The song cuts to the crux of many relationship problems: the inertia that sets in once you are established as a couple. The guy who used to take the lady out for sushi and dancing finds himself on the couch watching football once he gets comfortable. The song found its way into the cultural lexicon, and Eddie Murphy used it as the basis for a comedy bit in his 1987 Raw concert film. Murphy gave his interpretation of the song: You better have money, or you won't get any loving from the ladies (Eddie used a different term, but we'll keep it clean). He pointed out that women love this song, as its encourages women to keep wanting more from their men - and sweet talk won't cut it.
Janet Jackson thought she was done recording the Control album and returned home to Los Angeles only to be summoned back to Minneapolis to belt out one more: "What Have You Done For Me Lately." A&M label exec John McClain wanted one more uptempo song to round out the album. When she got back to the studio, songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had the song cranked at full blast. Jam remembered: "She was sitting outside in the lounge and said, 'Man, that's a funky track. Who's that for?' And we said, 'It's for you,' and she said, 'Oh, cool.' I think she was very pleased when she heard the track."
This song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1987: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song.
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