“That’s The Way Love Goes” was the lead single of Janet Jackson’s fifth album (and first for Virgin Records) entitled janet. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 8 weeks, and both the Billboard R&B and Dance charts for 4 weeks each. Boasting platinum sales in the US, it was no surprise when the song won the Grammy for Best R&B Song the following year.

Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the song samples a guitar riff from James Brown’s “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” and a drum break from The Honeydrippers' “Impeach The President.”. After being presented the track, Jam says she came up with the lyrics and melody on her own, with the producers contributing the intro line “Like a moth to a flame burned by the fire.”

The music video depicted Janet playing the song for her dancers (who include a then unknown Jennifer Lopez. This new sexy image was only revealed in 1990 during the “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” video shoot. For “That’s The Way Love Goes,” a svelte and fully blossomed Janet donning curly brown hair, a bare midriff, and Native American jewelry.