Song information and video
The song is an "independent woman" anthem about love gone wrong built around a dance beat.
Music video
For the music video, the Shep Pettibone Mix was used. It won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography in 1988 and was nominated for the Soul Train Award for Female Single of the Year and won her two American Music Awards in 1988.
In the video, Jackson enters a loft to practice her dancing. She gives a solo dance performance while singing about the pleasure principle. Elements of the choreography incorporate a chair and a microphone stand.
During MTV's first ever mtvICON in 2001, Jackson was paid tribute by singers Pink, Usher, and Mรฝa. Mรฝa paid tribute by re-enacting Jackson's choreography from the video, most noticeably the mirror scene. On April 27, 2007, the video was made available on iTunes Store.
Chart performance
Released in 1987, "The Pleasure Principle" peaked at number fourteen in the U.S. that summer, becoming Jackson's sixth Top 20 single on the Billboard Hot 100; it also hit number one on the R&B singles chart becoming her fifth to top that chart. She was the first to do this. Since "The Pleasure Principle" peaked at number fourteen, it became the only song released from Control in the U.S. to miss the top 5 of the Hot 100. Outside the U.S. the single would be make it into the top twenty, at most markets. The single was the thirty-fourth biggest Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks single of 1987.
The Pleasure Principle
Janet Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's better you know now
What I thought was happiness was only part-time bliss
You can take a bow
It was all just one big night out on the town
Riding in your limousine
We turned right and I say wrong which brings us to a stop
As the light is changing
Oh, my meters running so I got to go now
It's the pleasure principle, oh oh oh
It's the principle of pleasure, oh
It's the pleasure principle, oh oh
It's true you want to build your life on guarantees
Hey take a ride in a big yellow taxi
I'm not here to feed your insecurities
I wanted you to love me
This has become an all too familiar scene
It's not the first time I paid the fare
Where'd you get the idea of material possession?
Thank you for the ride nowhere
And, oh, my meters running so I've really got to go
It's the pleasure principle oh oh oh, ooh
It's the principle of pleasure ohh
It's the pleasure principle oh oh oh oh
I know what you mean to me
Baby this is nowhere
You know what became between you and me
Human differential
Da-da-da-da, baby
It's the principle of pleasure
Ohh, ohh-ah
It's the pleasure principle, principle
Oh oh oh oh
You might say that I'm no good
I wouldn't trust your looks baby if I could
I got so many things I wanna do
Before I'm through
Hey, ba-da-da-da-baby
It's the pleasure principle
It's the pleasure principle
Yeah, yeah, ay, yeah, yeah, ay
It's the pleasure principle
Baby you can't hold me down
Baby you can't hold me down
After all the lovin' we've been through
And after all you've put me through
Yeah yeah, hey yeah (oh)
Love me, hey yeah, love me yeah
Hoo hoo hoo hoo
It's the pleasure principle
Oh (yeah, yeah), oh (yeah, yeah), oh
In "The Pleasure Principle," Janet Jackson is acknowledging that she has realized that what she thought was happiness, was only temporary. She is telling her partner that she is moving forward and focusing on herself, seeking pleasure in all areas of her life. As she rides in a limousine with her partner, they turn right when they should have turned left, causing them to stop at a light. She sings that her meter is running and she must go because she is choosing to live by the principle of pleasure, refusing to let anything hold her down.
The lyrics of the song could be interpreted as Janet Jackson's assertion of her independence and autonomy in the context of a romantic relationship. She implies that she had been seeking happiness within a relationship, but that it was only temporary, and that in order to truly be happy, she needs to focus on herself and her own pleasure. Additionally, the reference to the materialism of her partner implies their relationship was built on superficiality rather than substance.
Line by Line Meaning
You might think I'm crazy, but I'm serious
I know what I want and I am being sincere about it
It's better you know now
I want to make sure I communicate this clearly to you
What I thought was happiness was only part-time bliss
I realized that what I had before was only temporary happiness
You can take a bow
You can take credit for the superficial happiness that we had before
It was all just one big night out on the town
Our relationship was only about temporary pleasure and excitement
Riding in your limousine
You used material possessions to try and impress me
We turned right and I say wrong which brings us to a stop
Our relationship has reached a confusing point because we have different views
As the light is changing
Our relationship is transitioning and changing
Oh, my meters running so I got to go now
Time is running out for me and I need to move on
It's the pleasure principle, oh oh oh
I am making my decision based on the principle of seeking pleasure
It's true you want to build your life on guarantees
You want stability in your life
Hey take a ride in a big yellow taxi
Life is unpredictable and you should cherish the moment
I'm not here to feed your insecurities
I'm not going to be in a relationship that is based on insecurity
I wanted you to love me
I desired a deeper and more authentic love
This has become an all too familiar scene
Our relationship has become predictable and uninspiring
It's not the first time I paid the fare
This is not the first time I have invested in a relationship that isn't right for me
Where'd you get the idea of material possession?
I question your priorities which seem to be based on material possessions
Thank you for the ride nowhere
Thank you for the time and experiences, but they only led to nothing
I know what you mean to me
I understand what you meant to me in the past
Baby this is nowhere
Our relationship isn't going anywhere
You know what became between you and me
We both know what ended our relationship
Human differential
Our differences are what ended our relationship
Da-da-da-da, baby
I'm trying to move on and let go of the past
It's the principle of pleasure
I am seeking happiness and fulfillment
Ohh, ohh-ah
I am experiencing strong emotions and desires
You might say that I'm no good
You may see me as someone who is not right for you
I wouldn't trust your looks baby if I could
I cannot trust you, even if you look good
I got so many things I wanna do
I have many goals and ambitions
Before I'm through
Before I move on from this relationship
Baby you can't hold me down
You cannot stop me from pursuing my own happiness
After all the lovin' we've been through
After all the time and effort put into our relationship
And after all you've put me through
Despite everything you have put me through
Love me, hey yeah, love me yeah
Love me for who I am, not for superficial reasons
It's the pleasure principle
I am seeking lasting happiness and satisfaction
Oh (yeah, yeah), oh (yeah, yeah), oh
These strong emotions continue to persist
Lyrics ยฉ MONTE MOIR MUSIC
Written by: Monte S Moir
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@actionfoley917
The way she ate this is unreal.
@midwestkrazy83turner50
๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฏ
@ablack2005
....and no crumbs LEFT!!!!
@lewesleyacklin1408
Frfrโค๏ธ๐ฆพ๐
@Melecha1611
๐๐ฝโโ๏ธ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
@drizztdourden5291
She carried the whole vid by herself now thats talent.
@matthewcarter1973
Ofc! Tht's Michael lil sister
@feliciasanders2066
@@matthewcarter1973 She's a Jackson. ๐
@islandgurl4927
That's no surprise. She's a Jackson.
@raym5284
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