Let's Wait Awhile
| "Let's Wait Awhile" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Janet Jackson | ||||
| from the album Control | ||||
| B-side |
"Pretty Boy", "Nasty" (Cool Summer Mixes) | |||
| Released |
January 6, 1987 (U.S.) March 9, 1987 (UK) | |||
| Format | 7" single, 12" single | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul | |||
| Length | 4:37 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Writer(s) | Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Melanie Andrews | |||
| Producer(s) | Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis | |||
| Certification | Silver (BPI) | |||
| Janet Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"Let's Wait Awhile" is the fifth single from Janet Jackson's third studio album, Control (1986). It was written by Jackson, and the Flyte Tyme duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was produced by Jackson, Jam and Lewis. This was the first song Janet Jackson produced.
Song information
Written by Jackson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Melanie Andrews, and produced by Jackson, Jam and Lewis, the song talks about waiting until the right moment to have sex. It was the first ever Janet Jackson-produced song. The song can also be interpreted as an anthem to sexual abstinence as it was a hit during the height of the AIDS pandemic.
The opening bars are very similar to the opening bars of the song "Daisy Jane" recorded by 1970s soft rock group America.
The song was a precursor to the more sexually liberated Jackson who was to emerge on the Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 track "Someday Is Tonight", which can be looked at as Jackson's readiness to go further in their relationship. On her album janet., all the songs revolve around the theme of sexual intimacy. On Jackson's album 20 Y.O., the track "With U" is the follow-up to "Let's Wait Awhile". "With U" takes place after the act of intimacy the two have put off, which results, Jackson explains, in "romantic confusion".
Jackson has performed the song on the Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour, janet. Tour, The Velvet Rope Tour, All for You Tour, Rock Witchu Tour, and Number Ones: Up Close and Personal.
Chart performance
The single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100—behind Club Nouveau's "Lean on Me." It became Jackson's fifth consecutive top five hit on the chart; it also reached number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for one week, her fourth single to top the chart.[1] "Let's Wait Awhile" was the 48th biggest Hot 100 single of 1987 and the 42nd biggest Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs single of 1987. The single also peaked at number two on the Hot Adult Contemporary charts.[2]
In the United Kingdom the song was released in March 1987 and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart a month later, spending ten weeks on the chart.
In Brazil, the song became a successful international theme of the soundtrack of the telenovela "Brega Chique" (Tacky and Chic) from Globo TV in 1987.
Music video
The music video, directed by Dominic Sena, is set in New York City. When Jackson and her boyfriend (played by actor and martial artist Taimak Guarriello) go out for a romantic night on the town, her boyfriend wants to end the evening by taking their relationship a step further, but Jackson wants to wait until they are both ready.
Track listings
- U.S. 7" single
- A. "Let's Wait Awhile" (remix) – 4:30
- B. "Pretty Boy" – 6:32
- UK and European 7" single
- A. "Let's Wait Awhile" (remix) – 4:30
- B. "Nasty" (Cool Summer Mix Part 1 edit) – 4:10
- UK 12" single
- A1. "Let's Wait Awhile" (remix) – 4:30
- A2. "Nasty" (Cool Summer Mix Part 1) – 7:57
- B1. "Nasty" (Cool Summer Mix Part 2) – 10:09
- UK 7" single – limited edition picture disc
- A. "Let's Wait Awhile" (remix) – 4:30
- B. "Nasty" (Cool Summer Mix Part 1 edit) – 4:10
- C. "Nasty" (edit of remix) – 3:40
- D. "Control" (edit) – 3:26
Official versions/remixes
- Album version – 4:37
- Remix – 4:37
- Remix edit – 3:57
Charts
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report[3] | 21 |
| Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)[4] | 15 |
| Canadian Singles Chart[5] | 11 |
| Dutch Top 40[6] | 16 |
| German Singles Chart[7] | 34 |
| Irish Singles Chart[8] | 4 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart[9] | 26 |
| Swiss Singles Chart[9] | 27 |
| UK Singles Chart[10] | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[11] | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[11] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary[11] | 2 |
End-of-year charts
| End-of-year chart (1987) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] | 48 |
Chart procession and succession
| Preceded by "Slow Down" by Loose Ends |
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one single March 14, 1987 |
Succeeded by "Looking for a New Love" by Jody Watley |
Cover versions
- 1988 – Smooth jazz/fusion guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. covered the song for his album I Came to Play.
- 1989 – Jazz fusion saxophonist Nelson Rangell covered the song on his album Playing for Keeps.[13]
1990- Hong Kong Singer Cass Phang covered the song for her album "With Love".
- 1994 – Booker T. & the M.G.s covered the song instrumentally on their album That's the Way It Should Be.
- 2002 – Smooth jazz guitarist Norman Brown covered this song instrumentally on his album Just Chillin'.
- 2004 – Australian actress Emily Browning covered this song.
- 2005 – Ilona Irvine covered the song on the compilation album Island Soul: A Way of Life, Vol. 1.
- 2007 – Filipino singer Nikki Gil covered this song.
- 2007 – The song's refrain is resung by Melody Thornton on Jibbs' single "Go Too Far".
References
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 282.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 123.
- ↑ "Janet in Australia". MJJ Charts. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ "Janet in Belgium". MJJ Charts. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ "RPM weekly magazine". RPM. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17 – 1987". Radio 538 (in Dutch). Top 40. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ "Musicline.de – Chartverfolgung – Janet Jackson – Let's Wait Awhile". Media Control (in German). Musicline.de. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. irishcharts.ie. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Janet Jackson – Let's Wait A While – swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ "Chart Stats – Janet Jackson – Let's Wait Awhile". The Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Control > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
- ↑ http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1987.php
- ↑ "Playing for Keeps overview". Allmusic.com.
External links
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