• The Subject: When I Think of You (Single 3 from Control)
• The Architects: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson
• The Milestone: Janet’s first #1 Single on the Billboard Hot 100

Released on July 28, 1986, “When I Think of You” was the pivotal record that proved Control wasn’t just about aggression and independence—it was also about joy and romance. While “Nasty” and “What Have You Done for Me Lately” established Janet Jackson’s new attitude, this track showcased her technical vocal agility and cemented the “Minneapolis Sound” as the new global standard for pop. Today, we look at the 12-inch groove and the groundbreaking music video.

Continuing our Control series, “When I Think of You” is the next file in our library.

RELATED: [THE FILES] 006 Janet Jackson: 40 Years of Control

The 120 BPM “Flyte Tyme” Groove

While the album version is a concise pop gem, the Dance Remix further shows the brillance of Jam, Lewis and Jackson.

• The Percussion Hardware: The track is anchored by the Roland TR-808 and TR-909, but it’s the syncopated, “swinging” percussion that defines the groove. It’s an early blueprint for what would eventually become New Jack Swing.
• The Synth Stack: The bright, brassy lead lines were sculpted using the Moog Memorymoog and the Oberheim OB-8. Jam & Lewis prioritized “warmth” in their digital-analog hybrid setup at Flyte Tyme Studios, giving the track a rich, layered texture that stood out against the thinner synth-pop of 1986.

The Choreography: The Paula Abdul / Michael Kidd Hybrid

The music video for “When I Think of You” is also a masterclass in cinematic movement.

• The Director: Directed by Julien Temple, the video utilized a complex, multi-set neighborhood build.
• The “One-Take” Glitch: The video is famously designed to look like a single, continuous shot as Jackson wanders through various urban vignettes. In reality, it is composed of five distinct takes seamlessly stitched together—a technical feat of timing and camera placement for the pre-digital editing era.
• The Dance Blueprint: Choreographed by a young Paula Abdul (with assistance from Hollywood legend Michael Kidd), the movements were less “music video” and more “Broadway on the street.” It emphasized Jackson’s athleticism and the rhythmic precision she would later perfect in the Rhythm Nation era.

The Cultural Impact: Breaking the Record

• The Sibling Stat: When the song hit #1, it made Janet and Michael Jackson the first (and only) siblings to achieve solo #1 hits on the Hot 100.
• The Age Factor: At 20 years old, Janet was the youngest artist since Stevie Wonder to top the charts, proving that she had successfully re-coded her career from “child star” to “cultural executive.”

The ‘Decked Out’ Verdict:

“When I Think of You” is the epitome of a perfect third single, taking the raw industrial energy of the Minneapolis sound and polishing it for the masses. A song that instantly gets stuck in your head, “When I Think of You” wasn’t just about Jackson taking charge, but also about mastering the mechanics of a perfect pop song.

Lyrics:

Ooh, baby
Anytime my world gets crazy
All I have to do to calm it
Is just think of you

It’s when I think of you, baby
Nothing else seems to matter
It’s when I think of you, baby
All I think about is our love

I just get more attached to you
When you hold me in your arms
And squeeze me
And you leave me making me blue

It’s when I think of you, baby
Nothing else seems to matter
It’s when I think of you, baby
All I think about is our love

So in love (so in love)
Ooh (so in love), with you (so in love)
Baby (so in love), ooh, (so in love)
Yeah (so in love), with you (so in love)
(So in love)

When I think of you
(When I think of you)
When I think of you
(When I think of you)
Bass

I’m so in love
I just think of you
When you’re not around, I
When I think of you

So in love (so in love), with you (so in love)
Baby, you (so in love), ooh (so in love)
So in love (so in love), with you (so in love)

Break

Feels so good
When I think of you
Yeah, yeah

Featured Photo: A&M Records

RELATED: [THE FILES] 006.2: Janet Jackson – “Nasty” (1986)

RELATED: [THE FILES] 006.1 40 Years of Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done for Me Lately”

Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.