"That's the Way Love Goes" is a song by American singer

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...

from her fifth album, ''

Janet Janet may refer to: Names * Janet (given name) * Janet (French singer) (1939–2011) Surname * Charles Janet (1849–1932), French engineer, inventor and biologist, known for the Left Step periodic table * Jules Janet (1861–1945), French psych ...

'' (1993). The song was released on April 20, 1993, as the lead single from the ''Janet'' album. Written and produced by Jackson and

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...

, the song's themes of romantic

lust Lust is a psychological force producing intense desire for something, or circumstance while already having a significant amount of the desired object. Lust can take any form such as the lust for sexuality (see libido), money, or power. It can ...

saw Jackson transitioning to sensual territory, considered a shocking contrast to her previous releases among critics and the public. The song's slow tempo fused R&B, pop,

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

and

soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...

with flourishes of

downtempo Downtempo (or downbeat) is a broad label for electronic music that features an atmospheric sound and slower beats than would typically be found in dance music. Closely related to ambient music but with greater emphasis on rhythm, the style may ...

and hip hop music. It received positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who praised it as "iconic", "hypnotic", and "extravaganza" for its production and vocals. "That’s the Way Love Goes" is one of Jackson's biggest hits in the United States. It was one of the longest-reigning hits of 1993, topping the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for eight weeks, To date, it is the longest running number-one single of any member of the

Jackson family The Jackson family is an American family of musicians and entertainers from Gary, Indiana. Many of the children of Joseph Walter (or Joe) and Katherine Esther Jackson were successful musicians, notably the brothers that formed the Motown boy b ...

on the Hot 100. It also topped the

Hot 100 Airplay The Radio Songs chart (previously named Hot 100 Airplay until 2014 and Top 40 Radio Monitor until 1991) is released weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine and measures the airplay of songs being played on radio stations throughout ...

for ten weeks, as well as spending multiple weeks at number one on several of ''Billboard''s other component charts. The song became the first and only single in history to debut at number one on the

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (previously known as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay) is a chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the top R&B and hip hop songs in the United States, based on audience impressions from a panel of radio stations monitored ...

chart. Internationally, it placed at number one in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, South Africa, Japan and Europe's Hot 100 chart. It is the seventeenth biggest hit of the 1990s and the biggest selling single by a female artist in South Africa. It has sold over three million copies worldwide. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA. "That's the Way Love Goes" received the

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

for

Best R&B Song The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1969. From 1969 to 2000, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. Beyoncé has won it a record four times, while Bab ...

in addition to

Billboard Awards The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by ''Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of t ...

, BMI Pop Award for Most Played Song, and

American Music Awards The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show, generally held in the fall, created by Dick Clark in 1973 for ABC when the network's contract to air the Grammy Awards expired, and currently produced by Dick Clark Produc ...

. Its accompanying

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

received several nominations at the

MTV Video Music Awards The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...

, including Best Female Video, and also influenced several videos, including releases from

Ciara Ciara Princess Wilson ( ; Harris; born October 25, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model and entrepreneur. She released her debut studio album, '' Goodies'' in 2004, which spawned four singles: " Goodies" (featuring Petey Pa ...

and

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...

. "That's the Way Love Goes" has been recorded by artists such as

Bruno Mars Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for his stage performances, retro showmanship, and for performing in a wide range of musical s ...

and

NSYNC NSYNC (, ; also stylized as *NSYNC or 'N Sync) was an American boy band formed by Chris Kirkpatrick in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich. Their self-titled debut album was successfully released to European ...

, cited as an influence by

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...

and

Nelly Furtado Nelly Kim Furtado (; ; born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Furtado has sold over 40 million records worldwide making her one of the most successful Canadian artists. She first gained fame with her trip hop-inspired deb ...

, and inspired or been sampled in songs by

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...

Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...

and

Hikaru Utada , who is also known by the mononym Utada, is a Japanese-American pop singer, songwriter and producer. By 2010, Utada had become one of the most influential, and best-selling, musical artists in Japan. Born in the United States to Japanese parent ...

. It is considered to be one of Jackson's

signature song A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a Handwriting, handwritten (and often Stylization, stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and ...

s and is included in each of her greatest hits collections: '' Design of a Decade: 1986–1996'' (1995), '' Number Ones'' (2009) and '' Icon: Number Ones'' (2010).

Background

In 1991, Jackson fulfilled her contract with

A&M Records A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...

, signing a multimillion-dollar contract with

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...

estimated between 32 and 50 million dollars, making her the highest-paid recording artist at the time. The first version of "That's the Way Love Goes" had a lovelorn tone which Jackson revised, contacting producer Jimmy Jam to say she was taking an alternate direction. Jackson was initially indifferent upon hearing its instrumental, prompting her to request a tape to listen to as she embarked on a brief vacation. Upon returning, Jackson replied "You know that track you did? I love it. It's absolutely the bomb," adding "I wasn’t hearing it, but now I totally hear it. We've gotta do that track! Oh my God, we played it non-stop!" Jackson wished to write and record the song immediately, and quickly devised its title. Jam commented that "That's the Way Love Goes" was the perfect introduction into what the album was going to be. At one point in the recording in December 1992, they took a two-week break for the Christmas holidays and Jackson went to

Anguilla Anguilla ( ) is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. The territo ...

