"Let's Wait Awhile" is the fifth single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...

's third studio album, Control

Control (Janet Jackson album)

Control is the third studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released on February 6, 1986 by A&M Records. Her collaborations with songwriters and record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis resulted in an unconventional sound: a fusion of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap vocals,...

(1986). It was written by Jackson, and the Flyte Tyme duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...

. 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

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...

, 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

Sexual abstinence

Sexual abstinence is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, philosophical or religious reasons.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*poor health - medical celibacy...

 as it was a hit during the height of the AIDS pandemic

AIDS pandemic

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome pandemic is a widespread disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus .Since AIDS was first recognized in 1981, it has led to the deaths of more than 25 million people, making it one of the most destructive diseases in recorded history.Despite recent...

. The verse borrows its melody from the 1975 song "Daisy Jane" by the folk rock

Folk rock

Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...

 trio America

America (band)

America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...

.

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.

Janet.

Janet is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released on May 18, 1993 by Virgin Records. Prior to its release, Jackson was at the center of a high-profile bidding war over her recording contract. Her original label A&M sought to renew her contract, while others, such...

, all the songs revolve around the theme of sexual intimacy. On Jackson's album 20 Y.O.

20 Y.O.

20 Y.O. is the ninth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released by Virgin Records America on September 20, 2006 in Japan, September 22 internationally, and September 26 in Canada and the United States...

, the track "With U

With U

"With U" is an R&B song written by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, Jr., Johnta Austin, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis for Jackson's ninth studio album, 20 Y.O. . Released to urban and urban AC radio stations on December 11, 2006, it was the album's third...

" 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

Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour

The Rhythm Nation World Tour is the debut concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. It was launched in support of her fourth studio album Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 , and also contained material from her third studio album Control...

, janet. Tour

Janet. Tour

The Janet. World Tour is the second concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. It was launched in support of her fifth studio album Janet . It began in November, 1993 and continued through April, 1995...

, The Velvet Rope Tour

The Velvet Rope Tour

The Velvet Rope World Tour is the third concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. Launched in support of her sixth studio album The Velvet Rope , the tour embarked on an international trek that included Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.Due to the fact...

, All for You Tour

All for You Tour

The All for You Tour was a worldwide concert tour in 2001 by American pop/R&B singer Janet Jackson in support of her multi-platinum album All for You...

, and Rock Witchu Tour

Rock Witchu Tour

The Rock Witchu Tour was the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter, Janet Jackson, in support of her tenth studio album Discipline. This was Jackson's first tour in nearly seven years. The tour visited North America...

. It was also included in her current tour, Number Ones: Up Close and Personal

Number Ones: Up Close and Personal

Number Ones: Up Close and Personal is the sixth concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. Described as her "largest world tour", the show is in support of her second compilation album, Number Ones...

.

Chart performance

The single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

—behind Club Nouveau

Club Nouveau

Club Nouveau is a contemporary R&B-pop band that was formed by record producer/performer Jay King in 1986 in Sacramento, California, subsequent to the breakup of the Timex Social Club. Other members of Club Nouveau included original members Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Samuelle Prater, and...

's "Lean on Me

Lean on Me (song)

"Lean on Me" is a song written and released by Bill Withers in 1972.It was his first and only number one on both the soul singles and the Billboard Hot 100. It is ranked number 205 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Numerous cover versions have been recorded, and it is one of...

." 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

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...

 chart for one week, her fourth single to top the chart. "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 .

In the United Kingdom the song was released in March 1987 and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

 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

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

, directed by Dominic Sena

Dominic Sena

-Life and career:Sena was born in Niles, Ohio. He is of Italian-American heritage. His family hails from the town of Bagnoli Irpino, Avellino, Italy. As one of the founders of Propaganda Films, Sena worked primarily in music videos early in his career. Sena directed several of Janet Jackson's...

, is set in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. When Jackson and her boyfriend (played by actor and martial artist Taimak Guarriello

Taimak

Taimak Guarriello is a martial arts actor and stuntman, best known as Leroy Green in the 1985 martial arts film The Last Dragon...

) 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

Nasty (song)

"Nasty" is the second single from Janet Jackson's third studio album, Control . Released in 1986, the single peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and remains one of Jackson's signature songs. Paula Abdul choreographed the music video and appeared...

" (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

Charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...	21
Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995...  (Flanders)	15
Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....	14
Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...	16
German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...	34
Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...	4
New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...	26
Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75...	27
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...	2
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...	1
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...	2

End of year charts

End of year chart (1987)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	48

Chart procession and succession

Cover versions

1989 - Jazz fusion

Jazz fusion

Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...

 saxophonist Nelson Rangell

Nelson Rangell

Nelson Rangell is an American velvet-smooth jazz musician and composer originally from Castle Rock, Colorado. Although Rangell is known for his work with the tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, his primary instrument is the piccolo flute, which he began playing at the age of 15...

 covered the song from his album "Playing for Keeps".

1994 - Booker T. & the M.G.s covered the song instrumentally on their album "That's the Way It Should Be".

2004 - Australian actress Emily Browning

Emily Browning

Emily Jane Browning is an Australian film actress and fashion model, known for her roles as Violet Baudelaire in Brad Silberling's 2004 film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, as Anna Ivers in the 2009 film The Uninvited, as Babydoll in Zack Snyder's 2011 action thriller Sucker...

 covered this song.

2005 - Ilona Irvine covered the song on the compilation album "Island Soul: A Way of Life, Vol. 1".

2007 - Filipino

Filipino people

The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....

 singer Nikki Gil

Nikki Gil

Monica Pauline "Nikki" Gil is a Filipino singer, actress, host, model and myx VJ.-Biography:Monica Pauline Gil was born in Manila to Dino and Julie Gil. She is of Filipino, Spanish and German descent...

 covered this song.

2007 - The song's refrain is resung by Melody Thornton

Melody Thornton

Melody Thornton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, Soprano vocalist, dancer, model, showgirl and television personality who rose to stardom as a member of the successful pop group the Pussycat Dolls...

 on Jibbs

Jibbs

Jovan Campbell , better known by his stage name Jibbs, is an American rapper. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, but raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He had one top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, which was his debut single "Chain Hang Low"...

' single "Go Too Far

Go Too Far

"Go Too Far" is the third single of hip hop rapper Jibbs off his debut album Jibbs Featuring Jibbs. The song features former Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton...

".