• Release Date: November 2, 1987 (Single) | February 4, 1986 (Control)
• The Format: 7″ and 12″ Vinyl (UK/Australia), Airplay Only (USA)
• The Peak: #59 (UK Singles Chart), #24 (Irish Singles Chart)
• The Genre: Quiet Storm / Soul Ballad

To close out our deep dive into the Control era in celebration of its 40th anniversary, we’re taking a look at the final single released from the record, “Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun).” Serving as a smooth, quiet-storm conclusion to Janet’s breakthrough journey, “Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)” wasn’t just a ballad; it was the moment Jackson established her emotional range, proving she could handle ballads just as well as choreography.

“Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)” concludes our Control file.

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

A Masterclass in Quiet Storm

• Acoustic Texture: The track is anchored by the acoustic and 12-string guitar work of O’Nicholas Raths, giving it an organic feel that contrasted with the synthesized percussion of the rest of the album.
• The Vocal Performance: Jackson’s layered vocals showcased a vulnerability that would later become a hallmark of her Janet. and Velvet Rope eras.

A Rare ‘Airplay Only’ Success

By the time “Funny How Time Flies” was released as the seventh and final single from Control in late 1987, Jackson had already made history. However, the release strategy for this track was unique.

• Domestic Signal: In the United States, the song never received a physical retail release. It was strictly an airplay single, making it ineligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time. Despite this, it became a massive staple on Adult R&B and Soul radio.
• No Music Video: Interestingly, no music video was ever filmed for the single, leaving the song’s narrative entirely to the listener’s imagination.

The Sample Legacy: A Blueprint for R&B

• 90s Hip-Hop: The song provided the backbone for classics like The Lost Boyz’s “Renee” and Camp Lo’s “Coolie High” (1996).
• Modern Reinvention: Many artists have utilized the track’s iconic atmosphere to bridge the gap between 1980s soul and current production standards.

Lyrics

Il me plaît d’être avec tu
Je ne sais pas où
Où le temps s’est enfui
Oh, je t’aime mon chéri

Funny how time flies when you’re having fun, ooh baby
Funny how time flies when you’re having fun (fun), oh baby

I don’t know where it all went, time passed us by
Just when it seemed the fun began
Ooh

Funny how time flies when you’re having fun
(Please stay) funny how time flies (please stay)
When you’re having fun
Mm

But time never ends
Let’s find the time
To get together once again, someday soon

Funny how time flies when you’re having fun (yeah, ooh)
Funny how time flies when you’re having fun (fun)

Don’t you ever leave
(Funny how time flies when you’re having fun)
Don’t you ever go
Say you love me so
(Funny how time flies when you’re having fun)
Funny how time flies when you’re having fun (ooh)
When you’re having fun, yeah
Funny how time flies when you’re having fun (fun)

Je ne sais pas où le temps s’est enfui
Il me plaît d’être avec tu

I really don’t know where all the time went
I really have to go
Stop, stop
Oh, I really have to go
Oh, I really have to go
One more time?
Oh, je t’aime mon chéri

Oh
Oh
Oh
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)

RELATED: [THE FILES] 006.6 | Janet Jackson ‘The Pleasure Principle’ (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.