. She asked Jam to make a cassette of tracks they were already working on to take with her on the trip. Two weeks later in January 1993, she was excited about the track, requesting that her producers put the track on the album and explaining that she played it non-stop while she was traveling. The producer recalled, "At about one in the morning, the intercom went off in my bedroom. She goes, 'Jimmy? Are you awake?' I said, 'I am now'. She said, 'I've got the concept. It's going to be called 'That's the Way Love Goes'.' Throughout the whole project, it was our favourite record. ..there was something about that song that we just thought was so different and really captured that part of her life". In retrospect, Jackson called the song "relaxed and carefree", being "easy and fun, soft and seductive". When

Virgin Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

heads went to

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

, Jackson and her producers played a rough cut for " If" for them. The executives felt it would be the first release from the album, and Jackson shared this feeling. However,

Jam and Lewis James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...

, still wanted the label to release "That's the Way Love Goes" first. Jam recalled,

"Janet goes, 'Yeah, you're right!' Then she comes back a week later and says, 'Well… guys, it looks like 'If' is going to be the single. The record label feels it could have a great dance video...' So we were finishing up recording later with Chuck D and we played him and ip hop producerHank Shocklee the two songs. They said, 'If. That's like Janet saying I'm back!' So Janet's looking at us like 'See? See!?' And then he (Chuck) goes, 'But that other song… you know when
Sade Sade may refer to: People * Marquis de Sade (1740–1814), French aristocrat, writer, and libertine * Sade (singer) (born 1959, Helen Folasade Adu), British Nigerian musician and lead singer of the eponymous band * Sade Baderinwa (born 1969), WAB ...
releases a record and it's not like a bunch of hype? She just slips it out there and you say, 'Oh my God listen to this!?' It introduces itself". And we’re looking at Janet like, 'See!?'"

Composition

"That's the Way Love Goes" samples

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...

's 1974 song " Papa Don't Take No Mess" and The Honey Drippers' 1973 song "Impeach the President". It is set in

common time The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value ...

, in the key of

G minor G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has two flats. Its relative major is B-flat major and its parallel major is G major. According to Paolo Pietropaolo, it is the cont ...

. Jackson's vocal chords range between the tonal nodes of high-tone F₃ to low-tone Bb₄. The song is in a medium tempo of 100

beats per minute Beat, beats or beating may refer to: Common uses * Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area ** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols ** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men * Battery ( ...

with a repeating

chord progression In a musical composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are the foundation of harmony in Western musical tradition from the common practice ...

of EbMaj7–F6–Gm. Sal Cinquemani from

Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York ...

noted its "measured hip-hop loop and titular one-line hook". Patricia Smith of ''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...

'' also noted that the chorus of the song consists of a simple line, "deep male voice weaves its way through the chorus, and Janet experiments with the layering of spoken lines, chanting the title like a mantra".

J.D. Considine J. D. Considine (born 1957) is a music critic who has been writing about music professionally since 1977. Background J. D. Considine's work has been published in numerous newspapers and music magazines, and he has contributed to several books. ...

of ''

The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries. Founded in 1837, it is currently owned by Tr ...

'' noted that Jackson performed the vocals in the composition at the lower end of her vocal register, "coaxing a velvety warmth" that perfectly complements the lyrics. The composition begins with the "seemingly innocent" phrases such as "You'll be so glad you came", and goes on to more adult lyrics. Shayne Lee in her book ''Erotic Revolutionaries: Black Women, Sexuality, and Popular Culture'' (2010), while noting the whole erotic lyrics singer, wrote: "In 'That's the Way Love Goes' she promises to take her man to places he's never been. She urges him to reach out and feel her body; slow down because he's got her there all night; to go deeper, and that feels so good she's going to cry". ''

The Crisis ''The Crisis'' is the official magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). It was founded in 1910 by W. E. B. Du Bois (editor), Oswald Garrison Villard, J. Max Barber, Charles Edward Russell, Kelly Mi ...

'' magazine wrote that Jackson has long been famous for her "self-conscious image of a good girl", but changed her lyrics' style. "Just listen to the spicy lyrics of her super-hit 'That's the Way Love Goes' and you will realize that she is no longer that cute little girl from the ''

Good Times ''Good Times'' is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was television's first African ...

'' show".

Critical reception

"That's the Way Love Goes" was well received by contemporary music critics, praised for its sonic innovation and departure, evolving to an edgier and sensual style. Patrick Corcoran from Albumism stated that it is "a song that is greater than the sum of its parts." He added, "Its mid-tempo,

and The Honey Drippers sampling groove manages to go hard and stay cool at the same time, while Janet's delicately wanton vocal and lyrics drip with sensuality." Alex Henderson of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

qualified it as both "sultry" and "hypnotic". The song was considered one of several which displayed how Jackson "blossomed into a beautiful young woman," described as "a slow burn of a groove led by her sensual whisper," complete with "slinky guitars" revealing a hidden side of her persona. Andrew Hampp from ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' said the song is an adult affair in comparison to Jackson's prior releases, saying "Janet leaves the flirting to the kids and instead lets her guard down for her lover ("Come closer baby closer / reach out and feel my body.")" Another editor,

Larry Flick Larry Flick is an American journalist, former dance music columnist, single reviewer, and Senior Talent Editor for ''Billboard'' magazine, where he worked for 14 years. Now he produces and hosts Sirius XM radio shows. Flick started in the music ...

called it "a gorgeous midtempo jam fueled by warm classic funk and soul instrumental colors. Romantic, almost poetic lyrics, and an instantly memorable chorus are given depth by Jackson's caressing, whispery vocal and fluid guitar lines." David Browne of ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...

