• The Release: June 1, 1987
• The Director: Dominic Sena (who later gave us Gone in 60 Seconds)
• The Choreographer: Barry Lather (taking over for Paula Abdul to bring a sharper, more athletic “Punk” energy)
• The Hardware: Guess Skinny Jeans, wrestling boots, and a mystery graphic tee
• The Achievement: Won Best Choreography at the 1988 MTV VMAs

By the time “The Pleasure Principle” hit the feed, Janet Jackson (Ms. Jackson, if ya nasty, of course) was already the dominant force in the 1987 pop mainframe. As we’ve been covering in our “Control 40” series, the Control album had already spawned five Top 5 hits, and, ladies and gentlemen, this track took things to the next level. Climbing to #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and peaking at #14 on the Hot 100, “The Pleasure Principle” was nothing short of dominant, and still provides the blueprint for artists 40 years later.

Next up in the “Control 40” lookback is “The Pleasure Principle.”

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

The Design Specs: ‘Rehearsal Core’ Takes Full Effect

The outfit in this video is the definition of simple yet iconic.

• The Denim: Jackson famously rocked a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans reported to be from Guess. In an era of baggy 80s cuts, these were tight, flexible and sleek, making a statement in subtle fashion.
• The Footwear: Jackson also reportedly wore Asics wrestling shoes (paired with knee pads), giving her the grip needed for the “Chair Slide” and that iconic backflip.

The ‘Barry Lather’ Choreography

• The Chair Sequence: The “Chair Tip” is one of the most unsuccessfully replicated dance moves for us common folks, who have nearly killed ourselves in the process of trying to attempt (don’t ask).
• The Solo Logic: By performing alone, Jackson also proved she didn’t need a team of background dancers to command.

The Visual Architecture: The Warehouse Loft

The setting for “The Pleasure Principle” music video was a loft in the Minneapolis Warehouse District, the birthplace of the “Minneapolis Sound.”

• The Lighting: Dominic Sena used “Dappled Light” and silhouettes to make the space feel both massive and intimate, creating a look that later became the gold standard for 90s R&B videos.
• The Mirror Scene: The moment Jackson dances with her own reflection is nothing short of legendary.

The Chart Performance

• Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: #1 (Jackson’s fifth #1 from the album).
• Billboard Dance Club Songs: #1 (The ultimate floor-filler of ’87).
• Billboard Hot 100: #14 (The only Control single to miss the Top 5, yet it stayed on the chart for 10 weeks).
• UK Singles Chart: #24 (Her third Top 40 hit in the UK).
• The Global Patch: It hit #15 in the Netherlands, #17 in Belgium and #35 in Canada.

Lyrics

You might think I’m crazy, but I’m serious
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

RELATED: [THE FILES] 006.3 | Janet Jackson – When I Think of You (1986)

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”

RELATED: [THE FILES] 006.4 | Janet Jackson – “Control” (The Single)

RELATED: [THE FILES] 006.5 | The Architecture of Agency: Janet Jackson’s ‘Let’s Wait Awhile’ (1987)

Featured Photo: A&M Records

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.