It goes without saying that "That's the Way Love Goes" is one of Janet Jackson's most R&B-sounding singles. What strategic timing on the part of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, to urge the label to go with something that was romantic, grown and laid-back, but still had that slight aspect of Hip Hop coolness (provided, of course, by the James Brown sample) that made the track move, instead of opening the course of the janet era with a big dance record. This was in 1993, when R&B was becoming even more Hip Hop due to acts like Mary J. Blige helping usher the New Jack Era into Hip Hop Soul, so this single for Janet was, at a minimum, a genius move.
On to the superlatives. This track earned Janet her second Grammy for "Best R&B Song" and counts as her sixth number one single. Because of its broad appeal, it would thrive on Pop stations (she's a Jackson, after all), Urban radio and Adult Contemporary formats. As many of you have stated in a BOTB that featured this track as a contender, 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. Pump her, boo, pump her!