'' described it as "gently percolating pop" and "easygoing", with another critique stating "the sexy lyrical composition blends well with the seductively arranged harmony of the song." Bjørg Tulinius from Danish magazine ''

Gaffa ''Gaffa'' (stylized as ''GAFFA'') is a free Nordic music magazine with local editions in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. ''Gaffa'' is Denmark's largest and oldest music magazine. It has been published since 1983 and has 320,000 print readers and ...

'' picked the song as one of "the best numbers" of the album, describing it as "soul-imprinted". Robert Hilburn from ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' described "That's the Way Love Goes" as "one of the most endearing pieces of romantic pop confection of the '90s", adding "the song is a highlight of Jackson's latest and best album, "janet.," a "silky collection" exploring "questions of sexual awakening and desire with a classy sense of pop craft and convincing passion." The publication also stated "Summer pop doesn't get any smoother or more seductive," likening its quality as unheard for several decades, adding "You might have to go all the way back to

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director. He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief ...

and

the Miracles The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and most influential groups ...

or, even,

the Drifters The Drifters are several American doo-wop and R&B/Soul music, soul vocal groups. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953. The second group of Drifters, f ...

to find summer pop as silky and as inviting as this." Editor Maureen Sajbel considered it a "gentle love ballad".

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

considered it "sultry, slow-burning". Pan-European magazine ''

Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later ...

'' commented that "romance is back, and so is Janet, who writes the handbook of love on a beat similar to

Charles & Eddie Charles & Eddie were an American soul music duo composed of Charles Pettigrew and Eddie Chacon. Their single " Would I Lie to You?", taken from their 1992 debut album, ''Duophonic'', won Ivor Novello Awards in 1993 in the Best Contemporary Song, ...

's Would I Lie To You. Exploring the borders between jazz dance and swing beat, Jackson is breathing sensuality." Alan Jones from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

'' deemed it an "insidious cool tempo Jam/Lewis track

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

weaves an intricate melody, at once maddeningly commercial and yet unbelievably delicate." Glenn Gamboa of ''

Newsday ''Newsday'' is an American daily newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, although it is also sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The slogan of the newspaper is "Newsday, Your Eye on LI", and f ...

'' declared "After two straight smash albums and a dozen immediate hits, Jackson takes a left turn," ultimately "focusing on vibe and groove and making the most of her voice." Jan DeKnock from ''

Orlando Sentinel The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company. The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by parent company, '' Tribune P ...

'' labeled it an "appealing midtempo number" with Jackson's vocals performed in a "lilt" technique. Touré from ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' described the song as a "warm bed of soul sounds." The publication praised Jackson's approach to sexuality, writing "Jackson evades reductive sexuality by demanding love and respect from both her partner and herself. She wants you to touch her, and love's got to do with it because "that's the way love goes." Janet won't stand for a trade-off — she wants love ''and'' sex." Sean Fennessey from ''

Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down productio ...

'' called it "cool, sensual, simple." Richard Harrington from ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'' labeled it as "supple" and "sensual". An additional review stated "That's the Way Love Goes" and the ''janet.'' album "shattered any illusions the public still held that Janet remained a little girl. Filled with sexual desires and adult fantasies, Janet broke boundaries but still managed to channel her desires into chart-topping hits."

Chart performance

"That's the Way Love Goes" entered the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number 14, making it the highest debuting song in billboard history at the time. Two weeks later, it became Jackson's sixth number-one single on the Hot 100, eleventh number-one single on the

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

, and ninth number-one single on the

Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...

charts. At the time of its release, the song's three week trek to the top made it the second-fastest rising single in Hot 100 history, only behind

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

' single, "

Can't Buy Me Love "Can't Buy Me Love" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released in March 1964 as the A-side of their sixth single. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song was included o ...

". The single is Jackson's biggest

hit, spending ten weeks at number one; achieving four weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales. It also peaked atop the

Hot R&B Airplay R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (previously known as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay) is a chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the top R&B and hip hop songs in the United States, based on audience impressions from a panel of radio stations monitored ...

and Hot R&B Single Sales charts. To date, the song is Jackson's longest hit in the United States, and was also the seventeenth biggest hit of the 1990s. Six years after its release, ''Billboard'' ranked the song as the thirtieth biggest pop hit of the past forty-five years, and in 2007, ranked it as the nineteenth biggest hit ever by a female solo artist. The song is among eight songs to reach the top ten of the Pop Songs chart within two weeks of its release and is the longest-reigning number one hit among them, staying atop the chart for ten weeks. Jackson is one of the few artists with a minimum of ten top ten hits on Rhythmic formats, with "That's the Way Love Goes" being her first appearance and number one on the chart. The single was certified gold by the RIAA on November 12, 1993, and later certified platinum. It sold over 1.1 million copies domestically. Internationally, "That's the Way Love Goes" reached number one in Australia, Canada, Hungary, New Zealand, Europe's Hot 100 Singles, and the United Kingdom's R&B chart. The song peaked at number two in the United Kingdom (Jackson's highest-charting single in the country), within the top five in Finland and the Netherlands; and the top ten in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, and Sweden. In New Zealand it became the first single by a female artist to debut at number 1. It is the biggest selling single by a female artist in South Africa, spending nine weeks at number one and certified four times platinum. The single was certified platinum in Australia and silver in the United Kingdom.

