to the flame. She notes that her love is blind, unable to see anything but her desire for her partner. Despite this, she is willing to take risks and make her partner crazy, promising to take them to new and exciting places. The lyrics are sensual, as she encourages her partner to explore her body and deepen their connection. She ends the song repeating the chorus, asserting that this is just the way love works.
There are many interpretations of the lyrics, but one possible reading is that Jackson is describing the all-consuming nature of love. When she compares herself to a moth, it suggests that she is helplessly drawn towards her lover, even though she knows it might hurt her in the end. Similarly, when she sings about being burned by the fire, it implies that she is willing to take risks in pursuit of this love. The desire she feels is so strong that it blinds her, preventing her from seeing anything else.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a moth to a flame
An irresistible tendency to pursue something harmful or detrimental
Burned by the fire
Scarred by the love
My love is blind
Unaware of the flaws or faults of the partner
Can't you see my desire
Yearning for intimacy and closeness
That's the way love goes
This is the norm and how it always is
Come with me don't you worry
Do not fret, trust and follow my lead
I'm gonna make you crazy
I will show you new wonders that will blow your mind and thrill you with ecstasy
I'll give you the time of your life
I will make unforgettable memories with you
I'm gonna take you places
I am going to show you new experiences and sensations
You've never been before
Places or acts of intimacy that are new and exciting
And you'll be so happy that you came
You will enjoy the experience immensely
Don't mind if I light candles
Creating an intimate ambiance
I like to watch us playin'
Aroused and stimulated by the intimacy
Baby I've got what you like
I understand and can provide what satisfies you
Come closer baby closer
I want to be closer to you physically and emotionally
Reach out and feel my body
Touch me and experience the intimacy
I'm gonna give you all my love
I will show you undivided attention and affection
Oh sugar don't you hurry
Take your time, enjoy the moment
You've got me here all night
I will devote all my time and attention to you
Just close your eyes and hold on tight
Let go and immerse yourself in this moment
Oh baby don't stop don't stop
Continue, do not halt the passion
Go deeper, baby, deeper
Dig deeper into the passion and connection
You feel so good I'm gonna cry
Emotionally overwhelmed by the pleasure and connection
Don't you know
Are you not aware
That's the way
This is just how it is
That's the way love goes
This is just how love is
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Charles Bobbit, Fred Wesley, James Brown, James Harris III, Janet Jackson, John Starks, Terry Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@crystalharris-thomas1939
Still listening in 2024❤❤❤.
@HessSabine-qu2zx
Me too 2024❤️🧡🏵️🦋*
@anthonyharris5135
Right? ✊🏽
@clairecox7366
🤍✨
@michaelndhlovu9240
🤝 me too
@BeverlyCarroll-be5jg
😂@@HessSabine-qu2zx
@nycole8192
STILL here in 2024! Still a Banger 💯❤🎶
Who else is still bumpin' Ms. Jackson If You're Nasty?!?! 🙋🏽♀️😉🥰
@ReRiderChi
nobody's making this in 2024
@momipatzyramos4161
When I see Jennifer Lopez & Janet Jackson in one music video... Queens 😊❤
@drfabsoonjd
I think I see Vivica Fox too