About The Song
“What Have You Done for Me Lately” is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her third studio album, Control (1986). Jackson co-wrote the song with its producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was released on January 13, 1986, by A&M Records as the album’s lead single. After two unsuccessful albums and a management change, the singer began developing a new album. “What Have You Done for Me Lately” was penned for one of Jam and Lewis’s own records, but the lyrics were rewritten to convey Jackson’s feelings about her recent separation from James DeBarge in January 1985. It revolves around a woman’s frustration with her partner in a relationship.
Critical reviews for “What Have You Done for Me Lately” were positive, with music critics believing it erased the former “pop-ingénue image” of Jackson’s first two albums, reestablishing her as an “independent woman” figure. The song has been featured in critic lists as one of the greatest songs of all time and received a nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues Song at the 1987 Grammy Awards. The song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also peaked at number two on the US Dance Club Songs and topped the US Hot Black Singles charts. Outside of the US, it topped the singles chart in the Netherlands and peaked within the top ten in Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The accompanying music video for “What Have You Done for Me Lately” was directed by Brian Jones and Piers Ashworth and choreographed by singer Paula Abdul. In it, Jackson goes to a diner with her friends to talk about her relationship problems. The video won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video in 1987. The song was first performed live by Jackson at the 29th annual Grammy Awards in 1987. She has also performed it live in each of her concert tours, beginning with the Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990 through the State of the World Tour (2017). It has been included in each of Jackson’s greatest hits albums Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 (1995), Number Ones (2009), and Icon: Number Ones (2010). “What Have You Done for Me Lately” has been sampled and covered by various artists, and is also regarded as one of Jackson’s signature songs which helped establish her as a known artist.
Video
Lyrics
He stood me up again
Mmm-hmm
Yes, honey, I love him, he is fine
He does a lot of nice things for me
Uh, uh, uh, uh
Used to be a time when you would pamper me
Used to brag about it all the time
Your friends seem to think that you’re so peachy-keen
But my friends say neglect is on your mind
Who’s right?
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
Used to go to dinner almost every night
Danced until I thought I’d lose my breath, ah
Now it seems your dancin’ feet are always on my couch
Good thing I cook or else we’d starve to death
Ain’t that a shame?
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
I never ask for more than I deserve
You know it’s the truth
You seem to think you’re God’s gift to this Earth
I’m tellin’ you, no way
You ought to be thankful for the little things
But little things are all you seem to give
You’re always puttin’ off what we could do today
Soap opera says you’ve got one life to live
Who’s right, who’s wrong?
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah (get with it)
Uh (let me know)
(What have you done for me lately)
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
This is wild (what have you done for me lately?)
I swear