Music video

The

for "That's the Way Love Goes" was directed by

René Elizondo Jr. René Elizondo Jr. (born July 16, 1962) is a Mexican dancer, songwriter and music video director. He was married to American singer Janet Jackson from 1991 to 2003. Early life and career Born in Durango, Mexico, Elizondo and Jackson met in th ...

in March 1993. Set in a loft, Jackson is depicted amongst friends and is persuaded to play her new single. Jackson plays the song, briefly interrupted by a dancer who pauses it to express her approval. The song resumes while Jackson and company begin to dance, ending with Jackson talking and joking amongst her dancers. The video was choreographed by

Tina Landon Tina Landon (born January 6, 1963) is an American choreographer based in Los Angeles who has worked with Prince, Anastacia, Mýa, Pink, Jay-Z, Marc Anthony, Kristi Yamaguchi, Aerosmith, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Janet Jack ...

. To build anticipation, a promotional advertisement was aired on music channels for several weeks prior to the video's premiere, depicting Jackson narrating and introducing her dancers from behind a camera lens. The video is iconic within popular culture, being the first glimpse of Jackson's seductive and adult image, in contrast to the bulky uniforms and military ensemble she was previously known for. The transition first began with prior video "

Love Will Never Do (Without You) "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson. Composed by songwriters and record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, it was recorded for the singer's fourth studio album, ''Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814'' ...

," portraying Jackson's newly-svelte figure and midriff-baring style, becoming her trademark image and iconic within entertainment. "That's the Way Love Goes" was nominated for

Best Dance Video The MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video was first awarded in 1989, and it was one of the original four genre categories that were added to the MTV Video Music Awards that year. With a revamp of the awards in 2007, the category was cut out ...

, Best Choreography, and

Best Female Video The MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video is one of the original general awards that has been handed out every year since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. In 2007, however, the award was briefly renamed Female Artist of the Y ...

at the

. The video is featured on the ''

'' and '' Design of a Decade'' video compilations, special edition of '' All for You'', and '' From Janet to Damita Jo: The Videos''. Behind the scenes footage of its filming was also released. An alternate "One Take Version" focusing solely on Jackson appears exclusively on the ''Janet'' video compilation. The video features a then unknown

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...

, who appears as a backing dancer and has a spoken line in the video's opening dialogue. Lopez credits Jackson as her inspiration to enter the entertainment industry, saying "When I saw the " Pleasure Principle" video it inspired me to get into this business," and "I can also never forget the magnificent Janet Jackson as she is a big inspiration for all my dance and music videos."

Reception

Jackson's previous video "

" was the "first inkling" of the contrasted image developed with the release of the ''Janet'' album and "That's the Way Love Goes." The transition is regarded as iconic and commended by many critics. Maureen Sajbel of ''

The LA Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' stated Jackson abandoned "the masculine clothes," becoming "refined and softened to a model-perfect feminine image." Sajbel wrote "Jackson's svelte figure is poured into black bell-bottoms and crop tops. She wears silver hoop earrings and wide cream and silver chokers that have sent adolescents streaming into stores asking for "Janet Jackson necklaces." ''

'' declared it Jackson's earliest foray into being "not just a cherubic pop star but a confident, self-sufficient, and sexy grown-up," calling the "slinky, body-revealing" video "the first volley." ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

'' commended its choreography as "sinuous seduction" and praised its concept, saying "the video for "That’s the Way Love Goes" once again showcases Janet and her friends, but this time the portrait is much more sensual and relaxed. When this video was released, Janet had been out of the public eye for several years. The video gave hungry fans a fresh eyeful of a radiant, sexy-looking Janet, murmuring a tribute to the joys of physical love." ''

Idolator An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry. Idolater or Idolator may also refer to: Books *''Os Idólatras'', 1968 Portuguese novel by Maria Judite de Carvalho Music * Idolator (website), an American music blog * ''Idolator'' (album), third album ...

'' also applauded Jackson's evolution, exclaiming "Ms. Jackson had finally shed her bulky "

Rhythm Nation "Rhythm Nation" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, released as the second single from her fourth studio album, ''Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814'' (1989). It was written and produced by Jackson, in collaboration with Jimmy Jam and T ...

" uniform in exchange for a midriff baring top and a choker, long before anyone would associate her name with the words "

wardrobe malfunction A wardrobe malfunction is a clothing failure that accidentally or intentionally exposes a person's intimate parts. It is different from deliberate incidents of indecent exposure or public flashing. Justin Timberlake first used the term when apolo ...

". The clip was thought to be "the most accessible version of the star the public had ever seen." Foster Kamer of ''

Complex Complex commonly refers to: * Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe ** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...

'' declared it a "really simple formula" and "decidedly lo-fi" in comparison to Jackson's "high-tech repertoire." Described as "just a bunch of ladies, kicking it in Janet's loft, dancing around to music", the clip was praised as "all at once golden" for Jackson's "power of seemingly limitless charisma, especially when metered out and not unleashed full-force." The publication concluded "And yet: Janet oozes sexuality as she dances with the ladies around the apartment, leaning on walls, looking up at the ceiling, possibly thinking thoughts about her then-husband

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

considered it among Jackson's videos which displayed "a gender equality that's almost progressive by video's pitiful male-chauvinist standards" due to Jackson's dominance over her male counterparts, in which two male dancers compete for her and seven female dancer's attention. ''

'' stated the clip's premise of "Jackson lounging with her pals" succeeds at "seeming offhandedly sexy in a very shrewd way." ''

MusicOMH MusicOMH (stylized as musicOMH) is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B. History MusicOMH was founded and launched by ...

