Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done For Me Lately" : a coming of age story packaged in a groundbreaking song

The Twelve Inch 146 : What Have You Done For Me Lately (Janet Jackson)

What does it take to break free from the shadow of a family dynasty, an overbearing father, and a broken marriage to become the voice of a generation?

In 1986, Janet Jackson answered this question loud and clear with “What Have You Done for Me Lately”, the lead single from her groundbreaking album Control. The song didn’t just announce Janet’s arrival as a pop powerhouse—it declared her independence as a woman, artist, and cultural force. Beneath its danceable groove lay a deeper (coming of age) story of resilience, collaboration, and reinvention.

This is how Janet Jackson turned heartbreak into empowerment, worked with new collaborators to shape a sound that would define an era, and help change the landscape of dance music.