'' considered it "a sultry start" into Jackson's new image, with Jackson seen dancing "up against a pillar." Feminist website ''

Jezebel Jezebel (;"Jezebel"
(US) and ) was the daughte ...

'' considered Jackson "loud, fierce and mouthy" in the video, in contrast to Jackson's "usually so soft-spoken" persona. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' observed " the bump" dance to resurface among youth and clubs "now that Janet Jackson does it in her new video."

Live performances

Jackson performed a medley of "That's the Way Love Goes" and " If" at the

. The song was performed along with "

Because of Love "Because of Love" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her fifth album, ''Janet'' (1993). It was released as the album's fourth single in January 1994, the track is a love song written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terr ...

" on

's New Year's Eve special. It was also performed on

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British Record chart, music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show ...

and French entertainment show Les Années Tubes. Jackson later performed the song on

The Ellen DeGeneres Show ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' (often shortened to ''Ellen'' or ''The Ellen Show'') is an American daytime television variety comedy talk show that was created and hosted by its namesake Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it was prod ...

during promotion for ''

20 Y.O. ''20 Y.O.'' is the ninth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. It was released on September 20, 2006, by Virgin Records. Its title makes reference to her third studio album ''Control'' (1986), and is a commemoration to its twentieth ann ...

'' and

Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. Th ...

upon the release of her tenth album ''

Discipline Discipline refers to rule following behavior, to regulate, order, control and authority. It may also refer to punishment. Discipline is used to create habits, routines, and automatic mechanisms such as blind obedience. It may be inflicted on ot ...

''. It has been performed on each of her following tours, including the

janet. Tour Janet World Tour (stylized as janet. World Tour and known as Summer Escapade during the summer of 1994) was the second concert tour by American singer, performer, songwriter and dancer Janet Jackson. It was launched in support of her fifth studi ...

The Velvet Rope Tour The Velvet Rope Tour was the third concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. Launched in support of her sixth studio album ''The Velvet Rope'' (1997), the tour visited Europe, North America, Japan, New Zealand, Africa, and Austral ...

All for You Tour The All for You Tour was the fourth concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson, in support of her seventh studio album '' All for You'' (2001). The show was designed by Mark Fisher and Jackson. It was originally scheduled to start ...

Rock Witchu Tour Rock Witchu Tour was the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson, in support of her tenth studio album '' Discipline'' (2008), and her first in nearly seven years, following a total blacklist of the singer's music, due to ...

, Number Ones: Up Close and Personal, Unbreakable World Tour, and

State of the World Tour The State of the World Tour was the eighth concert tour by American singer Janet Jackson. Launched in promotion of her eleventh studio album '' Unbreakable'' (2015), the tour is produced by Live Nation and is under the creative direction of Gil ...

with elements of Rock the Boat by

Aaliyah Aaliyah Dana Haughton (; January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001) was an American singer and actress. She has been credited for helping to redefine contemporary R&B, pop and hip hop, earning her the nicknames the "Princess of R&B" and " ...

. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson: Metamorphosis. Jackson's performance medley at the

is often regarded among the most infamous and intricate performances of her career. ''

'' included it among "The 25 Sexiest Moments in VMA History," commenting "when Britney and Christina were busy dealing with midterms and acne, Janet Jackson was the queen of bringing sexy to the VMA stage. Though it'd no doubt be considered tame by today's standards, Janet's exposed stomach and bra made for the hottest performance of the year." Another critique found it "on point, going from sexy to high energy and intricacy," considered "easily one of her best performances, and one that most pop chicks should study."

Queerty ''Queerty'' is an online magazine and newspaper covering gay-oriented lifestyle and news, founded in 2005 by David Hauslaib. As of June 2015, the site had more than five million monthly unique visitors. History ''Queerty'' was founded by David ...

titled it the second best performance in the show's history, commending its "dance break by which all dance breaks will be forever judged." It was introduced by actor

Christian Slater Christian Michael Leonard Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor and producer. He made his film debut with a leading role in ''The Legend of Billie Jean'' (1985) and gained wider recognition for his breakthrough role as Jason "J.D." D ...

, who declared Jackson to have "the sexiest bellybutton I've ever seen." A studio version appears on the limited edition version of '' janet.'', while remixes entitled the "CJ FXTC Club Mix" and "CJ FXTC Bass Hit Dub" appear on '' janet. Remixed''. The song's performance on the ''

janet. World Tour Janet World Tour (stylized as janet. World Tour and known as Summer Escapade during the summer of 1994) was the second concert tour by American singer, performer, songwriter and dancer Janet Jackson. It was launched in support of her fifth studi ...

'' was regarded among its "most affecting moments" as Jackson "returned for the encore in just a flannel shirt and jeans." On ''

Number Ones, Up Close and Personal Number Ones, Up Close and Personal World Tour was the sixth concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. It showcased her sophomore compilation album, '' Number Ones'' and visited Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. ...

'', a review stated "In fact, the more blissful the hook, the tighter she wrapped the song around her - somehow squeezing the breezy sensuality out of "That's the Way Love Goes" without suffocating it."

Awards and nominations

"That's the Way Love Goes" received various awards including the

Grammy Award for Best R&B Song The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1969. From 1969 to 2000, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. Beyoncé has won it a record four times, while Bab ...

, the ''Billboard'' Award for Top R&B Single; Airplay, and the award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single at the

Legacy and impact

"That's the Way Love Goes" is among Jackson's

s, recognized for its vocals, innovation, and "timeless" aura. It was considered an alternative to popular radio trends and essential part of Jackson's artistic growth, signifying a massive shift in her music and image. It has been cited as an inspiration by

, and

. The song is ranked among

Blender A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen appliance, kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsion, emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender ...

's "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born," placing at number four in VH1's "Greatest Songs of the '90s" in 2012. ''

'' praised its structure and longevity, saying "That indelible refrain: "Like a moth to a flame / burned by the fire / my love is blind / can't you see my desire?" That slinky Jam & Lewis beat. Even at 20 years old, this Janet jam can still ignite any house party, much like the one in its music video." The publication exclaimed it to be "a sexual awakening for both Jackson and American culture"; classified as one of "the most sexually frank to reach the upper reaches of the charts at the time." ''

The L.A. Times ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...

'' considered it "one of the most endearing pieces of romantic pop confection of the '90s," as well as "the most seductive slice of daydream romanticism in years." ''GuidetoGay'' called it "equally sexy" as her image, "but unlike

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...

’s ‘Erotica’, ‘janet.’ left more to the imagination." "While most expected her to return with an in-your-face dance track, Jackson "eased in the side door" with a more soulful groove. The music video was equally laid back, showing Jackson chilling with her dancers - one of whom was a then unknown

CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...

stated the song memorably "set the mood for a sultry summer," while Vulture.com recalled it "slinked its way easily onto summer mix tapes". Additionally, it was declared "the epitome of bedroom slow-jams," among the album's "several iconic hits" which helped define the decade. ''

'' considered "That's the Way Love Goes" among Jackson's singles which "changed the course of pop," applauding the "all-purpose, feel-good hit," saying "unlike most summer anthems, "That's the Way Love Goes" doesn't have a gimmick. It's just straight-up cool. ..It got heads bobbin' in countless cars. It filled dance floors with folks finger- pointing along with the chorus. It became an essential part of the soundtrack to barbecues and beach parties. With its laid-back beat and Jackson's sultry- sweet vocals, it doesn't get you excited as much as puts a smile on your face, which may explain why it was never grating despite its omnipresence." ''Gold Stripe Magazine'' stated "When we think of the 90s, we think of baggy boyfriend jeans, crop tops, big hair, and house parties. Janet Jackson was one woman who defined the decade. On the scene, she was the total package: sexy, talented, and a softspoken sweetheart." ''

'' praised it as a "subtler alternative" to radio trends by artists such as

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...

and

Boyz II Men Boyz II Men (pronounced ''boys to men''), also known as B2M, is an American vocal harmony group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are currently a trio composed of baritone Nathan M ...

, adding "with its measured hip-hop loop and titular one-line hook, the song was sleek, smart, and sexy—everything you didn't expect from the lead single from a Janet album." Furthermore, an anecdote stated "this song smashed records worldwide, and heralded the arrival of a grown woman comfortable with her own sexuality. Fans and music lovers were left gaping in awe as Janet shed away her military style outfits and did away with her tomboy looks, resurfacing as a strong confidant woman and a global pop icon with the release of her 1993 iconic album ‘'' Janet.''’, which went on to produce 6 consecutive top 10 hits including 2 # 1 singles, and pushed her ahead of her contemporaries

and

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...

." Several critics applauded the song's opening refrain as "seductive," "memorable," and "hypnotic", with a particular review exclaiming "Janet makes it read like poetry." The analysis continued "realistically, no one had any reason to think she was sexy enough to pull it off. Where Janet used to hint at getting it in, she now openly admitted to wanting it without hesitation; "Go deeper baby, deeper...you feel so good I wanna cry." At 25, it made sense for her to give up the coyness of her earlier years. But, who knew she'd pull it off quite so well?" Heidi-Siegmund Cuda of ''

'' declared the song to have a profound effect in clubs, saying "love was in the air, as couples lapped it up and slinked along to the beat." An additional anecdote stated it "featured a sexy video and just a groove and beat that you just can help but fall in love with. The sultry vocals of Janet Jackson and that hypnotic groove ceases to get old." ''

Soul Train ''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series w ...

'' called its era "all about Ms. Janet Jackson," saying the song "reigns supreme in the warm weather months," adding "that sultry, silky voice that Jackson brings to the table, combined with hot, sexy lyrics made this song one of the year’s best." The video was heralded as "all kinds of fly and fashion forward." Rich Juzwiak of ''

Gawker ''Gawker'' is an American blog founded by Nick Denton and Elizabeth Spiers and based in New York City focusing on celebrities and the media industry. According to SimilarWeb, the site had over 23 million visits per month as of 2015. Founded in ...

'' calls "That's the Way Love Goes" a "classic" that "everyone's heard a million times," asking "Have you listened to this song lately? Like, really listened to it, not just took it for granted as the pop wallpaper that megahits can become over time? It's worth it." Juzwiak applauded its "hypnotic" tempo and vocals, noting the pivotal role the song and its video played in Jackson's career evolution. An additional evaluation called its release "strategic timing," commending Jackson's attempt to "urge the label to go with something that was romantic, grown and laid-back" rather than leading "with a big dance record", declaring it "at a minimum, a genius move." Jackson's "broad appeal" allowed the song to thrive on pop,

urban Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to: * Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas * Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities Urban may also refer to: General * Urban (name), a list of people ...

, and

adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...

formats, adding "It still sounds fresh to this day, and I'd be willing to bet that people who aren't even die-hard Janet fans have always been in love with this single." ''

BuzzFeed BuzzFeed, Inc. is an American Internet media, news and entertainment company with a focus on digital media. Based in New York City, BuzzFeed was founded in 2006 by Jonah Peretti and John S. Johnson III to focus on tracking viral content. Ken ...

'' ranked its music video as Jackson's fourth best, praising its "house party" theme. The clip aided Jackson in becoming known for her trademark abs. It also set fashion trends among youth, described to have "sent adolescents streaming into stores asking for "Janet Jackson necklaces".

Influence

Various artists have been inspired by the song's production, aura, and opening segment, as well as the music video's "laid back" dance environment. It has been covered by artists such as

and

'N Sync NSYNC (, ; also stylized as *NSYNC or 'N Sync) was an American boy band formed by Chris Kirkpatrick in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich. Their self-titled debut album was successfully released to European ...

cited "That's the Way Love Goes" as the inspiration for "Touch of My Hand", appearing on Spears' fourth album ''

In the Zone ''In the Zone'' is the fourth studio album by American pop singer Britney Spears. It was released on November 12, 2003, through Jive Records. With the conclusion of her Dream Within a Dream Tour in July 2002 and the end of her relationship wit ...

'', saying "I like to compare it to 'That's the Way Love Goes,' kind of a Janet Jackson thing." Additionally, ''MuuMuse'' likened the spoken word introduction of Spears' "Am I A Sinner" to a similar opening segment in Jackson's song. Spears included "That's the Way Love Goes" in a playlist for Z100's Reality Radio, commenting "This is one of my favorite songs ever. I love this girl. She has the coolest abs in the world." The whispered introduction in the "Bluelight Version" of

' " Girl on Fire" references the opening refrain of "That's the Way Love Goes". A lyric comparable to the song's introduction was noted in

's " Turn Up the Radio," with similar opening lines also used in

Wynter Gordon Diana Gordon, previously known by her stage name Wynter Gordon, is an American singer and songwriter. She began her career writing music for other artists, later signing with Atlantic Records where she started to work on her own album. Her deb ...

's "Stimela" and

's " Step Into My World." Janet Jackson 20

's "Nuclear", a

Neptunes The Neptunes are an American songwriting and production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music videos ...

production included on the compilation ''

Love Songs A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order ...

'', was likened to an "early ’90s, "That’s The Way Love Goes"-style Janet Jackson mold" for its "sampled beat recalling the best of ’90s hip-pop," also compared for its "mellow, soothing lyrics over churning hip-hop beats."

cited Jackson as the inspiration for the transition displayed with her third album ''

Loose Loose may refer to: Places *Loose, Germany *Loose, Kent, a parish and village in southeast England People * Loose (surname) Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums * ''Loose'' (B'z album), a 1995 album by B'z * ''Loose'' (Crazy Horse album), ...

'', saying "Janet Jackson came out with "That's the Way Love Goes," and she was comfortable in her sexuality and womanhood, and that was inspiring to me." ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...

'' likened

's "This is What Love Is", appearing on the album ''

Basic Instinct ''Basic Instinct'' is a 1992 neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. The film follows San Francisco police detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas), who is investigating the brutal murder of a wealt ...

'', to "a

trance Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...

-inspired take on the breathy spoken word of Janet Jackson's vastly superior "That's the Way Love Goes".

Kat DeLuna Kathleen Emperatriz DeLuna (born November 26, 1987) is an American singer. DeLuna began pursuing a career as a singer when she was a teenager and later signed with Epic Records. Her debut single, " Whine Up", released in 2007, went on to become ...

stated "This song made me want to pursue music!" ''

Yahoo! Music Yahoo! Music was a brand under which Yahoo! provided a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming. Previously, users with Yahoo! accounts could gain access to hundreds of ...

'' considered

and Miguel's " #Beautiful" "one of the most appealing summer jams since Janet Jackson’s "That’s The Way Love Goes". Jackson has evoked the song's feel in several recordings, with ''

People Magazine ''People'' is an American weekly magazine that specializes in celebrity news and human-interest stories. It is published by Dotdash Meredith, a subsidiary of IAC (company), IAC. With a readership of 46.6 million adults in 2009, ''People ...

'' describing several cuts on '' Damita Jo'' reminiscent of its "lush sensual rush". "Feels So Right" from '' All for You'' was likened to the song for its mellow feel. Several subsequent music videos or albums have drawn influence from the video's intimate party setting. ''

'' likened the overall feel of

Jhené Aiko Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo (; born March 16, 1988) is an American singer who embarked on her music career contributing vocals and appearing in several music videos for R&B group B2K. In an effort to promote Aiko and cultivate a following for he ...

's debut EP ''

Sail Out ''Sail Out'' is the debut extended play (EP) by American recording artist Jhené Aiko, released on November 12, 2013 through Def Jam Recordings. It was Aiko's first release under the label after leaving her contract with Sony Music in 2003. After ...

'' to the "kickback" ambiance of the "That's the Way Love Goes" video, "but while sitting in clouds of smoke rather than dancing." Scenes in

's "

Body Party "Body Party" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Ciara Ciara Princess Wilson ( ; Harris; born October 25, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model and entrepreneur. She released her debut studio album, '' Goodies' ...

" video were influenced by the video's "laid-back" setting as well as Jackson's "

Go Deep "Go Deep" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her sixth studio album, ''The Velvet Rope'' (1997). It was written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Jackson's husband René Elizondo Jr collaborating on the lyri ...

". Ciara's performance at the 2013

BET Awards The BET Awards is an American award show that was established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy. The awards, which are presented annua ...

was thought to be inspired by Jackson's performance of the song at the

. The opening setting of Ciara's "Never Ever (Ciara song), Never Ever," which featured Young Jeezy, was also observed to be similar. The setting, choreography, and wardrobe worn by lead dancer Danielle Curiel in

's "Breakfast Can Wait" video were observed to have a similar feel to Jackson's "That's the Way Love Goes" and "If" videos. Curiel commented "After "Breakfast Can Wait" came out everyone said it reminded them of those videos, so I went and watched them on YouTube I could definitely see the similarities." The "throw back" style of Toni Braxton's "Make My Heart" video was described as reminiscent of the clip. Jessi Malay cited Jackson's "confident, sexy" and "in control" image in the video as an influence, saying "Janet is a female artist who has gotten the message out that you can be a commanding woman without losing your femininity and sexuality." Critics have observed elements similar to the video's somber vibe and infamous setting in several films and television series. A golden-hued setting from the film ''Spartacus: Vengeance'' was compared to the video by Logo TV, Logo's ''AfterEllen.com and TheBacklot.com, The Backlot''. The locale in an episode of ''American Horror Story: Coven'' titled "Fried Chicks" was likened to the video, with Vulture.com saying "Fiona is having her hair done on the set of "That's the Way Love Goes"." Jackson's black ensemble during this period were prominent influences in fashion. In 2011, ''Elle Magazine'' described a Catherine Malandrino black dress as reminiscent of Jackson's outfit worn in the clip.

Track listing and formats

* UK CD single and German CD maxi single # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ R&B 7-inch mix) – 4:10 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (That's the Remix (We Aimsta Win)) – 5:14 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (LP version) – 4:24 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (instrumental) – 4:24 * Dutch CD maxi single # "That's the Way Love Goes" (LP version) – 4:24 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ R&B 7-inch mix) – 4:10 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ R&B 12-inch mix) – 6:16 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC club mix 12-inch) – 6:23 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (Macapella) – 6:22 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC instrumental) – 6:14 * UK 12-inch single # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ R&B 12-inch mix) – 6:16 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (LP version) – 4:24 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (Macapella) – 6:22 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC club mix 12-inch) – 6:23 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC dub) – 6:14 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC instrumental) – 6:14 * US 12-inch single # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ R&B 12-inch mix) – 6:16 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (LP version) – 4:24 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC club mix 12-inch) – 6:23 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC dub) – 6:14 * US CD maxi single # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ R&B 7-inch mix) – 4:10 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ R&B 12-inch mix) – 6:16 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC Club Mix 12-inch) – 6:23 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (Macapella) – 6:22 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (CJ FXTC instrumental) – 6:14 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (LP version) – 4:24 * Japanese CD single # "That's the Way Love Goes" (LP version) – 4:24 # "That's the Way Love Goes" (instrumental) – 4:24

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Covers and samples

American singer

performed a live cover of "That's the Way Love Goes" at the Chelsea Theater in Las Vegas in January 2014. Mars previously covered the song while performing at the Playboy Mansion two years prior. United Kingdom, British producer MNEK released a cover of "That's the Way Love Goes" in April 2013, saying "Janet Jackson is just the queen, and it requires no debate. All rights go to Janet, Jam + Lewis and anyone else who was involved. whoever [else] is probably irrelevant simply cos Janet Jackson, and Jam + Lewis are just better than everything and everyone. That's all." The cover reconstructs the song using Jackson's vocals in addition to his own. Cle Wootton performed the song on the first season of ''Australian Idol (season 1), Australian Idol''. American boy band

covered "That's the Way Love Goes" and released a promotional music video for the song, aired on Jackson's MTV Icon special. Singer Nina covered the song for the soundtrack of the film ''What's the Worst That Could Happen? (soundtrack), What's the Worst That Could Happen?''. Japanese pop singer

sampled a brief section of the song during the chorus and closing of the "Underwater Mix" of "Addicted to You (Hikaru Utada song), Addicted to You". Yuliet Topaz released a lounge music, lounge cover of the song in 2008. Deborah Cox, Brownstone (group), Brownstone, Chantay Savage, and Heavy D performed "That's the Way Love Goes" at the Soul Train Music Awards to tribute Jackson. Drum and bass artist Wriggler Bascombe sampled Jackson's vocals in "Burn by the Fire." Italian house (music), house producer Nicholas sampled the song for "The Way" in 2010. Saxophonist Kirk Whalum covered the song for the album ''For You''. Jazz musician Norman Brown (guitarist), Norman Brown covered the song and released it as the first single from his sophomore album ''After the Storm''. Alexander Ethan Gray also covered the song, which appeared on the tribute album ''Smooth Sax Tribute to Janet Jackson''.

References

* {{Authority control 1993 singles 1993 songs Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Janet Jackson songs Music Week number-one dance singles New jack swing songs Number-one singles in Australia Number-one singles in New Zealand RPM Top Singles number-one singles Song recordings produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Songs written by Janet Jackson Songs written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Virgin Records singles Downtempo songs Trip hop songs